Macy Balabon ’28 is a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Data Science. Her research interests center on memory, migration and refugee policy, disability studies, technology, and the intersections of law, politics, and social justice.
Macy is currently a Research Assistant to Professor William Donahue in Notre Dame’s Department of German, Slavic, and Eurasian Studies, where she provides editorial and research support on projects related to memory culture and reconciliation and serves as an editorial assistant for andererseits: Yearbook of Transatlantic German Studies. Her work as a research assistant explores how historical memory and public commemoration shape contemporary debates around justice, displacement, redemption, and human rights.
This past summer, Macy interned in her congressional district office, supporting constituent services and immigration-related casework. She also serves as a Global Peer Mentor, helping international students transition to campus life and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Through the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program, Macy hopes to continue developing her quantitative and qualitative research skills while exploring how policy and historical memory shape contemporary governance and human rights.