I am applying to be a GPSC representative to the following committees: Duke Alumni Association, President’s Council on Black Affairs, University Judicial Board, and Recreational Facilities Liaison. I have served on each of these committees for at least one academic year, some for the last three (PCOBA and Judicial), and have learned how to advocate and efficiently represent the needs of graduate and professional students. I am excited by the opportunity to continue to lobby at various levels of the University on behalf of GPSC and its constituents.

Duke Alumni Association - served and attended all meeting for 2008-2009 academic year

Recreational Facilities Liaison - served on committee since 2007, attended all meetings

President's Council on Black Affairs - served on board since 2006, attended meetings and contributed to agenda items

University Judicial Board - GPSC representative since 2006

GPSC President 2008-2009

GPSC Student Life Co-Chair 2007-2008

GPSC representative 2005-2007

As a Duke Medical School Graduate ‘08 (current PhD Neurobiology Student) I know that the true power and weight of a Duke degree is only as strong as the alumni network to which the graduate belongs. However the true benefits of the network can only be maximized through proper interactions between current students and alums. Graduate degrees are often extremely specialized and nurturing these interactions is essential to smooth and successful transitions from student to professional. One of the major reasons for my attending Duke for medical school and particularly staying here for my graduate studies was the personal relationships I have with members of the Duke Alumni network. The strength of the network is bolstered when students can get involved while here at Duke, increasing the likelihood of continued support after graduation. I would like to serve on the Duke University Alumni Board because I want to contribute to developing programs to continue to expand the reach and prominence of the Duke brand through our alumni network.

I would also like to serve on the Career Center Advisory Committee because adequate career advising has become more important in the current challenging job market. This is the case for both academic and other professional career goals. Keeping the career center services tightly aligned with the needs of graduate students is essential for Duke graduate students to continue to make their mark in the world.

Being a graduate of Morehouse College, a previous black medical student and current black graduate student I understand first hand the issues African-Americans in academic settings. I also served as Co-President of the Duke Chapter of Student National Medical Association  2005-2006 (the nation’s oldest and largest medical student organization addressing the needs of minorities in medicine). Among our goals was the increasing the numbers of minority medical students and faculty at the medical school. The importance of a diverse faculty and student body is obvious and I know about some of the huge strides made in this arena at Duke Med. I am also aware of the absolute need for continued effort on these fronts at the graduate school. These issues are even more acute with the presidency of Barack Obama and the need to continue to recruit and develop the best black students and faculty is more essential than ever for Duke’s continued presence at the top of multiple academic and professional fields. As a black student I know the how important interacting with black faculty is for my continued academic achievement. And I also understand that my success here is strongly dependent on the strong sense of community, which was so influential in my matriculating at Duke. I would like to serve on the President's Council on Black Affairs to play my part in forwarding the university’s “goals of increasing diversity of faculty and student body, (and) building a more inclusive community”.

see Interest Essay above

see Interest Essay above

I'm extremely interested in serving on a University Committee this year, for several reasons. As an undergrad, I became aware of how much decisions at the university level affect student life in significant ways--from basketball tickets to eprint stations to regulations regarding recognition of student organizations to student fee changes. As the president of the Society of Physics students at my undergraduate institution, I saw how changes in those policies affected both the students I knew, and most other students on campus as well. Thus, when I came to grad school, I was determined to get even more involved. Last year (my first year in graduate school here at Duke), I attended all the GPSC meetings and got involved as much as I could--I assisted the Communication Coordinator where I could, I served on the President's special committee, the GPSC Green Team, where we successfully managed to lobby administration and get a donation of 100 recycle bins for graduate students to use in their offices. I also was an active member of the GPSC Community Outreach committee, and attended several events and organized getting GPSC CO t shirts. Finally, I traveled to DC and lobbied for the rights of graduate students nationwide during the NAGPS Legislative Action Days conference in DC.

All of the above GPSC experience should help me be an effective GPSC representative on the Duke University Alumni Board. Also, as a resident of Chapel Hill for years, a UNC-CH grad, and a future Duke alum, I'm already connected to several Duke alumni, and feel like I can understand their concerns. Furthermore, as indicated above, I already have some experience with talking to legislators and Duke administrators, so I think I can effectively lobby on student's behalf.

I intend to continue serving on the GPSC Green Team, and continue to try to find ways to improve and help sustainability efforts on campus. However, if I could serve on the Environmental Management Advisory Committee, this would allow me to pursue this in an even more effective fashion--with my knowledge that I can draw on from both experiences, I'll be able to better evaluate the feasibility of sustainability measures, and better advocate these measures to the relevant people within the Duke administration.

Finally, I have a good understanding of technology issues--I was a physics major as an undergraduate, so I was exposed to a fair amount of computer programming there. After graduation, I worked at IBM for a year and a half, in a major web hosting organization within IBM. Thus, I got to appreciate some of the complexities of the operation of a major IT organization. If I could serve on the Information Technology Council, this understanding of technology related issues should help me represent Graduate student interests well.

No, I did not sit on a university committee last year.

-President of Society of Physics Students at undergraduate institution

-Am current GPSC Rep, and attended all GPSC meetings last year as well

-Member of GPSC Green Team, which managed to implement a recycling program in which 100 recycle bins were donated to graduate students.

-Assisted GPSC Communications Coordinator last year

-Active member of GPSC Community Outreach committee.

-Lobbied for rights of graduate students at NAGPS Legislative Action Days in Washington, DC last year.