Student Projects
The Hart Leadership Program has a long history of exemplary student work, and we are proud to showcase here a selection of student research projects, internships, and honors theses dating back to 2011. Below, you can explore nearly 400 student projects, filtering by project type, Hart program affiliated with the project, thematic topics, project locations, and project years. The database does not provide the full text of students' projects, but it does provide abstracts of student work wherever available, as well as more information including students' class year and, when applicable, the name of the community partner organization a student worked with to conduct their internship or research. We will continue to expand the database as our students continue conducting phenomenal projects. In the meantime, use the search function below to explore our incredible students' work, and get inspired!
Learning Together with the Simama Project in Nanyuki, Kenya
Griffin Storm’s spent his SOL summer in Nanyuki, Kenya with the Simama Project. a community-based organization focused on supporting some of the most vulnerable children and youth in Kenya. The Simama Project believes that simply paying for a child’s school fees is not enough, and thus embody a “full-child” model …
Community Healthcare Access in Alexandria, VA
Juliette Fore interned with MedStreet, a nonprofit organization that provides free healthcare to the homeless. MedStreet has a unique service model where they bring the physician directly to those in need. Throughout her internship, Juliette focused on building partnerships with local community organization and established multiple free pop-up medical clinics …
Immigration Justice for Migrants in the El Paso-Juarez Border Region
Mariana Meza interned with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Centre, a non-profit organization in El Paso, Texas that provides pro-bono and low-cost legal aid to migrants in the border area. The role initially focused on independent post-release work under the Detained Deportation Defense Team, assisting migrants in their transition to new …
The Impact of Community Centers in Rural Community Building
During his summer at the Cowan Community Centrer, Zachary Patterson took on a versatile role as an assistant to the Executive Director, where he engaged in various tasks crucial for constructing organizational structure. The central project involved creating a resource guide establishing employment and volunteer expectations.. However, a significant shift …
Leadership, Service, and Recidivism: Insights from Rural North Carolina
Jordan Phillips’ transformative summer as a SOL Fellow at the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office reshaped the perspective on leadership and service within the context of a rural community. Through ride-along, detention centre shadowing, and stakeholder interviews, Jordan synthesized insights into the causes of recidivism in rural Eastern North Carolina. Mental …
Empowering Women’s Health while Navigating Mumbai’s Socioeconomic Terrain
Sathvika Gandavarapu interned at the Myna Mahila Foundation in Mumbai, India, founded by Suhani Jalota, a former Duke Alum. The foundation, dedicated to women’s health, conducted research on economic empowerment, provided health services, and employed women to create menstrual pads in impoverished regions of Mumbai. Sathvika worked with the Health …