Giving Back to the Community

Chapel Hill isn’t Daniel Bowen’s hometown, but it is his home.

When the junior first arrived at Carolina from Florida, he knew this place was special.

“I applied to colleges all over the country — in California, New York, North Carolina — but coming to UNC’s campus, I really loved it,” he said. “There are a lot of people here, but somehow it still feels like yours. You do get a sense of ‘I live here. This is my home.’”

Bowen, a Kenan Scholar, quickly began building community at Carolina and is now the co-president of both the Carolina Analytics and Data Science club and the Sexuality and Gender Alliance.

This summer he took his community involvement a step further by serving with the Town of Chapel Hill as a Jesse White Jr. Elected Public Official Intern.

Working alongside elected officials and staff at Town Hall, the public policy and statistics and analytics major helped to make Chapel Hill a more sustainable home for future generations.

Bowen’s internship allowed him to play a central role in executing Chapel Hill’s climate action plan. He researched the town’s charging infrastructure needs for electric vehicles, helped pilot a composting program and reached out to citizens to help them contribute to the town’s sustainability efforts.

“Very broadly, I’m interested in using my data skills in a way that contributes positively to the world and to social good, not just to a business goal,” he said.

Read the complete Carolina Story

Related Stories

How to Heal a Broken Heart

Celebrating a Presidential Day

Siblings Guide the Next Generation