Student’s life experiences inform political science, media studies scholarship

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Emily Danczyk, being named a diversity fellow for the American Political Science Association (APSA) was a sign that her media, satire and intersectionality research is helping shape the future of political science, she said.

A fourth-year student double-majoring in political science and media studies with a minor in legal studies, Danczyk said the honor affirms the importance of her research in the academic understanding of modern sociopolitical issues.

“Receiving the APSA Diversity Fellowship was a great reminder that there are people and organizations within the academic world who recognize my hard work during my undergraduate career and who support what I want to do next,” said the York, Pennsylvania, native, who recently received the University’s 2026 John W. Oswald Award.

The fellowship, awarded to high-achieving students entering doctoral programs in political science, supports emerging scholars whose work focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion. Danczyk said this research is vital given the polarizing state of sociopolitical affairs in the United States.

“I appreciate APSA’s willingness to take a stance on diversity research, not only highlighting its importance but also supporting the ‘next generation’ of diversity researchers,” Danczyk said.

Danczyk said the fellowship highlights how diversity, equity and inclusion research provides critical insights into sociopolitical behavior that might otherwise be overlooked.

“While the United States has made significant strides toward equality, we still have a long way to go before everyone is truly considered equal,” Danczyk said. “Through programs like the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program, up-and-coming researchers are supported in their efforts to study historically underrepresented populations — such as women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and racial/ethnic minorities — and uncover significant trends that help shape future political science understandings.”

She said the fellowship supports and reinforces that her long-term academic goals are both important and valuable within the broader field of political science. This support, she said, reiterates the importance of her future work and pushes her to look into future research with a focus on intersectionality.

Danczyk’s path to political science began long before college. Growing up, she traveled to 49 of the 50 U.S. states with her family, an experience she credited with shaping how she understands politics at its core.

While traveling, Danczyk and her family visited various military parks, historic birthplaces, national monuments and museums, places she said have enriched her learning and provided a diverse foundation of knowledge that she has built upon while at Penn State.

“You cannot understand politics without understanding people,” she said. “By physically going to different regions of the country, I feel as though I have a better understanding of people, and therefore, a better understanding of why they act the way they do politically.”

Danczyk said experiencing different communities and perspectives firsthand made learning about the country more meaningful and is something she recommends to others.

“The United States is so vast that there’s something for everyone, too,” she said. “Road trips are a great reminder that there’s more out there than what you grew up with.”

One moment from the road trips was so memorable for Danczyk that she made it the subject of her undergraduate admissions essay to Penn State: the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. The corn-themed, crops-decorated tourist attraction is part museum, part art exhibition, with a gift shop and basketball arena, she said.

“The Corn Palace is my go-to example when thinking about political diversity; things that may seem strange to us are someone else’s normal, someone else’s home,” she said. “Everyone’s hometown has its own version of the Corn Palace, whether it be their town hall, their historical sites, their murals, or their meeting places. For Mitchell residents, it just happens to be made out of corn.”

Danczyk said these trips have exposed her to the vast diversity of the country, while also reminding her that everyone is part of the same community. This connection inspired her academic journey.

“I decided to dual major in political science and media studies because I wanted a deeper understanding into the subjects I was studying,” Danczyk said. “After taking different political science and communications classes, I noticed a lot of overlapping subjects and themes, and I was really intrigued by how the same topic could be discussed from so many disciplinary perspectives.”

She said studying both disciplines allows her to apply different theories and perspectives, deepening her appreciation and understanding of each field. By carefully selecting her courses, she has focused on topics that explore the relationship between media and policy, including how media influences regulation, implementation, civic engagement and public opinion, all while supporting her interest in future research.

In addition to her coursework, Danczyk served as a project associate with the Center for Global Studies from 2023 to 2025.

She now works as a research assistant for Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science Adam Nye, contributing to manuscript editing for course readings that will be compiled into a future collegiate-level textbook on rights in America. Her work includes conducting market research on courses and materials related to the development of rights in America and investigating research questions surrounding the development of women’s suffrage in the U.S.

Danczyk has also served as a teaching assistant for Professor of Media Studies Michael Schmierbach (COMM 304: Research Literacy and Media) and Associate Teaching Professor of Media Studies Jo Dumas (COMM 205: Gender, Diversity and the Media) and has received multiple awards and scholarships recognizing her academic and leadership achievements.

Although she originally came to Penn State to pursue campaign management, Danczyk said an introductory course on political satire shifted her focus toward research. The course provided her with a newfound joy in identifying gaps in political communication, gaps she is excited to fill as her academic career progresses.

“Political satire is especially important in today’s political landscape because it has come to the forefront of how we talk about politics,” Danczyk said. “We might not talk about politics at the dinner table like we used to, but we also share memes, tweets and other posts that humorously express our political opinions.”

Classes like Nye’s political science courses have given Danczyk an appreciation for how the Supreme Court operates, particularly why certain cases were brought to it when they were. Although these courses often focused on judicial behavior, she said they have provided a different perspective on political communication and how public discourse shapes policy outcomes.

Building on these experiences, Danczyk plans to pursue a doctorate in political science to further her academic understanding of the impacts of satire, media and intersectionality on American politics.

“I am fascinated by the gaps in political communication research in the United States,” she said. “In the long term, I hope to explore research questions related to citizen satire and how the manner in which we talk about politics online has impacted politics itself within the United States.”

She said she is excited to focus on social media and online communication to better understand how and why people talk about politics the way they do.

“The world is evolving rapidly compared to previous generations, and I’m excited to see research on why my generation behaves the way it does in relation to politics,” she said.

While Danczyk said she enjoys her academics, she also said it’s crucial for students to find time for extracurricular activities and experiences. For her, this includes the Penn State Concert Choir, for which she has served as secretary since 2023.

“My involvement with the School of Music is purely for fun, but it’s a great way of exercising my brain that has nothing to do with political science or media studies,” she said.