A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
SUZANNE
BARBOUR
It is my pleasure to share Duke Graduate School's 2024–2025 Annual Report. This review captures a year of remarkable achievement, fortitude, and transformation—and the enduring strength of Duke’s graduate education community.This year, we celebrated our largest-ever class of doctoral graduates, with 418 students earning their doctoral degrees. We launched new initiatives like the Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives, offering graduate students unique opportunities to break down silos and tackle complex societal challenges. We've explored new ways to support the wellbeing of our faculty, students, and staff during a time when the work of institutions like ours is increasingly challenging. And, after two years of negotiations, the University negotiated its first contract with the Duke Graduate Student Union.We are navigating a moment of profound change in higher education, one marked by financial pressures, shifting public perceptions, and evolving student needs. We've had to make difficult decisions as Duke realigns in response to these new realities. Yet, I remain hopeful. I've found inspiration in how the graduate school community responds in times such as these: with creativity, resilience, and a commitment not only to our work, but to each other.As we approach our 2026 centennial year, we honor 100 years of graduate education at Duke—and look ahead with optimism, ambition, and a deep trust in the transformative power of research and discovery. I invite you to explore this report and celebrate how our students, faculty, and staff face new challenges not only by adapting, but by leading.Suzanne Barbour
Dean of The Graduate School
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Professor of Cell Biology
In addition to these achievements, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of our students and staff. From the prestigious NSF Fellowships awarded to our talented students to the impactful Dean’s Research Awards and the leadership recognized by the Forever Duke Student Leadership Awards, the highlights of this year reflect the excellence and dedication of our community.As we move forward, we are guided by the principle that fostering a thriving academic environment requires continuous investment and engagement. By nurturing each other’s growth and supporting a diverse and inclusive community, we ensure that The Graduate School remains a place where ideas flourish and futures are shaped.Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment as we continue to build on our legacy and look towards a promising future.Warm regards,Suzanne Barbour
Dean, Duke Graduate School
18
total bargaining sessions held in 2024 and 2025 as the unionized graduate students and university approach a new contract
418
students completed their doctoral programs during the 2024–2025 academic year, the largest class ever!
63
countries represented in this year's incoming class
50.8%
of incoming students were seeking Master's degrees, a majority over Ph.D. students for the first time
3.5M
virtual visitors via The Graduate School's website
1,155
graduate students started at Duke, from a pool of 16,141 applicants
2024–2025
BY THE NUMBERS
2025 Dean's Awards
The Graduate School granted nine Dean’s Awards in 2025, recognizing departments that help create an environment of inclusive excellence as well as student and faculty excellence in graduate education. Recipients this year included the AAHVS Anti-Racism and Social Justice Initiative and faculty and students from multiple disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences.
Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Caleb Hazelwood
Ph.D. Candidate
Philosophy
Alexis Holloway
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Mount Holyoke College
Shao-Heng Ko
Ph.D. Candidate
Computer Science
Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring: Faculty Recipients
Staci Bilbo
Haley Family Professor
Psychology & Neuroscience
Katherine Brading
Chair and Professor
Department of Philosophy
Marta Mulawa
Assistant Professor
Nursing and Global Health
Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring: Student Recipients
Samuel Reisman
Ph.D. Candidate
Cell Biology
Sarah Marion
Ph.D. Candidate
Biology
Dean's Award for Inclusive Excellence in Graduate Education
AAHVS Anti-Racism and Social Justice Initiative
AN UPDATE ON THE Ph.D. UNION CONTRACT
In the two years since Ph.D. students voted to unionize and be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the University has worked with students and union representatives to establish a new contract for Ph.D. student workers. In July 2025, after more than 30 bargaining sessions, a tentative collective bargaining agreement was reached. The contract was put forth to a vote by bargaining unit members in August 2025.Gregory Phillips, Executive Director of Editorial Content and Media Relations, provided a statement on behalf of Duke University.
"This agreement is the result of almost two years of productive negotiations, undertaken in good faith by everyone involved, during a time of great financial stress and uncertainty in higher education. Duke has always supported our Ph.D. students and this agreement, once ratified, can ensure that support continues in a way that works for everyone."
