Academic Affairs
The committee for Academic Affairs focuses on supporting the academic side of the undergraduate experience at Duke. We work with professors, administrators, and resource & cultural centers to advocate for students’ needs inside and outside of the classroom. In the past, we’ve worked on projects such as establishing the Blue Devil Buddy program, which pairs first-year students with upperclassmen for mentorship, and launching GRUNCH, an initiative that gives students funding get lunch with a graduate student. Whether you’re studying in Durham or somewhere abroad, AA is the committee working to make sure you have everything that you need to thrive in your time at Duke.
Committee Projects
Leadership
Olivia McConnell – Vice President
As VP for AA, Olivia is responsible for leading her committee and assisting with projects, managing the DSG policy agenda, and serving as the chief advocate and administrative contact for her committee.
Ty Mastrian – Assistant Vice President
Ty is a sophomore from Austin, TX majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Economics. He has previously been elected Senator of Academic Affairs Freshmen Year, and is a Project Lead of Blue Devil Buddies. As Assistant Vice President, he hopes to create a more inclusive and supportive academic environment at Duke by reducing barriers to academic success and amplifying student voices in curriculum-related decisions.
Senators
Sabrina Manero
Sabrina is a sophomore from Scottsdale, AZ majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Markets and Management. Sabrina previously served as senator of AA, spearheading the East Campus Study Spot initiative, including collecting and analyzing student data in collaboration with librarians with the goal of improving the accessibility of study spaces. Her goal for the upcoming year is to create a more transparent financial infrastructure that serves both DSG’s internal operations and the evolving needs of the broader student body by working directly with student organizations that identify persistent funding challenges and implementing proactive support by establishing routine communication to preempt confusion. Sabrina also serves as an elected member of the Judiciary Committee.
Abigail Lau
Abigail is a freshman from Hong Kong intending on majoring in Public Policy with an intended minor in History/Economics. Her main goals this year are to make a difference to protect and advocate for the international community and improve current facilities and create new programs at Duke to improve convenience and integration, providing more resources to students.
Alex Precourt
Alex is a Sophomore from Austin, TX, majoring in Public Policy and Art History. Her first year in DSG, she aims to make study abroad programs more accessible for all majors, particularly Pratt students, through Abroad 101 and to expand career exploration and research opportunities for Duke students. She hopes to make experiential learning more attainable and equitable and ensure that student voices are heard in shaping academic opportunities.
Massimo Reali
Massimo is a freshman from Harrison, NY, planning on majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. He hopes to improve mentorship for students from marginalized backgrounds and increasing open-tutoring spaces for students.
Esha Kalikiri
Esha is a freshman from Cherry Hill, NJ, planning on majoring in Biology. As an Academic Affairs Senator, she hoped to enrich every student’s educational experience at Duke. She aims to make research opportunities more accessible, improve the course registration process, and prioritize mental health in academics. On DSG, she can advocate for students and amplify their voices.
Amelie Calamia
Amelie is a freshman from Redmond, WA, planning on majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Philosophy and an Ethics certificate. Two goals she hopes to achieve in DSG this year are: (1) Demystifying academic planning by making majors, minors, and certificates more transparent and navigable for all students. She wants to create tools and events that help students understand how their choices connect to real-world outcomes; (2) Advocating for policy clarity and reform, especially around course registration, credit transfers, and advising structures. She believes students deserve systems that are intuitive, equitable, and empowering, not ones that feel like puzzles with hidden rules. The impact she hopes to have on the Duke community is a culture shift toward accessibility, empathy, and student-centered design. Whether it’s through clearer academic resources or more inclusive campus events, she wants every student to know they’re supported and they can shape their own path here.
Brooke Revels
Brooke is a freshman from Monroe, NC, intending on majoring in Public Policy with a minor in English, and certificate in Markets and Management. As a first-year senator, she aspires to facilitate the transition of students to college by enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of academic resources for the Duke community. Her objective is to strengthen support for first-generation and rural students through the enhancement and expansion of existing Duke programs. Furthermore, she aims to elevate student perspectives and opinions regarding academic policy concerning artificial intelligence and the availability of resources.
Jonathan Fromm
Jonathan is a freshman planning on majoring in Economics and Political Science. Two goals he has in DSG this year are to improve communication between student government and the broader student body, and to support Abroad 101, which helps make studying abroad more accessible for students in majors that typically struggle to do so. He hopes to make students feel more included in decisions that affect them.
Not pictured: Sarah Wolfson, Carina Kehoe, Quinn Mulvey, Ahilan Eraniyan, Shambhavi Sinha, Noah Tajudeen, Emma Ren