Campus: Duke
Hometown: Summerfield, NC
High School: The Early College at Guilford

Uncovering hidden truths, representing the underrepresented, challenging norms, and bridging increasingly polarized realities. These action-based themes drive me.

In October of 2013, I founded SAI, Service Awareness and Integration, my high school’s first student club focused on engaging youth to combat and raise awareness for the issues plaguing our communities. Our service was diverse – from leading SAI members to serve over 6,000 meals in food deserts to producing a documentary about chronic hunger (Greensboro leads the nation in food insecurity). Our service was global – from learning that India has the highest concentration of blindness to raising $37,000 to sponsor 1,200 sight-restoring surgeries.

SAI fostered my interests in food access and medical disparities as one dimension of a broader interest in health inequities, locally and globally. My academic interests lie in public and global health to study the social determinants of health to improve access to medical care and quality of life.

Using that same passion to understand differing realities, I engage in spiritual and religious discussion as a human values instructor and explore my culture through Carnatic singing and Hindustani-style harmonium.

What drew you to the Robertson Program? “Show me your company, I’ll tell you who you are.”

My mom began saying this quote to me in kindergarten to help me choose my friends. Now, that same message drew me to the Robertson Scholars community. A dedicated program staff charged with the belief that there is no growth without discomfort. A group of scholars defined by informed action, powered by an unwavering belief in change for the good. Two universities with an unparalleled emphasis on undergraduate success and basketball.

I could not be more thankful for the company and connections I will have for the next four years and beyond.