Meet the 2020–2021 Creative Arts Student Team
Meet the students behind the scenes of Duke Arts—from tour guides to social media superstars, each is an important advocate in supporting our work in growing the arts across campus.
Welcome to the CAST Directory!
These Duke students are here to help you find your way in the arts at Duke—from how to get your projects funded, to courses, to student groups and more. Your peers in the arts are here for you!
Below are the Creative Arts Student Team members for 2020–2021. These students—representing varying fields and interests—all work collaboratively with the Duke Arts staff to increase access to the arts at Duke. They are also knowledgeable arts ambassadors in their everyday life on campus, and are here as resources for you.
Omolola Sanusi ‘21
CAST Captain
Omolola Sanusi is a senior (she can’t believe it!) majoring in Literature with a concentration in Film and Media studies and a minor in Cinematic Arts. She loves storytelling in all forms but is specifically pursuing filmmaking after graduation. If she’s not gently grinding out creative content on the daily, meeting new alums as a Duke Annual Fund four-year caller, or convincing people why Maryland is the best state (DMV!), she’s usually taking a serious nap. She supports all things at the intersection of pursuing the arts while being an immigrant/low-income student.
Ask this CAST about:
- Duke In L.A.
- Filmmaking
- African music
- Maximizing your time at Duke
Omolola.Sanusi@duke.edu
Veronica Niamba ‘21
Content Creator
Veronica Niamba is a senior majoring in History with a Visual Media Studies minor and a Policy Journalism certificate. Originally from Las Vegas, NV, she wants to head back to the west coast after graduation (west coast, best coast!). She is interested in all things film and television with a particularly keen interest in original movie soundtracks. She is eagerly awaiting the day she can lay down and listen to music in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and spend an endless amount of time at the Arts Annex again.
Ask this CAST about:
- HBO’s entire catalog
- Nicholas Britell scores
- Getting involved in the arts late in your Duke career
- Plant Instagrams
- Research Opportunities at Duke
Veronica.Niamba@duke.edu
Harrison Yue ‘21
DEMAN Program Assistant
Harrison is a current senior majoring in Sociology with a Statistics minor and Markets & Management Certificate. Born in Los Angeles, he grew up loving sports and movies and brought those passions to Duke, first by helping to run Duke Sports Management (DSM) and now as a DEMAN program assistant. He loves how the athlete voice has grown over the years, and believes it will continue to become more prevalent in all mediums of art, film, and television. After graduation, he aims to pursue a career representing talent in television and sports, advocating for BIPOC and diverse storytelling in all forms of content.
Ask this CAST about:
- Anything sports related!
- Duke Sociology and Statistical Science
- Working in Hollywood
- Newest shows and movies on streaming
Harrison.Yue@duke.edu
Grace Jeffery ‘21
Social Media Ambassador
Grace Jeffrey is a senior double majoring in Global Health and Environmental Science & Policy, with a minor in Visual & Media Studies. She’s active in many facets of the arts at Duke, including music, theatre, and creative writing! She currently serves as president of the Duke Chapel Choir and business manager of Lady Blue, an all-female a cappella group. Her main academic and professional interests lie in how we can use the arts and strategic communications to create social impact across sectors. In her free time, she loves print media, traveling, and discovering new music and films.
Ask this CAST about:
- DukeEngage
- Vocal music on campus
- WXDU 88.7 FM
- Durham restaurant recommendations!
Grace.Jeffrey@duke.edu
Elizabeth Lee ‘21
Motion Graphics Designer
Liz Lee is from Memphis, TN, and is a senior majoring in Sociology with a certificate in Documentary Studies. She is interested in video post-production editing, motion/graphic design, and documentary photography. If she’s not ordering an iced oat milk latte at Cafe, she’s probably pretending to study in AAPI BASE or in the gardens.
Ask this CAST about:
- Duke in NY (summer)
- Documentary Studies
- Motion graphic design
- Coffee and baking
Elizabeth.H.Lee@duke.edu
Dani Yan ‘22
Content Creator
Dani Yan is a junior from Houston, TX, double majoring in Art History and Public Policy with a minor in Economics. At Duke, he is the co-editor in chief of FORM Magazine, the undergraduate representative on the President’s Art Advisory Committee, and a member of the Nasher Museum’s student executive board. He has written for various arts publications and focuses on issues of race and identity in modern and contemporary art. He loves visiting art museums, listening to music, and trying new food.
