India Angelique Simmons (she/her) is a PhD student in the Security Studies Program at the University of Central Florida. As a Ronald E. McNair scholar, she obtained her MA in Intercultural and International Communication from American University’s School of International Service in 2022 and BA in Human Rights, Political Science, and International Studies from Southern Methodist University in 2020 while minoring in Arabic, History, and Women and Gender Studies. She previously competed as a Division I, 400-meter hurdler for Southern Methodist University.
As a current PhD student in security studies, India’s research areas include feminist security studies and gender and politics. Her research examines how militarism, gender norms, and institutional discourse within armed forces shape patterns of gender-based violence, including sexual violence within the military and domestic violence perpetrated by military personnel.
India has worked for the American Political Science Association as Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs for nearly 5 years. Prior to that, she worked as Project Manager for Southern Methodist University Library and Archives. She is married to her best friend, takes care of two cats and an indoor garden, enjoys solo traveling, and is the eldest of four siblings.