In 2012, 18 students received Service Opportunities in Leadership summer grants to conduct community-based research projects with partner organizations around the world. To view profiles of past SOL students, please click here. 

Even after completing their community-based research projects and coursework, many SOL students take their work further out into the public.  Read more about how some of our SOL students "Go Public" with their work. 

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  Arun Augustine

  is a junior studying Biology with Chemistry and Religion minors from Cleveland, Tennessee. On campus, he is active with in Duke University's Chapter of FACE AIDS and the Duke University Undergraduate Bioethics Society. This summer, Arun will be working with Project Access of Durham, North Carolina.

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  Angie Diaz

  is a rising junior majoring in History with a certificate in Latino/a Studies in the Global South. She is from Houston, Texas, where she volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston this past summer. This summer, Angie will again be working with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston.

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  Renata Dinamarco

  is a junior majoring in Public Policy with a certificate in Latin American studies. On campus, she serves as a student ambassador to the Career Center, works as a research assistant with Professor Nicholas Carnes, and dances on Duke's Salsa team. This summer, she will conduct research on business revitalization in East Pines, Florida, as part of the city's economic development plan.

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  Ian Harwood

  is a junior Public Policy Studies major from Apex, North Carolina. Last summer, he studied Spanish language and Mexican culture while abroad in Mexico and then returned to Durham to intern with a start-up community center that worked with interracial communities in Durham. This summer, he will be working with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

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  Fernando Revelo La Rotta

  is a junior pursuing a double major in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, a concentration in Arabic and Cultural Anthropology, and a minor in Women's Studies. He participated in Duke Engage Cairo in 2010 and is returning to Cairo this summer to work with Resala, one of the largest NGOs in Cairo, to develop an evaluation process for the organization and to explore larger questions of civil society and civic engagement in Egypt.

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  Courtney Liu

  is a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in Psychology, with a certificate in Markets and Management, and a minor in Philosophy. On campus, Courtney is the Campus Campaign Coordinator for Teach for America, a Baldwin Scholar, the Showcase Director for her Latin dance group, Sabrosura, a member of Alpha Phi, and a volunteer for the local sexual assault and domestic violence crisis line. This summer, she will be working with the Durham Crisis Response Center.

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  Wilma Metcalf

  is a junior majoring in Public Policy. She is originally from Marshall, North Carolina. At Duke, Wilma is actively involved in Duke University Chapel PathWays and has worked at a Durham pre-school, Children First. This summer, she will working with Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice in New York.

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  Tegan Joseph Mosugu

  was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and is currently a sophomore. Tegan is majoring in American History with a minor in Philosophy. On campus, Tegan serves as the President of Duke Global Law Brigades, a columnist for the Duke Chronicle, and a policy analyst for the International Association. This summer, Tegan will be working with Urban Ministries in Durham, North Carolina.

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  Arin Pamukcu

  is a junior from Istanbul, Turkey. She is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Music. As a freshman, she participated in the Howard Hughes Research Fellows Program and later as a sophomore with the Howard Hughes Vertically Integrated Partners Program. She also has a deep and growing interest in women's issues and this summer she will be working with the Van Women’s Association in Turkey.

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  Maria Cecilia Romano

  is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Cultural Anthropology and Public Policy with a minor in French. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she and her family currently live in Chapel Hill. Maria is a member of Lady Blue, a female a cappella group on campus. This summer she will be conducting a research project in Togo on the youth migration movement there.

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  Alexis Spieldenner

  is a junior from Tampa, Florida, majoring in International Comparative Studies with a minor in Japanese. Alexis is a harpist and performs with the Duke Symphony Orchestra and Duke Wind Symphony. She also works in the Center for Documentary Studies. This summer, she will be working with KidzNotes in Durham.

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  Nandini Srinivasan

  is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Economics and Public Policy. On campus, she works at the Center for Multicultural Affairs, conducts research with Professor Thomas Nechyba, and is involved with the FAC Board and the Duke University Union. This summer, she will be working with the Kenan Institute of Ethics in Durham and a local refugee population.

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  Erin Sweeney

  is a junior from Portland, Ohio, pursuing a major in Public Policy. Erin is the Tournament Director and Treasurer of the Duke Debate Team, a member of the American Grand Strategy Undergraduate Council, and a member of Alpha Phi. This summer, she will be researching how Democracy North Carolina can increase political participation in Durham's faith-based communities.

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  Ishan Thakore

  is a freshman from East Brunswick, New Jersey. At Duke, he is involved in the WISER club and helps with its educational outreach to new and current members. He is also a member of his dorm’s house council where he helps plan events for freshmen. This summer, he will be working in Gujarat, India, with Indians for Collective Action.

