Photo courtesy of Mary Joyce.
Mary Joyce, a first year graduate student in the M.A./Ph.D. track in the UW Communication Department, received a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. With fewer of these awards being given every year, it is a generous source of external support for three years, said professor Phil Howard.
Joyce’s research project is titled “The Global Impact of Information Infrastructure on Identity Formation and Social Movements,” where she studies digital activism – how citizens and civic organizations use digital technology to push for social and political change. She said since it is a personal fellowship, the money will support her cost of living and she won’t need to become a teaching or research assistant.
“I’m really excited,” Joyce said. “It will allow me to focus on my research, a luxury for any grad student, particularly one at the beginning of an M.A. program.”
Joyce would also like to extend a special thank you to Professor Howard for “supporting me in this application, writing a recommendation letter for me, and mentoring me in this Department.”