As part of a larger group for the School of International Service's Diplomacy Lab Capstone Course, Kathryn and her group partnered with the Office of American Spaces in the US Department of State to create a strategic plan for remodeling and reshaping the presence and branding of American Spaces globally.

 

 

This project positions dance choreography as a method to understand coloniality and placemaking, focusing on a self-choreographed solo, Latticework: Wynter°N, the first rain°E, colere°S, s.d.l.°W. Drawing upon Sylvia Wynter’s theories, the solo employs the body to remap place as encounters of power, narrative, and self. The piece traces and contests the white, cis., het., upper-class, male vision of place across time and disciplines, utilizing American anthropology and popular culture as key lenses. Choreography and performance, borne from the redaction of texts and drawings, are offered then as entry points to disrupt colonial-racial visions of place and uplift alternate imaginings of place. In the composed work, the body journeys through binaries of Human and Other and Self and World to arrive at a place awaiting re-definition and co-establishment by audience members and the performer alike. Supporting this journey is a sound design that webs issues spanning global debt peonage to U.S. domestic terrorism and pervasive scientific racism, placing them in dialogue with calls for freedom, love, and community action. The work further engages audience members through touch, sight, and written prompt using paper and cloth to envision their desired place of belonging. The work offers time for necessary reflection and creation that brings forth the relational, collaborative, and creative foundations of place.

 

 

 

 This research aims to answer the question of “whether and how has violence against women in films on the Partition interacted with communal violence in India from 1970-1999?” Given the prevalence of film within Indian society and the growing trend of communal violence, this research seeks to understand how these two inform one another. Violence against women was chosen as the theme to focus on because of the body of the woman is seen as a representation of the larger religious group. Communal violence was chosen because it is a tangible demonstration of Hindu nationalism through religious-based violence. I do this by grounding the cultural analysis of film in quantitative findings of the Varshney-Wilkinson Dataset on Hindu-Muslim Violence in India, 1950-1995, Version 2. The Partition of 1947 was the single largest displacement of people in history, forcing approximately 15 million people from their homes during the creation of modern-day India and Pakistan. The taboo around the Partition has led to limited memorialization, reinforced by self-censorship. One-way that narratives from the Partition have been represented is through fictional cinema. I employed a narrative analysis through an ideological and national cinema lens for the chosen films. Additionally, I conducted a trend analysis across the REPORTED_CAUSE and KILLED category on the dataset. I find that the destruction of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 is a critical juncture since communal violence, which was growing up until that point, decreased after this event and violence against women in Partition film became much more varied and graphic.

 

 

 This semester, the Development Lab partnered with Reach for Uganda/Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH), an organization that "partners with communities in rural Uganda to improve the quality of their daily lives and realize their future potential through improved education, healthcare, and community development". As a class, we investigated the program context, design, and implementation, conducted quantitative and qualitative data collection, and assessed risks and next steps for the program, all with a gendered focus. This presentation will provide an overview of the entire project, with an emphasis on the quantitative data collection centered on education. Through surveys, focus groups, and interviews with AAH alumni and Bududa District community leaders, we found that while some concerns remain, Reach for Uganda/AAH has made a noteworthy impact on attitudes surrounding the role of women and girls in society and education - a shift that has created a visible impact in the community.

 

 

 This project explores the effect of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Supreme Court case on the reproductive health of women in environmental justice communities. Environmental justice communities, areas that suffer disproportionately from environmental hazards and pollution, face increased negative health impacts and social and economic disparities. This project illustrates how the Dobbs decision placed additional burdens on women in environmental justice communities by examining the intersection of reproductive justice and environmental justice issues.

 

 

 This project is a comprehensive analysis of the experiences of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in interacting with the American legal system. I argue that English hegemony in legal processes and beyond contributes to disadvantages in accessing adequate participation, representation, and due process. While the right to an interpreter is available in legal proceedings, this right is undermined by discretion in who qualifies as LEP, inadequate translations, and structural vulnerabilities across institutions and social life. In analyzing persisting problems and current programs in place to address to address these problems, such as the DC Language Access Program, I argue that language services must be implemented on a wider scale. We need accessible interpretation and translation services, improved cross-cultural education, and broader structural support beyond the legal system. These changes will treat multilingualism not as a problem but as a right.

