Debbie Samaniego is from Salt Lake City, Utah where she will earn a degree in Political Science from Westminster College in spring 2017. Her research focuses on the violence experienced by migrants and refugees from Central and South America, as well as the current European refugee crisis. A first-generation Latina student, Debbie has taken advantage of the opportunities offered to her as an Honors student and McNair Scholar. She has been involved with programs such as the Clemente Humanities course, the Westminster Diversity Council, and as a daughter of Mexican immigrants, she focused her community involvement on mentoring minority students.  She plans to study at Queen Mary, University of London.