Zac Contreras, he/him

zac.contreras@duke.edu

Zac is originally from Boerne, Texas, but moved to North Carolina to complete his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University. He received a B.A. with a double major in Politics & International Affairs and Sociology (with a concentration in Crime and Criminal Justice) and a minor in Middle East & South Asia Studies.

Zac’s experience spans non-profit fundraising, business development, and project coordination, including roles at a humanitarian aid organization, a civil rights organization, and a think tank. Most recently, he interned for two terms with the ACLU National’s Program & Strategy Team, where he supported multi-state initiatives like the Border Humanity Project and the 2024 Battleground States Initiative. Previously, he worked on a state-wide political campaign in Texas, developing digital communication strategies and researching immigration policies related to border surveillance technology.

At Sanford, he intends to concentrate in social policy with a focus on immigration, human rights, and social justice; outside of school, he enjoys backpacking, thrifting, ink drawing, community organizing in Durham, and drinking lots of coffee!

Areas of Policy Interest:

• Human Rights
• Immigration Policy
• Social Justice
• Social Policy
• Technology Policy