2025 Distinguished Alumni Award
David E. Little (Ph.D. ‘01 Art History) was honored with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2025 Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony. Little has been a key player in the photography and art industry during his 25+ year career, including holding leadership roles at cultural monoliths such as The Museum of Modern Art and the International Center of Photography. Little accepted the award and delivered the keynote address at this year’s morning ceremony.
"Many people in different fields—as many fields as you can learn from—those are the individuals that will make you reimagine certain assumptions and continue to find real unearthed talents that you might not have thought about at this time in your life. So, stay in the present, and look to the future."
~ David E. Little
David E. Little and Suzanne Barbour,
Dean of The Graduate School.
Years in the making:
Revised Core Expectations for Faculty
In 2024–2025, the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty (ECGF) led a strategic revision of Duke’s Core Expectations for Graduate Education. Originally created in 2001, the document was updated to reflect current academic priorities, including student unionization, evolving inclusive excellence policies, and the widespread use of AI.At the helm of the revision process was Lauren Ginsberg, who in her capacity as the Graduate Faculty Fellow both offered key insights surrounding mentoring initiatives in their relation to faculty expectations and skillfully managed the project as it moved forward. Learn more about Ginsberg's tenure as the Graduate Faculty Fellow in the Supporting Our Mission section of this report.The committee adopted a hybrid model for the revision, combining high-level values with practical examples that ensure flexibility across disciplines. Ten thematic categories were refined—merging overlapping sections and integrating international student concerns into broader topics. Feedback from climate surveys and student representatives helped shape the final version, which emphasizes ethical conduct, inclusive mentorship, and holistic support.The updated Core Expectations now serve as a dynamic resource for fostering transparency, accountability, and excellence in graduate education at Duke.
This Year in TGS
Ph.D. STUDENT ADMISSIONS
In the last five years, Duke Graduate School has seen a steady increase in the number of Ph.D. applicants. Both the number of admitted and matriculated doctoral students have surpassed pre-pandemic enrollment, after seeing a slight decline in the 2020 and 2021 academic years.
MASTER'S STUDENT ADMISSIONS
Graduate student applicant numbers—including Master's and Ph.D. students—have steadily increased, with Master's students becoming the majority of the matriculating incoming class in 2024.
Celebrating our largest class in TGS history
On May 11, 2025, The Graduate School held two Ph.D. Hooding Ceremonies at Duke Chapel to celebrate its 2024–2025 doctoral graduates. In total, 418 Ph.D. graduates received their doctoral degrees, marking The Graduate School’s largest graduating class in history. Including both in-person attendees and online viewers, over 3,000 guests attended the ceremonies.The full list of Ph.D. dissertations, departments, and advisors for 2024-2025 graduates is located on The Graduate School’s website.Congratulations, graduates!
View the Full Ceremony Recordings
Humanities, Social Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Physics
Biological and Biomedical Sciences,
Physical Sciences, and Engineering
Made for This
Duke’s ambitious “Made For This” initiative, launched in late 2024, aims to support higher education at Duke during a time when securing outside support has become critical to sustaining our mission. The campaign centers on Duke’s four areas of distinction: ambition, teamwork, optimism, and can-do spirit.In looking ahead to The Graduate School's next century, leadership identified four areas where external partnerships and support will have the greatest impact.Aligned with Duke's four areas of extinction, graduate students have a transformative global impact as they explore solutions to the world’s most complex and challenging problems. TGS provides the robust infrastructure needed to support emerging researchers and changemakers, with initiatives closely tied to Duke’s four points of distinction.Learn more about each of The Graduate School's "Made for This" priorities by expanding the sections below.
Financial Aid &
Fellowships
Faculty Support
The Annual
Fund
UCEM
How The Graduate School is "Made for This"
Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives
The Office of the Provost and The Graduate School selected three proposals to establish new Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives (IGECs). Made possible by a generous grant from The Duke Endowment, these IGECs will launch in Fall 2026 and offer graduate students unique opportunities to tackle complex societal challenges alongside peers and faculty from across campus.The IGECs focus on three urgent areas: the societal impacts of AI, the health effects of climate change, and the application of information sciences to improve public-sector services. Each IGEC will receive $2.2 million over five years to provide partial funding for participating Ph.D. students, as well as programmatic funding and program coordination.
