Executive Team
Michael Schwartz T ’25 – I am a Senior majoring in Public Policy from High Point, North Carolina. I have always been fascinated by the complexity of cities, and throughout my time at Duke, I have explored my interest in urban studies through various academic, professional, and extracurricular opportunities. Last fall, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and after being inspired by the city’s bicycle infrastructure network, I decided to write my senior thesis on bike infrastructure and commuting patterns in Durham. Last summer, I worked for the Duke Office of Community Affairs, focusing on affordable housing policy. On campus, I am an active member of Our Urban Future club and have been deeply involved with DIUS, serving as a fellow, house course instructor, and executive team member. Currently, I serve as the Co-President of the initiative. In this role, I engage with stakeholders at Duke and in the community, manage the initiative’s communications, and lead our fellows and executive team.
David Sardá T ’25 – I’m a senior from Puebla, Mexico, majoring in Computer Science and Political Science at Duke University. Over the past four years, I’ve channeled a significant part of my time outside the classroom into urbanism. My passion for sustainable city development grew as I joined the Duke Initiative for Urban Studies (DIUS) executive team, where I took on leadership responsibilities in my junior year. I’m an eco-urbanist, architecture enthusiast, and a big fan of efficient public transportation systems.
Adeleine Geitner T ’25 – I am a senior from Hickory, NC, popularly known as the furniture manufacturing capital of the world. I study public policy and economics officially, but my interests include all things local, spatial, and cross-partisan. This semester is my fourth and final semester teaching DIUS’s house course Urban Studies 101, and both taking it and teaching it have been a highlight of my time at Duke. I joined DIUS because I believe change happens when towns and cities work to be their best selves, and an urban studies track at Duke would be a boon to a campus littered with change-making hopefuls. As the Engagement Chair within DIUS, I organize speaker events and liaise with our sister organization, Our Urban Future.
Ajani Adovor T ’26 – I am a junior majoring in statistics. I’m from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’m part of DIUS because I believe there needs to be more opportunities at Duke to study and learn about the field of Urban Studies. As a member of DIUS’s exec board, my job is to primarily keep track of logistical information, analyze student and professor interest in the field of urban studies, and figure out ways to expand DIUS’s reach.
Tate Kahalas T ’26 – I’m Tate Kahalas and being a civil engineering major, I am fascinated by the intersectionality between the urban design of our cities and the infrastructure that they are physically comprised of. I am one of the instructors of the Urban Studies 101 house course and love to share my enthusiasm and knowledge of all things cities.
