Story by Logan Jackson
- Anna Boyle – senior journalism major
- Research Mentor: Matthew Frierdich, assistant teaching professor in the Honors College and the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy
While Anna Boyle expected to spend her time at the University of Missouri chasing story ideas and writing on deadline as a journalism major, she didn’t expect to find a new area of interest – politics.
Boyle, a senior, has since added a constitutional democracy minor and spent significant time in Jefferson City last semester, serving as a legislative intern for two representatives in the Missouri House of Representatives.
“Within journalism there are naturally a lot of political conversations,” Boyle said. “Being in that space and part of those conversations sparked an interest in politics for me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write about politics or be in the room where decisions were actually being made, but I knew I wanted to be involved in some capacity. I don’t think I knew how accessible politics really are, and my internship was a great opportunity to learn more about how these systems work.”
This summer, Boyle is building on her internship experiences through a research project focused on the religious influence on political decisions. Her internship allowed her to see government in action, including sitting on the House floor during a variety of legislative discussions. Boyle said it was interesting to hear representatives quote scripture from the Bible to defend their stance on a vote or their opinion on a bill.
“My project aims to showcase how individuals take their religious convictions and act on them,” Boyle said. “I’m working on examining how religion is showcased on the floor, but my main focus is on how best to maneuver alongside biblical rhetoric on the session floor.”
Boyle’s project includes tackling a variety of readings, such as studying English philosopher and physician John Locke, to establish the philosophical foundation for her research. She’s also working closely with her research mentor, Matthew Frierdich, an assistant teaching professor in the Honors College, the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy and the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs. Frierdich brings a unique perspective to the discussion. He has a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School and worked as a board-certified chaplain before his academic career.
“Dr. Frierdich asked me where I wanted to ‘nerd out’ first, and I felt like beginning with John Locke would be a solid foundation,” Boyle said. “It’s been really rewarding to work with Dr. Frierdich overall, as his background is perfect for a project of this nature. His expertise has been valuable as I’ve dived deeper into the project.”
Boyle’s project is made possible through the Cherng Summer Scholars program, a nine-week research or creative scholarship program for Mizzou students pursuing the Honors Certificate. The program is supported by a gift from Peggy and Andrew Cherng and allows students to participate in individually designed projects under the mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. Students also take part in a weekly seminar course and present their research findings during Mizzou Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Forum.
“I have so much respect for every student in the program,” Boyle said. “They’re so passionate, and it’s cool to be part of a scholarship of this nature. It’s just really fun to have these big discussions about our work and learn from each other. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I hope that one day I’m financially well off enough to give back in this way.”