Ashley Avalos '26 is pursuing a History major with minors in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service, Italian and Marketing. Ashley’s interests tap into a breadth of topics that consist of examining the historical, social, cultural and political significance of Public Policy initiatives, Latin American history, and Democracy building efforts both domestically and internationally. She has conducted research in the Vatican Apostolic Library and Archives in Rome for her senior thesis on Mesoamerican codices and their perceived role in society before and post conquest to analyze the indigenous account. Her thesis explores the intentionality behind the codices, who was the document created for, how did converted indigenous scribes tell their story, in what ways were translations a form of rebellion and so on.
Also, in her previous work with the largest Hispanic serving civil rights organization, League of United Latin American Citizens, Ashley has developed a curiosity for understanding and addressing the stark divisions faced by minority groups in today’s constitutional government. Her previous research with the International Human Rights Clinic pushed questions revolving around morality and ethics in government practices when promoting the “public” good. An investigation into topics of colonization, migration, alienation and political cooperation between Latin American powers in the international community and the Latino population in the U.S. are topics she is passionate about.
At Notre Dame, Ashley is committed to instilling inclusivity and comradery through her role as a Multicultural Student Programs and Services Fellow and her participation in 1stGenND, the McInerney Fellows, the Transformational Leaders Program, and Project Fresh.