Melisa Mendez, Indiana University Bloomington
Melisa Mendez is a rising senior at Indiana University Bloomington majoring in political science with minors in international relations, American studies, and Spanish. She is a Hutton Honors student pursuing the Honors Notation and a recipient of both the GROUPS and 21st Century Scholars scholarships. A consistent high-achiever, she has been named to the Executive Dean’s List every semester since entering IU in 2022 and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma–Alpha Lambda Delta. Melisa’s academic interests center on U.S.–Latin American relations, with a focus on the cultural, economic, and political impacts of U.S. foreign policy. She is also drawn to studying political polarization and its effects on democratic governance. Her goals include writing an honors thesis that contributes meaningful scholarship to the field of political science and pursuing graduate study after completing her undergraduate degree. On campus, she has held several leadership positions, including President of the Forest Hutton Honors Council, Vice President of the Ambassador Division, and incoming President of the 21st Century Leadership Corps. As a bilingual scholar fluent in English and Spanish, Melisa hopes to build a career at the intersection of diplomacy, public service, and international policy.