SHAPE: Students Heightening Actionable Political Engagement
SHAPE is a student-led opportunity to step into your role as a civically engaged person, explore Boston, and join a community built on lasting friendships.
About
SHAPE is a pre-orientation program at Tufts that drops you into civic life before the semester even begins. Over the course of the program, you'll work on a hands-on project with real community impact, explore Boston neighborhoods you didn't know existed, and find your people, all in the first week.
No prior experience with politics, activism, or civic engagement required. SHAPE welcomes students of every major, background, identity, and political persuasion. Political activists, engineers, artists, pre-meds, undecideds — civic engagement has always been part of what it means to be a Jumbo, and SHAPE is where that starts.
What to Expect
As a participant in SHAPE, you’ll be part of a welcoming, supportive, fun community that facilitates social connections and learning about Tufts. At the same time, you’ll get first-hand experience with civic, advocacy, and governmental organizations and you’ll make a difference in our local communities by participating in a hands-on civic project.
Community
SHAPE tends to have 60 to 80 students participate each year, and most activities are in small groups of 6 to 8 people. This gives us a tight knit but still diverse and distinct group of students that has excelled at creating a strong community in each year of the program.
Make a Difference
Each year, SHAPE participants make a difference with a real-world project based on a specific and relevant issue. Issues from years past have included equitable internet access for disadvantaged communities, climate action, and housing justice.
These projects, guided by the program's student leaders and coordinators, help students learn about and engage with our surrounding communities in a unique and positive way.
Get to Know Boston From Day One
A core part of SHAPE is exploring the city of Boston. During the program you'll become familiar with a wide variety of different Boston neighborhoods, and have the chance to explore the culture, history, and fun that each part of the city has to offer
SHAPE is for Everyone
SHAPE is open to every incoming Tufts student! No prior experience with civic engagement, politics, activism, or volunteerism is required. Students of all identities, philosophies, citizenships, and political persuasions are welcome.
Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast with peer leaders |
| 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Community canvassing in Boston neighborhoods |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Boston scavenger hunt |
| 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. | Free time, explore the city, and travel back to campus |
| 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. | Lunch and debrief on campus |
| 2:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Democracy discussion and group activity |
| 3:45 – 5:30 p.m. | Panel with guest speakers and Tufts alumni |
| 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Collab social with SQUAD |
| 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. | Dinner and maze game |
| 8:45 – 10:15 p.m. | SHAPE Jeopardy |
Past Highlights
2025: Housing Justice
- 647 surveys completed gathering community data on landlords, housing issues, and rising rent
- 1,000+ flyers distributed letting Boston-area renters know about the elimination of broker fees in Massachusetts — over half sparking direct conversations with community member
2024: Public Transit
- 500+ surveys completed gathering community input on the MBTA
- 100+ signatures collected for a PLA petition
2023: Digital Equity
- $28,440 distributed to Boston residents for internet access through the Affordable Connectivity Program
- 35+ laptops distributed to low-income residents at community health centers
- Hundreds of Somerville residents surveyed to inform the City's Digital Equity Plan
SHAPE in the News
- Tufts Daily: SHAPE, a new pre-orientation program, to focus on local civic engagement
- Tufts Daily: SHAPE pre-orientation program promotes civic engagement, community involvement
- LinkHealth: Enroll Boston!
- Jumbo Talk Blog: My time as a Pre-O Peer Leader
Staff
Reece Christian
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Reece (he/him, Class of 2027) is a rising senior from Denver, Colorado, studying international relations and economics. On campus he is involved with Model UN, TedX Tufts, and DJing for WMFO, Tufts' own freeform radio station.
Hansini Gundavarapu
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Hansini (she/her, Class of 2028) is from Walpole, Massachusetts and is studying Data Science and Quantitative Economics at Tufts. On campus, she is involved in TEDxTufts as a speaker coach, Jumbocode, Tufts Association of South Asians, and Tufts Bhangra.
Kevin Kraft
Associate Dean of Students
Kevin Kraft is Associate Dean of Students. As a Student Life senior leader, Kevin is responsible for supervising departments and leading programs and initiatives designed to help students develop into engaged, ethical, and community-oriented leaders. From his 15 years’ experience working with students at all points in their personal development journey, Kevin has developed a philosophy of holistic student development and an appreciation for the transformative role that mentorship can have in someone’s life. Kevin has researched college student civic engagement and college student activism. Kevin co-authored a book chapter on the application of free speech to the college environment and has presented at national meetings on related topics. Kevin is thrilled to be advising SHAPE and looking forward to welcoming incoming students!
Christina Behr-Kranefeld
Bush, Tilton, Lewis Residential Life Coordinator
Christina is from Long Beach Island, NJ and has her undergraduate degree in Psychology and masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. While receiving her education, she worked within the universities counseling department and was an active contributor to any wellness and student life program and outreach. After graduating, she supported individuals in housing transition and life changes as a mental health counselor. While at Tufts, she has worked alongside OEO, Student Support, and the Wellness department to learn more about ways to support students in the residential communities. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks, baking oatmeal cookies, reading thriller books, and exploring new restaurants. Her favorite thing about Tufts is how close you are to everything; the city, beach, mountains–you are able to get a little bit of everything. Christina has two dogs, Chaplin and Teddy who live on campus and love meeting new people. Some other fun facts about Christina are that she was an ocean lifeguard for 8 years, an NCAA champion swimmer, she attended a National Sumo Wrestler Competition in Japan, and she really loves cats but they do not reciprocate the same love to her.
Contact Us
SHAPE
shape@tufts.edu | 617-627-3158 | @tuftsshape
I really loved being able to connect with like-minded Tufts students in a slightly smaller environment before school even started, which made it eaier to make friends once school did start.
Caleb Kona, Class of 2029
SHAPE allowed me to acclimate to campus and find an immediate group of friends that shared the same interests and passions that I did. My favorite part had to be canvassing in the local Boston neighborhoods for a bill about affordable housing and being able to have actual, genuine conversations with the people the bill affected.
Aadi Aggarwal, Class of 2029
SHAPE was amazing and transformative to my experience as a first-year! Beyond just feeling more confident in my abilities to be a leader, my Pre-O offered me a community that I know I can always lean and depend on no matter what!