The Engagement & Advocacy Committee of DSG strives to help aspiring Duke students reach their potential by identifying resources and information that benefit different student groups. It is built on the idea that Duke’s resources are not the privilege of any individuals and should be available to all students who are qualified. The committee recognizes that the hard work and ambitions of Duke students are not always coupled with appropriate assistance and mentorship. The committee aims to elevate the undergraduate experience by providing the necessary resources and accessibility guidance so that students can live effectively at Duke, without fear of hunger, hidden costs, or other equal access concerns.
Projects
- Rapid Response Council: E&A is inviting Duke administrators and student leaders to roundtable discussions, from which admins will take feedback from student leaders, and student leaders will pass on admins’ comments to their respective student groups.
- Hurricane Infographics: E&A is creating visually accessible infographics to allow Duke students to better understand local hurricanes and learn about effective prevention.
- Focus / Constellation Guide: E&A is partnering with AA to improve the transparency and visibility of both programs to first-year students, aiming to eliminate information gaps for students’ class selections.
- Food Points at Athletic Events: E&A is partnering with CL to set up payment with food points at home games.
- Professional Closet for Blue Devils: E&A is working on creating a closet of professional clothes for students in need of professional attire but cannot afford its cost.
- Multicultural Presentations: E&A has assembled a list of cultural organization leaders on campus, and is seeking passionate students to give customized presentations about their roots and backgrounds.
- Undergraduate Food Pantry: E&A, in collaboration with Campus Life & Services & Sustainability, is working on a foundation to create the first undergraduate food pantry on Duke’s campus to ameliorate issues of food insecurity as revealed through DSG’s Hunger Report (link soon).
- Free Laundry Initiative: Due to a past E&A initiative, the committee will oversee the 2025-6 implementation of free laundry, eliminating cost issues for students across campus. Free laundry has now been included in the cost of tuition.
- Accessibility Awareness Initiative: E&A is working to improve the campus experience for disabled students, with efforts focused on housing, Duke games, transportation, and general lifestyle changes.
- Free Menstrual Products in Dorms: E&A worked with Progress Period to ensure the supply of free menstrual products in dorms, and is currently seeking a sustainable commitment to funding for the same products
- International Mentorship Program: The ‘I-buddy’ program pairs first-year international students with upperclassmen (domestic and international) interested in cultural exchanges & mentorship. The pairings are primarily based on cultural backgrounds, nationalities, and languages spoken.
Starter Projects
The listed projects are for first-year senators to become acclimated with the ins and outs of DSG project and program planning!
- Catch A Culture: Invite interested cultural group leaders to produce a public presentation of the cultures they represent, with the goal of promoting diverse cultures to a large audience.
- International Snack Fair: Organize a DISC fair with international students and I-Buddy Cohorts.
- Expanded Dining Information Videos: Continue the Dining video series, helping people identify food options around campus.
- Disabilities Awareness: Produce a report on the disability resources avaIlable on campus and report on the on-campus locations that need more disability resources.
- Menstrual Products to East: Improve access to free-menstrual products in East Campus dorms, potentially partnering with Progress Period
Committee
Edison Chen – VP
As VP for E&A, Edison is responsible for leading his committee and assisting with projects, managing the DSG policy agenda, and serving as the chief advocate and administrative contact for his committee.
Angela Xiong – AVP
Angela is a junior from Fremont, CA majoring in Biology. Angela previously served in DSG as a first-year elected senator and AVP of E&A. Angela’s main goal for this year is to further support for FGLI students through partnerships like Project Period.
Katie Maddock – Senator
Katie is a junior from Winston Salem, NC majoring in Psychology and Public Policy with a minor in Global Health. This is Katie’s first role in DSG, and her biggest goal is to engage with the Duke community and collaborate with her committee to advocate for the needs of the student body.
Luis Pereira-Lazo – Senator
Luis is a junior from Atlanta, GA majoring in Public Policy and completing the Journalism and Media Studies Certificate. Luis has previously served as a E&A senator. Luis’s main goal is to create and complete three projects that promote a more inclusive and diverse student campus.
Angeline Smith – Senator
Angeline is a Junior who started an extension of the Moments of Mindfulness program that specifically creates space for LGBTQ+ students to engage in holistic wellness practices amongst their peers. She’s looking forward to continuing E&A’s work of uplifting diverse groups on campus and ensuring their voices are heard.
Matthew Sun – Senator
Matthew is a sophomore from Charlotte, NC double-majoring in Chemistry and Public Policy. This is Matthew’s first year in DSG and his main goal for this year is to improve resource access and/or provide more resources for international students!
Taylor Moss – Senator
Taylor is a junior from Franklin, NC majoring in Public Policy and Environmental Sciences. Taylor has previously served as a E&A senator, with a focus on campus accessibility. Taylor’s main goal for this year is to continue working on improving campus accessibility to see tangible change.
