Meet the Students 2025

The Duke in Silicon Valley students represent a variety of majors and have unique talents and entrepreneurial interests – an outstanding group of Duke undergraduates! Read below to learn more about this year’s cohort!

Josie Barber

Josie Barber is a rising junior from Seattle studying Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science with a concentration in Machine Learning. She’s also pursuing the Innovation & Entrepreneurship certificate. On campus, she is involved in the engineering fraternity Theta Tau, mentors high school students through Duke Ignite and involved in research. For Josie, Duke in Silicon Valley is a unique opportunity to explore how tech and entrepreneurship intersect particularly in the field of machine learning. She’s excited to learn more about start up culture and how ML technologies are translated into real world products and ventures. In her free time, she loves to eat with friends, practice yoga, and be outdoors with her dog Lilli.

Julia Chen

Julia is a rising sophomore from Oak Hill, Virginia who plans to major in Economics and Visual Media Studies while also pursuing an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate. At Duke, she is on the Defining Movement dance group and is the Creative Director for Creator Lab. Julia has kept a running Notes list on her phone for her entrepreneurial ideas, and she hopes that Duke in Silicon Valley can help her turn her ideas into tangible products. She looks forward to collaborating with fellow students and exploring a new coast! In her free time, Julia likes to create content (@julia.chen27 on TikTok!), workout, graphic design, and play board games with friends and family!

Chloe Chun

Chloe is a rising sophomore from Paradise Valley, AZ, planning to major in Economics and Visual Arts with a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. On campus, she is involved with the Duke Consulting Club, Duke Impact Investing Group, Business Oriented Women, the Duke Business & Retail Society, and the Model UN Team. Chloe hopes to participate in Duke in Silicon Valley to learn more about the tech industry and explore her interest in multimedia art and innovation. She is also excited to build meaningful connections in the area and expand her skill set. In her free time, she enjoys practicing industrial design, baking, discovering new music, and spending time with friends.

Riley Church

Riley is a first-year student pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Economics and a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Riley’s passion for the arts was nurtured at the Arizona School for the Arts. At Duke, she is part of the Dancing Devils varsity dance team, interns for the Duke Athletics marketing department, serves as an Experiential Orientation Leader as well as a Duke Admissions tour guide, and is completing research for the Fuqua School of Business. In her free time, Riley enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and trying new restaurants. Her decision to participate in the Duke in Silicon Valley program stems from a desire to explore the startup world as she began creating her own business in eighth grade and wants to learn how to apply those skills to her future career. Riley looks forward to learning from industry leaders, collaborating with peers, and immersing herself in the dynamic environment of Silicon Valley.​

Davidson Good

Davidson is a rising junior from Wilmington, NC, studying Economics and Political Science while pursuing an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate. A member of Duke Air Force ROTC, Davidson intends to serve as an officer in the US Air Force upon graduation with a long-term plan of leadership in the technology industry. He serves as VP of Duke Aviators and enjoys Club Tennis and Club Golf. Davidson and his family, including his younger sister, enjoy traveling and extreme roller coasters. With passions for technology and aviation, Davidson is eager to explore how innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizational agility drive success in high-impact environments.

Lily Hezrony

Lily is a rising sophomore from Roosevelt, NJ who is studying Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering with hopes to pursue a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She is a QuestBridge and A. James Clark Scholar who is involved in the Duke University Wind Symphony, Hoof ‘N’ Horn, and Society of Women Engineers, amongst other organizations.
Lily is looking forward to spending this summer with like-minded and ambitious peers in this Silicon Valley cohort. As someone with a broad set of interests, she is thrilled for the opportunity to meet experts in their respective fields, hoping this experience can guide her to the entrepreneurial intersection of the arts and engineering. When she is not in the classroom/library, Lily enjoys playing the flute and guitar, singing, doing yoga, and walking through the Duke Gardens.

Anjali Jejurikar

Anjali is a rising sophomore from Hinsdale, Illinois who plans to study Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Financial Economics. On campus, she is a member of Momentum Dance Company and works at the Innovation Co-Lab as a Makerspace Technician. For Anjali, Duke in Silicon Valley is an opportunity to explore the tech industry, and learn how she can combine her engineering and economic interests after college. She hopes to learn essential skills for innovating in tech, and begin experimenting with ideas of her own. Otherwise, she loves traveling, exploring, and spending time with family and friends.

