About

This bio is current as of 2025.

Caitlin (Crahan) Rodriguez is a 2020 graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA) and a 2025 graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies (MA). She studied political science and mathematics at Notre Dame and was a member of the Kellogg International Scholars Program and the president of the Notre Dame Chorale.  From 2017 to 2020, her work with Dr. Ernesto Verdeja through the Kellogg ISP focused on genocide and mass atrocities, specifically triggers of and conditions around such events. Rodriguez has worked in immigration law, think tanks, non-profits, and the federal government. She also spent a year living in Amman, Jordan, as a full-time student of Arabic at the Sijal Institute. Through her studies and professional experience she developed a deep understanding and enduring interest in both migration issues and the Middle East. She currently works as a contractor to the Department of State. 

Adviser
Ernesto Verdeja
Major(s)
Mathematics
Political Science
Current Research

Research Interests
I study political science with a focus on international relations, and I hope to find a career that combines humanitarian crises and international politics. I am specifically interested in the Middle East and hope to continue developing my knowledge about the region's politics in future classes, research, and internships.

Current Research
I am currently working with Professor Verdeja to code cases of mass killing over history to determine possible triggers in hopes that this information can predict and prevent future mass atrocities. In the past, we have researched triggers of genocide more generally.