colwell headshot

Emerson Fellow

Courtney Colwell

25th Class, 2018-2019

Courtney graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in political science and minors in economics and social policy. At Hopkins, Courtney served as a Research Assistant in the Poverty and Inequality Research Lab, where she conducted research on post-secondary pathways for low-income youth in Baltimore. She also garnered a variety of direct-service experience, both as a casework intern for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and as a tutor in the Baltimore Prison System through the JHU Jail Tutorial Program. As a junior, Courtney participated in the Social Policy Fellowship, a multi-disciplinary academic program coupled with a policy internship at the ACLU of MD in the education reform department.

Field placement: Project Bread

Boston, Massachusetts

Courtney completed her field work at Project Bread, an anti-hunger organization that focuses on increasing access to affordable, healthy food while also educating and engaging with activists across Massachusetts. As a member of the policy team, she conducted research on best practices in child nutrition policy in order to better inform the next re-authorization of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. She also produced multiple research briefs on the systemic causes of hunger. Courtney worked closely with the Action Team - Project Bread's advocacy arm - to help expand Project Bread's grassroots organizing efforts.

Policy placement: The Brookings Institution

Washington, D.C.

Hunger Free Community Report

"Child Nutrition: Programs, Problems, and Possibilities" provide a thorough overview of America's child nutrition programs. This report highlights both the need for and the evidence in support of, our child nutrition programs. It also provides crucial information on the history, operation, and capacity of these programs. Most importantly, by identifying gaps, challenges, and barriers to success, this Hunger-Free Community Report identifies possible areas for improvement.

Publications & Blog Posts