Society-Centered AI
Christopher Bail, Professor of Sociology
Brinnae Bent, Executive in Residence in the Engineering Graduate and Professional Programs
The Society-Centered AI collaborative aims to design AI systems that prioritize human values, develop flexible and efficient technical systems, and measure AI’s societal impacts. It will bring together faculty leaders spanning three of the four divisions within The Graduate School. Students will be required to complete courses across three tracks — philosophy and ethics, computer science and engineering, and social science — fostering a new generation of scholars with both technical expertise and critical insight into the ethical, legal and social dimensions of AI.
IMPACT: Interdisciplinary Methodological Program for Advancing Climate Training
Hayden Bosworth, Professor in Population Health Sciences
Dana Pasquale, Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences
Sudha Raman, Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences
The IMPACT collaborative aims to equip doctoral students with versatile methodological skills to engage with the complex interplay between climate change and human health. IMPACT scholars will receive interdisciplinary training in exposure science, environmental chemistry, climate modeling, health impact assessment, social determinants analysis, cardiovascular risk trajectories and implementation science and will gain a mechanistic understanding of climate change interactions with air pollution and chronic diseases.
Information Science and Engineering for the Public Sector (ISEPS)
Heileen Hsu-Kim, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The ISEPS collaborative is designed to empower future professionals with the knowledge and tools of information science and AI to address public-sector challenges. ISEPS seeks to inspire participants to pursue careers at the intersection of engineering and public policy, focusing on the effective and ethical delivery of public services. By treating data as a public good, the collaborative promotes innovative, data-driven solutions while addressing critical concerns around data security, privacy and ethics. This IGEC will convene graduate students from diverse fields — including engineering, public policy, environmental and social systems, biostatistics and computer science — offering a comprehensive curriculum.
Success of the TDE Doctoral Fellowship Matching Challenge
In 2023, The Duke Endowment awarded TGS a $10 million grant to support doctoral fellowships. $4 million of the gift was used to create a matching pool for donors to receive a 1:1 match when creating a new doctoral fellowship or when adding to an existing doctoral fellowship. The matching challenge ran from the beginning of FY24 to the end of FY25, with all $4 million of the matching funds claimed.44 donors participated in the matching challenge. With $4.2 million donated, 37 new fellowships were created and 7 existing fellowships were supported.The fellowships will support programs and departments across campus, including the School of Medicine and Trinity and programs in the biomedical, STEM, and humanities fields.In short, the campaign successfully grew the $10 million TDE grant to a total of $14 million in fellowship support, maximizing the impact of the gift and creating new partnerships with alumni and donors.
44
total donors / gifts made in FY 2024 and 2025
37
new fellowships created (including 21 unrestricted), and 7 existing fellowships were supported
$4.2m
donated, not counting the matching funds
20
programs / schools represented across STEM, medicine, and humanities disciplines
In Case You Missed It
Trinity Recognizes Excellence in Ph.D. Research
Trinity College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the achievements of three 2025 Ph.D. graduates selected as the first recipients of the Trinity Distinguished Dissertation Award. Nominated by their programs and representing each of Trinity’s three divisions—Natural Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences—the recipients demonstrated remarkable academic excellence in their fields.
Supporting
Our Mission
Graduate Faculty Fellowship: leadership in practice
Lauren Ginsberg, the first
graduate faculty fellow in TGS
The TGS Graduate Faculty Fellows program provides graduate faculty who aspire to leadership positions with the opportunity to explore those interests by collaborating with The Graduate School administrative and leadership teams.Lauren Ginsberg, Associate Professor of Classical Studies and Theater Studies, completed her two-year tenure as the inaugural fellow. Dr. Ginsberg’s signature project was the creation of a Humanities Bridge Program, modeled after similar programs in STEM fields supported by the National Science Foundation. The bridge program will provide a fully funded, 12-month “bridge year” for incoming Ph.D. humanities students who request intensive training in a language or research skill not offered by their previous institution.Dr. Ginsberg’s department, Classical Studies, piloted the program, with two students who have already benefitted—one a classical archaeologist, and another a Greek historian who was unable to learn Ancient Greek at their previous institution.Dr. Ginsberg’s other contributions during her fellowship included revising fellowship selection rubrics using an evidence-based, holistic model, advancing Duke Graduate School’s culture of mentorship through certification with CIMER, and leading a committee on Duke’s Core Expectations for Graduate Education in partnership with the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty.
