The Young Trustee Nominating Committee has selected four finalists for the undergraduate young trustee.
The finalists are:
- Doha Ali, senior
- Kacia Anderson, junior
- Nicholas Chrapliwy, senior
- Spencer Kaplan, senior
YTNC Chair Shrey Majmudar, a junior, provided the finalists' names to The Chronicle in an email.
Majmudar wrote that 16 undergraduates applied for the position. The YTNC narrowed the pool down to 10 semifinalists and selected the finalists on Monday.
Majmudar wrote that students submitted applications and resumes to the YTNC, which were reviewed without the candidates’ identifying information, such as names, pronouns and hometowns. Committee members then “undertook a systematic review of each applicant via a standardized quantitative rubric—with space for open, qualitative comments—rating each applicant based on their responses to the application questions through the lens of traits of a successful YT.”
Semifinalists were selected in a Friday afternoon meeting, and interviews were conducted over the weekend to select final candidates based on the application and interviews.
Before this year, young trustee candidates sent in applications, and finalists were chosen by a YTNC appointed by the Duke Student Government president and University secretary. An election among undergraduates then determined who became young trustee.
The process was changed this year to reflect that young trustees represent Duke as a whole rather than a “single constituency,” according to Duke Student Government President Tommy Hessel, a senior. Now, the YTNC is selected by the secretary to the Board of Trustees and chief of staff to the Duke president, currently Margaret Epps.
Undergraduate students no longer vote on the winner, but students will have the chance to meet the finalists and ask questions through a virtual forum. Students who attend the forum or watch the recording can fill out a feedback form to contribute to the YTNC’s deliberations.
“Our primary goals were to increase awareness and understanding of the Young Trustee position, enhance transparency to ensure fairness and inclusion, and align with best practices in board governance for private universities,” Epps told The Chronicle last month.
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Leah Boyd is a Pratt senior and a social chair of The Chronicle's 118th volume. She was previously editor-in-chief for Volume 117.