2018 Pioneer: Kelsey Graywill

The University has placed a particular priority on interdisciplinary study in recent years—and senior Kelsey Graywill’s academic path embodies that emphasis. This intersection of science and humanity is displayed through her self-designed evolutionary neuroaesthetics Program II major as well as the gallery in the new Rubenstein Arts building that she put together.

Graywill’s ingenuity is also shaping recent efforts by a coalition of students to reform Duke’s independent housing model. She is a resident of Sherwood independent house and recently signed on to an open letter calling for reforming the University’s housing model, being the only non-resident assistant in an independent house to do so. She created visualizations of three alternate models of housing that Duke could adopt—linking houses on West to East Campus, matching students with independent houses allowing them to rank their preferences and a random assignment model where students could select roommates either before or after assignment.  

Editor's Note: This profile is part of our new initiative called The Chronicle 18. We are highlighting 18 people and groups who are defining what it means to be at Duke this year. Read about the project and more of our selections.