Kaleb Nyquist

Hello! I am a public policy professional specializing in addressing "wicked" collective action problems, such as climate change and democratic gridlock. My approach is data-and-values driven, incorporating rigorous statistical analysis alongside a commitment to partner with the best virtues in humanity.

Currently, I work as an data + communications consultant for a variety of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. Some of the tools I am currently developing include a custom webcrawler and graph database for Connect & Conserve, an internal report of employee productivity for a local jobs training program and circular economy nonprofit, a media hit data scraper, and a ranked choice voting results tabulator for public use. I am actively seeking additional opportunities (part- or full-time) in the measurement, evaluation, and learning (MEL) field within organizations working on issues related to civic engagement and/or political reform.

I also am a trustee for The Parliament of the World's Religions, the world's leading convener of interfaith gatherings, including our upcoming event in August 2023 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Furthermore, I am available as a consultant for faith-based political messaging and event planning through Strategic Principles LLC, specializing in outreach to center-right religious audiences on issues traditionally viewed as progressive.

In a previous professional life, I worked as an after-school youth director at a neighborhood church in Chicago and helped establish Young Evangelicals for Climate Action as a steering committee member from its first year until I aged out of leadership.

My education includes a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Conflict Transformation from North Park University. I have been a Flatiron School data science fellow (Washington DC campus) and a Louisville Institute pastoral study fellow.

What I Do

Sustainability

One of the most urgent public policy challenges facing us today is guaranteeing that our planet remains hospitable to human life through the end of the century. I seek in particular to identify and cultivate sustainable practices that are already emerging from the grassroots of communities, rather than imposing top-down prescriptions.

Democratic Reform

The good life is made possible by people having a sense of stewardship over how they and their neighbor are governed. I am an advocate for democratic reforms that decrease unproductive polarization and increase the responsiveness of elected officials to constituent desires, most recently serving as the co-chair for the Harris School of Public Policy's Project on Political Reform student advisory board.

Spirituality

In our attention overload economy it is all too easy for people to forget about the things that really matter. Working within the Christian tradition (with pietist influences) and equipped with multi-faith ministry training from the University of Chicago's Divinity School, I partner with others to create space that fosters souls of sacrificial love, deep joy, and sacred peace.

Data-and-Values Driven

I take a mixed-methods research approach that integrates qualitative data, quantitative data, historical narrative, and practical ethics. Such innovative and multidisciplinary research helps me get to what is at the heart of today's public policy dilemmas and imagine solutions that might otherwise be overlooked. A key value for me is the importance of listening ⁠— that is, letting the actual people behind the data points speak for themselves.