Paula Armendariz leads research initiatives that explore trust, civic engagement, and democratic values through rigorous survey methodology. With over eight years of experience in cross-national public opinion research, she brings formal training in complex sample designs, advanced survey data analysis, and innovative data collection methods to every project she leads.
At SSRS, Paula helps grow the Civil Society Research division, delivering insights that inform academics, journalists, and policymakers on the issues shaping democracy and civil society worldwide. She is passionate about translating data into actionable knowledge and specializes in designing studies that capture nuanced public attitudes and trends across diverse populations.
Paula holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, where she specialized in democracy, authoritarianism, political psychology, and public opinion. She also serves as a MAPOR mentor, supporting Ph.D. students interested in studying public opinion.