Student Spotlight: Haque Presents at State Department
Sana Haque (Pardee ’18) presented at the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center’s Research Fair and Exhibit on May 2, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Haque presented a poster of her research on “Combating Islamophobia with Comedy.”
The annual fair and exhibit, which was held at the Diplomacy Center at Henry Kissinger Hall, features representatives from colleges and universities who have been asked to respond to a series of research questions related to counterterrorism communications and state-sponsored propaganda and disinformation.
Sana Haque is currently a fellow at the Pardee School’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs. Her thesis was advised by Pardee School Professor Jeremy Menchik. In addition to her full research report and the poster featuring her research, Haque prepared an executive summary and brief presentation of her findings.
Other topics presented at the fair and exhibit included “Countering Violent Extremism in Germany: Challenges and Opportunities,” “Countering Radical Narratives: What Can Be Done to Reach and Assist the French-Speaking Targeted Audience,” “Civic Engagement as a Tool for De-Radicalization in Morocco,” and “China’s Soft Power in the United States: What Can Be Done About It?”
The Global Engagement Center is charged with leading the U.S. government’s efforts to counter propaganda and disinformation from international terrorist organizations and foreign countries. The GEC operates as a forward-looking, innovative organization that can shift focus quickly to remain responsive to agile adversaries. The GEC leverages data science, cutting-edge advertising technologies, and top talent from the private sector. With detailees from across the interagency, the GEC coordinates messaging efforts to ensure they are streamlined and to eliminate duplication.