Introducing Paige Gonzales: The 2025 RBSI Scholar from Purdue University You Need to Know!

Meet Paige Gonzales: A Rising Star in Political Science

Paige Gonzales is a senior at Purdue University, majoring in political science and communication. She also minored in human rights studies and sociology. A proud recipient of the Steven C. Beering Scholarship, Paige is part of the John Martinson Honors College.

This Spring 2025, she will join the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, recognizing her academic excellence. Paige has gained valuable experience through her research at Vanderbilt University. There, she explored how political partisanship affects policy design under the guidance of Dr. David Lewis.

Currently, Paige is collaborating with Dr. Jennifer Hoewe and Dr. Brett Sherrick in Purdue’s PRIME Lab. Together, they investigate how media influences political polarization—an increasingly relevant topic today. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, about 64% of Americans believe that social media has a significant impact on public opinion and political views.

Beyond her research, Paige is deeply involved on campus. She is the head of performance preparation for the Purdue University Choir and serves as a team supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush Orientation Programs. Additionally, she is on the Student Life Advisory Board, contributing to community decisions.

As a first-generation college student, Paige advocates for transparency in political science and believes in integrating multiple approaches to understand complex issues. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD focused on political communication and behavior.

Paige’s journey is inspiring, and her commitment to enhancing political discourse is commendable. With young scholars like her leading the way, the future of political science looks promising.

For more about the 2025 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute scholars, you can read here.

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