 

 

 It is widely understood in the sector of food and agricultural policy that Indigenous knowledge is fundamentally connected to the extensive liberation of the food systems. This project will serve to better explain how Western conceptions of food sovereignty and food justice have left out Indigenous peoples, and how the linguistic autonomy of Indigenous communities has also been widely overlooked. Language is inherently intertwined with power, and failure to recognize this connection will leave certain aspects of food sovereignty overlooked.

 

 

 

 

 Sprawling and ever-growing terrorist networks are spreading to every corner of the world. Many of the world's terrorist organizations are affiliates or provinces of al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, the world's two most dominant Sunni extremist organizations. Competition between affiliates drastically raises the specter of violence in areas where terrorist organizations have overlapping presences. This research analyzes how terrorist rivalry manifests through the lens of four distinct competition tactics — outbidding, violent rivalry, avoidance, and dual maneuver — and the conditions that influence when groups use each tactic.

 

 

A look into the alt-right pipeline, and what resources have been attempted to counter its influence in American politics.

 

 

 The 2024 U.S. presidential election marked a transformative moment in political media, as podcasts emerged as influential platforms for shaping political narratives—particularly among young male voters. Former President Donald Trump's victory was significantly powered by his strategic use of the manosphere: a network of male-dominated podcasts and influencers such as Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, and the Nelk Boys. These platforms prioritize spectacle, hyper-masculinity, and anti-intellectualism, fostering a community-oriented media experience that bypasses traditional gatekeepers like cable news and print journalism. Reporters Kat Tenbarge and Taylor Lorenz argue this shift was amplified by social media algorithms favoring right-wing content and a post-pandemic surge in online media consumption. As podcasts blur the lines between journalism, entertainment, and political advocacy, Trump’s administration has even begun credentialing independent creators as press corps members, signaling the arrival of a “podcast presidency.” While critics warn of the echo chambers and radicalizing potential of such media, many young listeners view podcasts as more authentic and engaging than mainstream outlets—highlighting a broader generational and cultural shift in how political information is consumed and trusted. 4o

 

 

 Monumental Sports and Entertainment has entered into a ~$1B public-private partnership with the city of Washington DC, securing Capital One Arena as the long-term home of the Washington Capitals and Wizards. As Capital One Arena enters a costly and lengthy renovation process, MSE must find innovative ways to engage with stakeholders and motivate fans to attend the new-and -improved arena. This capstone project explores strategic approaches to this issue, ultimately concluding that MSE should implement a gamified rewards program to drive fan engagement, deepen brand loyalty, and expand community outreach. These findings and recommendations are communicated to the client through a consultant-quality memo and presentation.

 

 

For my capstone, I participated in the SIS Development Lab, where the class worked together to do a program evaluation and gender study of a nonprofit school operating in Bududa, Uganda. We completed the project for REACH for Uganda, a nonprofit started by a Ugandan couple who immigrated to Arlington, VA in the 1990s. The class was split into working teams, and my team was primarily responsible for collecting information about the program context and implementation experience. I analyzed internal reports to identify successes and challenges, and I completed open-source research to collect supplementary information on the regional context. To complement this, I interviewed various REACH affiliates, both on the Ugandan and American side to incorporate their feedback and experiences into my work. This culminated in a final report in which my team combined our section with the risks, qualitative, quantitative, and theory of change groups. I helped facilitate the editing process to ensure readability and cohesion, and I assisted with the development of the accompanying slideshow that will be presented to the REACH board.

 

 

This project explores the economic and operational impact of the $515 million renovation of Capital One Arena on local businesses in Washington, D.C.’s Gallery Place–Chinatown area. As the arena closes for construction during three summer periods, surrounding restaurants, retail shops, and hotels face a potential decline in foot traffic and revenue. Using SWOT, PESTLE, and the Value Net Model, the team assessed the challenges and opportunities for local businesses. To address these disruptions, the recommended solution is a Community Engagement Plan led by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). This includes social media collaborations, community sessions, and access to financial advisors. The plan aims to maintain foot traffic, preserve cultural identity, and provide financial guidance to small businesses. With a clear implementation timeline and cost breakdown, the proposal prioritizes transparency, cost-efficiency, and community well-being during and after the renovation period.

