Ramos Research Institute Welcomes New Members to Scholars Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLIFFSIDE PARK, N.J. – September 9, 2026 — The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is excited to announce the addition of five new members to its Scholars Council. Dr. Jimmeka Anderson of UNC-Chapel Hill, Gerardo Berthin of Freedom House, Patricia Galdamez of the Community of Democracies, Daryna Onyshko of the Youth Democracy Network, and Dr. Eve Rifkin of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College will bring their international expertise, academic excellence, and dedication to civic engagement, democratic societies, and education. They will act as institutional experts helping to guide research and RRI’s overall direction.
“As the Institute continues to grow, it is increasingly important that we surround our work with people who bring both deep expertise and a genuine commitment to the public good,” said Alejandro J. Ramos, founder and executive director of the Ramos Research Institute. “Jimmeka, Gerardo, Patricia, Daryna, and Eve each bring a distinct perspective to the Council, spanning democracy, civic engagement, media literacy, education, and organizational leadership. Their experience will strengthen our research, challenge our thinking, and help ensure that the Institute continues to produce work that is rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the challenges facing democratic societies.”
“I am thrilled to become a member of the Ramos Research Institute’s Scholars Council,” says Gerardo Berthin. “Joining this esteemed group of public leaders and policy experts is a privilege, and I am eager to guide, support, and inspire the next generation of changemakers."
Jimmeka Anderson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Youth Information and a media literacy educator, author, and researcher whose work centers on young people, critical digital media literacy, and equitable participation in digital culture. She previously served as a postdoctoral fellow at Tufts University’s Center for Information Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), focusing on media, youth, and democracy. Anderson founded I AM not the MEdia, Inc. and created Black Girls Film Camp, which empowers Black girls to tell their own stories through filmmaking and media production. She has also worked with New America, the American Library Association, and the National Association for Media Literacy Education. Anderson is co-author of Power Lines: Connecting with Teens in Urban Communities Through Media Literacy.
Gerardo Berthin is a democratic governance expert with nearly three decades of experience advancing human rights, anticorruption, civil society, and institutional development. As President of Freedom House, he leads global efforts to defend fundamental freedoms and strengthen democratic institutions. He previously held senior positions at Freedom House, Tetra Tech, and the United Nations Development Programme and has worked in more than 50 countries across multiple regions. A widely published scholar and practitioner, Berthin has authored and contributed to books, peer-reviewed articles, and national human development reports examining political development, democracy, political parties, decentralization, and the institutional reforms that support accountable and responsive government.
Patricia Galdamez is an international democracy practitioner whose work connects governments, civil society, and multilateral institutions. As Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies (CoD), she supports the coalition’s strategic priorities, partnerships, and engagement across democratic governments and civil society organizations. Her work has addressed civil society protection, inclusive institutions, gender equality, women’s participation, youth empowerment, sustainable development, and the relationship between technology and elections. Galdamez has represented the CoD in international forums and policy dialogues, helping translate shared democratic principles into practical cooperation, research, and initiatives that strengthen participation and accountable governance across regions.
Daryna Onyshko is a Ukrainian civic leader and democracy practitioner whose work expands opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in public life. She founded and manages the Youth Democracy Network, a nonpartisan initiative connecting emerging democratic leaders from more than 80 countries through mentorship, policy engagement, leadership development, and international collaboration. Onyshko has designed youth programs for international organizations, contributed to global research on political representation and civic participation, and helped establish Poland’s Youth, Peace and Security Coalition. Her leadership has been recognized by NATO, the Kofi Annan Foundation, CEPA, GLOBSEC, the Warsaw Security Forum, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Eve Rifkin, Ed.D, is an education and organizational leadership scholar with more than three decades of experience designing schools, informing state policy, and supporting learning communities. At Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, she directs the Leadership and Learning in Organizations doctoral program, which serves mid-career professionals across sectors. Rifkin also leads Vanderbilt’s Academic Leadership Collaborative, partnering with faculty leaders to strengthen collaboration and institutional effectiveness across the university, as well as serves as the Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs at the University. Her work focuses on adult learning, organizational improvement, leadership development, and the systems that enable educators and institutions to thrive. She brings a practitioner’s understanding of how policy, learning, and organizational culture shape meaningful and sustainable change.
To learn more about our Scholar’s Council, visit https://www.ramosresearchinstitute.org/scholars-council or follow us on LinkedIn.
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About the Ramos Research Institute:
The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is an emerging research institution dedicated to original research, polling and policy analysis focused on addressing today’s most complex societal challenges. Founded by Alejandro J. Ramos, RRI produces rigorous, relevant and accessible research across key areas including civic education and engagement, media literacy, democratic resilience and renewal, education policy and the voting behavior of minority communities. Through evidence-based inquiry and public-facing scholarship, RRI seeks to generate insights that strengthen democratic culture and inform policy and practice.
Contact:
McKinley Coontz
Public Engagement Associate
Ramos Research Institute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
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