Mia Penner is a senior from New York City majoring in Public Policy with minors in Economics and Journalism and Media. Her honors thesis examines how a stronger understanding of American history may help individuals better evaluate misinformation in the digital age. Mia’s interest in this topic stems from her experience at a high school focused on American history and government, where she saw how history education can cultivate critical thinking. In summer 2024, she interned as a fact-checker at PolitiFact during the run-up to the general election, witnessing firsthand the dangers of online misinformation. At Duke, she is involved with The Duke Chronicle and TAMID Group and serves as a research assistant for the Bolch Judicial Institute’s Civics Program. After graduation, she will join Alvarez & Marsal’s Public Sector Services practice in Washington, D.C. as an analyst.
Honors Thesis: Past as Prologue: Historical Literacy as a Predictor of Fake News Discernment
Faculty Advisor: Professor Philip Michael Napoli