Adelyn O'Connell

Project: Humanitarian Impacts of War Groups: Grant Writing, Photography Coordination

As a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Duke’s pre-law fraternity, I engage in activities that prepare me for a future in law. This includes attending networking events with attorneys and law school reps, participating in LSAT prep and legal discussions, and organizing community service projects. Through leadership opportunities and social events, I’ve built strong connections with like-minded peers while gaining valuable insights into the legal profession.

As director of EcoYouth, my role focused on task management and distribution among members, recruiting writers and editors for articles, and managing social media. Additionally, planning events and communications to bring awareness to climate-related issues was central to the role.

As a writer for Eco-Youth, my role included writing two articles a month, with a central focus on a climate-related issue or feat within the environmental activist community. Additionally, I would edit articles for other writers depending on my availability. Therefore, I usually edited 2-4 articles per month.

As a fellow, I began the program with an 8-week program where I met with other fellows to learn about and discuss the concept of civic engagement. Additionally, we all worked on personal projects to propose at the end of the program. After being certified as a fellow, we became a part of the Civics Unplugged Fellowship community, where we were able to connect with Fellows and help with their projects.

As Co-President of the Giles-Wilson House Council, I lead efforts to foster a strong, inclusive community within our dorm and our sister dorm, Wilson, as well as build connections with our future QuadEx upperclassmen dorm. I help organize and run council meetings, plan and execute events that bring residents together, design and distribute dorm merchandise, and collaborate with peers to strengthen relationships across the residential community. My role focuses on creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and pride in our shared spaces.

As the Vice President of Puma Paper I served as a key leader in the school newspaper’s editorial and operational processes. This role involves coordinating writer-editor relations, overseeing content assignments, and managing the distribution of print editions. The Vice President works closely with the President and writing staff to ensure the newspaper maintains high journalistic standards and remains an engaging, informative publication for the school community.

As the President of the National English Honor Society (NEHS) chapter, I served as the primary student leader, overseeing chapter activities, initiatives, and administration. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills to promote a culture of literary appreciation, academic excellence, and community engagement.