Charlie King

Charlie is a sophomore at Duke University majoring in Computer Science with a concentration in AI and Machine Learning, and pursuing a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. This past summer, he worked in Product Operations at Underdog Fantasy and interned at Palo Alto Investors, a physician-led investment firm. At Duke, he contributed to a Pro Football Focus research project through the Sports Analytics Club and walked on to the Division I football team as a wide receiver. He’s completed AI coursework through Harvard’s Veritas AI Scholars program and explored the business of sports through programs at Wharton, UCLA, and Wake Forest. Charlie is excited to apply his background in machine learning, product thinking, and entrepreneurship to build innovative tools in the sports and consumer tech space.

Tate Lee

Tate is a rising sophomore from Los Altos, CA who is studying Public Policy and Psychology while pursuing an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate. On Duke’s campus, she is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business organization, Marketing Co-Chair for Hui ‘O Hawai’i, a volunteer with PAWS supporting animal welfare, and a dancer with Embodiment Contemporary Dance Company. For Tate, Duke in Silicon Valley is a chance to deepen her understanding of investor strategy and entrepreneurial ecosystems. She hopes to gain insight into scaling ideas and supporting founders, with long-term aspirations of working at the intersection of business and creative industries. Outside of academics, she loves hot yoga, wakesurfing, and photography.

Ting Ting Li

Ting Ting is a rising junior from Silver Spring, MD who is studying Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science with a passion for design, innovation, medicine, and technology. She is passionate about combining her I&E interests with medicine and technology to bring new ideas and solutions to the healthcare world. At Duke, she is involved pre-professionally through The Cube, an entrepreneurship and innovation focused student group, as well as Catalyst, a tech focused student group. Additionally, she serves as marketing and communications for DTech, outreach for the Asian Students Association, and dances for two groups, Duke Chinese Dance & Duke Synergy. In her free time, Ting Ting can be found doing arts & crafts of any kind including but not limited to drawing, painting, & digital art. She is always down for an adventure, and loves to travel & try new things. She is really excited to be part of DSV this summer and can’t wait to make new friendships while expanding her entrepreneurial skills.

Sami Moudarres

Sami is a rising sophomore from Fairfax, Virginia who plans to study Economics while potentially pursuing an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate. On campus, he is a member of the Business Development Division of the Duke Impact Investing Group, and a member of the Student Organization Finance Committee (SOFC). Sami loves spending time with friends and family, playing pickleball, and going to concerts. In Silicon Valley, he hopes to learn directly from startup founders and early-stage investors, gaining insight into the challenges and strategies that shape successful ventures. He hopes to leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to navigate the startup landscape and what it takes to build something impactful from the ground up.

Mia Pao

Mia is a rising sophomore from Hong Kong who plans to study Environmental Sciences and Policy with an I&E Certificate. On campus, she is involved with the Undergraduate Environmental Union, Asian Students Association, Business Oriented Women, Phi Alpha Delta, and more. She also loves to dance! For Mia, Duke in Silicon Valley is an opportunity to get her foot in one of the most dynamic sectors of the professional sphere. She is excited to learn how creators create in the business world – something she has been doing in the performing arts her whole life. Outside of school, Mia loves water sports, traveling, the ocean, and trying new foods with her friends.

Unzila Sakina

Unzila is a rising senior from McLean, Virginia, studying computer science and economics at Duke University. On campus, she serves as a resident assistant and is involved in leadership roles through the Center for Muslim Life and the Pakistan Student Association. She’s also a teaching assistant for calculus and actively volunteers with organizations like FEMMES+. Unzila is passionate about using technology for social impact and is especially interested in the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship, and community development. She’s excited to join Duke in Silicon Valley to explore how innovation shapes real-world solutions and to connect with others who share a creative, purpose-driven mindset. In her free time, she enjoys reading poetry, watching classic South Asian films, and exploring new coffee spots with friends.

Shaan Sakraney

Shaan is a rising junior from Newport Beach, California, studying Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) with a minor in Economics. On campus, Shaan plays on the club tennis team, gives campus tours for Duke admissions, and is a laboratory teaching assistant for an ECE class. In his free time, Shaan enjoys going to the beach with friends, exploring new places, listening to music, and playing piano. At Duke in Silicon Valley, Shaan hopes to gain insight from professionals in the tech industry and learn from their experiences.

Olivia Shim

Olivia is a rising junior from Rochester, NY, pursuing a psychology major, a sociology minor, and an Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate. On campus, she is a student fellow and peer mentor in the SPIRE Program. She helps younger SPIRE fellows find resources for their academic endeavors and provides support throughout the college journey. Additionally, she works as the marketing officer for a startup called Students Who Sit (SWS). SWS connects student sitters to faculty members who seek babysitting services. For Olivia, Duke in Silicon Valley is an opportunity to learn more about the entrepreneurial landscape and hopefully contribute to it in her professional career. Outside the classroom, she loves walking, hanging out with her friends, and watching movie commentaries!