University Center of Exemplary Mentoring
In 2024, the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring established a new holistic rubric for considering new applicants to the program. The rubric, developed in coordination with former Graduate Faculty Fellow Lauren Ginsberg, Ph.D., and Associate Dean of Admissions Nick Alena, used a research-based “whole context” process. The review committee evaluated candidates based on an understanding of opportunity and the resources that were available to the student.For the first time, incoming students could self-nominate to become a UCEM Scholar, rather than nominations submitted from program leadership only. Nine students formed the fall 2024 cohort, bringing the total number of UCEM Scholars to 70.
Kayla Fericy
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Gabriela Gonzalez
Chemistry
Sontee Irvin
Chemistry
Jabari Kwesi
Computer Science
Courtney Martin
Physics
Mark Ochoa
Biomedical Engineering
Allen Pierre-Louis
Physics
Victor Moncada
Chemistry
Alex Wright
Biomedical Engineering
$6m
in fellowships awarded
to 321 Ph.D. students
$80k
in Dean's Research Awards for Master's Students
$5.5m
in Summer Research Fellowships awarded to 390 students
$553k
awarded in support for
COVID-19 research extensions
$207k
in conference travel awards supporting Ph.D. students
25
students supported by NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Financial
Support
TGS Welcomes Mike Boyce as 2025–2027 Graduate Faculty Fellow
The Graduate School and the Office for Faculty Advancement are proud to announce that Mike Boyce, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Professor of Cell Biology, has been selected as the next Graduate Faculty Fellow. He will begin his two-year fellowship in the Fall 2025 semester.After earning a Ph.D. in cell biology from Harvard Medical School in 2005 and completing his postdoctoral research in chemical biology and glycobiology at the University of California, Boyce joined the faculty at Duke in 2012 and became a member of the Duke Cancer Institute in 2014. His research focuses on the intricate role of protein glycosylation in mammalian cell signaling and physiology. Among his many accolades is the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), awarded by The White House in 2019.Boyce’s career thus far is characterized by a balance of impactful biomedical research and a commitment to graduate education through mentorship and training, such as the Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program and the Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant. Boyce’s has also worked to promote Duke University’s core value of inclusive excellence through both institutional and national initiatives.During his first year as the GFF, Boyce will work with administrative leadership to advance graduate education efforts, and will refine the scope of his capstone research project.
Enhancing Professional Development
Duke graduate students attend Graduate Education Day at the state capitol to share their research with NC legislators.
As part of The Graduate School's holistic mode of education, professional development offerings expanded during the 2024–2025 academic year and celebrated several millstones. Notable highlights include the 10th anniversary of the Emerging Leaders Institute; the 200th installation of the Alumni Profile series; expanded opportunities for graduate students to share their research with broad audiences through Research On Tap and the Three Minute Thesis competition; and continued offerings of the annual GRADx Talks, the UCEM Research Summit, and North Carolina’s Graduate Education Day, where selected students share their research with state legislators.Online offerings such as Beyond Graduate School and Beyond the Professoriate recorded higher participation than AY 23-24, with 214 Master's students and 385 Ph.D. students and postdocs taking advantage of the programs, respectively. The Graduate School saw 142 students build their self-awareness through taking the free CliftonStrengths assessment.
10 years,
450 voices
The Graduate School’s Professional Development Blog celebrates 10 years in 2025, reaching 450 posts this year. All graduate students are invited to contribute to the blog across three areas: sharing useful resources, reflecting on professional development experiences, or highlighting graduate school alumni.In the 2024–2025, 37 students contributed their voices and writing to the blog.
Professional Development grants
The Graduate School awarded eight Professional Development Grants for the 2025 calendar year, contributing to a total of 87 grants awarded since the program’s 2014 launch. Grants provide up to $2,000 for departments and programs to create discipline-specific program. This year’s recipients included departments in bioethics & science policy for a student-led trip to D.C.; extending a monthly career seminar series for neurobiology; and professional development lunches with industry professionals in genetics & genomics.
