Stellan Knowles spent his time at Community College of Aurora juggling coursework with the kind of housing and food affordability stress that touches a majority of his classmates. This week, that same student is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as one of 49 undergraduates nationwide selected for Harvard Kennedy School's Public Policy Leadership Conference.
A National Conference, A Local Student
Knowles, a political science student, represented the college at the conference beginning the week of October 29, according to ColoradoBiz. He was one of 49 applicants chosen to attend the program in Cambridge, the outlet reported. Community College of Aurora announced the acceptance on its own website, framing it as a notable moment for the Aurora campus, according to Community College of Aurora.
According to Colorado Public Radio, Knowles moved to Colorado from Tennessee in 2024 and said Tennessee's anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans legislation drove him to leave the state and fueled his interest in public policy. He became interested in the field after making the move, the station reported, and he chose the community college route partly to save money. Per the same report, Knowles enrolled at Community College of Aurora against his mother's wishes; she wanted him to attend an elite institution such as Harvard.
Why He Hopes Harvard Will Open Doors
“With aspirations of one day holding public office, I hope PPLC will provide valuable insight into graduate programs that prepare students for the positions that call to us,” Knowles said, per ColoradoBiz's report. He is considering continuing his studies at Harvard Kennedy School after the conference, according to Colorado Public Radio, and says he wants to eventually hold office or work in nonprofit policy. Knowles said he expects to graduate with an associate degree in public policy next fall, the station reported.
Knowles developed an interest in social equity and policy through a 2023 fellowship at CivicTN, a nonprofit civic engagement coalition in Tennessee, the ColoradoBiz article notes. He has since worked with Young Invincibles, Youth Engaged 4 Change, and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, per the same account. Community College of Aurora also offers food resources.
The Conference's Purpose
The Public Policy Leadership Conference connects ambitious undergraduate students with educational leaders and resources designed to cultivate academic excellence and expand public policy opportunities, according to Harvard Kennedy School. The school says it covers all costs tied to attending, including travel, accommodation and meals. Colorado Public Radio reported that the conference introduces participants to Harvard Kennedy School's graduate school, and that Knowles joined a cohort of 49 undergraduates entering the program.
The Backdrop of Basic-Needs Struggles
Knowles's path reflects a wider pattern at his campus. Community College of Aurora President Mordecai Brownlee has said roughly 60% of CCA students experience some form of housing instability and 50% face food insecurity, according to CBS News Colorado. The station reported that the CCA Foundation provides more than $60,000 in emergency aid annually, bolstered by a new $10,000 grant from NASPA, with crisis grants designed to help students cover unexpected hardships like a car repair, utility shutoff, or rent payment.
Those pressures aren't unique to Aurora. A 2020 survey in which 13 Colorado Community College System schools participated found that 63% of respondents experienced some form of basic-needs insecurity, according to a report from the Lumina Foundation. That survey found 40% of respondents had experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days, 55% had experienced housing insecurity in the previous year, and 16% had experienced homelessness in the previous year.
