About CERL
Formed at the nexus of academia and public policy, CERL is committed to studying civic education and engagement in a democratic society. We work with collaborative partners to unite academic rigor with the insights of practitioners in the field. CERL conducts evidence-based research on the effectiveness of civic teaching and learning at the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Our studies explore the impact of teacher education on student learning and examine students’ acquisition of civic knowledge, dispositions, and competencies through classroom curricula and civic programs.
As the requirements of responsible and effective citizenship in the 21st century have become increasingly complex, CERL examines the role of civic education in preparing young people to navigate the digital age political world. CERL’s research on civic engagement explores the connection between civic education and community involvement. We also track the evolution and consequences of media technology for participation in elections and community affairs.
CERL hosts an online repository of resources and information for scholars, educators, and policy makers. CERL is located in the Graduate School of Arts & Science at Georgetown University.
Research Team
Dr. Diana Owen
Dr. Diana Owen, Director and Principal Investigator of CERL, is Professor of Political Science in the Communication, Culture & Technology program at Georgetown University. She embraces an interdisciplinary approach to research that is grounded in political science, education research, and communication studies. Her current academic research focuses on how civic education prepares young people for citizenship in the digital age. She also studies the evolution of new political media and its consequences for the public and the polity. Dr. Owen has published widely in the fields of political socialization and civic education, media and politics, political engagement, and elections and voting behavior. She is the author of Media Messages in American Presidential Elections, New Media and American Politics (with Richard Davis), and American Government and Politics in the Information Age (with David Paletz and Timothy Cook). She is the co-editor of The Internet and Politics: Citizen, Voters, and Activists; Making a Difference: The Internet and Elections in Comparative Perspective, and Internet Election Campaigns in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Dr. Owen is the principal investigator for research on major projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education in communication with the Center for Civic Education, including the James Madison Legacy Project, a nationwide civics program serving teachers and high-need students, the Presidential and Congressional Academies, and the Project Citizen Research Project. She was an American Political Science Association Congressional Media Fellow. She received the Daniel Roselle Award for outstanding research and contributions to the field of education from the Middle States Council for the Social Studies. Her research has been recognized by the American Political Science Association’s Political Education Section.
Naomi Rader
Naomi Rader is a research specialist with CERL at Georgetown University. Prior to Georgetown University, Naomi was the project manager in the Early Social Development Lab at the University of Virginia. She also has classroom experience through teaching 2nd grade at a Reggio-Inspired school. These experiences help inform her research interests in classroom interventions and curriculum development. Naomi earned a B.A. in Psychology from Christopher Newport University and M.Ed. in Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Patrick McSweeney
Dr. Patrick McSweeney is a research specialist at CERL and an adjunct lecturer in the Government department. He completed his Ph.D. at Georgetown University in 2024, where his dissertation explored generational conflict within the Democratic Party. His broader research focuses on the political attitudes, participation, and representation of young people. Patrick’s work is a constant reminder of the power of young people, and he sees civic education as a crucial tool for preparing the next generation to make a difference.
Originally from New Zealand, Patrick moved to the United States at age 12 and earned his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Before graduate school, he taught 7th-grade social studies for three years—a formative experience that continues to shape his approach to teaching. At Georgetown, he has taught several courses, including “Young People in American Politics,” inspired by his research. He has published about his innovative pedagogy in the Journal of Political Science Education, featuring a lesson that uses archived college yearbooks to explore historic examples of youth participation.
When he’s not working, Patrick is probably watching sports—especially soccer (Liverpool), baseball (Nationals), basketball (OKC Thunder), and cricket (New Zealand).
Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph is a research specialist with CERL at Georgetown University. Before her role at Georgetown, Jamie was the youth program administrator for Le Moyne College’s ERIE21 Program, a tech-focused initiative designed to empower underserved students in Syracuse, NY. Jamie also gained valuable classroom experience as an Americorps Teaching Candidate in the Worcester City Public School District, where she taught 10th Grade U.S. History. She holds both an M.A.T and B.A from Clark University.
Driven by a deep passion for history, civic education, youth empowerment, and community engagement, Jamie’s experiences shape her approach to her work. Outside of her professional commitments, she is an avid soccer player and currently serves as a youth coach for DC Way Academy.
Jonathan A. Hanna
Jonathan A. Hanna (Ph.D., American History, Claremont Graduate University) is a research associate with CERL and an M.A. candidate in the Engaged and Public Humanities program at Georgetown University. At Georgetown, his work focuses on the intersection of the humanities, civic education, and public policy. More broadly, his principal areas of research include early national American political and intellectual history, the history of the American South, and early modern/modern European political thought and American political thought.
Kat Weiss
Kat Weiss is a research associate with CERL and an M.A. candidate in the Communication, Culture, and Technology (CCT) program at Georgetown University. Before attending Georgetown, she earned her BA in English Literature from the University of Central Florida. Kat is primarily interested in exploring the impact of emerging technologies on civic engagement, cultural creation, and media literacy. Professionally, she has worked in higher education support as well as in educational non-profit organizations. She is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections through teaching and is eager to leverage her experiences and passion for education into actionable research.
Nadya Hayasi
Nadya Hayasi is a research associate with CERL and an M.A. candidate in the Communication, Culture & Technology program at Georgetown University. Her research broadly focuses on political participation, mobilization, and representation, with particular attention to immigrant and Asian American communities. Her graduate thesis focuses on multilingual political outreach in U.S. electoral campaigns and its impact on Asian American voter mobilization. Before Georgetown, Nadya gained extensive experience in public affairs, public relations, corporate communications, and marketing. Originally from Indonesia and Singapore, she holds a B.A. in Political Science and History with certificates in Public Policy and Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Charlotte K. Peña
Charlotte K. Peña is a sponsored university associate with CERL and a graduate of Georgetown’s Communication, Culture & Technology master’s program. A strategic communications professional, Charlotte has diverse work experience in education, real estate development and construction, and information technology. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia.
Charlotte is a passionate advocate for colon cancer screening. She founded a colon cancer awareness foundation that raised over half a million dollars to further research and awareness. Charlotte started and directed the first Scope It Out ® 5K race in March 2004, which grew to include more than 2,900 participants in four years. The Scope It Out® walk is held annually in Washington, DC.
Morale Associates
