I am the Senior Program Coordinator with Duke University's Hart Leadership Program, which supports the Laidlaw Scholars Program and several other undergraduate experiential learning programs. In May 2024, I completed my doctorate in the Study of Religion at Harvard University with a focus in contemporary Islamic studies and American religions. My dissertation work examined the shape and impact of U.S. Muslim civic organizations and community organizing in the city of Detroit. I also hold a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Appalachian State University (go Mountaineers!). My studies have been driven by a deep interest in the intersections of religion and civic life in the contemporary U.S. To that end, I've worked as a researcher for the Listening to Women about Abortion & Religion Project, a Religion, Spirituality, and Democratic Renewal Fellow with the Social Science Research Council, and an adjunct professor at Stonehill College. In my role with Hart Leadership Program, I engage my training as a researcher, educator, and program builder to provide strong student support and advance community-engaged scholarship and education. Whether you're a Duke student or a Laidlaw Scholar at another institution, I'd be happy to connect and talk about social science research design and methods, religious studies and anthropology, applying to and navigating graduate school, or putting together strong research grant and fellowship proposals.

Hi! My name is Anna, and I am rising junior at Duke University studying Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about learning how to evaluate policy and find my own evidence-based policy solutions for my future work as (hopefully!) a politician. I'm especially drawn to policy related to foreign policy, economic and social equity. I'm also interested in conducting research focused on the rise of the far-right and the developments in the society that enabled it. 

Hello! I'm a student at Duke University in the class of 2029, interested in bioengineering and computational biology. My 2026 research summer focuses on evaluating intervention methods targeting alcohol and tobacco abuse.

Hi! My name is Mai Malesky, and I am a rising second-year student from Durham, NC, planning to double-major in Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about the interdisciplinary field of Behavioral Sciences, especially its capacity to explore why voters become apathetic, how authoritarian regimes emerge, and how disenfranchised citizens can resist political exploitation. My commitment to public service and civic engagement is inspired by my experience working with grassroots organizations in my local community. These experiences allowed me to see firsthand the power of grassroots action to create change. I am excited to be a part of the Laidlaw Scholars Program and to join fellow students devoted to ethical leadership and service, working to make a difference on a local, national, and global scale.

Hello, my name is Kennedy Owens, and I am a junior at Duke University currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Education and a certificate in Child Policy. I am interested in juvenile justice and want to advocate against the injustices faced by vulnerable populations. I am also passionate about inequities in education and how it intersects with systems of punishment, particularly for marginalized youth. Through my academic work and leadership experiences, I hope to contribute to more equitable systems that support young people and their communities.

I am a first-year student at Duke University from San Francisco, intending to pursue a double major in Public Policy and Computer Science with a minor in Tech Policy. In my first year at Duke, I participated in the Implications of Artificial Intelligence Focus cluster, which has shaped my research interests in problems at the intersection of technology, policy, and philosophy. As a pianist and composer, I am currently developing my compositional practice and studying the ethical questions that surround computational creativity and machine intelligence in the arts. Outside of the classroom, I compete for the Duke Men’s Club Basketball team and serve as a piano mentor and a member of the leadership team for Duke’s Musical Empowerment chapter.

I am a student at Duke University from New Jersey, planning to study Economics, Public Policy, and Philosophy. I am passionate about understanding how social and economic systems shape opportunity and exploring ways to create fairer structures through dialogue and public leadership. My commitment to social change stems from my belief in the power of active listening and building spaces for honest, atypical conversations that challenge assumptions. At Duke, I serve on the Student Advisory Board at the Duke Human Rights Center and am a member of the Alexander Hamilton Society and the Black Pre-Law Society. I hope to combine his interests in ethics and economic justice to pursue a career at the intersection of policy, law, and community advocacy. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, hiking, and listening to music.

Amylyn De Paz-De Paz is a student from western North Carolina and the daughter of immigrant pastors who instilled in her a deep commitment to service. From a young age, she has supported her community and led initiatives to expand access to education via tutoring programs, interpreting, and programming. At Duke University, she continues this work through her involvement with DukeEngage, Bass Connections, Duke Campus Farm, LangDorm, HelpDesk, Duke RAM, InventHers, Duke Mi Gente, and other programs. She is also a Coleman Family Ventures Fellow, an experience she is especially grateful for as it has allowed her to further develop her passion for a career in pediatrics and language access in healthcare settings. For Amylyn, Duke and the Laidlaw Scholars program are catalysts for meaningful impact in the communities she cares about. She is proud to represent individuals who share her identity and experiences. To learn more about Amylyn’s journey, explore Duke’s premier student blog, “Trinity in Four Acts,” which follows her path throughout Duke and beyond.