Dzialga Women in Finance Initiative

In 2018, the Duke Financial Economics Center (DFE) launched the Women in Finance Initiative, made possible by the Kirsten Alexander Dzialga ’93 Fund. The goal of this initiative is to empower women interested in finance with mentoring, skills training, faculty advising, and networking opportunities. From sophomore to senior year, Dzialga Fellows are engaged in activities that help them explore careers in finance and prepare for summer internships, including

10 female students in a boardroom with a view of skyscrapers from the windows
Class of 2025 Dzialga Women in Finance Fellows at a firm visit in New York.
  • Guest speaker sessions covering a variety of finance topics
  • Advising from DFE faculty
  • Guidance through the internship recruiting process
  • Mentoring by seniors who have been through the recruiting process
  • A trip to New York over fall break to visit major banks, advisory firms, and private equity firms
  • Skill development sessions on giving presentations, networking, and getting the most from the internship experience

Sophomore Dzialga Fellows also take the fall semester course ECON 256 Practical Financial Markets, in which they learn the foundational concepts and technical skills required for careers in the financial markets.

Dzialga Fellows, including those who choose to pursue alternative careers, are engaged in the initiative throughout their time at Duke. Overall, the initiative offers Duke women the opportunity to develop their individual strengths within a supportive cohort.

DFE accepts applications for the Dzialga Women in Finance Initiative each spring. All first-year women are eligible to apply.

Current Dzialga Fellows

Clare Abboud '24
Theiija Balasubramanian '24
Ella Bergner '24
Adrianna DeLorenzo '24
Catherine Liu '24
Jessica Luan '24
Sophie Munro '24
Sophia Sacchetti '24
Christina Sigler '24
Abigail Ullendorf '24
Tanya Agarwal '25
Anya Button '25
Lindsey Latts '25
Elizabeth Mastrangelo '25
Peggy Moore '25
Adya Rajpal '25
Claire Rubenstein '25
Lauren Steele '25
Lauren Tse '25
Amulya Vatsavai '25
Abby Beamer '26
Annie Carey '26
Abby Hoyt '26
Malini Kamlani '26
Sophia Liu '26
Oishani Nandi '26
Ilene Park '26
Catherine Switzer '26
Lilla Timperman '26
Athena Yeung '26

The Dzialga Initiative's Impact

“The Dzialga program has had a profound impact on both my professional development and personal growth. I know I will enter the workforce a more composed and confident woman, which is in no small part due to this program. I am immensely grateful to the faculty and alumni who make this program what it is — I could not imagine a better professional launchpad than the Dzialga Initiative." — Rebecca Williamson '22

"The Dzialga Initiative has been an incredible part of my Duke experience. Even as someone who isn’t pursuing a finance role right after college, it’s been a really great way to find a community of women interested in business, build mentor and mentee relationships, and learn about different career pathways through guest speakers." — Anna Jiang '22