The Maguire Ethics Center is proud to introduce the inaugural members of our Student Advisory Board. This first group of students represents a wide range of majors, organizations, and experiences across campus, united by a shared commitment to advancing ethics and public responsibility at SMU.
As the founding members, they will play a key role in shaping the future of the Board itself—establishing traditions, launching initiatives, and setting the tone for how students and the Ethics Center work together to build a stronger ethical community. Serving as a bridge between the student body and the Center, they bring fresh perspectives that will help guide conversations, events, and projects designed to inspire ethical reflection and action.
More than their roles, however, these students bring unique stories, passions, and ideas. Each member reflects a different piece of the SMU experience, and together they embody the diversity of thought and background that makes our campus strong. We invite you to meet them, learn more about who they are, and see how their voices will help shape an enduring culture of ethics at SMU.
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 Southern 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 SMU 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 SMU 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 SMU 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 SMU 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 Southern 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 SMU community, serving as the president of SMU 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 SMU experience.
Jenna Young
Majors: Political Science and Psychology
Minors: History and Law & Legal Reasoning
Hometown: Allen, TX
Residential Commons: Morrison-McGinnis
Jenna Young grew up in Allen, Texas. She chose SMU because it was close to home and offered a close-knit campus community. She is pursuing majors in political science and psychology and minors in history and law and legal reasoning to accompany the pre-law program. Jenna is a member of the University Honors Program and Pre-Law Scholars Program. She currently serves as Dedman Senator for the SMU Student Senate and conducts research for the Voices of SMU oral history project. She is the alto saxophone section leader for the Mustang Band and the founder and captain of the Women’s Club Basketball team. In her free time, Jenna enjoys playing basketball, learning new instruments, and spending time with friends.