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Dania Rau

Majors: Political Science, Communications 
Minors: Spanish, Economics

Dania Rau
Hello, my name is Dania Rau! I am double majoring in Political Science and Communications with minors in Spanish and Economics and I am from Half Moon Bay, CA! I chose political science because I have always been intrigued by history and politics and the role of government in our society and I believe that through involvement in government and the law I can best give back to my community some day! I am really passionate about climate change policy, racial justice reform, and international relations and hope to one day attend graduate school to pursue foreign service. In the year and a half that I have been on campus, I can say just how impressed I am by the political science department and how proud I am to be a part of it. I have loved attending different events, both in personal and virtual, including the Presidential and Vice Presidential debate watch parties, election night watch parties, and the dozens of amazing speakers who have come to discuss their work and how we can get involved. On campus I have been involved in the Honors College, Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society, and have helped collaborate on the planning of the PSA National Research Conference and Orientation Programs' Boiler Gold Rush. I also hold the role of Social Media Vice Chair for the Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement (CCSE) Student Community, Vice President of Community Relations for Alpha Omicron Pi -- Phi Upsilon chapter, and am a member of the Women’s Water Polo Club! Before coming to Purdue I didn't’t fully understand the huge diversity of clubs and student organizations that were available, but since arriving on campus I have found so many different outlets to express myself and collaborate with other like-minded people.

I find new opportunities every day and I am even more excited about each one I get involved with. There really is something for everyone. Through my involvement, I was able to earn a year-long remote internship with the Indiana Council on World Affairs, an Indianapolis-based non-profit that aims to foster public understanding of world conditions and U.S. foreign policy through forums, lectures, conferences, and publications. This upcoming summer (2022) I will also be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain! Studying abroad has been a goal of mine for years and I am so excited to see that dream realized. I love being a student in the College of Liberal Arts because of the tight-knit community that it has. Coming from a very small high school, I was anxious to be on a campus with such a large student body, but being a CLA student has helped me find the closeness I had been looking for. I love the dedication of my professors and their genuine interest in the topics discussed both in class and during outside events. This may sound kind of cheesy, but I would tell all prospective students that college is what you make of it: what you put in you will get out of it. Get involved as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. A lot of people are going to be in the same position as you and you are going to have to work together. There will be some rough days but there will be even more better days and you have to make the most of them.