Sanceray Smith Email & Phone Number

New York City Metropolitan Area

Durham, North Carolina, United States

At the lab, I conduct research under Dr. Sarah Gaither that examines how different types of non-verbal gestures can influence learning outcomes for children to understand racial differences in learning preferences. Additionally, I recruit participants in English and in Spanish to participate in the studies and conduct the experiments to answer our hypothesis.

Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

I was selected to participate in DukeEngage Durban, an 8 week fully-funded program, that enabled me to connect deeply with the Wentworth community. Here, I was able to immerse myself in South African culture, facilitated by my homestay experience, and address critical social issues such as environmental racism and the racial education gap. Through the program, I was a Summer Intern at the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) where I conducted research to produce environmental impact statements to deter polluting developments in South Durban. Additionally, I engaged with colleagues to systematically address the organization's struggles with connecting with the youth and instilling a reverence for the environment and an understanding of the environmental injustice faced by their community. I was able to address this struggle by implementing an educational framework that future volunteers can employ: I organized and orchestrated a Youth Day event where the youth learned through presentations, games, and digestible workbooks created and designed by myself. These materials can and will be used by the organization for similar events in the future to continue to foster a love and care for the environment in the community. Lastly, I volunteered at various worksites, such as Assegai Primary School where I served as a tutor for elementary school children and helped start and run an after-school math program, and St. Monica's Children's home where I helped generate programming and summer activities for the kids.

Durham, North Carolina, United States

As a Bass Connection researcher, I was selected to collaborate with a team of PhDs, professors, graduate, and undergraduate students on the interdisciplinary research team “Celebrating Latinx Culture with a Spanish Reading Program." The goal of this research team is to study the cultural and linguistic impact of being a second-generation Latinx American, and the implications of their American environment on their Latinx pride and use of/proficiency in Spanish.My role on this team primarily consisted of one-on-one tutoring and mentorship of elementary school English-as-second-language (ESL) students in Spanish reading and grammar; however, I also conducted research on various obstacles contributing to a hostile learning environment for ESL students, such as the role of xenophobia and racism on their relationships with others and with speaking and reading in Spanish outside of the home. Lastly, we analyzed our findings over the year, presenting the impact of cultural investment through our reading program by and on the students at an exhibition open to Duke Students and Durham residents.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Translated resumes and administrative documents; informed patrons of their education and scholarship opportunities following immigration; designed online flyers for the consulate’s website and Facebook page

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science | African & African American Studies | Psychology

Activities and Societies: 3.95/4.00 GPA Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Mu Chapter - President Out of the Blue A Cappella Group.

Psychology, Junior

Duke-Approved Study Abroad Program

High School Diploma, Global Diploma Distinction

Activities and Societies: Breakthrough Atlanta Club- Leader and Founder Spanish Club- Leader Varsity Cheer Varsity Gymnastics Singers.