A human development and English double major, Meredith joined the Media, Rhetoric and Communications Pathway to sharpen her writing and communications skills and learn more about the influence of media.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Meredith was studying abroad in Italy last spring while the country was in the midst of privacy debates concerning TikTok and ChatGPT regulations.

“After observing Italy’s take on the topic, I was interested in comparing and contrasting the U.S. regulations on privacy and how this affects people on an individual level,” she said.

“I believe the stories we tell are the stories that define us. They will extend past us, and contribute to the ones before us. To share a narrative is to learn deeply about people. But what happens when these narratives get convoluted by public influence and misinformation? What’s the cost of having the media curate your life for you? While we love the benefit of the pop-up ads on our Instagram immediately following a conversation that briefly mentioned that Starbucks latte, is convenience worth the cost of our privacy? What is the limit of this curation, and what power do I have as the consumer? How can I control my life and narrative with Big Brother watching?”

The winner of the Pozen Prize for Excellence in Journalism, Meredith completed a research and administrative internship at the Center of Resiliency at Dell Children’s Hospital. On campus, she is a barista at Coffee Grounds, a member of and social chair for Women’s Club Soccer, a senior Admissions fellow, and a writing Tutor for the Roth Writing Center.

At the Symposium, Meredith will present a PowerPoint presentation about how public influence molds and shapes private narratives. After graduation, she plans to move to Spain to teach English at an Elementary school before pursuing a graduate degree in public health.