ELTS alumna Diana Rodriguez was awarded a prestigious Keck Undergraduate Research Fellowship during the 2023–2024 academic year, receiving $10,000 in support from the UCLA College of Humanities to pursue an original year-long research project under the mentorship of Dr. Elsa Duval.
Working closely with Dr. Duval, Rodriguez developed an interdisciplinary research project examining the concept of the Cultural Olympics, exploring the intersections of cultural production, international exchange, and global representation surrounding Olympic events. Her work combined cultural analysis with historical research, reflecting ELTS’s emphasis on transnational perspectives and public-facing humanities scholarship.
The fellowship enabled Rodriguez to conduct sustained independent research while contributing to broader scholarly conversations about culture, performance, and global identity. As part of the project, research materials were prepared toward the development of a scholarly article, demonstrating the level of undergraduate research engagement fostered within ELTS.
Rodriguez’s achievement highlights the department’s commitment to mentorship and to supporting undergraduate students as they pursue ambitious research projects that extend beyond the classroom.