Conflict Exposure and Civilian Attitudes
Anne Blackburn
Annie ('20) intends to major in government and minor in geography, focusing on the study of international development. She grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and developed her interest in international development through her high school's partnership with a school in Rwanda. In addition to her involvement with the Political Violence Lab, Annie is a member of DREAM peer mentoring — a group of college students that mentor local children living in affordable housing, and a member of the Varsity Women's Rowing team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, and spending time with her family and dog. After Dartmouth, Annie hopes to attend law school.
Mary Versa Clemens-Sewall
Mary Versa ('20) is a math major and Arabic minor. Her experiences in and before college are a blend of math and science, as well as international study and exchange. She has spent terms in Ghana, Morocco, and Kuwait, exploring her interests in math education and cross-cultural learning. She hopes to use her quantitative background to investigate the effects of conflict exposure on civilians, especially as it pertains to students' experience of school after exposure to conflict. In addition to conducting research in the Political Violence Lab, she works at RWIT — the on-campus writing and research tutoring center — and dances with the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble.
Talia Lorch
Talia ('20) is pursuing a double major in Government and Psychology and a minor in French, with a focus on international relations, international law, and political psychology at the College. On campus, Talia is active in Hillel, World Outlook: Dartmouth’s Undergraduate International Affairs Journal, and Relay for Life. After graduation, Talia hopes to pursue a law degree, and, eventually, a career in international human rights law.
Uma ('20) intends to major in Psychology, with interests in mental health, conflict studies, and child development. Uma became interested in these subjects before starting college, when she spent one year serving as a tutor and mentor to at-risk third graders through AmeriCorps. As she tried to help her students learn and overcome emotional challenges, Uma grew more interested in the human mind. Outside of the Political Violence Lab, Uma is the President of Health Access For All (HAFA), a student group with the mission of fighting healthcare inequalities in the Upper Valley. She also serves as a member of the Student and Presidential Committee on Sexual Assault (SPCSA) and the Student Advisory Board for the Sexual Violence Prevention Project. After graduating from Dartmouth, she hopes to pursue her research interests through a career in academia.
Uma Ramesh
Dania ('20) studies Arabic and Government with a focus on comparative politics, particularly in the Middle East and Latin America at the College. She is a member of the Hill Winds Society and has served as an events intern at the Dickey Center for International Understanding. She works as a tutor for America Reads, digital communications intern for Dartmouth Advancement, and tutor for the Spanish Department. She recently interned with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence. Through her research, she hopes to deepen her understanding of civilian effects and responses arising from political violence across different populations.
Dania Torres
Ellie ('20) studies sociology and geography at Dartmouth College. In addition to her involvement in the Political Violence Lab, she is also heavily involved in her sorority Sigma Delta and the sexual violence prevention group Movement Against Violence. She also volunteers at a local elementary school through a club called Growing Change, and does additional research in the sociology department. Hailing from Reading, Massachusetts, Ellie enjoys spending time with her family and her dog Gus.