About the PSC
The Polis Student Committee (PSC) is a community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Duke University who share an interest in politics, democracy, and public service. The PSC aims to promote greater understanding of—and engagement with—politics at the local, state, national, and global levels. PSC members are official members of the Polis community who participate in the center’s events and activities, gain access to special perks and unique opportunities, and play a valuable role in helping to shape Polis’s programs. It also serves as a pipeline to Polis Director’s Fellows positions. (Polis Director’s Fellows will be selected from the members of the Polis Student Committee and will serve as the student leadership team of the PSC.)
If you are looking for a group that offers transformative political conversations, leadership development opportunities, the chance to connect with inspiring political leaders, and the opportunity to be a part of a vibrant community that cares about politics, democracy, and public service, the Polis Student Committee is for you!
Executive Board
Noah Vaughn
Co-President - Graduate
Annaleise Linkenhoker
Co-President - Undergraduate
Ranjan Jindal
Vice President of Events
Sam Danner
Vice President of Membership
Julia Young
Secretary
Research
Latest Research & Reflections
Check out the latest research from members of our Polis Student Committee!
Duke Political History Project
Since its founding, Duke University has played a central role in the development of generations of student-citizens, providing access to educational credentials that open the doors to social, economic, and political opportunity. Moreover, many of Duke’s students, faculty, and staff members have actively engaged in political leadership, activism, and democracy work. As part of a larger… Continue Reading Polis / PolicyLab Fellows Duke Political History Project
Read MoreNHK Interview on the Midterm Elections
Polis Student Committee members were interviewed by the NHK, a Japanese public broadcaster on the upcoming midterm elections. Students talked about threats to democracy, polarization, and bridging the gap between those with different political values.
Read MoreActivities
PSC Reflections
AY 2022-2023 Activities
2023 Washington D.C. Trip with PUBPOL 155 & 301
April 6-8, 2023
From April 6-8, Professors Deondra Rose and Manoj Mohanan took students from PUBPOL 155 (Public Policy Analysis) and PUBPOL 301 (Political Analysis for Policymaking), as well as members of the Polis Student Committee, to Washington D.C. Students were able to visit the Capitol and the White House, as well as meet with Duke alumni and the nonprofit organization Braver Angels.
Polis Student Committee Executive Board Election
February 16, 2023
Students elected the first ever PSC Executive Board after hearing various candidate speeches for Graduate and Undergraduate Co-President, Vice President of Events and Membership, and Secretary.
Class Visit And Dinner With Polis Alumni Guide J.J. Johnson (Duke ’88)
February 14-15, 2023
Polis hosted Duke Alumni guide J.J. Johnson (’88) of Fidelity Investments to meet with students across Sanford and Duke University including a class visit to Professor Deondra Rose’s PUBPOL301 class and dinner with students from class, the Polis Student Committee, and Crowell (his Quad from his University days!).
He talked with students about his time at Duke University and his career post-college, giving invaluable academic and career advice to students interested in studying the intersections of finance, business, and public policy. He also went over Fidelity’s role in public and economic policy and the relationship between Congress and major financial and investment companies.
Welcome Reception For Distinguished Fellow Congressman David Price
January 19, 2023
On Thursday, January 19, 2023, Polis: Center for Politics was delighted to host a reception for Congressman David Price, celebrating his return to Duke as a Polis Distinguished Fellow. Additionally, the former Congressman joins Duke University as an Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Studies, rejoining the faculty of which he was a member prior to his election to the House of Representatives in 1987. Price served as representative for North Carolina’s 4th District from 1987-1995 and 1997-2023.
PSC Press Briefing On The 2022 Midterm Elections
November 9, 2022
Directly following a Duke faculty Midterm Election briefing, 6 Polis Student Committee (PSC) members were interviewed by international journalists through the organization of the State Department.
PSC panelists included Chloe Decker (PPS ‘25) of the NC Young People’s Alliance; James Gao (PPS ’24) of Duke Dem’s; Pilar Kelly (PPS ’24) of Duke Votes; Ishanvi Malayanil (PPS ‘26) a women’s rights activist who has spoken at UN Women; Jaquell Sneed-Adams (MPP ‘23), Research Assistant for Polis / PolicyLab Fellows Duke Political History Project; and Jordan Wilson (MPP ‘24) of Policy in Living Color.
Polis Midterm Election Watch Party
November 7, 2022
As midterm polls begin to wrap up, students watched in anticipation of results rolling in at a POLIS: Center for Politics watch party.
Deondra Rose, POLIS director and associate professor of public policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy, reflected on the stakes of the midterms. Rose mentioned how driven young people are to vote for the future of voting rights and reproductive rights, especially in this midterm election. She also encouraged individuals to remain engaged with democracy beyond elections by continuing to stay informed and discuss with others of differing views.
PSC Dinner & Discussion: NC Midterm Election
November 16, 2022
On November 3rd, Polis Student Committee members joined a panel of four students and two professors to discuss the upcoming North Carolina midterm elections, their motivations for engaging with initiatives to get out the vote, and the importance of the youth voice in politics.
Speaking at the panel were Chloe Decker (’25) of NC Young People’s Alliance; James Gao (’24), President of Duke Dem’s; Kunal Khaware (’26) host of the New Voting Project; and Kelly Padalino (’25) Intern for Cheri Beasley. The student speakers were joined by Deondra Rose, Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy & Director of POLIS, and Mac McCorkle, Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy. The event was moderated by Jaquell Sneed-Adams, a Master of Public Policy student at the Sanford School of Public Policy and a North Carolina native.
Durham Civil Rights Walking Tour
October 29, 2022
Members of the Polis Student Committee went on a Durham Civil Rights walking tour with Preservation Durham. Students learned about the 1957 sit-in boycott of the Royal Ice Cream parlor, the Hayti community and Black Wall Street on Parrish Street, protests following MLK’s assassination and the South Carolina Orangeburg Massacre, as well as important civil rights leaders Ann Atwater, Pauli Murray, and others.
Polis Student Committee Kick-Off
October 17, 2022
On October 13th, Polis kicked-off the inaugural Polis Student Committee with ice breakers and trivia. PSC members are students all across Duke University with an interest in politics, democracy, and public service.