The Applied Ethics and Policy cohort used its grant to fund a student-led trip to D.C., where students met with Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and senior legislative assistant Arturo M. Reyes to discuss legislative priorities.
DGS & DGSA professional development opportunities
DGSs and DGSAs participate in a Mental Health First Aid Certification program sponsored by The Graduate School, in a partnership with The Fuqua School of Business.
Launched in 2023, the DGS/DGSA Professional Development Series continued, this year with a focus on student support. Two sessions in the fall and spring, led by Associate Dean of Graduate Student Affairs Yan Li, Psy.D., presented resources and best practices in addressing graduate student mental health concerns.Based on high interest from graduate programs in this topic, TGS partnered with the Fuqua School of Business to offer a certification course through Mental Health First Aid, an evidence-based, early-intervention program that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges. Graduate school program directors and assistants were invited to attend and become certified as "Mental Health First Aiders," equipped with better tools to detect early signs of a mental health crisis, and connect students with appropriate resources.Additional programming provided resources on supporting neurodiverse students in their academic and professional journeys, from adapting course materials into more accessible formats to understanding the inherent strengths neurodivergent individuals possess.
Professional Development
By the Numbers
8
proposals funded by the Professional Development Grant, awarding nearly $12K
16
graduate students and postdocs completed the Emerging Leaders Institute, now in its eleventh year
52
events offered by the Professional Development Series with at least 1,035 attendees
454
students enrolled in the
Certificate in College Teaching program, the largest certificate program at Duke
4,222
students participated in 139 events offered for Responsible Conduct of Research credit
18
Ph.D. students and 3 postdocs
completed the Preparing Future
Faculty Program
English for International Students
In 2024-2025, a total of 361 students participated in EIS placement assessments for the English for International Students Program (EIS), including exams in speaking and writing.410 students were supported by the program (240 in the fall semester, and 170 in the spring), a total that includes TGS students as well as professional students from the School of Medicine (Master of Biostatistics program) and the Divinity School.
TGS Spotlight Surveys Offer New Path to Data Insights
The Graduate School’s new Spotlight Surveys initiative have created a nimble, responsive approach to gathering student feedback. Designed to be short, targeted, and timely, these surveys allow TGS to quickly capture insights on specific topics, enabling data-informed decisions that directly impact graduate student experiences.Unlike traditional surveys that require long lead times and broad scopes, Spotlight Surveys focus on immediate concerns and emerging issues, making them ideal for rapid assessment and action. The 2025 survey focused on an increasingly important issue: the use of generative AI by the Duke Graduate School community.
Courtnea Rainey, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation and Leo Biggs, Ph.D., Senior Program Coordinator, begin data analysis for the Spring 2025 spotlight survey.
In Case You Missed It
A Mentor's Many Hats: TGS Explores Components of High-Quality Mentorship
In 2024-2025, The Graduate School expanded its offerings for faculty interested in strengthening their mentorship muscles. New partnerships and training opportunities have allowed for additional exploration into what drives Duke Graduate School’s culture of mentorship, and what challenges it still faces.
Belonging
Class of 2024 by Discipline
2024-2025 Demographics
Comprising more than 45% of Duke graduate students, the Physical Sciences and Engineering disciplines remain the largest programs by enrollment in TGS.In 2024, Arts & Humanities enrollments trended upward when compared to previous years.
Duke experts share insights in podcast on graduate student wellness
In 2025, three Duke experts shared an informative and candid discussion on graduate student mental health and wellness, offering insights and resources for students who may need additional support.Mike Boyce, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Yan Li, Psy.D., licensed psychologist and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs; and Nancy Zucker, Ph.D., Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, recorded the podcast, discussing the unique stressors that graduate students face today, the psychosocial components of stress and cultural pressures, and how graduate students can support their own well-being through resilience building and community resources at Duke.Listen to the podcast episode via Soundcloud or YouTube to the right, visit the web article to read the full transcript.
Graduate students met one-on-one or in small groups with North Carolina legislators in a full day of meetings. From left to right: Catherine Wang, Master's graduate; Paris Brown, Ph.D. student; Senator Natalie Murdock; Daniel Reich, Ph.D. student; Melissa Bostrom, Ph.D., Senior Assistant Dean.
