The Hart Leadership Program is pleased to announce the 2025 Fellows for SOL – the Service Opportunities in Leadership Program.
SOL is a nationally recognized, intensive 12-month leadership program for Duke undergraduates who seek to deepen their capacity to build community, address complex social issues, and implement systemic change. What might leadership look like when we begin with community? How are individual lives of commitment to the common good formed and sustained in community with others? Engaging deeply with these questions, the new SOL Fellows will establish a community of practice in their spring gateway course, “Leading In and With Community” (PUBPOL 263S), taught by Professor Alexandra Zagbayou. Together, students will explore the theory and practice of ethical community engagement as well as frameworks for leadership that enable social change to flourish within communities. In the summer months, SOL Fellows will then apply and expand their learning during an immersive internship experience developed in collaboration with a community partner. Returning to campus in the fall, SOL Fellows will reflect on and continue their learning in a capstone course, “Communities of Practice” (PUBPOL 415), taught by Professor Andrew Nurkin. SOL Fellows will also have the opportunity to make their work public.
Introducing the 2025 SOL Fellows:
Advikaa Anand is a junior from Madison, Mississippi studying Public Policy and Economics. She is especially interested in health policy and passionate about the issue of reproductive justice. In the summer before college, Advikaa covered the overturning of Roe for two local newspapers. While at Duke, she has worked with a women’s health startup to facilitate their advocacy efforts for comprehensive access to abortion and birth control and also interned at 120/80 Group, the nation’s leading digital health consultancy. As a result of these efforts, Advikaa was invited to speak on a panel at SXSW EDU to reflect on her experiences accessing reproductive healthcare in higher education spaces. On campus, she serves as a Managing Editor and columnist for the Duke Chronicle, Vice President of Communications for the Public Policy Majors’ Union, and a research assistant for the Nicholas School of the Environment’s Environmental Justice Lab. In her free time, you’ll find her listening to Bollywood music and eating good food with her friends and family.
Caroline Yoon is a junior from Long Island, New York majoring in Biology and Computer Science. She is passionate about tackling systemic healthcare issues through collaborative, community-led efforts. With a focus on fostering age-friendly communities, Caroline works actively with Aging Well Durham to improve quality of life for older adults by promoting accessible housing, transportation, and social engagement. As community advocate through the Community Empowerment Fund, she works with Durham residents in reaching their housing, financial, and employment goals. On campus, Caroline is involved with health policy research at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke Technology Scholars, and teaching computer science to Durham middle and high school students.
Catalina Giraldo is a QuestBridge Scholar from Cali, Colombia pursuing a major in Public Policy and a minor in Education and Psychology. At Duke University, she is currently exploring the intersection of policy and education in the Latinx community. As a part of this exploration, she is working to establish a mentorship program with high schools across Durham through her role as Community Affairs Chair for Mi Gente. Beyond campus, Catalina works to improve educational outcomes for young Latinx children by participating in local programs such as Homework Con Amigos. She is also interested in reproductive justice, immigration, environmental policy, and prison reform – fields she has explored through academic research. During her free time, Catalina enjoys lifting at the gym, reading novels, and spending time with family and friends.
Cecelia Wasco is a junior from Neenah, Wisconsin majoring in Public Policy, minoring in Chemistry, and pursuing a Human Rights certificate. She researches reproductive health policy in North Carolina and works as an emergency medical technician (EMT). She is passionate about improving healthcare access through health education and equitable healthcare policy, especially in Latinx and rural communities. On campus, Cecelia is involved with the Latinx affinity group Mi Gente, Duke EMS, and Duke Women’s Club Soccer. She also works as a barista at Duke Coffeehouse and volunteers as a tutor at Cristo Rey Research Triangle High School. She enjoys playing soccer, running, journaling, and hanging out with friends at Mi Gente events.
Eujin Chung is a sophomore from Frisco, Texas hoping to pursue a major in neuroscience and certificates in health policy and child policy research. She is passionate about understanding the social and systemic inequalities faced by underrepresented youth populations, particularly in health care and the education system. She is interested in molding a community-based solution, using the voices of families to highlight the importance of understanding the experiences of the communities themselves to shape policy. At Duke, Eujin is involved with the Faw Lab, the Pediatrics Supporting Parents group, FEMMES+, DukeHANDS, and SCOHP. During her free time, she likes to volunteer with North Carolina Destination Imagination, crochet stuffed animals, and stalk the Crumbl Instagram page.
Jason Lilly is a first-year student from Columbia, Maryland in Howard County. He plans to major in Chemistry, minor in Psychology, and pursue a certificate in Global Health. On campus, Jason is involved with the Duke Medical Ethics Journal, participates in Duke University Union through the WXDU (Student Radio) and FIPs committees, and is a cadet in Air Force ROTC. His research interests include Exercise Physiology, Physical Rehabilitation, Exercise Biomechanics, Healthcare Disparities, and Global Nutrition, and he aims to pursue a career in sports medicine. Outside academics, Jason aspires to become a personal trainer and develop his skills as a music producer. He enjoys playing any kind of racquet sport, especially tennis and pickleball, and loves to hike. Passionate about addressing healthcare inequality, Jason is committed to advocating for accessible healthcare in underserved communities and reducing financial barriers to care.
