Economics Graduate Student Services
The Economics Student Services Mission is to advise our students holistically by providing a high standard of service in a supportive and collaborative environment. Professional and peer advisors work as a team to provide accurate information in a timely manner. We partner with faculty to assist students in engaging with the campus and the global economic community. We value fairness, diversity, and the important roles our students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics play at the University of California, Berkeley.
Meet the members of the Economics Graduate Student Services advising team!
Isabel Compo
Director of Student Services
Education
BA in English Literature from Columbia University
Cal Start
I started working for Cal in 2015 in Residential & Student Service Programs (RSSP). After that I worked as a Graduate Student Advisor for Rhetoric/Film/History of Art and Mathematics before joining the Economics Department in 2022.
Blair Van Tassel
Assistant Director of Course Management, Graduate Advisor
Education
BA in Linguistics and Southeast Asian Studies from UC Berkeley, MA in International Education from NYU
Cal Start
Proud Berkeley alum. My time at Cal was very fulfilling and my involvement with organizations like Berkeley Student Food Collective, BARE Magazine, and SwingCal DeCal helped me find community. I look forward to helping students find the same!
Julia Shefcik
Assistant Director of Graduate Student Services
Education
BA in Literature (creative writing) from UC Santa Cruz; MFA in Creative Writing from San José State University
Cal Start
After working in student affairs at UCSF, I joined UC Berkeley in September 2024 as Graduate Student Services Advisor for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. I transitioned to Economics in November 2025 and can't wait to support our graduate students and greater department community!
Jillian Tracy
Curriculum and Enrollment Coordinator, Graduate Advisor