Two doctoral students at the School of Public Policy have been named recipients of the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship, a competitive award that supports women from outside the United States and Canada pursuing graduate study in North America.
Piera Celis and Tania Lamprea are among this year’s scholars selected by P.E.O. International, an organization that continues to invest in women’s education as a way to advance understanding across countries and communities. The scholarship provides financial support and a network of encouragement for students studying far from home.
Both Celis and Lamprea are studying policy questions that play out in people’s everyday lives.
Celis, in her work with the Center for Governance of Technology and Systems, studies how information moves through digital spaces and how that movement can influence political discourse. Her research focuses on information operations, disinformation and the role of algorithms in amplifying content online. She examines how those forces can distort public conversations and deepen polarization, raising questions about how democratic societies maintain trust in shared sources of information. "I’m honored to receive this award,” said Celis, “which recognizes my commitment to impactful policy and helps me continue building that work.”
Lamprea, in her work with the Center for Global Sustainability and the Maryland Population Research Center, focuses on how large-scale economic and technological shifts affect workers. Her research looks at how technological and energy transitions reshape labor markets, concentrating on how workers navigate those shifts and what they mean for economic opportunity, sustainability and equity. “Receiving the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship is a profound honor,” said Lamprea, “as it reflects the power of women supporting women across borders and generations, while enabling me to continue my doctoral studies and contribute to better public policies.”
While their research areas differ, both are engaged in work that reflects the School’s emphasis on policy grounded in real-world challenges.
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship was established in 1949 and supports international women pursuing graduate degrees in the United States and Canada. In addition to financial assistance, recipients are connected to a broader community that provides support throughout their studies. The program is rooted in the idea that expanding access to education can strengthen communities and, over time, contribute to greater understanding across borders.
