Sophia Zheng is a freshman at Duke University from Elkview, West Virginia. She has also lived in Brooklyn, NYC, Southern Illinois, and China. Sophia intends to study Economics and Public Policy with a minor in Chinese. As a student who comes from a rural and immigrant background, Sophia is passionate about expanding resources and raising awareness for marginalized communities, particularly in education and immigration policies. At Duke, she serves as a community first-year rep for the Asian Students Association and holds work-study positions at the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center and Duke Phonathon. In Sophia’s free time, she enjoys listening to music, exploring new cuisines, reading psychological thrillers and romance, and trying new things. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, she hopes to build ethical leadership skills and learn how to use her voice to serve others.