Sydney Brake

• M.A. in Research Psychology, UMass Dartmouth
• B.A. in Psychology, UMass Dartmouth
• B.F.A in Art & Design - Illustration, UMass Dartmouth

Sydney V. Brake is a second year Ph.D. student in political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she also works as a graduate assistant. She holds an M.A. in research psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as well as a B.A. in psychology and a B.F.A. in illustration from UMass Dartmouth. Her research in political psychology, with a focus in political polarization, American politics, and political science research methods.

Brake acted as President of UMass Dartmouth’s Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, chapter from 2019-2023. During her undergrad, Brake achieved summa cum laude distinction and was awarded Chancellor’s List.

In Summer 2024, Brake completed her master’s thesis, titled “Underlying Sources of Political Division and Friendship Conflict in the Current Political Climate.”

Brake is the co-author of a book chapter in Modern Friendships: The Evolution of Romance, Friendship and Family, titled "Friendship in the time of COVID-19."

Hojjat, M., Moyer, A., Brake, S., Nelson, B., Richmond, B. D., Schleider, J. L., & London, B. (2024). Friendship in the time of COVID-19. In M. Hojjat & A. Moyer (Eds.), Modern Relationships: The Evolution of Romance, Friendship and Family (pp. 232-250). Oxford University Press.