Hi! My name is Dana Tan, and I am beyond excited to join the Baldwin Scholars community. I spent most of my childhood in Singapore, where I attended an all-girls elementary and middle school, before moving to the United States to attend boarding school in Connecticut. Growing up across different educational systems and cultures shaped my adaptability and deepened my appreciation for close-knit, supportive networks.
As the oldest of three siblings—and two dogs—I have always valued having a strong support system to lean on, one I hope to find among my fellow Baldwins. Being raised in a female-centered, supportive network showed me the power of women in leadership and the importance of uplifting one another. These experiences continue to motivate me to contribute to and strengthen spaces that empower women to lead with confidence and compassion.
At Duke, I plan to combine my love for helping people and animals with my interest in improving systems through a major in Biomedical Engineering and a certificate in Decision Sciences. I am especially drawn to understanding how humans and animals make decisions in medical and research settings, and how designing technologies and systems with these natural behaviors in mind can lead to more effective, ethical, and humane approaches to improving well-being.
Outside the classroom, I love dancing, playing pickleball, attending yoga and Pilates classes, taking photos on my digital camera, and café hopping. I also enjoy spending time outdoors and care deeply about environmental sustainability. On campus, I serve as a Duke Student Government Senator for Services and Sustainability, volunteer with Duke Puppy Club and Duke Canine Cognition Center, and work as a research assistant in the Huettel Lab, where I study decision-making under the influence of authority.
I am incredibly honored to be a Baldwin Scholar and look forward to contributing to the warm, supportive community that has already helped me find a home at Duke.