2025 Graduation Stories: Anushri Saxena

Anushri Saxena, a standout member of the Sanford School of Public Policy's graduating class, has been named the 2025 student winner for "Best Thesis" by a panel of faculty reviewers. Her award-winning research delves into the complex landscape of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) across the United States, reflecting a journey driven by evolving academic interests and a deep commitment to social justice.

From Neuroscience to Health Policy

Anushri’s path to public policy wasn't immediate.

"When I started out at Duke, I was interested in mental health and convinced that I was going to major in neuroscience," she shares. However, her passion for politics and history drew her to courses cross-listed with public policy, such as "History of the Present" and "Education as Liberation."

"These classes really clicked with me," Anushri explains, "and what was initially an interest in mental health and the mechanisms of the brain evolved into an interest in health policy." Sanford provided the ideal environment to explore this intersection, particularly through courses like "Comparative Health Care Systems" and the "Research Seminar in Sexual and Gender Minority Health."

Unpacking the Rise of Crisis Pregnancy Centers

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Her award-winning thesis tackles the proliferation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers – anti-abortion organizations often posing as clinics to deter individuals from seeking abortion care. Noting the wide variation in CPC density across states, Anushri asked: what state-level factors explain this difference?

Using a multivariable linear regression analysis, she identified three key variables associated with a higher number of CPCs per capita: state policies protective of abortion access, a more Republican-voting populace, and, to a lesser extent, a higher proportion of white evangelical Protestants.

"I interpreted these results as the who, the why, and the how behind crisis pregnancy centers," Anushri states. "CPCs exist to obstruct abortion care in states that have high access, and they are built and maintained by evangelicals with support from Republican constituents."

Her research concluded around the time of the 2024 elections, adding a layer of immediate relevance.

"Interestingly," she notes, "several states voted more red while simultaneously voting to protect abortion through ballot initiatives... moving closer to the exact conditions that I found to be associated with a higher number of crisis pregnancy centers."

Anushri believes this highlights the critical need for abortion advocates and legislators to monitor anti-abortion mobilization, particularly in states becoming destinations for abortion care.

A Focus on Social Justice in the American South

Anushri’s thesis work is part of a broader engagement with social justice issues, particularly within the American South. Through the Hart Leadership Program, she spent a summer working with the Montrose Center, an LGBTQ+ community center in Houston – an experience she describes as "incredibly memorable."

Her commitment continued through research. As part of the Bass Connections team "Reproductive Health Care Post-Roe," led by her thesis advisor Dr. Wesley Hogan, Anushri collaborated with medical and legal professionals. She interviewed over 30 physicians, creating a vital audio archive documenting the impact of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Her analysis of enrollment data from over 1,000 medical training programs revealed a concerning statistic: nearly 40% of future providers are training in states with restrictive abortion laws.

Last summer, as a Research Intern with the North Carolina Student Voting Rights Lab (a Duke-NCCU collaboration under Prof. Gunther Peck), Anushri helped analyze ideological barriers to voting. She co-developed and distributed a survey to over 10,000 students across four universities, presenting findings to key democracy stakeholders like the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Common Cause NC, and even Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD). She also authored a report focusing on voting barriers at Duke, particularly concerning North Carolina’s photo ID law.

Mentorship and Growth at Sanford

Anushri credits key faculty mentors for significantly shaping her Sanford journey. "My thesis advisor, Dr. Wesley Hogan, has been my biggest supporter," she says. "Her thoughtful leadership, passion for the subject, and emphasis on care and community have fostered the best collaborative environment and most meaningful work I’ve ever had the opportunity to be a part of."

She also expresses gratitude for Prof. Alexandra Zagbayou and Prof. Andrew Nurkin, who taught the Service Opportunities in Leadership (SOL) courses.

"With their guidance, the SOL program challenged me to confront my own understanding of leadership, reckon with my values, and put those values into practice," Anushri reflects. "I’m confident that the lessons learned will stay with me for life."

Looking Ahead: Reproductive Justice, Law, and Consumer Protection

What's next for Anushri?

"I want to continue being involved in reproductive justice and human rights advocacy in some capacity," she affirms. Her immediate plan involves returning to her hometown of Dallas, Texas, to work as a paralegal at a litigation firm specializing in antitrust and consumer protection. Eventually, she hopes to attend law school.

Intriguingly, her award-winning thesis sparked this new interest.

"My thesis actually inspired my interest in consumer protection," she explains, "since crisis pregnancy centers are, in my opinion, both an unfair and a deceptive practice."

Anushri Saxena leaves Sanford having already made significant contributions through her research and advocacy. Her insightful thesis and dedicated work exemplify the impact Sanford students can have on critical policy issues, with a clear path toward continuing that impact in the future.