I graduated in June 2024 from the University of California, Los Angeles, summa cum laude, with a double major in Sociology and Political Science. During my senior year, I completed two senior theses—one in sociology and the other in political science—both of which won the best thesis prize in their respective departments.

The sociology thesis was a historical-comparative project that analyzed different methods of union organizing. Specifically, I focused on how construction unions organize and establish relations with employers, and how this corresponds with more employer-friendly political stances compared to other unions. Additionally, I explored how these organizing methods place construction unions in a weaker position, hindering their ability to challenge management and defend workers’ interests.

The political science thesis examined the relationship between economic inequality, gentrification, and police killings, using census tract household income data and the Urban Displacement Project’s gentrification typologies. I also analyzed the interactions between the race of the victim, the racial composition of the census tract, and the median household income. My hope is that this project contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between race, economic inequality, gentrification, and police killings.