Alumni Profile: Benjamin Stock, MPP’23

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Benjamin Stock earned his BA in political science with minors in Spanish and international studies from Oberlin College in 2016. Stock first found himself drawn to public policy when he worked as a field organizer in Arizona, “connecting with folks and hearing their stories.”

Now, as a Project Strategy Manager at the Chicago Police Department, Stock continues to connect with community-based and internal stakeholders as he manages policy and training initiatives, develops strategy and implementation plans for effective reform, and ensures data systems align with legal compliance efforts.

Stock said his role—which he was introduced to by his mentor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy—not only fulfills his desire to work with community members, but also reflects why he chose to pursue his Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Harris. “I was inspired by Harris’ dedication to service, and its emphasis on data, community, and experiential learning components, was very appealing. I wanted to gain skills to work in city government and understand what happens in local communities and be able to say I can effectively solve policy problems at the highest level.”

Stock continued, “Often in higher education, there can be a focus on theory and these large, sweeping topics. Then when you get your internship, or you get to the real world, you’re unsure how to apply it. At Harris, there is focus on relevance and applicability, because data analysis, coupled with a nuanced understanding of people, is the way of the future in public policy—and too often policymakers aren’t trained in both at once. Learning the art and science of public policy—to understand and build the capacity to do data-driven policy work in local communities—is what drew me to Harris.”

One recent project where Stock said his Harris skills were invaluable was the Chicago Council on Mental Health Equity (CCMHE). “CCMHE is a public-facing organization responsible for evaluating the city’s policies, training, and crisis intervention methods concerning mental health and substance use issues,” Stock said. “I’m proud to have positively impacted our communities after taking in various stakeholders’ and community members’ inputs on processes that oversee policies and training to advance compliance and ensure training is the best it can be. Creating relationships with people has proven significant in the project’s success—and that’s a skill I honed at Harris.”

Stock added that two specific courses at Harris have helped him succeed in his role. “First, the course on police reform: that completely informs my approach to my work. Second, a management course I took with Professor John Burrows was one of the best classes I ever took. It changed how I thought strategically. The simulation of change management also prepared me for nearly everything I currently do, since I do a lot of decision-making, and that’s more than just game theory—it’s also a matter of how to make relationships.”

Stock shares some advice for prospective Harris students. “Get comfortable being uncomfortable. So, if you’re used to finance, take a class at the Crown School of Social Work. It’s helpful from a knowledge and growth perspective, but you might also be exposed to something interesting. Take advantage of that and all the social opportunities at Harris, because you never know who you’ll meet and form a good connection with.”