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  Saher Valiani

  is a junior from Fayetteville, Georgia, pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Comparative Studies. Saher will be spending her summer in Santiago, Chile, interning with la Universidad de Santo Tomás and Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes to explore the ongoing needs of migrants.

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  Benton Wise

  is a junior from Marion, South Carolina, majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Education. He is a Benjamin N. Duke Scholar who just completed his study abroad with Duke in Florence. This summer, he will be working with Conservation Trust for North Carolina.

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  Tong Xiang

  is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina. An Angier B. Duke Scholar majoring in English and Philosophy, he co-founded Duke Student Action with Workers, a labor advocacy and solidarity organization. This summer, Tong will be researching expressions of labor solidarity among Hispanic and black workers at the Smithfield packing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina.

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  Anne Yeung

  is a sophomore majoring in Public Policy and following the pre-medical track. She was born in Michigan, grew up in New York, and now lives in Singapore. This summer, Anne will be working with Compassion for Migrant Children in Beijing, China.

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  Alyssa Forman

  is a junior from Pepper Pike, Ohio, majoring in Public Policy with a certificate in Global Health. Alyssa will be spending her summer in Brooklyn, New York, working with the Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice, an all-girls middle and high school, focusing on the best ways to design and implement a summer initiative for ninth and tenth grade girls.

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  Sadhna Gupta

  is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Economics with a Global Health certificate. This summer, Sadhna will be working with WISER in Kenya to evaluate its educational tutoring program.

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  Caitlin Johnson

  is a junior from Granada Hills, California, majoring in Public Policy with a minor in English and a certificate in Media Studies and Policy Journalism. During her SOL summer, Caitlin will intern with WISER in Muhuru Bay, Kenya. She will interview students and teachers at the WISER school to explore the challenges students encounter upon transitioning into the school.

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  Anastasia Karklina

  is a freshman from Riga, Latvia, intending to pursue a major in Human Rights and International Justice and a certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies. Anastasia will be working with Progressive Health Partnership in Kashongi, Uganda, on its community asset mapping project to assess the impact of various development projects.

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  Natasha Kirtchuk

  is a freshman, double majoring in Public Policy and International Comparative Studies. She will be spending her summer in Itacare, Brazil, working with Libelula, an organization that works with young women from local favelas. Natasha will be exploring ways her organization can improve relations with the tourist industry.

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  Sanjana Marpadga

  is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, pursuing a major in Biology and a certificate in Global Health. She will be spending the summer working at a children’s diabetes camp in Tanzania researching the various factors which affect caretakers’ decisions to educate and treat their Type 1 diabetic (T1D) children.

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  Elisabeth Michel

  is a Public Policy major and Health Policy certificate student with plans to graduate in December 2011. Her cultural ties to Haiti, interest in health policy, and love for photography have helped shape her SOL summer project with Family Health Ministries (FHM) in Leogane, Haiti. Elisabeth will be using documentary methods, mainly photography and audio interviews, to gain the community’s perspective on FHM’s work.

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  Sharon Pomranky

  is a junior from Mokena, Illinois, majoring in Russian and Public Policy. Sharon will be working with Project Compassion in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where her research will explore ways to improve the effectiveness of end-of-life caregivers.

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  Ivy Prince

  is a junior from Lakewood, Florida, pursuing a Public Policy major and a Children in Contemporary Society certificate. Ivy will be interning with the Heart Gallery in New York City, which brings together professional photographers and foster children. Her research will focus on creative solutions for placing vulnerable children in stable homes.

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  Raasti Said

  is a sophomore from Karachi, Pakistan. She is a Public Policy Studies and English double major. This summer, Raasti plans to work with the SOS village in Karachi, which has declared full responsibility for all children orphaned in Pakistan’s devastating 2010 floods. Her research will focus on the family units SOS creates and the relationships formed between orphans and their widow “mothers”.

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  Melanie Sperling

  is a freshman from Wayland, Massachusetts. She is undecided on her major but is currently working towards a certificate in Children in Contemporary Society. This summer, Melanie will be mentoring elementary school students and working to develop policies for the BELL Foundation, a Boston non-profit working on parental involvement.

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  Hyejin Sul

  is a junior who was born in Seoul, Korea and grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. She is studying public policy and psychology with an emphasis on education and social policy. Hyejin will spend her summer with Durham's Partnership for Children in Durham, North Carolina.

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  Jacob Tobia

  is a first-year native North Carolinian who is planning to major in Public Policy. Jacob will be working in collaboration with the Marion County Museum of History in South Carolina. He will be helping to create a photography and oral history-based exhibit centering on the stories and thoughts of Marion County residents.

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  Sunhay You

  is a sophomore majoring in English with a minor in Women's Studies. This summer Sunhay is working in Queens, New York, at the Women in Need Center, which primarily serves minority women. Her research will investigate ways to better market the shelter's services to the surrounding Asian-American community.

