Deannie is a first-year Ph.D. student in Political Science with a concentration in Comparative Politics and International Relations. Her research focuses on how gender influences judicial decision-making in cases involving human rights, as well as the intersection between climate change, gender, and political representation.

Before joining the University of Kentucky, Deannie earned her J.D from Positivo University in Brazil, where she graduated with a full scholarship. She has professional experience as a law clerk at the Paraná Court of Justice and has been involved in research projects on human rights and gender equality.