Student undergrad research yields presentations, funds

Among the 10 students is Sofia Quiros, whose research looked at hosting the FIFA World Cup to craft an international image. Dr. Bibek Chand, her faculty mentor, said Quiros is "a prolific thinker and writer who is independent, driven and dependable."

"Sofia's research is impactful as it uses a comparative case study to assess how countries use hosting the World Cup as a means of expanding their image and place in the world. The project has the potential to give us insights into how different countries use the same event to pursue similar goals in international politics," Chand said.

Quiros, a Cleveland, Georgia, resident and lifelong soccer fan, said she knew she wanted to research something with international presence and how countries use soft power - a country's ability to influence countries and people through non-coercive means - unlike hard power, which includes factors such as military size, technology and weapons.

Quiros is a junior pursuing a degree in political science. Her plan is to earn a Master of Arts degree in international affairs from UNG and work in diplomacy - ideally as a Foreign Service officer in the Department of State.

"This research paper will prepare me to pursue graduate work, and it will hone my research, writing and speaking skills, which are quintessential for work in diplomacy," she said.

Future presentations include the Atlanta Symposium on Political Science at Georgia State University and the CURCA Annual Research Conference, both in spring 2026. Based on the feedback from the conferences, Quiros said she will be refining her manuscript and will be submitting it for publication to peer-reviewed journals.