Aria Dwoskin

Public Policy Student, Duke University
Class of 2028

Hi, I’m Aria Dwoskin!

I’m studying Public Policy at Duke University, where I’m deeply focused on public policy, economic equity, and driving meaningful social change.

I’ve always had a deep-rooted passion for economics, politics, and the written word. My love for reading started early and has stuck with me—some of my favorite books include The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss, and Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. In high school, I served as Editor-in-Chief of The Berkley Spectator, our school’s newspaper, which helped strengthen my voice as a writer and activist.

At Duke, I serve as an Opinion Staff Writer for The Duke Chronicle and Campus President/Liaison for DIPAC (Duke Israel Public Affairs Committee). I’m also active in Students for Gun Safety and currently hold two research assistantships. One is a paid role studying the Michigan Constitutional Convention of 1961–62, focusing on George Romney and Citizens for Michigan. The other is through Bass Connections, where I’m part of a team examining the effects of guaranteed income on low-income families in Durham County.

In summer 2025, I’ll be interning with Oakland County Executive David Coulter, where I’ll support local policy initiatives and work on constituent engagement. Previously, I interned for Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg, where I learned firsthand how fiscal policy and financial tools can drive economic justice and opportunity.

My passion for politics really took off when I interned for U.S. Representative Haley Stevens’ congressional campaign during the midterm elections. I canvassed over 2,500 homes and helped contribute to over 100,000 voter outreach calls—playing a key role in a powerful grassroots campaign. That experience gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how campaigns work and affirmed my commitment to a career in public service.

One issue I’ve been especially passionate about is how America approaches sexual education. I launched a blog in high school advocating for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) after realizing my own education ended in fifth grade—and barely scratched the surface. The curriculum I received focused only on basic heterosexual relationships and ignored critical topics like gender identity, pronouns, and inclusive healthcare. I created the blog as a platform to challenge the stigma around discussing sex and body literacy—particularly for underserved populations like the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and women—so these conversations could be had openly, accurately, and without shame.

These blogs reflect my past work and advocacy.

👉 Click here to read my current work as an Opinion Staff Writer for The Duke Chronicle.