Graduate Students discuss the importance of academic research at the NC general assembly
In 2025, Duke launched the “Research Saves Lives” campaign to share stories of the immense value of biomedical and academic research to North Carolina, the country, and the world. The campaign is a direct response to losses in federal funding that supports research, which has highlighted a greater need for clarity in how research dollars are spent, and what outcomes they offer.On May 20, 2025, North Carolina's "Graduate Education Day," three graduate students brought this discussion to the N.C. General Assembly, where they shared practical examples of their own research and how North Carolina constituents will benefit from it.
EDGE INITIATIVE
The “Enhancing Exploring Doctoral Graduate Education” program, or “EDGE,” was formed in 2024 when Dean of The Graduate School Suzanne Barbour, Ph.D., invited regional institutions to discuss the benefits of forming a coalition. This partnership would serve multiple purposes: supporting graduate education at each institution through sharing resources and best practices, while also creating pipelines for undergraduate students to explore the benefits of pursuing an advanced degree.
EDGE has made tangible strides in outreach and student engagement. During the 2024–2025 academic year, Duke hosted two prospective student visits from EDGE partners: a virtual visit from Virginia State University and an in-person visit from Virginia Commonwealth University, with more than 30 students in attendance who experienced Duke’s campus firsthand, asked questions about the process of applying to graduate school, and made connections with potential future graduate school mentors.
2025 Edge Summit
The 2025 summit meeting, organized by Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development J. Alan Kendrick, offered a chance for continued strategic planning and reflection. Faculty and administrators from the ten partner institutions—including Hampton University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, North Carolina Central University, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Greensboro, Virginia State University, and Virginia Union University—explored ways to strengthen the coalition, expand student engagement, and build sustainable support systems for graduate education.Participants engaged in a mini-workshop led by CIMER-trained facilitators—including Maria Wisdom, Mike Boyce, and Johnna Frierson—focused on mentoring strategies that support student mental health and wellness. A session on incorporating coaching into mentoring practices, led by Maria Wisdom, offered practical tools for enhancing mentor–mentee relationships.
Remembering Jiani "Thea" Yu
Jiani “Thea” Yu was a second year graduate student in Duke’s Critical Asian and Middle Eastern Humanities Program. Eileen Chow, Program Director, shared that Yu is remembered as a caretaker by her family and friends, who always sought to make sure others' needs were met.Yu moved to the United States with her parents from a rural province in China when she was 14 and completed her undergraduate studies in applied linguistics in 2021 at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Learn more about Yu in a tribute article published by The Chronicle.
Photo courtesy of Eileen Cheng-Yin Chow
Photo courtesy of City of Oaks Funeral Home
Remembering Annabel Cecilia Settle
Annabel Settle joined the Ph.D. program in Biostatistics in August of 2023. Sean M. O’Brien, Program Director, shared that Settle was a driven and talented student who cared deeply for others. She connected with many members of the Duke community as a teaching assistant for the Master’s of Biostatistics program.Prior to Duke, Settle earned two Bachelor’s degrees with a double major in Political Science and Statistics from UNC Charlotte, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and a Master’s degree in Statistics from NC State. Learn more about Settle in her obituary from City of Oaks Funeral Home.
in case you missed it
Bridging Generations: Duke's Oldest and Youngest Graduate Students Share Their Unique Journeys
Two students share their path to graduate school from opposite ends of the generational spectrum: Myrick Howard, 71, a student in the Liberal Studies program, and Andy Kapoor, 19, a student in the Materials Science and Engineering program—the oldest and youngest enrolled students.
Community Highlights
NSF FELLOWSHIPs
The National Science Foundation presents 2,000 awards annually, providing fellows with a three-year stipend, coverage of tuition and fees, and access to professional development opportunities. In 2024, 25 graduate students received new NSFs.
100+
NSF GRFP fellows
in the last five years
25
brand new recipients
in 2024–2025
4
recipients were new matriculants to Duke in 2024
1
student received an NSF INTERN Supplement
Centennial fellowships
In honor of the centennial of Duke University, the Centennial Graduate and Professional Fellowships were founded to support and celebrate incoming doctoral and Master's students. Funded through The Duke Endowment, the fellowships were awarded to select applicants who embody Duke excellence. The inaugural cohort was made up of 37 recipients. Learn more about the recipients through their self-reflections on how they plan to use the fellowship while at Duke.
