Gabrielle Crooks '23

Congratulations to Gabby for being selected as a Haas Center for Public Service 2023-24 Tom Ford Fellow in Philanthropy!  

As a child of parents from the Caribbean who immigrated to the U.S., Gabby has always been fascinated by issues related to migration, a fascination that grew into an academic commitment throughout her time at Stanford. Gabby is also passionate about human rights in both domestic and international contexts (her minor), sustainable development, and environmental justice.

Gabby’s commitment to public service has colored her entire Stanford experience. She served on the Undergraduate Senate for two years, where she advocated for student interests and served on the senate’s Appropriations Committee, providing grants to student organizations. She has worked at the Haas Center in several capacities, including as a student assistant for Cardinal Careers, an Ignite student leader for the Center’s pre-orientation program, and a Cardinal Service Peer Advisor. She has also held leadership positions with Stanford Women in Law, the Black Recruitment and Orientation Committee, and Stanford in Government.

Gabby’s academic interests have led her to write an honors thesis with the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. She is exploring the World Bank’s Inspection Panel, the first accountability mechanism of its kind within a multilateral financial institution. Her research examines the efficacy of the panel in the face of its mandate over time, interrogating if its promises of accountability to communities impacted by its development projects and financing ring true. Her time at Accountability Counsel, an organization that advocates for communities harmed by these institutions, significantly informed her interest in the field of development policy and advocacy.

Through the Tom Ford Fellowship, Gabby hopes to expand her knowledge of how philanthropy can play a transformative role in addressing human rights issues both domestically and abroad. Funding is an important lever for public service and she is excited to explore the grantmaking process.