Michael Rios
Michael Rios is the Data Scientist for the UCLA Voting Rights Project. He holds an MPP from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a B.A. in Political Science from UC Riverside. As a first-generation American, he uses data-driven research to understand disenfranchised communities and inform equitable policies. Michael analyzes population and voter datasets to identify trends and voting patterns, focusing on improving voting accessibility for individuals of color.
Dr. Mindy Romero
Dr. Mindy Romero is the founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID) at USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. A political sociologist with a Ph.D. from UC Davis, her research focuses on political behavior and voter underrepresentation among youth and communities of color. Romero’s work has been featured in The New York Times and Washington Post, and she regularly contributes to CalMatters and Sacramento Bee. She was named a 2023 Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and collaborates with policymakers to strengthen civic participation.
Dr. Chirstopher Towler
Dr. Christopher Towler is an Associate Professor of Political Science at California State University, Sacramento. His research focuses on American politics, race, ethnicity, and political movements. He examines progressive and far-right movements reacting to social change. Dr. Towler holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Washington and a B.A. from the University of Colorado. He has been a McNair Graduate Fellow and Ford Foundation Fellow. His work appears in leading journals and media outlets like Politico and The Washington Post. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.
