Seniors Danica Bajaj, Jax Nalley and Gabriela Pereda are this year’s selected undergraduate finalists, while Austin Beason, Keanu Valibia and Dakota Douglas are the selected Graduate/Professional Young Trustee finalists.
Young Trustees are selected to be on the Board of Trustees for two or three years and must “demonstrate an ability to think broadly about the University, understand the role of the University in society, be curious about institutional issues facing Duke and respect how universities are administered and governed.”
The open meeting for graduate students to meet their respective Young Trustee finalists is scheduled for Monday from 6 to 7 p.m in the Holsti-Anderson Family Assembly Room in Rubenstein Library. The corresponding open meeting for undergraduate students is scheduled for Tuesday at the same time and place.
The Chronicle interviewed each of the finalists about their background and what they hope to bring to the role.
Undergraduate finalists
Danica Bajaj
A senior from Princeton, New Jersey, majoring in computer science with a minor in philosophy, Danica Bajaj hopes to bring her passion for building relationships with diverse groups of people to the board, giving back to the University and promoting institutional equity and accessibility in the process.
Jax Nalley
A senior from Springdale, Arkansas, majoring in public policy and romance studies, Jax Nalley hopes to leverage his passion for and extensive engagement with Duke to make the University more accessible, strengthen its identity as a university for the broader South and help restore trust in Duke as the institution navigates current tensions in higher education.
Gabriela Pereda
A senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in computer science and economics with a minor in French, Gabriela Pereda hopes to help the University navigate the current political climate, build community and advocate for transparency on the board, drawing on her knowledge of finance and deep engagement with the Duke community.
Graduate/Professional finalists
Austin Beason
Currently based in Philadelphia, Executive Master of Business Administration candidate Austin Beason hopes to draw from his experience as a parent and knowledge across a developing higher education landscape, as well as strengthen alumni engagement to build a better future for generations of Duke students to come.
Dakota Douglas
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Dakota Douglas, a “double Dukie” from Indian Trail, North Carolina, who graduated from Trinity College in 2022 and received a master’s degree in bioethics and science policy from the Graduate School in 2024, hopes to advocate for accessibility, community engagement and health care equity on the board while ensuring that institutional policies align with the real-life experiences of those they affect.
Keanu Valibia
Dual Master of Public Policy and Master of Environmental Management candidate from Merced, California, Keanu Valibia hopes to defend the University and restore trust in the institution in the face of ongoing political attacks on higher education, drawing on his experiences leading campus student government work to do so.