KU senior Jade Groobman had long been interested in the many misconceptions that exist about Jewish identity. And as an Asian American Jew herself, she experienced first-hand what she describes as a disconnect between the U.S.’s larger Jewish population and Jewish community members of color.
Nikki Brown discovered her passion for politics, cross-cultural sociology, and pop culture through an American Identities class during her freshman year. Now a junior in the McNair Scholars program, she’s conducting interdisciplinary research on Latinx voting and political attitudes in the 2020 election.
Religion and politics in America can be messy, divisive, and contentious, certainly. But, as Abigail Vegter points out, the topics are anything but boring. In her doctoral research in KU’s Political Science program, Abigail is looking at the overlapping issues of gun policy and religious and political beliefs in the United States.
When Camila Ordóñez Vargas, a political science and economics double-major, traveled to spend spring break with her family in her home country of Colombia, she never imagined that she would be unable to return to finish her junior year in Lawrence.
Two months before the spread of COVID-19 became the center of collective national attention in the U.S., political rivals across the ideological spectrum journeyed to Iowa with their teams for a marathon of non-stop campaigning, hand-shaking, and rallies in an all-hands-on-deck final push to amplify their messages and ultimately find a path to victory.
Why Elizabeth's a Hawk to Watch:
Despite being readily available for some, access to healthy food remains out of reach for many families across the U.S. In Douglas County alone, 19,000 residents are at risk of hunger. So Elizabeth Keever and her dedicated team of staff and volunteers at the nonprofit food bank Just Food are on a mission to combat food insecurity, one meal at a time.
What does human trafficking look like? Most of us have seen stories of captivity play out on big or small screen with familiar casts of villains and victims. Compelling drama, perhaps, but the reality is far more complicated, and closer to home, than we might like to imagine. Make no mistake, says KU researcher Hannah Britton: it’s happening in the Heartland, and often in plain sight.
Fengxue Zhang, a junior from Hays, is studying economics, political science, and creative writing. After moving to the United States from China as a child, Fengxue jumped from major to major before finding a home in the College.
In addition to her studies, Fengxue is a Student Advisory Board member of the Dole Institute, the Co-Curation Director for TEDxKU, and the Public Relations Director for the Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association. Learn more about Fengxue in our latest student feature.
Growing up in Kansas City, Courtland Triplett always knew he wanted to bring positive change to the world but struggled to find the right path to achieve that goal. After carefully considering his options, he found that path in government, and at KU, he discovered a program and people dedicated to equipping him with the tools necessary to tackle real-world problems faced by communities at home and across the globe.
Why David's a Hawk to Watch:
Serious issues call for serious action. And David Toland has long been guided by the philosophy that real-world results are best achieved through a willingness to roll up one's sleeves and work collaboratively to put concrete plans in motion, or as he aptly put it, "stop talking about it -- get up from behind your desk and make it happen."
Why Abbie's a Hawk to Watch: