Ana Despa

Articles

NEWS | UNIVERSITY

Federal government terminates visas of 3 Duke community members

By Claire Cranford and Ana Despa | 3 days ago

The email shared that the students and alumnus were informed by the U.S. Department of State that their F-1 visas had been revoked, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been notified of the revocation. Shortly after, the students’ visa records in Homeland Security’s Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) were terminated by the government.

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

Duke statistical science professor Sayan Mukherjee dies unexpectedly at 54

By Ana Despa and Lucas Lin | 5 days ago

A memorial service in honor of Mukherjee is scheduled for April 19 at Duke. It will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

Duke Center for International Development pauses activity due to USAID cuts, accelerating University’s cost reduction efforts

By Ana Despa | March 28, 2025

According to Edmund Malesky, DCID director and professor of political science, Sanford leadership paused the center’s activities “because [DCID] did not have an alternative funding model in place.”

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

‘Give back on another level’: Meet Undergraduate Young Trustee finalist Gabriela Pereda

By Ana Despa | March 24, 2025

Institutional transparency is a key priority for Pereda. If selected, she would push for Duke to be more open about how it plans to navigate threats to higher education, believing this is essential to prevent students from feeling at odds with administrators.

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

DSG elects senate judiciary committee, approves board of elections

By Ana Despa | March 6, 2025

Duke Student Government elected its senate judiciary committee, approved the board of electors and allocated $40,406.10 in Student Organization Finance Committee funding requests during its Wednesday meeting.

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

Mauritius, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands: The trio of ‘tax havens’ fueling Duke’s endowment

By Ana Despa | February 9, 2025

In fiscal year 2023, Duke reported financial ties with Mauritius, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands — but why would a university invest in such places? The answer is taxes (and tax breaks).

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FEATURE

‘A lasting impression’: Tom Mehen remembered for careful mentorship, groundbreaking physics research

By Ana Despa | January 23, 2025

Mehen, 54, died Dec. 29 at his home in Chapel Hill. He is remembered as a "brilliant theoretical physicist" and a "great teacher [and] mentor."

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

GPSG hears administrative perspective on Duke’s economic impact on Durham, 'State of GPSG' presentation

By Ana Despa | January 15, 2025

Duke Graduate and Professional Student Government heard a presentation from University administrators addressing Duke's economic impact on Durham and reflected on the “State of GSPG” during its first meeting of the semester Tuesday.

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NEWS | UNIVERSITY

‘Variety of hues but not of views’: Faculty reflect on academic freedom, point to low perceived ideological diversity on campus

By Ana Despa | November 1, 2024

Since 1976, Duke’s academic freedom policy has remained largely untouched and uncontested. Yet in April, the Academic Council, along with Duke’s President’s and Provost’s Offices, formed a committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, Free Expression and Engagement following the escalation of protests on college campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas war.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Duke alumnus Ken Jeong awarded star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

By Ana Despa | October 24, 2024

Per Jeong’s request, his star will be placed next to that of Chinese American actress Lucy Liu and Anna May Wong, the first Asian-American actress awarded a star on the Walk of Fame, to honor the Asian American and Pacific Islander community’s contributions to Hollywood.

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