Celia is a prospective Communications and Public Service major, Legal Studies minor. Celia is fascinated by the philosophical and actual role the press plays in democracy, beginning with the construction, implementation, and maintenance of democratic rule. More specifically, she is interested in how the media might contribute to the hyper-partisanship observed today.
Her curiosity was sparked while working as a reporter for a newspaper in rural Arkansas. Working with community members at the local level allowed Celia to explore the critical role journalism plays in a remote town while enabling her to investigate the cultural and political components of news-sharing in a more personal setting. Celia also spent a year interning in the Arkansas Lieutenant Governor’s Office, volunteering after school to work with constituents on citizen-based programs, such as ARKids, an Arkansas healthcare initiative. She was able to use her journalistic skills to disseminate government information through press releases and gauge public opinion to help research legislation.
When she served as a U.S. Senate Page, Celia witnessed the role politics and press play at a federal level. Her experience as a Page allowed her to compare and contrast her perception of policy-making firsthand with the media’s connotative portrayal of legislation. She is also curious about how citizens influence these policies through their interactions with the media and press.
At Penn, Celia is furthering her interest in government as a member of the Penn Policy Consulting Group, which facilitates dialogue between Penn students and political leaders. She is also an editor of the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal and a reporter for The Daily Pennsylvanian. For instance, she co-authored the DP article, “Students eager for Biden to reverse Trump-era environment, immigration, education policies,” interviewing students about their expectations of the Biden administration. She hopes to broaden her communicative skill set through the SNF Paideia Program in conjunction with her major to better understand positive and effective community-based dialogue. Ultimately, Celia wants to foster working solutions to societal and social justice challenges through inclusive and representative discussions and public service. She hopes that this type of dialogue and service will not only better influence public policy but will combat hyper-partisanship as well.