Leila Diallo is a rising junior at Howard University, where she is pursuing a BA in Economics with a minor in Journalism. She is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, and a member of the inaugural cohort of the Humanities and Social Sciences Scholars Program at Howard University. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of political economy, corporate accountability, and public policy. Currently, Diallo is working on her Mellon thesis, which explores the relationship between firm characteristics, lobbying influence, and judicial ruling in pharmaceutical corporate liability cases.
Diallo has previously conducted research at the Summer Program in Accountability, Behavior, and Conflict in Democratic Polices Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Vanderbilt University; as a part of this program, she studied under the guidance of Professor and William R. Kenan Jr. Chair of Political Science John Sides. In 2024, she presented her work on media influence and voter behavior at the American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting.
Beyond research, Diallo is deeply committed to service and leadership through organizations such as Revolt Inc., which centers educational enrichment and community building.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Diallo plans to pursue a JD/PhD in Economics to further examine the role of law and policy in shaping economic outcomes. This summer, Diallo will be working with ABF Research Professor Ajay K. Mehrotra on the VAT Laggard project, contributing to his research on value-added tax systems and comparative fiscal policy.