RRI Welcomes Record-Breaking Fall 2025 Cohort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ramos Research Institute Welcomes Record-Breaking Fall 2025 Cohort

CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ – AUGUST 18, 2025 — The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is proud to announce the selection of its Fall 2025 cohort, a team of 15 exceptional individuals chosen from a record 6,700 applicants—a pool more than four and a half times larger than the previous cycle.

This fall’s cohort includes 12 Research Assistants, one Data Analyst, one Development and Alumni Engagement Intern, and one Junior Research Associate, all of whom will contribute to the Institute’s mission of strengthening democracy through research, civic education, and youth engagement.

“Our Fall 2025 class reflects both the growing reach of RRI’s work and the passion of a new generation of scholars committed to civic life,” said Alejandro J. Ramos, Founder and Executive Director of the Ramos Research Institute. “From applied psychology and data science to political science, economics, and international relations, our interns bring expertise that will help expand the Institute’s impact across research and programming.”

Throughout the semester, members of the cohort will advance major RRI initiatives, including:

• The Courageous Dialogue Project — exploring free speech, cancel culture, and polarization on U.S. college campuses while designing a new dialogue and accountability module for the Citizenship Empowerment Framework.

• CivicSpark: The EngageU Project — equipping students with tools to foster low-barrier civic participation and peer-to-peer democratic learning on campus.

• Policy in Action Lab – CEF Activation — rolling out the Citizenship Empowerment Framework across partner institutions through workshops, dissemination plans, and hands-on policy engagement.

• The Great Realignment Project — expanding a multi-decade study of Hispanic and Latino voting behavior into a book manuscript that combines quantitative data with historical context and qualitative insights.

In addition, the cohort will contribute to ongoing Institute research on fast fashion, civic trust, and student engagement, while also supporting alumni relations and long-term development strategies.

The Fall 2025 class represents students from leading institutions across the United States, including the University of California system, Cornell University, Syracuse University, Virginia Tech, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Denison University, the University of Texas at Austin, Fordham University, and others.

“The talent and dedication of this group gives me great confidence that RRI will continue to produce research and programs that matter—both in higher education and in communities across the country,” Ramos added.

For more information about the Ramos Research Institute and the Fall 2025 cohort, visit https://www.ramosresearchinstitute.org/interns.

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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 aimed at addressing today's most complex societal challenges. Founded by Alejandro J. Ramos, RRI is committed to providing innovative solutions and insights in critical research areas. RRI conducts research and policy analysis in democracy, civics, and educational spaces with a focus on rigorous, relevant, and impactful research.

Contact:

Nafisa Ruponty

Director of Public Relations

Ramos Research Institute

Ithaca, New York 14853

www.ramosresearchinstitute.com

Email: NafisaRuponty@ramosresearchinstitute.org