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Danica Bajaj is a senior at Duke University committed to advancing well-being for all who shape the university—students, faculty, staff, and the broader Durham community. She has led opioid crisis intervention in North Carolina, attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings, conducting research, and securing a $250,000 grant to implement a Mobile Syringe Service Program. On campus, she helped organize the
first large-scale social event on Central Campus, advancing a more accessible and inclusive social life. Through the Robertson Scholarship, she has researched workplace burnout solutions and founded The Gratitude Equation, an undergraduate course she teaches on the science and practice of gratitude. She has integrated well-being initiatives into Orientation and Sophomore Spark and has served on the Student Conduct Board, as a Duke Presidential Ambassador, and as an Orientation Leader for Project Herd and DKU Orientation, working to make Duke a place where everyone can thrive.
Danica applied for the Young Trustee position to give back to every part of Duke that has shaped her. Her experiences as an undergraduate, researcher, DKU ambassador, and public health advocate in Durham have given her a comprehensive understanding of the university’s diverse stakeholders. She is particularly interested in strengthening Duke’s institutional support for student well-being, ensuring the hospital system aligns with Duke’s carbon neutrality goals while maintaining operational excellence, and enhancing the university’s global partnerships. She is eager to bring bold, practical solutions to the Board.