Undergraduate Spotlight: Faith Fernandez

My name is Faith Fernandez, and I’m graduating with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Political Science. I’ve had the privilege of serving as the President of Stanford Women in Law and as a volunteer and Quality Improvement Officer at the Cardinal Free Clinics. These experiences have allowed me to blend my passions for health, law, and community impact. I’m passionate about systems, stories, and making both care and policy more human, fueling my commitment to equity and advocacy beyond the Farm.

Why did you choose to participate in the Honors Program in Ethics in Society?

I joined the Honors Program in Ethics in Society because I wanted more than just a thesis; I wanted space to ask big questions about law, health, and how we govern in times of crisis like COVID-19. The program’s focus on moral reflection and public life gave me the freedom to explore a topic close to my heart from start to finish. What’s made it special is the support along the way. The structure, mentorship, and community have helped me grow not just as a student, but as a thinker.

What was the most rewarding aspect of your experience in the Honor’s program?

The most rewarding part of the Honors Program has been watching my thesis evolve from a vague idea in the Fall of 2023 to a full, finished project in the Spring of 2025. I began with a broad interest in social determinants of health, but through the seminar, mentorship, and reflection, I found a topic I truly care about. It’s been incredible to see how consistency, support, and a willingness to adapt can turn an abstract idea into meaningful scholarship. 

How would you describe your thesis research? 

My honors thesis explores how the initial consensus around COVID-19 public health measures fractured over time, not because Americans rejected John Stuart Mill's harm principle, but because they interpreted its application differently. I argue that shifting perceptions of risk, political polarization, trust in institutions, and divergent media narratives shaped competing views on what constituted "harm" and whether government interventions were proportional. Focusing on California and Florida as case studies, I examine how value-based interpretations of public health shaped distinct policy trajectories. My research combines political theory, medical anthropology, and ethics to show how deeply held beliefs about freedom, responsibility, and care inform our understanding of governance in times of crisis. This project has been both an academic journey and a personal one, helping me better understand how the systems we live in shape our lives, and how we, in turn, shape those systems through the values we hold.

What opportunities would you like to pursue within the next five years?

In the next five years, I look forward to growing both personally and professionally. I’ll be taking a gap year to work in public health, ideally in a role that keeps me close to communities and the policies that shape their care. I’ll be applying to law school this fall, with plans to start in 2026 and pursue a career in health law and policy. I’m committed to becoming the kind of lawyer who helps make healthcare systems more just, responsive, and human, centering voices and uplifting stories that too often go unheard.