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What does the DUG do?
What does the DUG do?
The Economics Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) is the single DUG that serves concentrators in Economics, Applied Math-Economics, Computer Science-Economics, and Mathematics-Economics. The DUG is a group of undergraduates whose common interest in economics spur career and academic-oriented events.
The Economics DUG serves as an intermediary between the Department of Economics faculty and the undergraduate population. In the past, the DUG has hosted events in which students could get to know their professors outside of class, learn about various economic topics, and connect with alums working in different fields.
Who we are
Who we are
Co-Presidents
Co-Presidents
Megan Ball
Megan Ball
she/her
2026
Megan is a senior from Maryland concentrating in Economics and Computer Science. She serves as the Co-President of the Economics DUG, formerly the Co-Chair of the Community Relations Committee. On campus, she is also a Meiklejohn and an RA for the Center for PPE. In her free time, she loves to take care of houseplants, go climbing, and read mysteries.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ball-megan/
Maria Claudia Bonaparte
Maria Claudia Bonaparte
she/her
2026
Maria Claudia is a junior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, concentrating in Economics and Environmental Science. At Brown, Maria Claudia serves as the Marketing Co-Chair of the Economics DUG, an RA for ACURM, a TA for Intermediate Macroeconomics, and a member of the Brazilian Students Association. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and biking!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-claudia-gurj%C3%A3o-bonaparte/
Career Committee
Career Committee
Career Development is responsible for cultivating events that provide students with the resources and tools that can enable them to learn more about internship and career opportunities. In the past, the committee has coordinated events like Career Coffee Chats, How to Succeed in Your Finance Internship, Diversity in Private Equity Panel, Consulting vs. Finance Panel, Speed Networking with Alumni, Intro to Finance Panel, and Breaking into Harvard Business School.
Hpone Thit Htoo (Ren)
Hpone Thit Htoo (Ren)
he/him
2026
Ren is a senior from Yangon, Myanmar studying Business Economics and International & Public Affairs. At Brown, he serves as the Career Development co-chair of the Economics DUG, senior advisor for Brown GRC, committee chair with Brown MUN and is passionate about public policy, social enterprises and business. He enjoys binging Netflix shows, reading manga and eating out at cool restaurants around Providence and rating them on Beli!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hpone-thit-htoo-ren-6b9182261
Howard Zhang
Howard Zhang
he/him
Co-President, 2026
Howard is a sophomore from Dallas concentrating in Applied Math-Economics. At Brown, Howard serves as the Finance Co-Chair for the Economics DUG and an analyst in the Brown Healthcare Investment Group and the Socially Responsible Investment Fund. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing basketball, and trying different restaurants!
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-zhang-5200592a4/
Academic Committee
Academic Committee
The Academic Committee coordinates events that provide academic support to students. In the past, the committee has put on events like pre-registration open hours, lecture lunches with professors at Brown, and concentration declaration workshops. The Committee is also updates the Economics DUG Repository at the beginning and end of each semester.
Aarav Laungani
Aarav Laungani
2029
Aarav is a freshman who has lived in Dubai, Singapore and Jakarta, concentrating in Economics and Applied Mathematics with Computer Science. At Brown he serves as the Academic Co-Chair at the Economics DUG, and works with the Brown Investment Group’s REGL. In his free time, he enjoys dancing, singing and listening to music.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/aaravlaungani
Meruka Vyas
Meruka Vyas
she/her
2028
Meruka is a sophomore from Delhi, India, concentrating in Mathematics,Economics and Political Science at Brown University. She serves as the Academic Co-Chair of the Economics DUG and is deeply engaged in research as both a Royce Fellow and a PPE Society Fellow on campus. Beyond the classroom, Meruka is the Campus Life Chair for the Undergraduate Council of Students and President of the Washington Forum on India. She is also involved with the Brown Collegiate Consulting Group, the Brown Political Review, the Brown Journal of PPE, SASA and ISA. In her free time, she enjoys rewatching Star Wars, lifting at the gym, and exploring new spots around Providence.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/merukavyas
Community Relations Committee
Community Relations Committee
The Community Relations Committee is tasked with developing and hosting events that connect the Econ DUG to the wider Brown community, as well as to other local colleges and universities, and the Providence Public School District (PPSD). The goal of the committee is to create economics-related content and programs that can provide students within and outside of Brown with useful information and tools for getting involved with the field of economics.
DEI Committee
DEI Committee
The DEI Committee operates on behalf of all the marginalized Economics students represented by the DUG. In this position, the committee continually strives to create a safer and more inclusive space that respects diverse backgrounds and values traditionally underrepresented students. Specifically, the committee carries out this mission by hosting targeted events for underrepresented students, fostering conversations that help connect underrepresented students to professionals and academics, as well as inviting diverse speakers to discuss topics that concern marginalized students.
Marketing Committee
Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee is tasked with keeping the Brown community up to date with all the events, resources, and offerings of the DUG throughout the semester. This includes sending out weekly newsletters to the Brown committee, advertising the events of the different committees, developing engaging graphics, and ensuring that the DUG is featured on various platforms for optimal advertising.
Maria Ascasibar Castaneda
Maria Ascasibar Castaneda
2028
Maria is a sophomore from Lima, Peru, concentrating in Business Economics and Behavioral Decision Sciences. At Brown, she serves as Marketing Co-Chair of the Economics DUG and President of UNICEF@Brown, as well as a Meiklejohn Peer Advisor. In her free time, she enjoys painting landscapes, spending time with friends and family, and dancing.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mariaascasibarcastaneda/
Lillian Dick
Lillian Dick
she/her
2027
Lillian is a junior from New York City concentrating in Business Economics. At Brown, Lillian serves as Marketing Co-Chair of the Economics DUG, a research committee analyst for Brown Investment Group, an analyst for Van Wickle Ventures, and a finance associate for the Brown Daily Herald. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing squash, and trying new restaurants!
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lilliandick
Finance and Engagement Committee
Finance and Engagement Committee
The Finance and Engagement Committee is tasked with keeping track of the committee’s budgets and facilitating engagement within the DUG E-Board. This includes tracking sources of funding and spending, and facilitating club reimbursements, and organizing social events.
Aamina Chaudhry
Aamina Chaudhry
she/her
2028
Aamina is a Sophomore from Long Island, NY, concentrating in Economics and Public Health. At Brown, Aamina serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair of the Economics DUG, a U-FLi Peer Counselor, the Strategy and Event Planner for UNICEF@Brown, a member of Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, and the Brown University Representative for the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Student Leadership Board. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, learning languages, going on long walks to ponder her existence, and supporting her friends, family, and community 🫶.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aamina-chaudhry-40748b312/
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