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Shaping the Future of Ethics at SMU

The Maguire Ethics Center Student Advisory Board empowers students to provide valuable feedback and student perspectives on ethical issues and initiatives at SMU. Serving as a bridge between the student body and the Ethics Center, the Board plays a crucial role in shaping campus-wide discussions, events, and programs that promote ethical awareness and public responsibility. Board members meet monthly during the fall and spring semesters to collaborate on impactful projects, engage with faculty and professionals, and advocate for ethics and public responsibility across the ÃÛÌÒ½´community.

 

Zoey Hess
Student Advisory Board Chair

Majors: B.B.A. in Business Management and B.A. in  Psychology
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Residential Commons Affiliation: Virginia-Snider Commons

Zoey Hess is a senior at ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University and a member of the Hunt Leadership Scholars Program and the University Honors Program. She is passionate about leadership, organizational culture, and the role ethics plays in decision-making and community impact. After graduation, she will begin a career in consulting, where she hopes to continue driving people-centered, purpose-driven change.

Zoey is honored to serve as the inaugural Chair of the Maguire Center’s Student Advisory Board. She was drawn to the board because of its unique focus on student-led ethical engagement and saw it as a powerful platform to elevate values-driven leadership across campus. She is especially excited to bring this year’s theme, Living the Good Life, to life through programming that encourages students to reflect on what it truly means to live with purpose, courage, and compassion.

 

Max Keating
Student Advisory Board Vice-Chair

Majors: Finance and history
Minors: Public Policy and International Affairs
Hometown: Southlake, TX
Residential Commons: Morrison-McGinnis

Max Keating is from Southlake, Texas, and is double majoring in finance and history. He is a Hunt Leadership Scholar, a NexPoint Tower Scholar, and a member of the University Honors Program. While at SMU, his involvement has included the Tate Lecture Series, Student Foundation, and serving as a student senator in the ÃÛÌÒ½´Student Senate. He is also a member of the Reformed University Fellowship and the Wipe Out Kids Cancer Youth Board.

Max joined the Maguire Center Board because he’s interested in how ethics influence decisions in government and education. He also hopes to help the center build stronger connections with the student body and become a more visible part of campus life. Outside of SMU, he enjoys reading, film photography, hiking, and spending time with his family. He plans to attend law school after graduating.

Alexandra Lahiri

Majors: International Studies and Music
Minors: Latin, Classical Studies, European Area Studies, and Church Music
Hometown: Highland Park, TX
Residential Commons: Morrison-McGinnis

Alexandra Lahiri was born and raised in Highland Park, Texas, and is a first-generation Greek and Indian American. Growing up, she would travel to Greece and India almost every year, and she would visit new countries annually. She is grateful to have visited over 50 different countries, and this sparked her interest in learning about and experiencing various cultures from around the world. She is greatly interested in international relations, law, and diplomacy. She chose ÃÛÌÒ½´so she could cultivate passions for the humanities and the arts, in both her majors, and pursue prestigious academic and career opportunities. In addition to her interest in international studies, she is a melophile and studies classical voice. She is an active member of her home parish, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, where she is the youth choir director, a member of the church choir and Byzantine chant group, and a Catechetical school music teacher. She is also a member of her church’s Young Adult League Greek Dance Group. Her absolute favorite activity to do is traditional Greek dancing, and she has been performing since she was two years old.

Alexandra was drawn to this board, as she is interested in ethical leadership: striving to do the right and moral action, while taking into account various potential outcomes and reactions based on her, as well as other people’s opinions. She is grateful for all the leadership opportunities at ÃÛÌÒ½´and wanted to serve on this board, as this board values and promotes ethics. Her passion project is studying the Kalavryta Massacre, which directly impacted her family. This event constantly reminds her of ethics and morality. She is committed to share this story, which is not common knowledge, in the hope that more people will continue to remember events like these and learn from past mistakes so never again will this kind of atrocity occur.

 

Morgan Lee

Majors: Corporate Communication & Public Affairs and Double Bass Performance
Minor: Business
Hometown: Cedar Hill, Texas
Residential Commons: Smith-Perkins

I chose to attend ÃÛÌÒ½´because I truly believe that world changers are shaped here. Now in my sophomore year, I am honored to be part of the Hunt Scholars Program, the CORE Women’s Symposium, and several other student organizations where I serve in leadership roles including Secretary and Treasurer.

What drew me to this Student Advisory Board is its strong commitment to promoting ethical awareness and creating space for different perspectives on important issues. I am excited by the opportunity to be part of a group that not only values open dialogue but takes meaningful steps toward positive change.

 

Shivani Modadugu

Major: Applied Physiology and Health Management, Health & Society
Hometown: San Antonio TX
Residential Commons: Crum Commons

Shivani is a rising senior and President’s Scholar at ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University pursuing a future in medicine, with strong interests in both traditional and modern approaches to healthcare, including natural medicine and functional medicine. Beyond academics, she is deeply involved in the ÃÛÌÒ½´community, serving as the president of ÃÛÌÒ½´Rang, the university’s competitive Bollywood dance team, and of Business in Healthcare, an organization that bridges the gap between the business and healthcare worlds. A lifelong dancer trained in the classical Indian art form Bharatanatyam, she also finds joy in exploring other forms of dance, listening to music, traveling, and discovering new matcha spots.

Shivani was drawn to the Maguire Ethics Center Student Advisory Board because she believes that fostering open, respectful conversations about ethics is vital for building a more empathetic and globally aware society. She is inspired by the Board’s mission to connect students, faculty, and the broader community in meaningful discussions about ethical issues that impact individuals and society at large. Her belief that diverse backgrounds shape unique perspectives motivates her to advocate for inclusivity and understanding, especially in complex conversations about morality, responsibility, and global impact. Through her service on the Board, Shivani hopes to help create spaces where all voices are valued, and ethical awareness becomes an integral part of the ÃÛÌÒ½´experience.

 

Jenna Young

Majors: Political Science and Psychology
Minors: History and Law & Legal Reasoning
Hometown: Allen, TX
Residential Commons: Morrison-McGinnis

Jenna is a senior Pre-Law student with interests in constitutional law, civic engagement, and the ways ethics shape everyday life. She joined the Ethics Student Advisory Board to broaden her understanding of civic engagement and ethical leadership beyond the scope of student government. For Jenna, the board offers a chance to connect classroom learning with real conversations about justice, leadership, and community, while also engaging with perspectives that challenge and inspire her.

Outside of the board, Jenna serves as a Resident Assistant, the Student Senate Parliamentarian, Treasurer of Dedman College Scholars, and a member of the Mustang Band. These experiences have shaped her commitment to leadership, service, and fostering inclusive communities, and she is eager to bring that perspective to the Board’s work in promoting ethical dialogue across campus.