Christian Linen – Senator
Christian is a junior from Myrtle Beach, SC double-majoring in Public Policy and Political Science. Christian has previously served on the E&A committee, working on initiatives such as an ongoing project in collaboration with members of the SAS committee to improve off-campus medical transportation services for Duke students. Her goal for this year is to continue to advance projects that improve accessibility related to student health, wellness, and support services through collaboration between committees.
Katie Li – Senator
Katie is a junior from Clarksville, TN majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry and Asian Middle Eastern Studies. Katie has served as an E&A senator since freshman year. During her service on DSG, Katie has contributed to major projects, including the Free Laundry Initiative launching in Fall 2025 which provides all students with free access to laundry services. Katie’s main goal for this year is her collaboration with the SAS Committee on a project aimed at addressing hidden costs at Duke, with a focus on medical-related expenses such as transportation to off-campus healthcare services.
Dishita Agarwal – Senator
Dishita is a sophomore from Greensboro, NC double-majoring in Neuroscience and Public Policy and minoring in Computer Science. Dishita previously served as a senator of E&A, and led projects such as a campus-wide infrastructure overhaul and a redesign of campus transit. Dishita also worked to make sure accessibility were central to all efforts, collaborating with university departments to interview drivers, identify a manual scheduling error, and help reduce missed rides and delays. Dishita’s main goal for this year is to streamline the student institutional advocacy process so students no longer have to juggle several departments to secure accommodations, support, or essential infrastructure changes for their safety.
Chloe Whitbread – Senator
Chloe is a freshman from York, Maine planning on majoing in Public Policy. Her goals with DSG this year is to improve equitable access to resource distribution, in addition to expanding the engagement of students with Duke Student Government. She hopes to make Duke a place where all students can thrive on campus. No matter their background, Duke students should have access to resources vital to their success.
Mohid Moneeb – Senator
Mohid is a freshman from Islamabad, Pakistan planning on majoring in Computer Science and Economics. His goal this year is to ensure Duke’s resources serve all students equitably, and promote equity, outreach and meaningful advocacy
Simpson Lin – Senator
Simpson is a freshman from Fort Myers, FL, intending on majoring in Psychology on the Pre-Med track with a certificate in Digital Learning. His goals for this year are to (1) plan, initiate, and execute a project centered around the student experience promoting wellness, mental health, and adequate rest and (2); aid in other projects started by fellow members, build friendship and trust across campus groups, and find ways to further integrate DSG into the student experience. He wants to leave behind a legacy of changes that will continue to aid and guide future students even after he is gone, to enact initiatives that goes beyond just the current Duke, and one that actively builds a better future Duke for all those that come after us.
Asher Schenk – Senator
Asher is a freshman from Chicago, IL, planning on majoring in Economics with a Concentration in Financial Economics. This year in DSG he hopes to, amplify student voices through structured feedback and advocacy channels, ensure equitable funding support for student groups through the committee on financial oversight, and foster a more inclusive campus environment by expanding access to resources and opportunities for all students.
Laith Alhamid – Senator
Laith is a freshman from St. Louis, MO, intending on majoring in Neuroscience with a Health Policy minor and certificate. Throughout his first year in DSG, he hopes to bridge the gap between community and accessibility by creating more opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds to be directly involved in policy reform at Duke. His goal is to make sure everyone feels like they have a voice in shaping the student experience. He also wants to focus on expanding access to equitable mental health resources, because belonging starts with feeling supported, both on and off campus.
Sophie Chang – Senator
Sophie is a fresman from Johns Creek, GA, intending on doubling majoring in Economics and Public Policy with a Health Policy certificate. She’s looking forward to strengthening the connections and transparency between DSG and student groups as well as providing more technical tools and resources to increase the efficiency and productivity of advocacy efforts on campus. She hopes to make student initiatives more accessible, visible, and integrated into the Duke community.
Eithar Wahab – Senator
Eithar is a freshman from Greensboro, NC, planning on majoring in Public Policy on the Pre-med track with a Healthy Policy Certificate. As an E&A senator, she hopes to promote campus inclusivity by working to strengthening connections between DSG and multicultural and student groups to ensure that all students feel heard and respected, despite their backgrounds. Secondly, she would like to focus on expanding accessibility to advocacy resources for students, offering support for those interested in creating student-run initiatives across campus. Overall, she hopes to create a more equitable and inclusive community by focusing on improving methods of advocacy efforts around campus and promoting healthy discourse amongst and between students and Duke administrators.
Aashni Shah – Senator
Aashni is a freshman from Shreveport, LA planning on majroing in Neuroscience. As an E&A senator, she’d like to better understand underrepresented perspectives and help shape initiatives that genuinely reflect the diversity of Duke’s large community. Additionally, she wants to encourage greater student communication between DSG and the general student body, as so many students don’t realize how directly DSG impacts their daily experiences at Duke. Ultimately, she hopes to make DSG feel more connected to the student body and show students that their voices matter.