Congratulations to our February Student of the Month, Emily Danczyk!
The Political Science Department is proud to recognize Emily Danczyk as our February Student of the Month. Emily will be graduating this May with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Media Studies, a minor in Legal Studies, and a certificate in Diversity Studies. In addition to achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA in her coursework, she has an outstanding record of service to both of her departments as a research and teaching assistant. She has even co-authored a textbook under contract for publication in 2026! Emily was awarded the American Political Science Association Diversity Fellowship to support her pursuit of a Ph.D. in political science after she graduates.
In her choice of majors Emily embraced a curriculum that enabled her to explore the relationship between public policy and the media and its consequences for democratic effectiveness. Her research has focused on media impacts on regulation, statutory implementation, public perceptions of government, and civic engagement. Notably, she pursued her interest in these themes through her general education coursework in tandem with her political science classes. MATH 36 gave her an opportunity to evaluate voting methods and redistricting efforts. English 15 was a chance to analyze the impact of Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot rules on collegiate civic participation. General education courses also led her to discover satire as a powerful source of political critique and democratic accountability, and her remarkable collaboration with Dr. Sophia A. McClennen on the textbook Modern Political Satire: An Introduction. In addition to co-writing the textbook, Emily’s contribution to the project included leading a team of research assistants, assembling and synthesizing a database of satirical artifacts, and designing graphics.
Emily has served the Penn State community in a variety of important ways. Her research portfolio includes contribution to a book project on the development of rights in American with Dr. Adam Nye, work as an exit pollster on Election Day 2024 under the direction of Dr. Justin Crofoot for the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, and service as a project associate at the Center for Global Studies (CGS). She supported the learning of her peers as a teaching assistant for courses in media studies and as the social chair for the Earth House, which seeks to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into collegiate lifestyles. As secretary of the Penn State Concert Choir, she raised the group’s visibility through social media and coordinated international tours across Europe. Beyond campus, Emily mentors high school students in developing civic awareness and leadership confidence through Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY).
Emily’s excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, President Sparks Award, President Walker Award, Richards Media & Law Award, Kim Anderson Memorial Scholarship in Political Science, and the Student
Leadership Scholarship. In January, the American Political Science Association added the APSA Diversity Fellowship to this impressive list.
Looking ahead, Emily plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science, with the goal of becoming a scholar and educator specializing in the intersection of media and politics. She hopes to help future students develop critical thinking skills, engage meaningfully with political systems, and develop their own informed perspectives on policy and democratic participation.
