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PLS students shine in Diversity Research Showcase

January 29, 2025 - Emily Jodway

Hosted annually by the MSU Honors College, the Diversity Research Showcase features a broad range of work focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion from undergraduate students university-wide. This year’s showcase featured over 60 students across 12 of MSU’s degree-granting colleges.

The event featured members of the College of Social Science along with other colleges and programs from across the university, showcasing topics such as analyzing barriers faced by Spanish speakers, impacts of technology on human rights, and effects of enculturation through music, among others. 

Poster presenters shared their work online, and they also had the option to informally present their work at the MSU Union to attendees and judges. 

“In bringing together students from 12 different academic colleges, the Diversity Research Showcase highlights how advancing equity and inclusion is a shared responsibility, no matter the field of study,” said Erika Crews, the MSU Honors College director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

“This multidisciplinary collaboration reflects the power of diverse perspectives to drive meaningful change and celebrates the innovative research happening across the university,” Crews said.

Thanks to generous donations from program sponsors, monetary prizes from $150-$750 were awarded to top presenters in the oral and poster categories. Students were recognized for their research at an awards ceremony and reception following the presentations.  

Below are listed the students from the Department of Political Science who received awards at the conclusion of the showcase. More information on all presenters and awardees will be available here. 

Posters

Fourth Prize ($300) 

Abigail Rodriguez

Fifth Prize ($150) – Tie 

Lowell Monis

  • Intersectionality in the Halls of Power: A Study of Diversity and its impact on Policy in the United States Congress and State Legislatures
  • Second-year student
  • Data Science, World Politics
  • College of Natural Science, College of Social Science, Honors College 

Oral Presentations 

Students gave five-minute oral presentations of their research, with two minutes for questions. 

“I felt like it was a recognition of all the effort and thought and time I spent into this research presentation,” said first place awardee Riley Starr. Starr presented her research on sex bias in the juvenile delinquency assessment system.  

“Especially in this day and age, diversity, equity, and inclusion are more important than ever, and I think it shows the importance of the diversity research showcase,” she continued.  

Third Prize ($450) – Tie 

Josie Danielkiewicz

  • Sexual Violence as a Method of Genocide in 1994 Rwanda and Its Aftermath
  • Fourth-year student
  • Political Science Pre-law
  • College of Social Science, Honors College 

Fourth Prize ($300) – Tie 

Anel Robinson

  • Women in Command: Exploring Female Political Representation in Zambia 
  • Fourth-year student
  • Political Science, African American and African Studies
  • College of Social Science, College of Arts and Letters, Honors College