Age/Year:21/Senior, Class of 2012
Major(s):Neuroscience and Chinese
Activities: Panhellenic, Duke Partnership for Service, FEMMES
How did you become Panhellenic President?
I was fortunate to serve as Panhellenic Vice President of Administration during my junior year. This role truly rooted me into the Panhellenic experience, especially by its very nature, which required me to attend all Panhellenic meetings and help make the President’s job and the Executive Council run more smoothly. My predecessor revolutionized the role of President; she gave the council a voice in affecting change on campus and also a responsibility to empower and advocate for our women. I did not want to see her work lose momentum, motivating me to be her successor.
How is your position different than you anticipated?
To be frank, the role is much more political than I expected. What I mean by this refers to the large role Panhellenic has on campus in being a part of serious issues on campus. I can never emphasize enough how much the position single-handedly represents the largest organization on campus in conversations between students and administrators of all sorts, ranging from working groups to collaborative action councils. It also wouldn’t be fair to say that I expected the House Model to have as large [of] an impact as it did. The Council has taken over two semesters and hundreds of hours devoted to this very change, in which I have learned more about Duke than I ever expected.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your position?
I truthfully cannot point to any other role in Panhellenic that would afford me the relationships that I have developed over the year. I have gotten to know each of the nine Panhellenic sororities, their personalities, their niches, and their leadership. I have made great friendships that I may not have made elsewhere, including within the other three Greek councils. I am on a first-name basis with many key administrators that work in Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, providing me with valuable opportunities to better our community.
What message would you like to send this year’s incoming recruiting class?
Don’t be afraid of change! I know that coming to college was already a huge step and it doesn’t help that you’ve arrived during a time of big changes at Duke. The transition period will be rough, but it can also be fun. You get to be a part of not only molding Duke for the better, but also our very own Panhellenic! Next year, you each will get a chance to be a part of HISTORY! Panhellenic at Duke has achieved, for the first time ever, nine individual chapter houses, which means that you have an opportunity to be a part of sisterhoods even stronger than your predecessors have ever had. Panhellenic is excited and the seniors are even jealous that we won’t get to be a part of these beautiful homes. Even if you don’t live in your *future* chapter space, you will always have a home and place to go not only to relax, but also to help you in your endeavors here at Duke. We are so excited to have you and can’t wait to see the amazing things that you will help Panhellenic achieve ;)
What do you plan to do after leaving Duke?
Leaving Duke?! Such a scary thought! However, I am taking a gap year before medical school. During this gap year, I plan to pursue graduate work in neuroscience research.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.