Ask this CAST about:
- FORM Magazine
- Modern and contemporary painting
- The best places to eat around campus!
Dani.Yan@duke.edu
Kaylin Woodward ‘21
duARTS Guest Editor
Kaylin is an Atlanta, GA, native and forever a Coke > Pepsi girl. She is also a current senior majoring in Political Science (Security, Peace, & Conflict) with an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate (Social Innovation and Policy) and a Theater Studies minor. Kaylin is active in Duke arts groups, serving as co-president of Hoof ‘n’ Horn, vice president of marketing for duARTS, and director of national expansion for Me Too Monologues. After graduation, she hopes to find ways to intersect her passions for creative storytelling and global social and environmental issues. Even though she tries to travel often, Kaylin loves to call Duke home, and you can find her tenting before a basketball game or sipping a late-night milkshake at the Loop.
Ask this CAST about:
- Hoof ‘n’ Horn
- Me Too Monologues
- Voice lessons at Duke
- Study abroad
- Film & TV
Kaylin.Woodward@duke.edu
Alexa Burnston ‘22
DEMAN Program Assistant
Alexa Burnston is a junior Program II self-designed major called “Understanding the Concept of Value Through the Lens of Classical Musical Traditions.” She is interested in all things music, including music policy, management, marketing, research, and live performance. She has been an active member of the arts community at Duke since freshman year. You can usually find her chatting about Duke in New York, planning for music releases with Small Town Records, grabbing a meal at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, taking her online classes on the BC plaza, or rehearsing in Baldwin Auditorium with Duke Opera Theatre!
Ask this CAST about:
- Duke in NY
- Program II
- Small Town Records
- Non-profit arts organizations
- Connecting with arts organizations and students
Alexa.Burnston@duke.edu
John Kang ‘23
CAST Photographer
John is a sophomore from northern Virginia planning on major in Visual & Media Studies and Economics. Some of his interests include film production, photography, writing, and music. He hopes to help foster communities at Duke that are passionate about storytelling through the arts. You might catch him playing board games with friends, documenting everyday life with a camera, giving free haircuts, or running on campus late at night.
Ask this CAST about:
- Simple Charity
- Asian InterVarsity
- Visual storytelling @ Duke (Freewater Productions, The Chronicle)
- Anything northern Virginia (NOVA)
John.Y.Kang@duke.edu
Katerina Deliargyris ‘23
Ruby Ambassador and Social Media Ambassador
Katerina Deliargyris is a sophomore double-majoring in Environmental Sciences & Policy and German. She grew up in Athens, Greece and Munich, Germany, and became involved with the arts when she joined her first musical in the seventh grade. Since then she has continued to purse musical theater and a cappella, and at Duke she is a member of Hoof ‘n’ Horn and Out of the Blue. In her free time, you can catch her telling people to buy reusable water bottles and raving about the New England Patriots.
Ask this CAST about:
- Environmental involvement on campus
- A cappella
- Musical theater
- New England Patriots
Katerina.Deliargyris@duke.edu
Lauren May ‘23
Social Media Ambassador
Lauren May is a sophomore majoring in International Comparative Studies, pursuing a certificate in Documentary Studies. She is interested in music production, artist development, film, fashion, and writing. Originally from Philadelphia, she is interested in how various cultures can mesh together to create even more riveting stories and artistic concepts. When not having impromptu photoshoots or researching the latest trends in the entertainment industry, you can find this CAST studying in Vondy or exploring the newest exhibition at the Nasher.
Ask this CAST about:
- Small Town Records
- FORM Magazine
- Social media marketing
- Creative director pathways
Lauren.K.May@duke.edu
Lydia Wang ‘22
Social Media Ambassador
Lydia Wang is a junior receiving an Interdepartmental major in Visual Media Studies and Psychology, a minor in Biology, and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate. She was born and raised in a small rural town in Oklahoma named Ardmore. Ever since she was little, Lydia has been dancing ballet, drawing, and playing the piano. Now at Duke, she’s primarily interested in video editing, graphic design, marketing, and street style dancing. She’s currently active in Duke’s dance community as co-president of Duke Pureun, a K-pop dance team. In her free time, she loves watching anime, playing video games, reading a good book, and listening to music. After graduation, she is aiming to pursue a career in marketing in the fashion/beauty industry.
Ask this CAST about:
- DEMAN Weekend networking
- The best ways to get involved in dance at Duke
- Kpop song recommendations
- Anime recommendations
- Fashion and beauty
Lydia.wang2@duke.edu