Co-Director, COMPASS

Shani Momodu

Shani Momodu is a high school student from Indiana who is passionate about educational policy. She serves as the Director of COMPASS, where she works with a team to advance post-secondary options for high school students.

Shani Momodu is a student at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School with a strong passion for public policy, civic engagement, and advocacy. A former GRIP Fellow at YIP, she serves as the Director of COMPASS, leading a team to create policy solutions that standardize post-secondary pathways. Committed to educational equity and youth representation, Shani is the President of Learn Like Me, an organization providing tutoring to underserved elementary students, and co-president of her school’s Social Justice Club. Her dedication to community service extends to her role as an Indiana Red Cross Ambassador and founding Youth Executive Board member, where she manages youth engagement across 27 chapters. Beyond competing on her school’s Mock Trial and Speech and Debate teams, Shani serves on the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council, where she delivered a formal policy address at the Indiana Statehouse. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, bike rides, and spending time with friends.

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All articles by the author

The Age of Oil Republics Has Begun

Op-Ed Contest Spring 2026

Shani Momodu

This op-ed argues that the historical concept of “banana republics,” shaped by corporate and U.S. political influence, is reemerging today in the form of “oil republics.” By comparing U.S. involvement in Guatemala to modern dynamics in Venezuela and Iran, it highlights how economic interests in oil continue to threaten national sovereignty. Ultimately, the piece warns that continued intervention risks weakening U.S. global credibility in an increasingly globalized world.

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Policy Briefs by the author

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