University of Texas at Austin undergraduate students Andreana Faucette and Paulina Licon have been awarded The Patman Center's Research Award for Renewing Democracy. This award recognizes outstanding thinking that helps our democracy thrive.
Faucette and Licon conducted research about public participation in Latin America and how public participation can offset political power. One specific country they studied closely was Panama and how legacies of colonialism and contemporary societal factors shape Panamanian public participation. By conducting this research, Faucette and Licon hoped to address the research gaps in this topic. Their paper was very insightful on the factors influencing public participation and makes clear that public participation is thriving and essential in Latin America.
Paulina Licon was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Growing up surrounded by a blend of cultures has helped fuel her passion for social justice and immigrant rights. Paulina is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Government at the University of Texas at Austin with an expected graduation date of 2025, and hopes to one day earn a Master's Degree in Social Work and pursue law school. She has actively engaged with the immigrant community in Austin, Texas. During her time at Casa Marianella, she has served as a Case Manager, Support Letters Operator, and Legal Assistant, providing her with invaluable experiences. Beyond her academic pursuits and professional endeavors, Paulina finds joy in reading, nature, and the company of her pets.
Andreana Faucette is studying Psychology and Spanish as part of the Liberal Arts Honors Scholars program with a minor in Rhetoric and Writing. She expects to graduate in 2025. While at UT, she serves as president of the Black Honors Student Association and Senior Print Editor of SPARK Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys writing personal narratives and practicing ballet. In the long term, she hopes to go to law school and practice law while serving the immigrant community in which she grew up.
If you're interested in reading their research, you can find their paper , titled "Public Participation and Democracy: A Case Study of Latin America," here.