Sanci Smith

Class of 2024
Major in Political Science; Minors in African & African American Studies and Psychology

My name is Sanci Smith, and I’m a senior majoring in political science and minoring in AAAS and Psychology. I am currently an ambassador for the AAAS department, as well! Some of the other things I’m involved in on campus include being president of the Iota Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, singing in my A Cappella group Out of the Blue for which I also do choreography, and working at the Duke Identity and Diversity Lab as a research assistant where I conduct studies that seek to close the achievement gap between black and white students. During my time at Duke, I’ve conducted research through the Muser program on mass incarceration and on the socio-cultural impact of a Spanish reading program on English-as-second-language Latinx students through Bass Connection. In addition, I did DukeEngage in Durban South Africa where I primarily worked at and environment justice non-profit, and I studied abroad in Copenhagen my junior year where I studied positive psychology. After graduation I plan to attend law school and become a Civil Rights Attorney.

Favorite Class: My favorite class was a course taught by professor Karin Shapiro called Contemporary South Africa. I am fascinated by South African history and have been interested in the parallels and differences between it and American history, and Professor Shapiro was incredible at painting a comprehensive story of such a complex nation.