‘A diverse array of experiences’: Meet Graduate/Professional Young Trustee finalist Nicole De Brigard

Graduate/Professional Young Trustee finalist Nicole De Brigard, a third-year juris doctor candidate at Duke Law School, hopes to bring her unique set of life experiences and her passion for servant leadership to the Board of Trustees.

“What I think I can contribute is a diverse array of experiences to provide a unique perspective,” De Brigard said. “I’ve worn so many different types of hats, whether that be throughout law school, at a large state school, in the federal government, in my professional experience, academic experiences, and research experience.” 

Originally from Miami, De Brigard majored in political science & criminology at the University of Florida. At UF, she served on the Dean of Students’ Conduct Committee as well as on the UF Student Government as junior class president. She is also a first-generation Colombian-American and college graduate.

At Duke, she is a James E. Padilla Scholar, the vice president of the Latin American Law Students Association, the graduate student representative for the Racial Equity Advisory Council, the president of the National Security Law Society and a member of both the Dean’s Advisory Council and the Dean’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. 

De Brigard was a finalist for the same Graduate/Professional Young Trustee position last year as well, and applied again this year because she believes that the Young Trustee position would enable her to work for the benefit of the University at large. She has found her previous roles in administrative positions particularly rewarding.

“When you're catering to a broader interest, especially one as big as that of Duke University, I think there's a lot to gain for the greater good,” De Brigard said. 

She named the Duke Science and Technology Initiative, investing in Durham relations, strengthening Duke’s global presence and capitalizing the University’s research efforts as priorities that she would like to focus on in coming years. In all of these conversations, De Brigard believes that “objectivity and ethical viewpoints are always necessary” and that her “experiences really speak to honing in on those skills.” 

She cited her legal background as another unique strength that she would bring to the Board. Outside of Duke, De Brigard has worked as a legal intern for the U.S. Attorney's Office, as an Honors Intern for the FBI and, currently, as a policy intern at the Future of Privacy Forum.

He added that De Brigard “is a very personable individual with a great sense [of] humor — I actually don’t know anybody who doesn’t like and respect her.”

Alyssa Reyes, a third-year juris doctor candidate at Duke Law School and the president of the Latin American Law Students Association, described De Brigard as a “doer” for whom “no mission is too large.” Reyes explained that De Brigard’s ability to create relationships and connect with people has been crucial to the association’s success.

“The things she's accomplished are truly remarkable,” Reyes said. “She's just so personable and relatable, and that makes someone as accomplished as her even more inspiring.” De Brigard’s diverse set of experiences would allow her to “bring a perspective that is just so relevant to today's changing social climate” to the Board of Trustees, Reyes added. “It would be a huge loss for her not to be on the Board.”

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