Hi folks! I'm Program Coordinator with Duke University's Hart Leadership Program, which supports the Laidlaw Scholars Program as well as 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 served as research assistant 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'm excited to lean into 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'm always happy to connect and share my knowledge and experience in 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.

Hello! I am Major Richmond, and I enjoy spending time with friends, playing tennis, and visiting the best theme parks in the country. I am a PROUD Blue Devil and a member of Duke University's Class of 2028! I intend to pursue a degree in Public Policy Analysis and explore Environmental Science and Spanish💙😈 In general, The United States is in an unprecedented state of division, specifically in the political realm. The US democratic system has turned into a battle arena full of uncertainty, hatred, and various bad decisions. For my life goal, I have sworn to put a halt to this crippling division and start to put compromise over stubbornness. The best current policy solutions arise when democrats, republicans, conservatives, liberals, and independents unite to create change TOGETHER, rather than separate. As an aspiring politician, I plan to end division for the country's benefit.

Hi, I'm Anika! I’m a sophomore at Duke University pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Public Policy. I’m passionate about exploring how emergent technology can be governed, developed, and deployed in a responsible and equitable manner. My Laidlaw Scholars research focused on European platform accountability, where I studied how AI-generated music affects creative democracy, labor rights, and data privacy in the EU and UK. This past summer, I co-authored a white paper titled "The Canary in the Coal Mine: Spotify, Generative AI, and the Future of Cultural Labor," which I presented at Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute alongside my team, while also engaging policymakers from NATO and the OECD throughout the paper-writing process.  Beyond research, I lead Girls for Algorithmic Justice, a nonprofit I founded to address gender equity issues in AI, including explicit deepfakes and algorithmic bias. Through our #StopExplicitDeepfakes campaign, I’ve been involved in advancing policy conversations at the U.S. federal level to expand protections for victims of digital harms. At Duke, I direct Duke Tech for Change, a student organization dedicated to responsible technology, and serve as an officer for Duke Cyber, where I help organize cyber policy opportunities and events. I also serve as a student advisor to the John Hope Franklin Human Rights Center and the Duke Office of University Scholars & Fellows. I'm deeply committed to linking technology with democracy and human rights. Check out my LinkedIn for a more comprehensive overview of what I do! Please feel free to reach out any time at anika.dugal@duke.edu.