duARTS

EXECUTIVE BOARD

photo - Pingyi Zhu.jpg

Co-President // Pingyi Zhu

Hi! I'm Pingyi and I've been an artist for as long as I can remember. I'm an economics and math double major with a minor in visual arts, so my interests are pretty diverse, and I love that I'm able to explore all of them here. Last year, I served as VP of Programming, so I'm looking forward to another great year in duARTS!

Co-President // Michael Wen

Hi! I’m Michael, and I am a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa and Taipei, Taiwan. At Duke, I study biology and sociology but have an intense passion for the arts. On campus, I am a member of Defining Movement, a multicultural dance group. I hope to make art an integral part of every student's college experience and I am so excited to be working with Pingyi and the rest of the duARTS Exec board to organize events and foster collaborations.

IMG_5963-2 - Della Tao_edited.png

Executive Vice President // Della Tao

Hello! I am a senior studying Biology and minoring in Computer Science and Visual Arts. I have always loved drawing, painting, and sculpting since I was young and was eager to jump into the arts when I first came to Duke. Before working on duARTS' executive team, I served as a Co-Chair of the DUU VisArts committee, a Design Co-Lead of HackDuke, and a member of the Arts Theme House selective living group. During my tenure as External VP, I hope that I can interact with and further expand the diverse and exciting artistic community at Duke!

Executive Vice President // Joyce Er

Hi, I'm Joyce! I'm a senior at Duke majoring in Computer Science and Public Policy. I'm a visual artist by training and especially love urban sketching and watercolor painting. Going into my final year at Duke, I'm incredibly excited to serve and strengthen the Duke arts community with the amazing duARTS team!

Connie Zhou - VP of Collaboration

Hi! My name is Connie and I'm a senior studying Cell and Molecular Biology, Dance, and Psychology. My favorite things include cliff jumping, Canada, going on new adventures, and all things dance and medicine related! I’m excited to bring together groups within and between different art forms to create novel interdisciplinary projects. Catch me around Duke at basketball games with the Dancing Devils, completely disregarding my lactose intolerance, and teaching dance with Duke Dance Expressions.

Anthony Melita - VP of Finance

Anthony is a senior majoring in Economics with finance concentration with minors in computer science and psychology. He is involved with Small Town Records and the Student Organization Financing Committee. Outside of the classroom and work, Anthony enjoys playing with synthesizers and has a strong interest in music technology.

Cameron Oglesby - Co-VP of Program.

Hi I'm Cameron and I'm a junior studying Environmental Science and Policy with a focus in Ecology, minoring in EOS, with a Certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies. I believe art can send a message and act as a call-to-action, especially as it relates to the importance of environmental awareness and ecological conservation. My favorite media include acrylic and watercolor paint, graphite pencil, pen, and chalk pastel. I also enjoy singing, dancing, creative writing, and playing piano.

Krishna Sinha - Co-VP of Programming

Hi! I’m Krishna, and I’m a sophomore from Phoenix, AZ! Art has been instrumental in my life ever since I started piano lessons at age 5. In addition to piano, I love to do oil paintings, which you can check out at http://ksgallery.org. At Duke, I’m involved in classical piano lessons, Duke Music Tutors, and Hoof ’n’ Horn. I love blending my interest in neuroscience with my artistic endeavors and hope to integrate both. I’m so excited to be part of Duke’s arts scene and can't wait to meet you!

Meghan Miller - VP of FYI

Hi! I’m Meghan Miller and I am from New Jersey. I am a sophomore at Duke and I am on the pre-med track and VP of First Year Involvement for duARTS. I love to paint and create other forms of visual arts.

Evelyn Sturrock - Co-VP of Marketing

Hi, I’m Evelyn! I’m a harpist from the underrated state of Maryland studying neuroscience and history. When I’m not accidentally falling asleep in the Gothic Reading Room, catch me running to Baldwin for DSO rehearsals, getting bitten by lab mice, or browsing Instagram behind the desk at the Biddle Music Library. Though music has my heart forever, duARTS exposed me to so many amazing forms of art, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it all with you as a VP of Marketing! :)

Logan Welborn - Co-VP of Marketing

Hi! My name is Logan Welborn, and I’m a sophomore from Winston Salem. Music is my life; I sing in Out of the Blue and serve as co chair of Inclusion and Accessibility for Hoof ‘n Horn. Most recently, I’ve begun writing and producing my own music. My true passion lies in advocacy for accessibility, especially in performing arts. I’m working to make Hoof ‘n Horn’s shows more accessible for those with disabilities. I’m excited to join the duARTS team and spread the word about arts here at Duke!

Alice Zhou - Asst. VP of Programming

Hi! I'm Alice and I've always loved music and dance. I've played classical piano for 10 years and flute for 9 years, and play for the Duke Flute Studio. I did contemporary/jazz/modern dance in the past but want to learn more urban/hip-hop styles and hope to teach myself some Kpop routines. I'm studying Biology, CS, and Medical Sociology. Last year as a duARTS FYI, I found that I love making art accessible to Duke and Durham. I'm excited to work with programming and the amazing people in duARTS.

Madison Burmeister- Asst VP, Program

Hi! My name is Madison. I’m a sophomore from Boca Raton, FL majoring in Neuroscience and PubPol. I attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts, majoring in theatre. At Duke, I’ve been the East Campus Council Communications Coordinator, a member on Duke Marketing Club's Children’s Hospital Committee, and a duARTS FYI. This year, I look forward to spreading my passion for the arts with Duke by programming fun and inclusive art events. The arts are for everyone, so come check out what duARTS is doing!

