Political Science, African & African American Studies Student Receives $40,000 NSF Grant

Julie Gallagher

Julie Gallagher, graduate student of the Department of Political Science and African and African American Studies, has received a $40,000 National Science Foundation internship grant for her efforts in advancing the NSF research of Najja Baptist, assistant professor of political science and director of the African and African American Studies Program.

"I have worked on this project since it began in the summer of 2020, before the NSF grant was awarded," Gallagher said of her work with Baptist.

Gallagher has been a research assistant for Baptist since he took her on as a mentee in 2020. With Baptist, Gallagher has overseen research efforts toward his National Science Foundation grants "Exposure to Trauma and Political Behavior" and "Transformative American Politics: Examining the role of organizations and movements in reshaping politics and policymaking" and presented their research both with Baptist and independently at the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. She will present again this year before defending her portfolio later this spring.

In addition to her research efforts, Gallagher has served as a grant site manager and trained vital members of Baptist's research teams.

"It has been a fantastic experience to participate in, train students and watch Dr. Baptist and Dr. [Periloux] Peay's vision come to life," she said. "Setting up research teams at other universities is an honor, as is receiving the NSF internship grant."

Gallagher was admitted into the political science program as an undergraduate in 2019 and graduated with a B.A. in political science with an African and African American Studies minor in 2021. Since then, she has worked as a graduate assistant in the Department of Political Science and the African and African American Studies Program, where she teaches the course AAST 2023 The African American Experience.