Sawyer Spector

Sawyer is a rising sophomore from Raleigh, NC, who plans to study Computer Science with a possible interest in Visual Media Studies while pursuing certificates in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Philosophy, Politics & Economics. In the community, Sawyer is actively involved in organizing mental health-related events and also works as a freelance graphic designer and animator. For Sawyer, Duke in Silicon Valley is a valuable opportunity to expand entrepreneurial knowledge and develop skills to flesh out business ideas and patent projects. Sawyer hopes to gain a strong framework for building and running a successful business, as well as advice from experienced entrepreneurs. Hobby-wise, Sawyer enjoys painting, playing lacrosse, playing piano, and going to the gym.

Chiara Tan-Gatue

Chiara is a rising sophomore from Manila, Philippines. She plans to major in Economics with a minor in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics and a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. On campus, she is actively involved in entrepreneurship and venture capital programming, including Duke’s VC Foundations Workshop series. Passionate about the intersection of technology, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, Chiara aims to drive innovation that transforms how we live and heal. Through Duke in Silicon Valley, she looks forward to deepening her understanding of startup ecosystems, sharpening her entrepreneurial skills, and building a strong network of future founders and investors. In her free time, Chiara enjoys singing, reading personal growth and mystery novels, watching sci-fi films, traveling, trying new foods, and learning new languages. She approaches every endeavor with a spirit of curiosity, creative thinking, and bold ambition.

Mehdi Touhami Chahdi

Mehdi is a freshman from Dubai, UAE, studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. At Duke, he is a Powertrain Engineer for Duke Motorsports, a member of the the Delta Sigma Pi business organization, and a member of European Business Society. He has also interned at Accenture, where he worked on predictive maintenance strategy using AI. For Mehdi, Duke in Silicon Valley is a chance to deepen his understanding of venture building and product development while connecting with founders, engineers, and investors. He looks forward to collaborating with like-minded peers and gaining firsthand experience in the heart of the startup world. Outside of class, Mehdi enjoys soccer, startup strategy, and exploring new food spots.

Jake Unterlack

Jake is a rising sophomore from Cherry Hill, NJ. He’s majoring in Biomedical Engineering and pursing a minor in Chemistry alongside the I&E certificate. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new places in downtown Durham, playing sports, or going on random side-quests with his friends. While in Silicon Valley, Jake is excited to learn about the world of startups and introduce new perspectives of learning into his undergraduate experience.

Atom Wang

Atom is a rising junior from Beijing, China majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She’s into data analytics, especially in healthcare and human biology, and loves building cool things with AI agents. At Duke’s Pearson Lab, she’s helping create a tool that finds patterns in EEG signals in real time, and at Duke Hospital, she’s diving into a 100-million-patient database to study how GLP-1 might protect the heart and brain. She’s excited about programs like Duke in Silicon Valley as a way to turn tech ideas into real-world health solutions. In her free time, Atom’s usually exploring new music, listening to audiobooks, or planning beach trips where she can snorkel.

Alyssa Yang

Alyssa is a rising sophomore from Taipei, Taiwan majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Financial Economics and an I&E certificate. She is involved in Duke Women in Technology as the professional developments chair, and is also a member of the Duke Equestrian Team. Alyssa is excited to immerse herself in the dynamic startup culture of Silicon Valley. She’s eager to learn about what it takes to start a successful enterprise & meet new people this summer.

Max Zeldes

Max Zeldes is a rising sophomore from McLean, VA who plans to study Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering and a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. On campus, he is a member of the Duke Club Ice Hockey team, holds an executive position in the business fraternity AKPsi, and will be an EGR101 TA next semester. Max sees Duke in Silicon Valley as a way to develop strong entrepreneurial skills for his future career as well as make meaningful connections with industry leaders and other entrepreneurial Duke students. Max hopes to gain insight on how to build a tech startup of his own. Max’s hobbies include eating, traveling, DC sports teams, and spending time with family/friends.

Julia Zhu

Julia Zhu is a rising junior from Tallahassee, FL studying Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. At Duke, she’s loved serving as a PEarth Orientation Leader, an EGR 101 Teaching Assistant, and an Organic Chemistry tutor for student-athletes. She’s also involved in Society of Women Engineers, Pancakes for Parkinson’s, and the Green Devils internship program. In her free time, she is a chronic hobbyist, picking up everything from crocheting and thrift-flipping to pottery and DJ-ing. Her first taste of entrepreneurship came from launching a baking business in high school – which has since taken off on TikTok with over 9 million views. Through DSV, she’s excited to dive into the heart of innovation, meet inspiring founders, and reflect on the balance of hard work and luck in building something great.