Francy hopes to contribute to strategies that promote informed civic engagement and combat harmful narratives in diaspora communities.

A proud Latina and first-generation doctoral student, Francy Luna Díaz is a PhD candidate in political science. Previously, Francy received her bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Arizona in 2019. She is the recipient of several fellowships and honors, including the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship, the Rackham Merit Fellowship, the Converse and Miller Fellowship, and the Hanes Walton, Jr., Fellowship. Her research centers on political behavior, opinion, and communication.

Francy’s dissertation, Latino Political Pulse: The Consequences of Transnational Ties and Misinformation, explores the effect of transnational ties and changes in the information environment on the political attitudes and behavior of Latinos. Currently, she is conducting a research project that seeks to explain changes in Latino voter behavior following the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The project uses a mixed-methods approach, including a large-scale survey of Latino voters, in-depth interviews, and social media analysis. Francy hypothesizes that transnational connections and participation in social media communities contribute to the spread of misinformation in Latino communities. Transnational connections correlate with less faith in democracy, Francy finds.

This research is essential for understanding how misinformation affects perceptions of democracy and political reality. By highlighting how digital platforms influence Latino political attitudes, Francy’s work speaks to larger questions of democratic participation and disinformation. Francy’s mentors at U-M emphasize the importance of her work: “Francy is a talented, creative, and diligent researcher who is at the start of what will, without question, be an impressive career filled with innovative insights.” Whether through academia, think-tanks, or policy work, Francy hopes to contribute to strategies that promote informed civic engagement and combat harmful narratives in diaspora communities.

CEW+ applauds Francy’s tireless commitment to her field and names her a Gutsy Broad Fellow.