Erica Dugué is a member of the Class of 2021, most recently from Washington, D.C., and incredibly proud to be concentrating in the African American Studies department. Having entered Princeton with the intention of majoring in sociology, she quickly realized the imperative nature of approaching sociology from a critical race studies standpoint. Now pursuing the Race and Public Policy track within the department, Erica hopes to conduct people-centered ethnographic research that both humanizes and makes visible those whose stories are often relegated to the sidelines; as well as better informs social and public policy to center the systemically disadvantaged. She is also pursuing certificates in French Language & Culture and Ethnographic Studies, and is excited to bring these three fields together by way of her senior thesis research. One of Erica’s favorite things about the AAS department is its incredibly interdisciplinary nature- so that all of its students may both combat systems of oppression, as well as build transformative futures of hope, through whatever field impassions them.

Outside of her academics, Erica is heavily involved with prospective and first-year student activities, such as being a first-year orientation leader for the Dialogue and Difference in Action-orientation program, Princeton Preview Host Captain, and an Orange Key Tour Guide. She is a Fellow for the Carl A. Fields (CAF) Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding, and represents this group on both her residential college peer educators’ board, as well as the Inter Club Council (ICC); sits on the Student Programming Board for the CAF; is an officer and dancer for the diSiac Dance Company; a mentor in the Big Sibs elementary school program; and a committee leader in the Students for Prison Education and Reform group known as SPEAR. Erica is additionally incredibly honored to have been the inaugural recipient of the Peer Educator of the Year Award in Spring 2019.

After graduation, Erica is considering a number of different options, which include (but are not limited to) participating in a Princeton Civic Service Fellowship, joining the Peace Corps, continuing her research in a masters’ program, or devising some hybrid of already-existing jobs.