Hello! I'm Cate, a fourth-year undergraduate student originally from Connecticut in the US, and I study English and Political Science at Brown University. I'm interested in human rights, social movements, US constitutional law, and comparative law. As you might have already guessed, I'm considering going into the legal field after undergrad.
In 2025, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, I participated in an ongoing research project at Brown University called "In the Wake of George Floyd." This project is about documenting current and past protests across Rhode Island in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and writing about them in the context of social movements, racism, and police violence in the state of Rhode Island and throughout the country.
In Summer 2026, for my Leadership in Action project, I am working with the NGO Bibliothèques Sans Frontières in Dakar, Senegal. I am working on expanding access to BSF's educational resources and solar-powered, offline Wi-Fi hotspots to more schools in rural areas across several countries in Western Africa.
My name is Candelaria, or Clara for short.
I am a rising junior at Brown University, where I am concentrating in Medical Anthropology as a pre-medical student. As a freshman, I started working at Hasbro Children's Hospital as an Advocate with Connect For Health, a program that addresses patients' basic needs, such as food and secure housing, in an effort to alleviate social determinants of poor health.
Since last summer, I have been conducting community-engaged health research under Dr. Melissa Palma for Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO). I am thrilled to continue my nutrition research experience with the added dimension of cultural conversation through our study: "Kain na Tayo: Culturally Tailored Multimedia Heart Healthy Nutrition Education for Filipino Americans."
This summer, as part of my Leadership in Action Project, I will be collaborating with HAND-Philippines, a medical humanitarian organization based in Bohol, Philippines, to study the impact of their free cataract surgery program on patients' quality of life, as well as conducting narrative interviews with community members to better understand the long-term effects of their work.
I am always looking for opportunities to connect with researchers, clinicians, and other students who are passionate about positive community impact.
Hello! I've directed the Laidlaw Scholars Program at Brown University since 2023. I care deeply about lifting up the next generation of leaders, change-makers, and engaged scholars to create a more just and equitable world. My PhD is in U.S. History and Gender Studies with a focus on families, childhood and youth. Send me a message if you'd like to connect!
My Clifton Strengths are: Achiever, Relator, Strategic, Learner, Individualization