Research Symposium

BIO

I am a first-generation college student majoring in political science, with strong academic interests in law, writing, and public service. I immigrated to the United States from Cuba at a young age, an experience that continues to shape how I approach education, identity, and opportunity. My academic focus centers on understanding legal systems, power, and social structures, particularly how law intersects with lived experience. Through my coursework and independent study, I have developed a deep appreciation for critical thinking, research, and clear, purposeful writing.

Alongside my studies, I have been actively involved in leadership and community engagement. I have held officer roles in student organizations and consistently participated in service initiatives focused on education, civic involvement, and local outreach. I have also volunteered with Miami Dade College on community-based projects and completed a paid internship with the Education Fund, where I supported staff and administrators with summer programming. These experiences strengthened my interest in law, education, and advocacy, and reinforced my commitment to contributing meaningfully to the communities I am part of.

Expanding The Cold War Through Propaganda

Abstract

This project examines the Cold War through Soviet propaganda. Government-produced materials reveal what citizens were exposed to regarding U.S. capitalism and imperialism before the traditional Cold War timeline, showing that the ideological struggle between the USSR and the United States began long before the 1940s.

Many sources were analyzed, including posters, films, and other government-produced media. The primary source base consists of impactful images by Viktor Koretsky, whose work illustrates how the Soviet state consistently portrayed the United States as a political and cultural counterpoint. Together with other sources, Koretsky’s images show that the ideological battle between Soviet and U.S. ideals spanned from the 1930s to the 1980s, revealing the messages citizens received and how propaganda shaped perceptions of the United States while reinforcing early Cold War tensions.

Keywords: History, Propaganda, Cold War, USSR, United States