The Advocate

Shortly after he arrived at Duke, Brian Flores learned of a fraternity party billed as “Viva Mexico.” The entrance simulated a border crossing; green cards decorated the walls. The theme hit too close to home for Flores, whose father fled El Salvador and mother emigrated from Guatemala.

“The experience made me more passionate about advocating for institutional integration of Latinos into Duke,” Flores says. “It challenged me to take a more active role in my education to demand it be the best it could be.”

Flores, a psychology major who earned a certificate in Latin American Studies, served as chair of academic affairs for the Latino student association, Mi Gente, and as academic dean for his fraternity, La Unidad Latina. In an independent study project, Flores examined cultural differences in pain-coping strategies among white, African- American and Latino students. “I wanted to begin to understand [Latinos’] role in health psychology.”

Flores’ advocacy of Latino issues extends off campus as well. He participated in mission trips to Honduras to teach vacation Bible school, joined a planning committee at his church to assist Durham’s immigrant population, and tutored local grade-school children in English as a second language.

Flores is applying to graduate programs in clinical psychology. “The investment I made in leadership roles made my time at Duke all the more meaningful,” he says. “I’m grateful for an education that challenged me and helped me develop a strong sense of critical thought.”