By Allison Andrade, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department and Plan II Honors Program
I had never considered visiting Panama, so when I excitedly told all of my friends and family that I would be spending the summer there, they were perplexed. The truth is that I had no idea what this experience would look like, but I knew that I was eager to explore and learn, and more than anything, I was passionate about being on a team focused on democratic development in Latin America. I can say now that my internship with International IDEA as part of the Embedded Scholars Program has been more than I imagined, and I am grateful for the opportunity to practice my Spanish professionally, work on fostering democracy, and learn about the diversity and history of Panama.
By Douglas Ramirez, Undergraduate student in the UT Molecular Biosciences Department
“…So like, why are you going to Panama?” A question I was pelted with from all sides in the days leading up to my departure. This question filled my head as I walked into the CID Gallup office on the first day. Admittedly, I felt like an outsider going in. As the only member of the cohort in STEM, at times I felt out of my depth for the program. Democratic development and social conditions have been something that I’ve been interested in but admittedly I didn’t have much formal education on these before the program. I’ve learned through my personal research and have conducted field surveys, but frankly that just can’t compare to full courses. Regardless of any doubts, I decided to go full steam ahead.
By Emma Niewald, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
After interning with the National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia this summer, I feel more committed than ever to pursuing a career in the field of Rule of Law in the Balkans when I graduate next year. Though my path to a career in this space hasn’t been direct, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of. I’m a political consultant with 12 years of policy experience, ten of which I’ve spent in electoral politics. I graduated from Austin College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and French in 2012. After graduation, I interned with nonprofits in Washington, D.C., including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Center for National Policy.
By: Olivia Drew, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department
When I arrived in Panama, I had no idea what I would find or how I would fit into the office there. Nevertheless on May 29, I was there and was slowly learning my place in the city. When I got to the CID Gallup office, I learned more about their work and the reasons why it matters. CID Gallup is a surveying company that collaborates with both the public and private sectors to collect public opinion data about a variety of topics. The work being done at CID Gallup is crucial to understanding the concerns and needs of people in Latin America.
By Grace Morris, PhD candidate in the UT Government Department
My time at the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in their headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden has been an enriching experience both professionally and personally on my path to pursuing my doctorate in Government at The University of Texas at Austin. From the moment I stepped into the Stockholm office on my first Monday morning of work, the warmth from my new colleagues resonated and it already felt like a place I could call home.
By Zack Frailey Escobar, PhD student in the UT Government Department
My experience working with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in Santiago, Chile has been transformative, both professionally and personally, and has left a lasting mark on the way I envision my future as a political science researcher. Working alongside a team committed to defending democracy in challenging contexts at one of the most critical junctures for electoral systems in Latin America and around the world has allowed me to deepen my technical and analytical skills while building collaborative networks that will continue to inform my research agenda for years to come.
By Arion Moore, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department and Liberal Arts Honors Program
The time I have spent this summer in Skopje, North Macedonia has been an unforgettable experience that I will look back on with fond memories and invaluable lessons throughout the rest of my academic journey. As a Government major in the University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts Honors program, the work I engaged in with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) aligned perfectly with my academic and professional pursuits and my desire to contribute to the promotion of democracy.
By Allyson Dean, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
As soon as I wrapped up my time in session with the Texas House of Representatives, I flew to Panama City for the start of the Panamanian legislative session and the beginning of my internship with International IDEA. This internship culminates my academic and legislative experience in government capacity and transparency efforts in Panama. I work at the Panamanian office with a brilliant and incredibly kind team who have shown me the ropes of the National Assembly of Panama and shared insights into local hot spots. Luckily, I arrived just before the second of two annual legislative sessions, giving me time to get up to speed.
UT’s Embedded Scholars program—led by UT Government faculty members Zachary Elkins and Ashley Moran—doubled in size this year to offer internships in more countries with more international organizations working in democratic development abroad.
Started three years ago as a partnership with International IDEA and the Comparative Constitutions Project in Latin America, the program combines in-depth classroom training in the spring with summer internships in democracy assistance abroad. This year, the program continued its work in Panama and Chile, and expanded to additional countries—Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, North Macedonia, and Sweden—as well as additional international organizations—CID Gallup, International IDEA’s Democracy Assessment team, the National Democratic Institute, and Transparency International.
The Embedded Scholars team interning at the National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia met with the Minister of Digital Transformation this week as part of their research on anticorruption efforts in the country. The Ministry’s facebook post on the meeting noted that “We had an honest and constructive discussion on a number of important topics. Meetings like these are a great opportunity to exchange experiences and build bridges with future leaders and researchers from around the world.”
