This story was originally published on Duke Today.
Undergraduate research is one of the cornerstones of a Duke education. More than half of the undergraduates leave Duke after doing an honors project, independent study or other faculty-mentored research.
“At Duke, undergraduate research is more than an opportunity — it’s part of our culture,” said Deb Reisinger, dean of undergraduate education. “From their very first year on campus, students are encouraged to explore big questions, test ideas, and engage directly with faculty mentors across every discipline. Whether in an archive, a lab, or a field site, Duke undergraduates are actively shaping our future through discovery and inquiry.”
Below are photographic presentations of three Sanford undergraduates discussing their honors of distinction.
Public Policy with minors in Economics & Psychology
Ana Herndon
“Black, White, and Green: Student Characteristics and Revenues Differences between UNC System Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs)”
My research was on social and economic mechanisms that affect minoritized racial and ethnic group members’ STEM major selections. Going to school in North Carolina was helpful for this project because there are many wonderful MSIs across the state. The UNC system, compared to other states, has a uniquely close balance regarding the number of PWIs and MSIs. The rich diversity of institution sizes, types, and backgrounds pushed me to examine the differences in student characteristics and revenue between these schools.
As I began writing this paper over a year ago, I thought about how higher education has become an increasingly inaccessible and polarized space. My research found that MSIs create an increasingly important space in terms of their greater levels of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity and in educating students in disciplines and classes that other schools don’t offer.
As we aim to make higher ed more accessible to all, we should be conscious of schools that are doing the work to expand access. It becomes even more important to consider how these institutions can be equitably supported through state appropriations.
One takeaway from my research was that schools should not always be measured by the same metrics, since our “typical” way of assessing learning might not be as inclusive as it should be. MSIs provide valuable contexts for belonging, which in turn allows more students to learn needed skills for the workforce and graduate school, reducing the workforce gap across the nation.
Public Policy and Neuroscience
Velda Wang
“From Patchwork to Parity? Evaluating the Impact of Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Policies on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance”
My thesis explored how two major pandemic-era policies—the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and enhanced premium subsidies under the American Rescue Plan Act—affected racial and ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage from 2018 to 2023.
I found that insurance coverage increased across all racial and ethnic groups and that disparities narrowed, showing how policy decisions can directly shape health equity.
“Pursuing independent research gave me the freedom to ask hard, timely questions and combine data analysis with a deep commitment to social impact. It’s been one of the most rewarding and meaningful parts of my time at Duke.”
I was drawn to this topic because, growing up in a low-income immigrant household, I saw how confusing health insurance could be. I wanted to contribute to solutions that make access more equitable, especially now, with potential Medicaid cuts and expiring subsidies on the horizon.
Pursuing independent research gave me the freedom to ask hard, timely questions and combine data analysis with a deep commitment to social impact. It’s been one of the most rewarding and meaningful parts of my time at Duke.
Public Policy and Romance Studies
Jax Nalley
“The Effects of Republican Universal Voucher Programs on Traditional Public Schools”
I was drawn to this project as a way to explore the effects of a policy that has a direct effect on the community I came from. I'm from Springdale, Arkansas, one of the most diverse cities in the state (racially, socioeconomically and in age) and the home of Arkansas's largest school district by enrollment.
“I was drawn to this project as a way to explore the effects of a policy that has a direct effect on the community I came from.”
Under the administration of a new governor, Arkansas enacted a universal voucher program in 2023. This project was an attempt to understand how that policy will likely reshape an environment where public schools have traditionally been the great social equalizer.
While my results differed from my original hypothesis, I still came away from this project with a conviction that robust investments in public education are a moral imperative against the rising trend of private and charter school proliferation.