Elizabeth Manning '22 is a senior politics major from Chelmsford, MA and serves on the Civic Engagement Committee of the Kevin B. Harrington Ambassador Program. The Kevin B. Harrington Ambassador Program offers unique opportunities for students of any major to assist with NH Institute of Politics events and programs.
In May of 2020, Manning was awarded the Albert H. Gordon Summer Research Fellowship. This fellowship is made available through a competitive process to students of all majors at the completion of their junior or senior year. Awardees perform research and writing tasks related to a project of their own design, with the oversight of a nominating faculty member. Students must demonstrate leadership and critical thinking skills, a proven commitment to civic education and engagement, and a high degree of intellectual depth and inquisitiveness. The Fellowship is designed to enhance the recipient's standing for admission to graduate or professional schools and encourage him or her toward a career in public affairs and public policy.
Why did you choose Saint Anselm College?
I chose it for the Ambassador Program and all the different opportunities to meet politicians. I had an interest in politics beforehand, so I knew I wanted to be involved in that.
What about the Ambassador Program made you want to join?
I knew that the Ambassador Program would allow me to interact with other politics students as well as getting to meet prominent politicians and other important individuals on the political scene. Additionally, I was attracted to the program because I knew it was involved with the presidential debates on campus and other events like Politics and Eggs which features famous politicians. Personally, I was able to see Presidential Candidates Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar each have a one-on-one interview and take questions from the audience.
What are some of the events that the Civic Engagement committee helps to put on?
We plan events such as Constitution Day. For that event, we set up on the quad and handout pocket constitutions with cupcakes to get more students on campus more engaged with Institute programs. The Civic Engagement Committee also holds other events throughout the year such as voter registration day and pizza and politics. On National Voter Registration Day, we have a table on the quad and pass out information on how to register to vote in various states. Additionally, we hand out Ben & Jerry's ice cream along with the voter registration info to attract more students.
What has been the most rewarding part of being in the Ambassador Program?
Meeting other people who are involved with politics and like politics. I have made a lot of new friends through the program. Most are politics majors, but I have met people studying International Business, American Studies, Environmental Studies, International Relations, and Criminal Justice. Regardless of people’s majors, you interact with different perspectives and political viewpoints as the program is designed to be non-partisan.
In May 2020, you received the Albert H. Gordon Summer Research Fellowship and conducted a study on how the media framed the ballot initiative Amendment 4 in Florida. What led you to want to study this topic, and what did you learn from your research?
For my Freshman English class, I did a paper on felon disenfranchisement, so I wanted to get a better understanding of that which in this case was Florida. What I learned was that people would make an appeal to get their voting rights restored in front of the governor, but they would get denied. However, there is no set standard as to voters getting their rights back because it is typically at the whim of the governor. I have decided to go to law school to become a lawyer and the research I conducted was related to Florida’s laws surrounding felon disenfranchisement.