Krishna Shah is a sophomore from Miami, Florida pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Economics with a minor in Spanish. On campus, she hopes to facilitate civil discourse on domestic and international issues through her involvement in Mi Gente as co-Academic Affairs chair, POLIS as Vice President of Events, and Alexander Hamilton Society as Programming Co-Chair. Krishna is particularly interested in investigating the impact of US policies on Latin American governments, especially in the past century. Through SOL, she hopes to focus on Puerto Rico because of her familial ties and the island’s unique history. Outside of academics, Krishna enjoys art, musical theater, making matcha lattes, and hosting movie nights.
Letar Jia is a junior from Tibet majoring in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Earth and Climate Sciences and Cinematic Arts as well as a certificate in Documentary Studies. He is passionate about traveling internationally, engaging with local communities, and sharing their stories through film and writing. In addition to publishing two books and producing two short documentary films, Letar has camped at Everest Base Camp and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. A fun fact about Letar is that he thinks in four languages and, as a filmmaker, he also thinks visually, framing each story through the lens.
Olivia Schramkowski is a junior studying how culture and grassroots organizing affect politics in the southern United States through Program II. She is passionate about empowering communities and enacting change around major social issues, particularly gun violence prevention and voting rights. At Duke she is involved in Duke Student Government, The North Carolina Voting Rights Lab, and The Chronicle. In her free time, she loves to dance and mentor local youth.
Sally Maroa is a sophomore majoring in Global Health and International Comparative Studies and minoring in Spanish. She has lived in Kenya, South Africa and the United States, which has greatly informed her understanding of how global systems of oppression manifest in communities worldwide. On campus, they are involved with Duke University Union as the co-chair of WXDU and are on the executive board of the Black Student Alliance. Sally is also a Service Learning Assistant for a class about labour organizing and is on a BassConnections team dedicated to researching the changing reproductive healthcare landscape post-Roe v. Wade. They have an immense passion for reproductive justice, which they hope to explore through SOL. Outside of Duke, Sally has continued her journey as an organizer through Rhizome, a national youth mentorship and civic engagement organization. In her free time, Sally enjoys binge-watching video essays, shopping for and styling clothes, and catching up with close friends from home.
Suhhyun Lee is a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in French studies. A first-generation immigrant from South Korea, she is passionate about immigration reform and language justice in the United States and hopes to serve communities affected by these issues. On campus, Suhhyun is the External Committee Chair for Beyond Borders, a student-led organization for immigrant advocacy, a Leap2School tutor in a Durham dual-language preschool, and an undergraduate researcher for the Kenan Institute for Ethics. Beyond Duke’s campus, she also works as a campus ambassador and canvasser for North Carolina Asian Americans Together. In her free time, Suhhyun likes to try new coffee shops, practice Taekwondo, and surf Wikipedia.
Tanneh Tukan is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina majoring in Psychology with a minor in Creative Writing and African and African American Studies. She is interested in child developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, therapy, clinical psychology, and mental health, specifically the mental health of children and young adults with limited access to mental health resources. In the spring 2024 semester, she participated in the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Internship where she assisted in designing and coding experiments to address cognitive functions of the brain using Python. The following summer she worked as a youth camp counselor, deepening her passion for working with kids of all ages. Her current research interests include examining the link between gang violence and PTSD in adolescents as well as investigating how mental health resources can be free and easily accessible in low-income areas. On campus, Tanneh is involved in the National Association of Black Journalists and Every Nation Campus. In her free time, Tanneh loves writing poetry, reading, playing basketball, and watching movies.
Vishwa Veeraswamy is a sophomore from Charleston, South Carolina studying Public Policy and Mathematics. He is particularly passionate about working to eliminate inequity with regards to food access in communities across the country. He serves as a staff writer and DEI coordinator for the Duke Chronicle and also participates in a trivia league, “The Ocho”. When he is not in class or in the newspaper office, you will often find Vishwa playing guitar or watching sports with his friends.
Yeddailin Gonzalez is a sophomore from Tucson, AZ studying Public Policy with a possible minor in Economics and Gender Studies. She is currently the Wellness Chair for Mi Gente and is involved in a Bass Connections team project entitled “Providing Emotional Support to Children in War Zones: Gaza and the West Bank.” She is also part of Delta Sigma Pi, a business professional fraternity, and a Career Center Ambassador. Passionate about mental health and wellness, particularly within the Latine community, Yeddailin loves to paint, draw, listen to music, go on walks, and spend time with friends and family.
Zhixuan Chen (Evelyn) is a first-year student from Shenzhen, China exploring majors in International Comparative Studies and Public Policy. Growing up in Germany gave her a unique perspective on navigating cultural differences, particularly in areas like education policy and issues related to refugee integration. Zhixuan is especially interested in incorporating more artistic subjects into Chinese public education and supporting the social integration of refugees, particularly in areas like job placement, well-being, and fostering cultural acceptance and a sense of belonging. Through the SOL program, Zhixuan hopes to deepen her understanding of ethical leadership and develop skills that will enable her to address complex social issues with empathy and strategic thinking. Outside academics, she enjoys traveling, skiing, playing the piano, and immersing herself in technical theater, especially light and sound design.
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