PLS PhD students win Diversity Fellowships

May 20, 2024 - Karessa Weir

Three PLS PhD students have been named as 2024-2025 American Political Science Association Diversity Fellowship Program recipients during the spring 2024 application cycle. These fellows are currently in the first or second year of PhD programs in Political Science.  
 
The APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (DFP), formerly the Minority Fellowship Program, was established in 1969 as a fellowship competition to diversify the political science profession. The DFP provides support to students applying to, or in the early stages of, a PhD program in political science. 

Since its inception, the DFP has designated more than 600 fellows and contributed to the successful completion of doctoral political science programs for more than 100 individuals.  

Marzia Hussaini is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University, where she studies American politics and research methods. She is particularly interested in political psychology and identity politics, and her current research focuses on the psychological factors influencing political engagement. Marzia received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, both summa cum laude, from the University of the District of Columbia, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant on various projects. 

 

 
Kelsey Osborne-Garth is a native of Nashville, TN, and joined the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University in the Fall of 2022. At Michigan State, she studies American politics, emphasizing race and ethnicity politics. She is particularly interested in the study of American identity, attachment to national symbols, and how these affect political behavior and public attitudes. Kelsey is particularly dedicated to racial justice and considers herself an activist scholar. In the summer of 2020, she began a petition that amassed over 11,000 signatures to remove a confederate monument across the street from her university’s admissions building. This encounter has inspired much of Kelsey’s work to date. She hopes to continue this career by teaching the next generation in the classroom. You can find out more about Kelsey and her research at kelseyosbornegarth.com. 
 
 
Sofia Rosales is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University. At Michigan State University, she holds the prestigious position of University Enrichment Fellow. Sofia's fields of study center around American politics with a minor in public policy, complemented by a certificate in Chicano and Latino studies. Her research interests lie in the realms of the Supreme Court, constitutional law, and public opinion. Currently, Sofia is immersed in a project examining the impact of Supreme Court rulings on immigration policies on the opinions of American voters. Prior to her enrollment at Michigan State University, Sofia graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Upon completing her doctoral studies, Sofia aspires to embark on a career in academia, where she can contribute to the advancement of political science through teaching and research, nurturing the next generation of scholars.