Meet our Inaugural Polis Student Committee Executive Board!
Jaquell Sneed-Adams
CO-PRESIDENT - UNDERGRADUATE
Jaquell Sneed-Adams (MPP ’23) is interested in social policy, especially as it relates to education and state and local government. Since graduating from Harvard in 2014, she has taught middle school math in her home region of Eastern North Carolina, served as the Boston Program Director for a nonprofit focused on youth-led individual, community, and systems-level transformation, and, directly prior to starting her MPP program at Sanford, she was the campaign manager for a Boston City Councilor At-Large running for re-election (they won!). In the rare moments that she’s not working or studying, you can find her enjoying a book, working on a puzzle, or planning her next trip!
“My main goals for the PSC this year are to create active space for graduate students to share their expertise and learn alongside undergraduate students with a shared passion for political action and civic engagement and for the PSC to reach beyond campus to learn from and collaborate within the surrounding Durham community.”
Annaleise Linkenhoker
CO-PRESIDENT - UNDERGRADUATE
Annaleise Linkenhoker (’25) is from Bradenton, FL and is majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Psychology. Her academic interests include political strategy, representation in government, political theory, Florida politics, and the US electoral system. Outside of Polis, she enjoys supporting her hometown Tampa Bay Lightning, spending time with friends, and Publix subs.
“As Undergraduate Co-President, I’m excited to chart a strategic vision for the organization, be accessible to PSC members and undergraduates, extend Polis’s presence and engagement in the Duke and Durham communities, develop and execute new ideas, and cultivate a fun, rewarding experience for PSC members and the broader Duke community.”
Lauren Steele
VICE PRESIDENT OF EVENTS
Lauren Steele ('25) is a sophomore from Marin County, California studying Economics, Political Science, and Spanish. A fun fact about her is that she used to be a competitive freestyle skier!
"I’m interested in working with the PSC to create an active and inclusive political atmosphere at Duke, and most importantly, to get Duke students excited about politics! I spent last summer in D.C. as an intern in the House of Representatives; my goal as the PSC Vice President of Events is to use that experience to plan meaningful and engaging political events on campus."
Sam Danner
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP
Sam Danner ('26) is a freshman at Duke University from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He plans to study Public Policy and Economics. He first got into politics through his district's state representative race. Outside of POLIS and community engagement, he enjoys playing tennis and hanging out with friends.
"I am excited to see POLIS grow and want to be a part of that expansion through new student outreach. Using my experience and passion for civil discourse, I am interested in participating actively in the decision-making for POLIS and helping the broader Duke community become engaged."
Julia Young
SECRETARY
Julia Young ('26) is a freshman from Durham, North Carolina that hopes to pursue a major in Political Science with a minor in Computer Science. She has one permanent dog named Queen Isabella, but has fostered 35+ throughout the past five years.