$13.6m
in new commitments made to The Graduate School
234
Annual Fund leadership donors, each with donations over $1k
$2.7m
in total gifts received for graduate fellowships
$6m
in total donations made during the fiscal year
Development & Philanthropy
Forever Duke Awards
Three graduate students received the Forever Duke Student Leadership Award for their remarkable service to the university. Each recipient has worked to improve the lives of fellow graduate students and community members through supporting on- and off-campus initiatives, from the Climate Commitment Advisory Council to the Stanford US-Russia Forum and the University Center for Exemplary Mentoring.
Eduardo Cisternas Jimenez
Catherine Wang
Tyler Johnson
Departing Team Members
Pakis Bessias
In July 2025, Pakis Bessias concluded his nearly 30-year tenure at The Graduate School as Information Technology Manager. Throughout his time with TGS, Pakis led The Graduate School through many major technological transitions. From hosting information on physical servers to moving to the cloud to learning and subsequently teaching many formats of content management systems and acting as a support to all TGS staff for hardware and software queries, Pakis was an invaluable member of the TGS team and we wish him only the best as he moves into retirement.
Allison Boyer
Angela Eberts
At the beginning of August 2024, Angela Eberts retired from her 15-year career at Duke — a career that began at the Fuqua School of Business and ended with her position as Director of Development at The Graduate School. Read below to learn about Angela's transition from the world of banking to higher education and fundraising, her reflections on being a working mother, and her advice for young professionals, especially at Duke.
A special congratulations to Allison Boyer, who succeeded Eberts in the role of Director of Development. Allie has brought a breadth of development experience that includes time with the Duke Parents Program as well as the Associate Director of Development for The Graduate School.
J. Alan Kendrick
J. Alan Kendrick wrapped up his 16-year tenure with The Graduate School in July 2025, finishing with an appointment as Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development. Alan’s care for students was apparent through his dedicated work to support them from recruitment to entry and completion of their degrees by developing and supporting retention, inclusion, and professional development-related programming. The Graduate School is grateful for his service toward making The Graduate School a supportive environment for graduate students.
Randi Smith
After over 12 years of dedicated service to The Graduate School and Duke Kunshan University, Randi Smith retired in May 2025. She was a truly valued member of our graduate admissions team, skillfully managing every part of the DKU application and admission process, and always connecting warmly with prospective students and program staff and faculty to help them each cycle. Randi looks forward to spending quality time with her family, especially her grandchildren. We deeply appreciate her many contributions that supported and enhanced graduate admissions.
Carlus Walters
After 16 years of service to The Graduate School, Carlus Walters departed TGS in July 2025. As the Administrative Coordinator and Assistant to the Dean, Carlus acted as the point person for overseeing office operations, from front desk coverage to welcoming honored guests such as each year’s Distinguished Alum, ensuring all TGS matters ran as smoothly as possible. The Graduate School is grateful for his years of service and wishes him well!
New Team Members
Brenda Whiteman joined the Graduate Student Affairs team as a professional development program coordinator in August 2024.
Casey Griffith joined TGS in January 2025 as a communications specialist after a nine-month communications internship.
Michael Croal joined the Graduate Student Affairs team as Assistant Director of Programs in February 2025.
Lauren Zhang joined as the Associate Director of Development in November 2024.
2026: The Graduate School's centennial year
The Graduate School will celebrate its centennial in the 2025–2026 academic year. Founded as The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1926, TGS conferred its first doctoral degrees in 1928 to zoology students Frederick John Holl and Dean Warren Rumbold.In its first 100 years, The Graduate School has supported tens of thousands of students who have trained, researched, taught, and learned on Duke’s campus and across the world. As we honor what we’ve done so far, we look to continue the work for many years to come.
“The Graduate School's upcoming centennial prompts us to reflect on and consider the immense impact of our predecessors' pursuit of intellectual discovery. It isn't hyperbole to say that the world has been changed by the work of graduate students and faculty at this university.At the same time, we recognize the centennial as merely a moment in time, a transition to our next 100 years. As we cross this bridge together, I'm enthusiastic about how we can use this pivotal moment as a chance to envision Duke Graduate School's future."
~ Dean Suzanne Barbour
