As Director of Operations, Somaiyya partners with the Associate Provost for Operations and Initiatives and the Director of Provost Budget Planning on operations, budget, human resources, and strategic projects in the Office of the Provost. She also plays a key role in the Office’s communications infrastructure, planning, and execution as well as planning and staffing University-wide initiatives and events.
Somaiyya has been with the Office of the Provost since July 2012 in progressive roles, working on a wide range of projects including academic unionization, K-12 initiatives, Freedom of Expression, strategic events (including Nuclear Reactions and the Clinton Global Initiative University), searches for academic and administrative leadership, and international agreements for the University. Before joining the University, she worked at a small law firm specializing in intellectual property law in Evanston, Illinois.
Somaiyya received a BA in History from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was born and raised in Chicago, loves french fries and ice cream, and spends any free time she has with her nephews.
