Joan Joseph, Florida State University
Joan Joseph is a student at Florida State University (FSU), pursuing a dual degree in political science and statistics, along with minors in mathematics and computational science. She has recently completed the Research-Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate in political science at FSU where she conducted empirical research in comparative politics which focused on comparative political corruption. Her current research aims to flesh out patterns of democratization and introduce Haiti as a case that can inform our understanding of the racially charged context of colonialism, as well as its impacts on future development and democratic consolidation. As a Social Science Scholar, a FSU program for distinguished social science majors, Joan has received grants to conduct archival research and trace the progression of democratic consolidation in postcolonial Haiti by probing colonial period political and administrative systems present in historical and oral narratives. Upon graduation, Joan plans to pursue a MS in mathematical statistics, and then a PhD in political science with subfields in comparative politics and political methodology.