The Kellogg Institute at the University of Notre Dame will present its 2026 Kellogg Institute Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student Contributions to two recipients – Laura López-Pérez and Debora Rogo – marking the first time the honor is awarded to multiple students. The awards will be conferred at the institute’s year-end reception on Thursday evening, April 30.
Inaugurated in 2017, the annual award recognizes a Kellogg doctoral student affiliate for sustained and dynamic contributions to the Institute’s intellectual community. Recipients demonstrate meaningful engagement through research, collaboration with faculty, and leadership in programming that enriches the graduate student experience.
This year’s honorees exemplify those contributions in distinct yet complementary ways.
Laura López-Pérez, a doctoral candidate in political science, is recognized for her outstanding scholarly and policy-oriented work on violence, human rights, and collective action in Latin America. Her research on the mobilization of relatives of victims in Mexico offers a significant contribution to understanding participation under high risk. As Mayra Ortiz Ocaña wrote in her nomination, “Her work on the mobilization of victims’ relatives in criminal wars is a crucial contribution to understanding how participation can enhance the rule of law in Mexico and across Latin America.”
Her work has earned prestigious external support, including a dissertation improvement grant from the American Political Science Association, and has resulted in publications and articles under review in leading journals. Beyond her individual scholarship, López-Pérez has been deeply engaged in collaborative research at the Kellogg Institute, working closely with faculty through the Notre Dame Violence and Transitional Justice Lab (V-TJLab), the Eliminating Violence Against Women’s Lab (EVAW Lab), and contributing to projects that bridge rigorous academic research with policy and community engagement.
Guillermo Trejo, who leads the V-TJ Lab, articulated that “Laura’s personal commitment to accompany the families of victims in restoring their dignity has been truly extraordinary.”
Debora Rogo, a doctoral student in history and peace studies, is honored for her exceptional leadership and service to the Kellogg community. She played a central role in founding the Pamoja ND Africa Initiative, a major interdisciplinary effort to strengthen the University’s engagement with the African continent through research, teaching, and policy collaboration. She has also helped the Kellogg Institute’s Africa Working Group, organizing workshops and programming that have drawn participation from scholars both at Notre Dame and across Africa.
As her faculty nominators, Ellis Adjei Adams and Paul Ocobock, noted, “You will be hard pressed to find a graduate student more committed to the Institute.”
In addition, Rogo has actively pursued research and professional development opportunities through Kellogg, securing multiple grants and serving as a dedicated ambassador for the Institute in her fieldwork and conference participation.
Reflecting on the recipients’ impact, Guadalupe Ramírez, senior program manager for visiting fellowship and graduate student programs, emphasized the depth of their engagement:
“Laura and Debora represent the very best of the Kellogg Institute’s doctoral student community. Over the years, I’ve seen how each of them has contributed not only through their own research, but by strengthening the intellectual life of the Institute – whether through collaboration, mentorship, or building programs that bring people together. Their commitment has made a lasting difference in our community.”
Together, López-Pérez and Rogo embody the spirit of the Kellogg Institute Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student Contributions – advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and enriching the Institute’s vibrant intellectual environment.
The Kellogg Institute, part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, is a leading center for interdisciplinary research dedicated to understanding, strengthening, and renewing democracy worldwide.