Elena Rivera - Marketing Team Member

As a Project Arts alum, I’ve been a part of Duke's art scene from (before) day one. I’m a Colorado native who draws inspiration from nature through my pursuits in photography, visual arts, and creative writing. I can often be found in the gardens working on a piece for Duke's very own Form Magazine or shooting an editorial look in the Ruby.

Allie Charlton - VP of Design

Hello! I am part of the class of 2020 but took my junior year off to work for a non-profit in the beautiful mountains of central Appalachia! Senior? Junior? Who knows! I am extremely excited to be back at Duke and to be a part of the arts community. I love drawing, painting and sewing my own clothes out of recycled material!

Alexa Burnston- Director of Outreach

Hi! I'm Alexa, and I'm a sophomore from West Palm Beach, Florida. I've been singing my entire life, and I'm in the Duke Opera Workshop. On campus, I'm involved in Small Town Records and the Jewish Student Union. I love boba tea and ABP, and I enjoy exploring Durham. I love learning more about the role of the arts in culture. I also love self care! I'm excited to work with this incredible team this year!

Show More

First Year Interns

Kevin Boyd - EVP Intern

Howdy! I’m Kevin (but my street name is Big Kev), and I am a freshman at Duke. I hope to study Neuroscience on a Pre-Health track with minors in Spanish and Visual Arts. I’ve been painting, drawing, and sculpting since elementary school, and I’m super excited to be involved with the arts at Duke. In addition to duARTS, I am a member of DUU VisArts. I hope to use my position on these two committees to expand and unify the arts groups on campus!

Sophia Pekkanen - Marketing Intern

Hello! My name is Sophia and I am a first-year intern for the marketing committee in duARTS. My favorite art form varies from day to day, but my consistent picks include writing, drawing, painting, and photography. I’ve been involved with a number of different Arts groups on campus, including Project Arts, FORM Magazine, and duARTS itself. Fun facts: I’m Chaotic Good, I eat Tandoor at least twice a week, and my favorite place on campus is the gazebo in the gardens.

Joshua Kang - Programming Intern

Howdy! I’m Josh, and I'm freshman from Dallas. Although undeclared, I plan to major in something engineering related. I would say that art is fundamental in my life as the piano and the alto saxophone have led to some crucial chapters in my life. Additionally, I have a SoundCloud where I upload some of my rougher works. Although music is the most familiar art form, I also do a little bit of writing. When I was 5, I painted. I am excited to contribute by any means possible to the flow of duARTS.

Kira Upin - Media Intern

Hi! My name is Kira.I am a freshman from San Francisco, California, and I plan to study biology and visual arts at Duke. I have always loved visual arts, and especially love portrait photography and installation work. Aside from being a First Year Intern for Media, I am also a photographer for the Chronicle.

Sara Liszeski - Programming Intern

Hi! I'm Sara and I'm from the cornfields around Cleveland, Ohio. I joined duARTS to merge my love for the arts with my desire to learn more about Duke and the Durham community. In my free time, you can find me reading, running, climbing, or doing anything outdoorsy.

Pranav Athimuthu - Outreach Intern

Hey hey! I’m Pranav, and I’m a freshman from Alpharetta, Georgia. I have no idea what I want to study, so let’s just not talk about that for now. My art of choice is creative writing (writing? an art?? what a concept!); if you see me walking around, there’s a good chance you’ll witness me spontaneously whipping out my phone to jot down a couple lines of poetry. I’m super glad to be a part of duARTS this year and can’t wait to contribute to the arts scene here at Duke and beyond!

Vaishvi Patel - Finance Intern

Hey! My name is Vaishvi and I am the duARTS First-Year Intern for Finance. I am from Gastonia, NC and planning on majoring in Computer Science (maybe?). Other than duARTS, I am also on the Duke DBS Raas dance team and on the House Council for my dorm, Wilson. I love visual art, especially drawing, and I like to dance. I'm super excited to learn a lot and have fun during my experience in duARTS!

Nicole Park - Collaboration Intern

Hello! I’m Nicole and I’m excited to be an FYI with duARTS. My love for contemporary dance can only be matched by my love for Jeni’s Ice Cream. On campus, you can find me dancing with Defining Movement, a multicultural dance group, as well as Devils en Pointe, a ballet and contemporary dance group. I’m eager to play a role in bringing the arts to Duke students and beyond, as well as fostering collaboration between the arts and sciences.

Show More

Advisors

Allison Shumar

Assistant Director Arts & Media, Student Involvement (UCAE)

Kevin Erixson

Student Development Coordinator for the Arts (UCAE)

Dr. Scott Lindroth

Faculty, Vice Provost of the Arts

Amy Unell

Faculty, Artstigators

Collaborators

Katie VanderKam & Neha Bhambhani

Students, Dance Council Co-Chairs

Andrew Zheng

Student, A Cappella Council Chair

Christina Shin, Barbara Xiong

Students, DUU VisArts Chairs

Will Atkinson, Nina Wilder

Students, Recess/Chronicle Chairs

Masha Feingold

Student, Arts Annex Chair

Marina Frattaroli & Hannah Wolfe

Student, Nasher MUSE Co-Chairs

Avery Boltwood

Duke Student Government EVP

Meghan Miller - VP of FYI

Hi! I’m Meghan Miller and I am from New Jersey. I am a sophomore at Duke and I am on the pre-med track and VP of First Year Involvement for duARTS. I love to paint and create other forms of visual arts.