The University of Texas at Austin’s Embedded Scholars program sent its 2025 cohort to Europe and Latin America this week to support democracy and electoral assistance programs abroad this summer. In Latin America, the fellows will work in CID Gallup offices in Panama, and in International IDEA’s Regional Office for Latin America, Chile Country Office, and Panama Country Office. In Europe, the fellows will work in International IDEA’s Democracy Assessment team in Sweden, in the National Democratic Institute’s office in North Macedonia, and with Transparency International’s office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 2025 Embedded Scholars Application is now open for UT students to apply for Summer 2025 fellowships in democratic institutional development in the Balkans, Eurasia, and Latin America. Applications are due by December 1, 2024.
By Geraldine Fandiño Munévar, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
This summer has been an incredible journey of learning and professional growth, as I embarked on an internship with International IDEA in Santiago, Chile. As a master’s student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, specializing in public affairs and Latin American studies, this opportunity not only aligned perfectly with my academic pursuits but also exceeded my expectations in every possible way.
By Paulina Licon, Undergraduate student in the UT School of Social Work
As part of my internship with International IDEA in Panama this summer, I was privileged to join a team from the Electoral Tribunal of Panama in evaluating a groundbreaking nationwide project, the Elecciones de la Niñez y la Adolescencia del 2024. This project introduced a unique voting simulation, where the youth of Panama were not only educated about the electoral process but also asked to vote for four fundamental values: honesty, respect, tolerance, and equality. The aim was to instill in students the importance of these values in their candidate selection, promoting thoughtful civic engagement.
By Andrea Meador-Safont, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department and Plan II Honors Program
Just weeks after Panama elected a new president and National Assembly, I landed at the front steps of a grandiose government building, tasked with helping seasoned researchers analyze the new government citizens chose to represent them. Following one of the most important elections since Panama’s transition to democracy, incoming President José Raúl Mulino has the Herculean task of leading a country away from polarization, political tension, and social divisions while tackling issues of corruption, migration, and the environment. Many Panamanians have expressed disillusionment with their government, citing political corruption as a significant concern. However, amid voter apathy and citizen disaffection, there is a glimmer of hope that the incoming administration may bring about much-needed change.
By Alejandra Vadillo, Undergraduate student in the UT Mexican American Studies Department and Communications Department
This summer, I had the privilege to carry out my fellowship with International IDEA in Panama City, Panama. Working closely with the Institute of Democratic Studies (INED) at the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, I collaborated with some of the sharpest minds in the field to tackle complex issues facing Panama’s democracy, as well as others around the world.
By Andreana Faucette, Undergraduate student in the UT Spanish and Portuguese Department, Psychology Department, and Liberal Arts Honors Program
When I accepted the offer to join the University of Texas’ Government Department and International IDEA in Panama City for a summer, friends and family alike routinely prodded me with the same series of questions, akin to: “Why are you going to Panama?” Many mistakenly thought I was headed here for vacation, while many more simply failed to grasp my reasoning for choosing to spend a summer interning in a place away from home. On the surface, the answer was fairly straightforward. I had spent time there previously, have family ties to the region, and enjoyed my previous visit to the country. But more importantly than that, I was eager to learn, and found this fellowship program to be a unique opportunity to do just that. Over the course of my time interning for International IDEA at the Electoral Tribunal’s Institute of Democratic Studies, though, I’ve surpassed even my own expectations of learning more about the country by integrating myself into the Panamanian community.
By Maria Mercedes Gómez, Graduate student at the UT Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
My internship working for International IDEA was a mixture of personal and professional development in Panama City. I had previously worked on governmental and academic projects in Latin America, but working directly with an intergovernmental organization took this experience to a completely different level. Not only did I have the opportunity to develop two amazing projects regarding the relationships between democracy and gender and democracy and security, but I was also able to attend important events regarding recent elections like those in Panama and Venezuela.
As the Embedded Scholars’ internships come to a close at International IDEA in Chile and Panama, we are deeply grateful to International IDEA and its country partners for hosting these UT students this summer. They accomplished so much on projects spanning a huge range of topics!
By Bourne, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department and Liberal Arts Honors Program
When I first accepted this internship, I immediately saw parallels between Panama City and Austin: two capital cities with amazing nightlife, an incredible mix of biodiversity and modern cityscapes, and the most mouth-watering food at every turn. Now, after spending a month working at the Latin America Regional Office of International IDEA, Panamá has lived up to every expectation, and my time here has catapulted my career in the right direction.
