Born in Baltimore and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Noah Hurt has always been drawn to leadership and public service.

As an undergraduate at Hartwick College, he served as both president of the Student Government and captain of the football team, experiences that deepened his understanding of teamwork, advocacy, and public engagement.

After earning dual degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science with a minor in Museum Studies in 2024, Noah enrolled in UConn’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, where he is pursuing both his degree and a certificate in Nonprofit Management.

“My mom is a UConn alumnus where she got her undergraduate degree. For me, the biggest draw was the overall curriculum and the wide range of UConn alumni from the program.”

During his first year, Noah served as a Teaching Assistant for Public Policy 1001: Introduction to Public Policy joining his undergraduate students on a firsthand look at the State Capitol. Outside the classroom, he continues his work at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, where he began as an intern and now serves as a historical interpreter leading tours.

I’ve always been drawn to spaces that educate and support the community.

“I’ve always been drawn to spaces that educate and support the community,” Noah says. “My goal in my career is either to become a CEO or executive director at a non-profit or a museum.”

Noah cites the School’s internship IPP program (Individualized Professional Project) as a key benefit of his studies.

“The IPP program allows for a real-world experience,” he explains. “We can take things we learn in the classroom and implement them in our internships. These internships expose students to roles and opportunities they might explore after graduation.”

For his IPP, Noah is serving as an Intern for Advancement at COMPASS Youth Collaborative, contributing to both strategic and creative initiatives. His work includes planning for Giving Tuesday – a National Day of Fundraising – expanding the organization’s social media presence and supporting donor engagement and data management.

COMPASS Youth Collaborative works with youth ages 16–25 who are vulnerable due to exposure to violence or other risk factors, providing them with the tools to succeed in education, employment, and life. The organization’s field workers address active concerns within the community, while peace workers mentor youth and assist with needs such as therapy, job searches, and food insecurity.

“One of the things we do is organize ride-alongs where we give donors a ‘day in the life’ experience of what it feels like to be out in Hartford with COMPASS. We’ll take them to places where we meet our youth and give them a chance to see how we interact and learn about their experiences,” Noah explains. “By the end of the ride along, you can see how people who may not have known about our work start to feel connected. When they’re done, they feel like they’re part of the team and they want to help.”

Recently, Noah attended the New England Street Worker Conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, an event that brought together professionals addressing issues such as gun violence, homelessness, and youth outreach. Representing COMPASS, he covered the event on social media and participated in several workshops, including one focused on the role of social media in community engagement.

Partnerships matter and it’s good to make connections with other organizations.

His biggest takeaway is the power of partnership.

“You don’t have to feel alone in this work. Partnerships matter and it’s good to make connections with other organizations,” he says. “We have a crew of superheroes here that go in at rough times… They figure it out… They find ways to make Hartford better.”

With graduation on the horizon in May 2026, Noah hopes to continue building his career that bridges nonprofit management, education, and public engagement. Reflecting on his journey so far, Noah encourages his peers to get involved.

If someone offers you a chance to explore and learn, definitely take it.

“Opportunities to get involved in public service are everywhere. Take advantage of that and try to help your local community as much as possible,” he says. “And if someone offers you a chance to explore and learn, definitely take it.”