 

 

 The ocean’s midwater is an interesting setting. Sandwiched between sunlight and the seafloor, this is the largest habitat on Earth. The incredible diversity of creatures intrigues many scientists, especially since current knowledge is limited. Its inhabitants are forced to adapt to survive in the extreme habitat. One of the most anatomically diverse groups living there is the aquatic amphipod crustacean suborder Hyperiidae. There are two infraorders of hyperiid, Physocephalata and Physosomata, and two genera that do not fit into either group, Cystisoma and Paraphronima. The groups that make up the hyperid suborder have extremely varied eye, body, and brain makeup. Many other amphipods look similar, which raises the question of why hyperiids evolved this diversity? Hyperiid anatomy seems to align with the conservation of energy. Since nervous tissue is the most expensive to build and maintain, the arrangement and volume of neural populations are often conserved. In the harsh environment of the midwater, organisms must keep only what is absolutely necessary for survival. The high diversity of hyperiids could be attributed to their being the only suborder that spans the entire midwater. Each species lives differently and thus needs anatomy tailored to its lifestyle. This relationship was examined in an allometric study by analyzing microCT scans of hyperiid organisms. From each specimen, volumes for the brain, eye, and body were produced. The results indicate that hyperiids have smaller brain sizes compared to other animals with a similar body size. Additionally, Cystisoma and Paraphronima, are significantly different from other hyperiid infraorders, and thus cannot be grouped together when comparing size relationships of all hyperiids. This study gives insight into these unique animals and how they navigate the severe conditions of the midwater.

 

 

The delta smelt is one of the nation’s most controversial species, inciting hatred from those as prominent as the President of the United States. The fish, listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is endemic to the San Joaquin Delta in California, through which Southern California's water supply flows. Under the ESA, pumping to farms must be limited to protect the smelt. I use difference-in-differences to assess the impact the smelt’s listing has had on agricultural output, employment, and income. I separately assess the smelt’s impact on groundwater levels. My analyses find no change in agricultural outcomes, but a significant reduction in groundwater levels. I quantify the costs of preserving the species through increased groundwater pumping and lower average hydraulic head height. Finally, I conduct a cost-benefit analysis, utilizing pre-existing contingent valuation (CV) research to estimate the non-use value of the smelt.

 

 

 Symbiodiniaceae are a family of photosynthetic algae that form symbiotic relationships with various marine organisms, particularly corals. The relationship between reef-building corals and Symbiodiniaceae is crucial for the survival of coral reef ecosystems. However, it is highly vulnerable to environmental stressors, particularly rising seawater temperatures caused by global warming. This results in coral bleaching - the primary cause of coral death worldwide. Bacteria that live in close spatial association with Symbiodiniaceae are known to modulate algal physiology with potential consequences for coral health. Past efforts in Dr. Cárdenas' lab focused on optimizing the fractionation of coral samples to obtain cleaner Symbiodiniaceae-enriched fractions. Microbiome studies from these fractions have shown that Symbiodiniaceae cells are enriched with bacterial species of the genus Vibrio. Most research on coral-Vibrio interaction has focused on the pathogenic activity and increased prevalence of Vibrio species in coral tissues as a consequence of the rise in ocean temperature. It is also known that temperature is a key contributor to the pathogenicity of Vibrio, which has resulted in the onset of coral bleaching. However, despite being viewed as mostly antagonistic, they are also commonly found in healthy marine organisms, implying a potentially beneficial role. We aim to use Fluorescence in-situ Hybridization (FISH) using probes that target members of the Vibrio genus to confirm their spatial association in Symbiodiniaceae fractions. Fluorescence production was assessed using confocal microscopy on healthy Symbiodiniaceae fractions to prove there is a natural, potentially beneficial association, between Symbiodiniaceae and vibrios.