Tara Hein
Tara studies political science, with an emphasis on political economy and development. Born and raised in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Tara is broadly interested in the relationship between citizens and the state in Latin America. In particular, she is interested in understanding how this relationship can be leveraged to alleviate poverty and strengthen democracy in the region. She is writing her honors thesis at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. Her research examines how low-income individuals in Santiago, Chile, conceptualize and exercise their citizenship. She co-founded SSLAP her sophomore year at Stanford to bring attention to Latin America on campus, creating a space for students to engage with the social, economic, and political issues facing the region and work towards 21st century solutions.