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!
Program: Patman Political Engagement Project
Conducting Analysis on ShotSpotter Technology in Durham, NC
Pilar Kelly interned at the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law, creating an evaluation of Durham’s ShotSpotter pilot, a technology designed to detect gunshots. As a Research Assistant, Pilar engaged with the community about ShotSpotter and conducted analysis to determine the effectiveness of this technology. In partnership …
Internship with the League of Women Voters of the US; Thesis: “The Liberation of All Beings: Zen Buddhism and Political Considerations in Modern America”
My PEP fellowship helped support my internship at the League of Women Voters of the U.S. where, in addition to other work, I researched the election laws of all 50 states and helped maintain Vote411, a comprehensive voter information website. Through this, I learned about how states make voting more …
Campaign for Doreen Bogdan-Martin for Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
I worked on the campaign for Doreen Bogdan-Martin for Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The ITU is a UN agency that sets global internet protocols and is tasked with promoting internet infrastructure development in the global south. I lead research on existing internet infrastructure regimes across sub-Saharan …
Post-Pandemic Reproductive Healthcare Service Recovery Framework for Kenya
In Sub-Saharan Africa, national health infrastructure and institutional financing lag behind individuals’ need for access to reproductive healthcare services. The COVID-19 pandemic halted essential reproductive care delivery by limiting in-person visits and reducing workforce and funding. To meet population needs in post-pandemic life, the government needs to adjust a national …
Community Land Trusts
I looked at Community Land Trusts as a form of social housing that solves rational choice collective action problems for communities of lower income. Full thesis abstract: The United States faces a crisis of affordable and stable housing. Even when either state or charity solves the affordability crisis, they fail …
Empowering Local Citizens Through Deep Canvassing
In collaboration with several local grass-roots organizations and political leaders in Durham, Hannah created a proposal for a Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic at the Bus Station in downtown. The plan won the support of Bull City Votes and Durham Drives, as well as then Mayor of Durham Steve Schewel and the …