2018 Leader: Elizabeth Barahona

I am constantly inspired by Elizabeth’s leadership capabilities. Not only is her passion genuine, but she is dogged and courageous. She believes wholeheartedly in her cause and her ability to affect change. That is what makes her so successful. After never serving in DSG prior to her senior year, she became vice president of equity and outreach with full faith in her ability to excel, which undoubtedly has proven to be true.

Within DSG, she is admired for her strong statements in the Senate and lauded for her work with the Define American Initiative, through which she led a group of both undocumented and documented students to lobby in Washington, D.C. for the rights of undocumented students. She often labels herself as “not a politician," but her candor and her courage is what I find to be missing in politics today, both on campus and off.

Senior Riyanka Ganguly contributed this profile. Ganguly is president of Duke Student Government.

Editor's Note: This profile is part of our new initiative called The Chronicle 18. We are highlighting 18 people and groups who are defining what it means to be at Duke this year. Read about the project and more of our selections.