Independent Entities

Independent Entities are appointed positions necessary for the functioning of GPSG as an organization. They are overseen jointly by the President and Speaker. All Independent Entities are appointed by the President and voted on for confirmation by the Senate. A confirmation approval requires one half plus one of all Senate members. There are a total of six (6) Independent Entities.
kalina larsen

Chief of Staff

Kalina Larsen (she/her/hers)

Bio: Kalina Larsen is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology. As part of the Neuroimmunology and Applied Pain Research Laboratory in Duke’s Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Kalina is investigating the biological mechanisms linking chronic widespread body pain with cancer susceptibility and disease outcome. On campus, Kalina is involved in DACC, a consulting organization for advanced and professional-degree students, Duke’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship program through Fuqua, and serves as Communications Officer for the Duke Medical Science Liaison Club. In her free time, Kalina loves to explore the outdoors, listen to audiobooks and is trying to learn Danish.

Responsibilities: The Chief of Staff is the central administrative officer responsible for maintaining records and internal workings of the Government.

Contact the Chief of Staff: For questions, thoughts, or concerns regarding general GPSG operations.

caroline bridgewater

Treasurer

Caroline Bridgwater (she/her/hers)

Bio: Caroline is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology. Her research at Duke uses functional genomic approaches to identify new drug targets for metastatic lung cancer. In addition to her scientific research, she holds a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Fuqua School of Business and is a fellow in the Office of Translation and Commercialization. After graduate school, she hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of science and business. In her free time, she enjoys brewery hopping, yoga, watching sports, and walking her dog, Filson.

Responsibilities: The Treasurer is responsible for managing the budget of the Government and shall coordinate the disbursement of funds. The Treasurer develops policies and procedures to disperse all funds transparently, effectively, and efficiently.

Contact the Treasurer: For questions, thoughts, or concerns regarding the GPSG budget.

Daniela_Pereira_Salas___Professional_Headshot

Chief Justice

Daniela Pereira Salas (she/her/hers)

Bio: Daniela was born and raised in Costa Rica. She moved to the United States for college, where she studied international relations with a double minor in Business and Economics. Now, she is pursuing a J.D. degree at the law school. There, she has participated in different student groups, such as the Latin American Law Student Association, First Class, and the Global Law Student Association. Before law school, she worked as a litigation paralegal for an employment/civil rights law firm outside of D.C. She hopes to continue her legal career in D.C. after her 2025 graduation. During her spare time, she likes to hike, check out new breweries, and spend time with her spouse and dog.

Responsibilities: The Chief Justice shall possess jurisdiction for conflict resolution concerning executive, independent entities, and legislative branches. The Chief Justice is responsible for any disciplinary recommendations for issues that arise within GPSG.

Contact the Chief Justice: For questions, thoughts, or concerns regarding GPSG rules, bylaws, and ethics.

Anvita-Kulshrestha

Director of Student Organizations

Anvita Kulshrestha (she/her/hers)
Bio: Anvita is a second-year Genetics and Genomics PhD student in the lab of Dr. Allison Ashley-Koch. She is interested in understanding complex disease genetics through computational approaches. Specifically, she is looking to identify outcome modifying genes in Sickle Cell Disease. She is also involved with the Duke Indian Students Association (DISA) and Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE) on campus. In her free time, Anvita enjoys making mandala art, doing calligraphy, and meeting new people!

Responsibilities: The Director of Student Organizations oversees the ecosystem of student groups across the University and promotes the development of a diverse set of student groups, and shall be responsible for the transparent, efficient, and effective execution of student organization funding opportunities and disbursement.

Contact the Director of Student Organizations: For questions concerning student organization registration, maintenance, and funding.
IMG_4052

Director of Communications

Quang Bui (he/him/his)

Bio: Quang Bui is a Master of Management Studies candidate at the Fuqua School of Business. Quang moved to Durham from Dallas, Texas, where he pursued a degree in Hospitality from the University of North Texas. His advocacy spans the Red Cross organization, the LGBTQIA+ community, and minority groups in hospitality. Quang has gained experience working in both the private and public sectors, specializing in business operations and product development. He is currently overseeing marketing and communications initiatives for a non-profit that supports over 1,000 entities, including small businesses, independent contractors, and sole proprietors in the state of Texas. Quang is also excited about his role as an Admissions Ambassador at the Fuqua School. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, karaoke, reading, planning road trips, and trying out new restaurants.

Responsibilities: Director of Communications is responsible for maintaining effective external communication platforms for the Government, including overseeing the GPSG newsletter and keeping the website active and current, including all filled seats and vacancies. The Director of Communications may, upon authorization by the Senate, hire a webmaster to run the website and be responsible for the transparent, efficient, and effective execution of all communications and marketing efforts.

Contact the Director of Communications: For general inquiries concerning GPSG communications and social media.

 
shen shen

Director of Events Planning 

Shen Shen (she/her/hers)

Bio: Shen Shen is a first-year Master’s student in Environmental Management. Originally from China, she graduated from Duke Kunshan University with a B.A. in Political Economy. Shen aims to address the world’s most pressing challenges, particularly by promoting environmental consciousness through cross-cultural dialogue. Her roles as Co-President of the Duke-China-U.S. Summit 2023 and Vice President of the Scholars of Finance (Duke Chapter) have solidified her belief in the transformative power of cross-national communication for fostering mutual understanding and productive cooperation. Following her work as a 2022 UN Millennium Fellow, where she focused on energy transition and environmental protection, Shen continued her leadership journey in 2023 as the sole Team Lead from China on the Global Admission Committee, optimizing the 2023 Millennium Fellowship review process. In 2024, Shen’s story was featured in Duke Kunshan University’s ‘Dialogue of Civilizations Around Us’ publication, recognizing her as a vital voice in shaping the university’s interconnected global community. Shen’s commitment to community development extends to gender equality, next-generation education, and wellness promotion. She co-founded the inaugural Duke Kunshan ‘Women in Leadership Summit’ to empower future female leaders on campus. Additionally, her dedication to dancing has served as a means for expressing emotions and alleviating stress.

Responsibilities: The Director of Events Programming plans and executes Campus-wide events programming, in conjunction with partner organizations. The portfolio of the Director shall be enacted by the Events Committee. The Director of Events shall be responsible for the transparent, efficient, and effective execution of GPSG events including Fall Camp Out, Winter Formal, and Spring GPSG Student Appreciation Event.

Contact the Director of Events Programming: For general inquiries concerning GPSG-hosted events.