About

Catalina Vega Méndez is a Democracy Postdoctoral Researcher at the Kellogg Institute, where she works with Kellogg faculty fellow Abby Cordova. She recently earned a PhD in political science from Purdue University, where her major focus was comparative politics with a minor in international relations. At the Kellogg Institute, she will continue her research and scholarly work centered on democratic governance, migration, and political behavior in Latin America.

During her doctoral studies, Vega Méndez specialized in the study of migration policy and political attitudes, particularly in Latin America. Her dissertation, titled "Shifting Borders, Shifting Votes," examined the political effects of large and sudden migration influxes in Colombia, with a focus on the Venezuelan migratory crisis. Her research has contributed to understanding how migration influences public opinion and political outcomes, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. She has published her findings in respected journals such as Revista Latinoamericana de Opinión Pública and collaborated on policy-focused reports on migration and integration.

Beyond academia, Vega Méndez has gained valuable experience through internships and research assistant roles, including work with the Migration Policy Institute. Her expertise in migration, democratic processes, and Latin American politics positions her to make significant contributions during her fellowship at the Kellogg Institute, where she will engage with interdisciplinary scholars and policy experts in advancing democracy research.