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Salwa Daouk '21

Alumni Profile: Salwa Daouk '21

Tiffany Townsend, Director of Marketing & Communications
Salwa Daouk ’21 believes strongly in creating communities where all members feel a sense of belonging and purpose. At Ensworth, she was actively engaged in Project TALK and Tearing Down the Walls, facilitating important conversations and activities to help foster respectful dialogue and develop an inclusive culture.
Salwa was recently featured in The Tennessean for the work she is doing at Vanderbilt University to build community among Latine students on campus and cultivate cultural awareness. We recently caught up with Salwa to learn more about her passion for being an agent for positive change. 
 
What are the clubs and activities you have been involved with during your time at Vanderbilt, including any leadership roles you have held?
On campus, I immediately became super involved with the Latine community. I served as first-year representative on the board for the Association of Latin American Students. Through this experience, I got to help plan our biggest showcase of the year and help build community within first-year Latine students. Right now, I’m in my second year on the board and hold the position of service and advocacy chair. I think my position truly intertwines my passion for serving my community and social justice activism. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with other student groups and collectively tackle important issues such as colorism and racism. 
 
Furthermore, a few of my friends and I started a group called “Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Vanderbilt,” which is a Mexican folk dance team. On the surface level, being vice president of a dance may not seem like it pertains to my passions of social change. However, through our vibrant showcase of culture, dance, and music, we have been able to shatter stereotypes and fight for the authentic representation and visibility that we deserve. 
 
I have also been involved in various social justice initiatives, including the NAACP Empowerment Summit, which took place last year. Through this conference, we were able to bring together various local universities to discuss important topics pertaining to social change and activism on campus. 
 
Outside of campus, I have served as the Education Trust of Tennessee’s student representative on the CRT Collective Action Council to dismantle harmful legislation around Critical Race Theory. 
 
How did your experience at Ensworth influence the way you have engaged in these activities at Vanderbilt?
My experience at Ensworth prepared me for these activities by allowing me to engage in social justice activities on campus. Being involved in clubs like Tearing Down the Walls and gaining that valuable leadership experience prepared me tremendously for college. Learning how to work with other students to organize events was such a valuable life skill that led me to create effective change through organizations in college. 
 
In what other ways do you feel Ensworth helped prepare you for the college experience?
I know Ensworth always stressed academics, but now that I am actually in college, I really do appreciate the way Ensworth prepared me for the academically rigorous course load. I also think the Harkness method not only grew my confidence in group discussions but also played an important role in developing my public speaking abilities. 
 
Were there specific Ensworth faculty/staff members who were an influence or mentor to you? 
Coach Whit was a huge mentor and a help to me at Ensworth. Through my time with Tearing Down the Walls, he was a person I could look up to as a role model and someone who kept even the most serious situations fun and lighthearted. He always pushed me to pursue more of my passions and supported me in all my endeavors. He is such a treasured mentor, advisor, and teacher of mine that I continue to stay in touch with. Salwa and a fellow student leader
What are your plans/hopes for the future?
Right now, I’m double majoring in Political Science and Law, History, & Society. After undergrad, I’m planning on going to law school. With that, I hope to pursue either immigration, international, or civil rights law. My vision is to combine my aspirations of giving back to my Latine community, fighting for social justice issues, and practicing law. 
 
What are your hopes for Ensworth as we continue to strive to be a diverse and inclusive community?
I would say that I believe it’s incredibly important to have the visibility and representation that student groups and cultural organizations bring to a campus. But beyond that, I think students have the power to spread cultural awareness as a form of activism. This type of representation is key to having a harmonious campus environment and can bridge the gaps of social divisions among students. I hope that Ensworth continues to support student initiatives and grows the opportunities available to students to showcase their cultures and passions. 
 
Editor’s Note: Since Ensworth interviewed her, Salwa was elected President of the Association of Latin American Students at Vanderbilt.
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.