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  Lauren Zalla

  is a junior from Covington, Kentucky, majoring in Cultural Anthropology with a Certificate in Global Health. Lauren will be spending her summer with Family Health Ministries in Leogane, Haiti. She will be examining the cultural beliefs regarding breastfeeding in the local community, as well as assessing the knowledge of those beliefs among aid workers advocating breastfeeding.

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  Grace Zhou

  Grace Zhou is a sophomore from Cleveland, Ohio. She is pursuing a major in Public Policy, a minor in Spanish, and a certificate in Global Health. During her summer, Grace will be working at Naama Millennium Preparatory School in Uganda. Her research will focus on evaluating the mental and physical well-being of orphans and vulnerable children at the school and the larger community.

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  David Estrin

  is a sophomore. He spent the summer in Durham, North Carolina, working with the UNC Community Empowerment Fund (CEF). He investigated the best way to launch CEF in Durham by examining CEF's experience in Chapel Hill, meeting with community leaders around Durham, and looking at the best practices of other student-led microfinance organizations around the United States.

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  Susan Hilbig

  is a sophomore. She spent her summer in Anchorage, Alaska, working with Defenders of Wildlife. Her project focused on creating a proposal for a social research project that would help her organization to develop an outreach and education program, and a pamphlet summarizing the unique challenges faced by Defenders of the Wildlife.

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  Naomi Kelly

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Jakarta, Indonesia, working with World Vision. She analyzed financial information and local government data to create a unified picture of the health and nutrition situation in Nussa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, and created recommendations on how to prioritize limited funding and maximize impact.

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  Jason Wong

  is a sophomore. He spent his summer in Mbarara, Uganda, working with the Mayanja Memorial Hospital Fund. Jason assessed the long-term sustainability of the Institutional Rainwater Harvesting (IRWH) system in Kashongi, Uganda, and attempted to illuminate strategies for increasing IRWH network longevity.

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  Naima von Ritter

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Guatemala City, Guatemala, working with HELPS International. Naima conducted surveys to determine whether the introduction of ONIL stoves has been successful, and to understand why some women cease to use or fail to fully adopt the stoves, despite their benefits.

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  Linda Peng

  is a senior. She spent her summer in New York working with ACCION USA. Linda explored student-run microfinance initiatives to determine how the organization might operate more effectively.

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  Danielle Potter

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Los Angeles, California, working with Urban Semillas. Danielle followed four students through the summer component of Urban Semillas' environmental education and leadership program in order to assess the impact of the program on participants' attitudes towards their community and future.

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  Hannah Peckham

  is a junior from Phoenix, Arizona. She spent her summer in Durham, North Carolina, working with the Duke University Chapel. She utilized formal and informal interviews with religious leaders and churchgoers to explore the influence of religion in the public sphere in and around Durham.

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  Michael Pell

  is a senior. He spent his summer in Laguna Beach, California, working with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Michael assessed the legal and immigration problems stemming from the organization's use of volunteer farm labor and examined the options WWOOF might have for protecting itself from sanction while staying true to its mission of agricultural education and exchange.

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  Avni Patel

  is a junior. She spent the summer in Gujarat, India, working with P.R. Thakkar Vidyavihar. Avni assessed the educational and occupational aspirations of adolescents at a semi-private Indian educational institution and investigated how the students' aspirations correlate with their parents' aspirations for them.

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  Aishlinn O’Connor

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Cape Coast, Ghana, working with Coastal Television. For her project, she used interviews with community members and local politicians to examine the levels of political participation and engagement in Cape Coast and its Metropolitan Assembly.

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  Sharon Mei

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Puerto Galera, Philippines, working with the Stairway Foundation, Inc. She assessed the nutritional disposition of students at two elementary schools to compare the dietary intake of indigenous students to that of Filipinos.

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  Ji-Hyeun Kwon

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, working with Grupo Venancia. Ji assessed the impact of Grupo Venancia’s sex education program at three public high schools around Matagalpa using questionnaires that were distributed to students, parents, and teachers.

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  Sarah (Hye Jung) Kim

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Seoul, South Korea, partnering with the National Youth Policy Institute. She examined how North Korean refugees' preconceptions about South Korea compare with the experienced reality of living there.

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  Michelle Kim

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Chicago, Illinois, working with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). She conducted interviews with community members and local officials to examine the perceived and actual prevalence of prostitution, and conducted an analysis of local arrest records to determine if new policing strategies were producing results.

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  Rui Jiang

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Durham, North Carolina, working with Church World Services. Rui looked at the food practices and cultures of Bhutanese refugees living in Durham using individual interviews to assess eating habits and to determine access to food resources.

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  Allyson Helmers

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Seattle Washington, working with Legal Voice. She looked at the unique avenues through which a feminist nonprofit organization can provide legal education and services to women so that they are most effectively accessed and utilized.

