Ryan Chen is a senior at Duke University from Hong Kong, studying Public Policy and Political Science. His research interests focus on higher education and specifically admissions policies. He has worked closely with Professor Eric Mlyn since taking his ‘Democracy and American Higher Education’ course in his sophomore year. Ryan is deeply involved in both academics and athletics at Duke. He has served two terms on Duke’s Athletic Council, two terms as President of the Club Sports Executive Committee, and three terms as President of the national championship-winning Club Field Hockey team. He is also a practice player and manager for the varsity field hockey team. Outside of internships, Ryan spends his summers working at world-renowned bars in Hong Kong. After graduation, he plans to attend law school to further explore his interest in constitutional and public law.

Honors Thesis: Diversity or dollars? Comparing justifications for international student admissions and actual student experiences at Duke University

Faculty Advisor: Professor Eric Mlyn