Democracy and Diversity

Anne Santiago (Political Science and Global Affairs)

Anne Santiago is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs and the Dundon Berchtold Faculty Fellow for Constructive Dialogue. Her most recent research focus has focused on how to understand and bridge differences across identity, experience, culture and belief. She is working to create spaces for constructive and sustained dialogue on our campus as well as to create a repository of materials to advance this effort. 

Jade Cruz

Year: Senior
Major/minor: Psychology major and Philosophy minor
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington

Why PRF: I applied to PRF because I wanted a more intimate relationship with research and its process. Another reason: the topic of "Everyday Democracy" currently feels extremely relevant to my personal relationships and to the current time. I feel that many of us are too familiar with the polarization in the public world but also in our own little worlds, many feel the tension between our friends and families. Having a model around how to have difficult conversations, how to connect with those who are seemingly very different from us, and how to give back to the communities and histories that are important to us, are at the core of these projects and I am grateful to be a part of the process.

Stephanie Vasquez

Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Political Science and Global Affairs and Economics with a minor in Spanish 
Hometown: Beaverton, OR

Why PRF: I am interested in working on this project because it gives me the opportunity to collaborate with others. PRF provides these unique opportunities to connect with all different types of disciplines across CAS. This makes for better research because everyone comes from different backgrounds and that adds so much to our projects.