Joy Ruppert is a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Political Science with a concentration in Political Theory. She also minors in Ethnic Studies and Politics, Philosophy, and Law.
As the daughter of two K–12 teachers, Joy developed an early interest in educational justice. She has since worked in the Federal Affairs Division at the California Department of Education, served as an Equity Ambassador for the County of San Diego, and co-developed staff training on cultural inclusion adopted by the San Diego County Office of Education.
At Berkeley, Joy has developed a deep appreciation for political theory, philosophy, and jurisprudence. These fields of study have since helped her theorize solutions to complex questions she encountered in local and community organizing. Her current research interests include theories of justice, political liberalism, and the ethics of political deception. Joy is also a current Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Kadish Center for Morality, Law & Public Affairs at UC Berkeley School of Law, where she engages with research in normative political theory.
Joy enjoys translating academic insights into practical, accessible solutions. In the future, she plans to pursue a JD/PhD to explore how methods in political theory and jurisprudence can offer normative insights into pressing social and political challenges of the twenty-first century.
Major(s): Ethnic Studies, Political Science
Minor(s): Public Policy