We are proud to announce that Maria Sarmiento, a dedicated political science major and active member of the Honors Program, recently attended and presented her research at the University of New Mexico’s Annual McNair Conference, held on September 4-6, 2025.
Maria’s presentation, titled “The Ideological Root of Stigma for Children in Care,” was developed under the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Thomas Hawley. Her qualitative study creates a timeline of the origins of stigma within non-traditional family structures and examines its effects on civil society. Maria’s research examines the philosophical perspectives on the concept of family and investigates how these ideologies are reinforced throughout children’s lives, including in education, policies, and their communities. Importantly, her work aims to identify solutions to biased systems that affect children in care, providing insights that may inform future research and policy changes.
As part of the Honors Program, Maria is engaged in a community of scholars committed to empowering students as leaders. Her dedication to campus life is further demonstrated through her service as the secretary of the Asian Student Association, which fosters connections among the diverse Asian student populations on campus.
Maria’s research interests center on the policies that hinder the socio-emotional development of children, with a focus on improving outcomes for those in care. Looking ahead, Maria aspires to pursue a master’s degree in education, followed by a Ph.D. in Political Theory. Her long-term goal is to become a college professor and contribute to higher education.
We want to congratulate Maria on this achievement and look forward to seeing her continued impact both in research and the education community!
