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Have you ever wondered if anemic political outreach to underserved audiences has led to age and race gaps in U.S. elections? Julia Cummings (MBA ‘12), PhD candidate in the School of Public Affairs at University of Colorado Denver, and marketing and communications director for CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development, conducted an experiment to learn more. Her research paper titled “Closing Age and Race Gaps in Elections through Inclusive and Contextual Communications,” funded by a National Civic League grant, coins the term “voting deserts” and appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration.

Cummings’ research examines strategic communications for public engagement. Her study featured a randomized experiment with 416 individuals (ages 18 to 30) in Denver, Colorado. Survey participants saw one of two virtual postcards describing the same public policy issue, each with varying attention to diverse imagery. Findings revealed that young Asian, Black, Latiné, multiracial individuals, and women are more likely to intend to vote after viewing inclusive imagery that reflects their background.

“Conceptualizing ways to drive participation rates in public activities is a passion of mine,” said Cummings. “This study captures the importance of being inclusive of marginalized populations’ priorities and cultural contexts in political communications. Inclusive, empathetic communications make it possible to bridge human differences. We need to make civic activities, such as voting, as welcoming as possible.”

Cummings has worked and studied at CU Denver since 2007 and has featured hundreds of diverse CU Denver administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni through thoughtful storytelling and marketing efforts. “It’s such an amazing research institution that supports lifelong learning,” said Cummings. “I have been privileged to study and work alongside world-renowned faculty members; and I love collaborating with our passionate students and staff.” She also holds a BA in Humanities, magna cum laude, from CU Boulder.

As Cummings' research suggests, inclusive communication strategies are not just an academic exercise. They have the potential to significantly transform communities through strengthening civic engagement. This research offers a roadmap for communicators of all kinds to create more inclusive outreach efforts that foster greater involvement for all.

You may read and cite Cummings’ open access research paper at the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration.

Sign up to take Cummings’ class for undergraduates at CU Denver: PUAD 4003: Strategic Communications for Public Engagement, Fall 2025

Learn more about CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development, a top school in the nation which Cummings promotes in her staff role.

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