My Fellow Blue Devils,

Welcome to Duke University, and welcome back to all of our returning students.

I am Shen Shen, a third-year dual-degree student pursuing master’s degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Management. It is an honor to serve as President of the Graduate and Professional Student Government this year and to welcome you to Duke’s graduate and professional student community.

Duke’s graduate and professional students come from across the world and nearly every field of study. You bring different academic backgrounds, professional expertise, and reasons for choosing Duke. That diversity is one of our community’s greatest strengths, and each of us has something the rest of the community can learn from. Whatever school brought you to Duke and wherever you are in your academic journey, you have a place here. You do not have to navigate life at Duke alone.

GPSG represents students across Duke’s graduate and professional schools. We advocate for your interests, connect you with resources, support student organizations, and create opportunities for you to meet people beyond your own program. Many of the most memorable parts of the Duke experience begin when we step outside our familiar academic circles and discover the interests, experiences, and perspectives we share.

This year, GPSG will make those connections easier to form and sustain. Through campus programs, shared activities, and communities formed around common interests, we will bring students together across schools and disciplines. Our goal is simple: every graduate and professional student should feel like an essential part of the broader Duke community.

We will also make GPSG easier to find, understand, and join. We will communicate consistently, meet students where they already are across campus, and offer opportunities

throughout the year that reflect your interests, skills, and availability. Clear expectations and consistent follow through will guide this work so that GPSG remains a reliable partner for the students we serve.

Most importantly, GPSG belongs to you. I invite you to attend an event, visit a Senate meeting, volunteer for an initiative, or reach out with a question, idea, or concern. Much of what we build together begins with a conversation, a shared interest, or the decision to take the first step.

Duke is at its strongest when graduate and professional students find one another across schools and discover how much larger this community is than any single program. The work ahead may sometimes feel demanding, and moments of uncertainty are part of every meaningful journey. In those moments, remember: The road may be long, but those who keep moving will arrive. For those who persevere, the future is full of promise.

I hope you will find your community here and help us continue building it for one another.

Once again, welcome to Duke. I look forward to meeting you and serving you throughout the year.

With appreciation,

Shen Shen

President, Graduate and Professional Student Government