2025 Graduation Stories: Grace and Olivia Hayward

Okay, get ready for a double dose of inspiration! Meet Grace and Olivia Hayward, the dynamic identical twin duo who are not only graduating from the Sanford School of Public Policy this May but have also been selected as the 2025 Sanford Student Commencement Speakers!

Talk about sibling synergy! These two have navigated their Duke and Sanford journeys side-by-side (and sometimes even shared professors!). From dreaming of Duke together in high school to becoming integral parts of the Sanford community, their story is one of shared ambition, distinct passions, and a deep connection to both Duke and each other.

Q & A with the Hayward Sisters

Can you tell us about your journey to Duke?

After attending Duke Summer Academy in 2018, Duke became our dream school. Throughout high school, we luckily got to visit Duke a few more times and see our older brother, which only strengthened our desire to apply early decision our senior year. As co-founders of our high school’s ethics club and bowl team, we were particularly drawn to The Kenan Institute for Ethics and the Sanford School of Public Policy since both offered opportunities to engage with philosophical reflection and real-world policy issues.

Our freshman year at Duke was especially meaningful with our older brother finishing his senior year. Now, as seniors ourselves, it’s surreal to watch history repeat: our younger sister just began her own Duke journey this fall. The four of us are all incredibly close, and this spring break, we ran a sibling marathon together in LA. Duke has become more than a school to us; it’s a place our family is fortunate enough to call a second home.

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What brought you to Sanford specifically?

We were initially drawn to Sanford by its strong reputation for policy education and comprehensive support system from career services to mentorship. We also loved the interdisciplinary nature of Sanford’s coursework. The combination of history, economics, statistics, and cross-listed electives allowed us to explore several interests and fields. We also liked the idea of the internship requirement and having the opportunity to engage in real-world policy work.

What else has your focus been here at Sanford?

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Olivia: After taking Legal Issues in Education with Professor Sue Wasiolek my freshman year, I was inclined to follow my interest in education policy. The following summer, I had the incredible opportunity of interning at the Department of Education in Washington DC where I worked in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs.

Back at Duke, I wanted to stay connected to the education realm so I did this through volunteer tutoring students in math at the Emily K Center, teaching coding through Computer Science Sidekicks, and student-teaching with my Duke Bass Connections project at Githens Middle School in Durham.

The tutoring sessions and connections with young students have been the highlights of my Duke experience. They also grounded me in the realities of the classroom. It wasn’t until this year – when I was selected as a John M. Belk Impact Fellow and began working as a policy intern with North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities – that I fully connected my hands-on work with broader higher education policy. These experiences have deepened my commitment to shaping equitable, student-centered systems through both practice and policy.

The Duke Immerse program Civil Discourse and Democracy has also been central to my time at Sanford. I had the opportunity to explore how dialogue, the media, and policymaking connect in today’s polarizing political climate and shape public opinion. Despite the challenging topics we discussed, the program gave me hope – seeing how intentional discourse can bridge ideological divides.

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Grace: My focus at Sanford has been wide-ranging, allowing me to explore policy through multiple lenses and experiences. To fulfill the Sanford internship requirement, I spent a summer with DukeEngage. While working at a nonprofit immigration law firm in Miami, I learned about the complexities of legal advocacy and the immigration system.

During the school year, I pursued child policy research with support from the Sanford Eads Research Assistantship program. Through this position, I collaborated with the Center for Child and Family Policy to produce briefs on early education policy issues. I gained exposure to the research side of policymaking and had the opportunity to get published for the first time. Lastly, through Sanford’s journalism minor, I’ve learned how to write stories that are authentic and meaningful. More importantly, my professors have taught me how to craft narratives that connect people’s lived experiences with policy issues.

Both: Through Sanford, we’ve both had the opportunity to take multiple service-learning courses. These courses have connected us to the Durham community through volunteer tutoring at organizations including the Durham Nativity School, the Emily K Center, and Githens Middle School. Some of our favorite memories have been from working with the children in these schools.

What professors at Sanford had the most impact on your journey?

Olivia: 

• Stephen Buckley, media/Duke Immerse teacher, masterfully fostered discourse and has the kindest soul
• Joab Corey, economics of the public sector, never had a teacher who’s lectures have been so authentic and enthralling
• Sue Wasiolek, legal issues in education teacher, inspired me to pursue the education minor
• Ingrid Byerly, public speaking teacher, the inspiration behind why I auditioned for this speech

Grace: 

• Barry Yeoman, taught me the importance of interview etiquette and the value of an iterative editing process
• Joab Corey, made complex economic concepts digestible and always brought a positive energy to every class session
• ​​Katie Rosanbalm, was an engaging lecturer whose expertise in early childhood development is matched by her warmth and ability to connect with students
• Carol Jackson, was a thoughtful professor who brought extensive experience and an evident passion 

what's next?

Post-grad, we are eager to start our full-time roles working as state and local government consultants just down the block from each other at KPMG and Guidehouse in Boston, Massachusetts. We’re particularly excited to be near family and hopefully work on projects related to energy, sustainability, education, and infrastructure.