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  Taylor Hausburg

  is a senior. She spent the summer in Dakar, Senegal, working with Pellital. Taylor investigated the challenges facing Pellital's microloan efforts and made recommendations on how the organization could create a sustainable lending community with available resources.

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  Bradley Baird

  is a sophomore. He spent the summer in Atlanta, Georgia, working with The Hub Atlanta. Bradley's research focused on examining the methods by which Hub-Atlanta can foster greater communication and collaboration among its community of independent social entrepreneurs.

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  Grace Baranowski

  is a junior. She spent her summer in Brooklyn, New York, working with the Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice (UASCJ), a middle school for 150 girls. Grace investigated how American models of female empowerment translate to Brooklyn’s diverse immigrant cultures.

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  Michael Blake

  is a Trinity 2010 alumnus. He spent his summer in Cape Town, South Africa. Michael worked with the District Six Museum to identify ways that the museum can promote its unique story in preparation for the influx of 2010 World Cup visitors.

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  Caitlin (Cat) Crumpler

  is a Trinity 2010 alumna. She spent her summer in Bald Head Island, North Carolina working with the Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC).Caitlin assessed the BHIC’s environmental education initiative to determine how it impacts attitudes about environmental sustainability.

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  Emily Eshman

  split her time between Roatan and Tela, Honduras and Asheville, North Carolina. She worked with both Amigos of Honduras and World Camp for Kids to evaluate the efficacy of HIV/AIDS education and awareness programs in Honduras.

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  Julia Fogleman

  is a Trinity 2010 alumna. She spent her summer in London, England working with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Julia researched how JDRF can support and benefit the type I diabetic community in the United Kingdom.

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  Anne Marie Gordon

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Durham, North Carolina where she worked with Student U. Anne Marie's research focused on how the Student U experience impacts the program’s teachers personally and professionally.

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  Tassity Johnson

  is a Trinity 2010 alumna. She spent her summer in Austin, Texas with Foundation Communities. She researched how individual case-management impacts long-term sustainability for families living in transitional housing.

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  Polly Kang

  is a junior. She spent her summer working with Neuginsunwon (Young Buddhist Association) in Seoul, South Korea. Polly assessed how the program influences youth perception of Buddhism, and how it forms youth value systems.

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  David Kim

  is a junior. He spent his summer working with ACCION in Albuquerque, New Mexico. David researched how the organization can help increase access to business credit and loans for new entrepreneurs interested in economic and social change.

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  Joyce Kim

  is a senior. Joyce worked with the Mozaic Foundation in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina this summer. She researched how efforts to reduce gender inequity have increased civic engagement.

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  Christina Lee

  is a senior. Christina spent her summer in Seoul, South Korea, working with the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI). Christina and Kyu Min researched Korean high school students’ perceptions of the education system.

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  Kyu Min Lee

  is a Trinity 2010 alumnus. He spent his summer in Seoul, South Korea, working with the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI). Kyu Min and Christina researched Korean high school students’ perceptions of the education system.

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  Fernande Legros

  is a Trinity 2010 alumna. She spent her summer at Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados y Migrantes in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Fernande assessed the daily realities of Haitian refugees and offered recommendations for SJRM's long-term accompaniment of refugees.

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  Stormie Leoni

  is a junior. She spent her summer in Los Angeles, California working with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). She investigated how impoverished families cope with local urban issues and the current economic crisis.

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  Bhumi Purohit

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Gujarat, India working with Sardar Kanya Vidyalaya, a school for tribal girls. Bhumi investigated the types of educational/professional opportunities that the girls wished to pursue after graduating from Sardar Kanya Vidyalaya, and evaluated the programs currently in place to help the students achieve their goals.

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  Peter (Pete) Schork

  is a junior. He spent his summer in South Lawndale, Chicago, Illinois working with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). He investigated how LVEJO can improve its community-based environmental education programs.

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  Nandish Shah

  is a Trinity 2010 alumnus. He spent his summer in Phoenix, Arizona partnering with Crews n’ Health Mobile. Nandish investigated how the organization could promote healthy snacking habits among homeless and low-income families.

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  Arianna (Ari) Uhalde

  is a junior. She spent her summer in Accra, Ghana working with Right to Dream. She researched how the organization could guarantee economic sustainability.

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  Antonina Vikhrest

  is a Trinity 2010 alumna. She spent her summer in Guanajuato, Mexico working with Centro Las Libres. Antonina researched what kind of higher education opportunities exist for marginalized youth in Guanajuato, and how local university students can play a positive role in the community.

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  Clara Yang

  is a senior. She spent her summer in Seoul, South Korea working with The Korea Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (KCWDMSS). Clara assessed how the Council’s current educational programs contribute to dismantling apathy and youth disillusionment about past historical wrongs.

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