Compass Fellowship

Program Description

North Star Civic Foundation's Compass Fellowship is a unique and dynamic learning opportunity at the nexus of data-driven public policy development and effective civic leadership. Fellows apply and develop their research and analytical skills by delving into current policy issues. Fellows also attend discussions with professionals and experts in the fields of public policy to learn skills and develop professional connections. This experience equips Fellows with research experience, policy concepts, leadership training, and a network of relationships.

2023 Projects and Highlights

The 2023 cohort of Compass Fellows took on research in some heavy hitting areas. Fellows tackled seven different projects. Here are project highlights, outcomes, and next steps:

  • Sub Population Profiles for the Point in Time Homelessness Count: Fellows worked with data collected from The 2023 Tri-County Point-in-Time Count to create reports showing data trends and themes for various demographic groups. Fellows also interviewed community-specific service providers and incorporated these qualitative findings into the profile reports. (This project was in partnership with PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

  • Basic Needs Services for Students in Higher Education: Fellows studied basic needs insecurity among students in higher education, namely food and housing needs. They conducted a systematic literature review of services provided to students in higher education, studying types of resources available and how students access resources, and sharing recommendations for improving services. (This project was in partnership with PSUs Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

  • Long-Term State Expenditure Forecasting: Fellows researched long-term expenditure forecasting in other states by interviewing public finance experts and developing a comprehensive literature review. They developed recommendations for expenditure forecasting changes in Oregon, which they may be able to formally present to a state legislator! (This project was in partnership with ECONorthwest)

  • Local Government Budgets: Fellows updated forecasts for financial health of ten jurisdictions in Oregon, contributing to ongoing North Star research, which show significant fiscal shortfalls. Highlighted impacts of these budget imbalances and possible solutions.

  • Cap and Invest Research: Fellows conducted research to compare carbon cap and invest programs in the United States, exploring impacts and efficacy of these programs, relating these findings to existing climate policy in Oregon. (This project was in partnership with Tom Bowerman)

  • Climate/Disaster Migration: Fellows studied if climate change and migration are connected, identifying how state population forecasters should take a changing climate into account in their future projections. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)

  • Compensation of Elected Officials: Fellows studied how pay for elected leaders varies across states and how compensation can influence outcomes like productivity and reflective representation in elected bodies. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)

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Compass Fellows – Where are they now?

  • Smiling young person with short brown hair, wearing a gray sweater over a plaid shirt, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Frankie Spurbeck

    Senior Researcher for the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative (HRAC) at Portland State University

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • A young woman smiling outdoors in a park with trees and benches.

    Georgia Langer

    Council Office Intern at Metro and Patient Advocacy Fellow at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • Portrait of a man with medium-length dark hair, glasses, and a slight beard, smiling and wearing a black shirt.

    Miles Woo

    Litigation Assistant at Fenwick & West

    2023 Compass Fellow

  • Portrait of a young man with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair, wearing glasses and a black shirt, against a plain light-colored background.

    Ian Meisner

    Assistant Program Specialist at the Portland Housing Bureau

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • A woman with dark brown hair tied back, wearing hoop earrings and a plaid blazer, smiling and looking to her left, sitting indoors near windows with blurred greenery outside.

    Wani Pandey

    Transportation Research Fellow at UNC’s City and Regional Planning program

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • A young man with curly dark hair and a beard, wearing a navy blue shirt, standing outdoors with purple lilac flowers and green foliage in the background.

    Allen Saakov

    Asset Operations Analyst at National Equity Fund (nonprofit real-estate syndicator for affordable housing)

    2022 Compass Fellow

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses and a blue puffer jacket, smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Shana Waldman

    Policy and Planning Associate at Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

    2018 Compass Fellow

  • A young woman with short, wavy brown hair and bangs, smiling and looking to the side, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Giselle Herzfeld

    Defunding Climate Disaster Campaign Coordinator at 350 Colorado

    2018 Compass Fellow

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