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Jax Nalley T’25 graduated from Duke as a Robertson Scholar, earning degrees in public policy and Romance studies. Originally from Northwest Arkansas, Jax came to Duke with a passion for public service and a commitment to bridging institutional power and community-based advocacy. On campus, he served as Chief of Staff for Duke Student Government, a Chapel Scholar, and a member of the POLIS Student Committee. He also served on the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors and as a student representative on the Trustee’s Undergraduate Education Committee. Jax’s most formative experiences at Duke included coordinating client services at the New Orleans Public Defenders Office, studying abroad in Provence and Oxford, advocating for Durham residents facing homelessness, and interning on the health team of President Biden’s Domestic Policy Council. During his time in Durham, Jax was most proud of founding the Karsh Student Advisory Board, which gives undergraduates a seat at the table in financial aid policymaking.
Jax is attending Harvard Law School, where he hopes to grow into a civil rights lawyer focused on issues of economic justice, enfranchisement, and criminal justice reform in the South. As Young Trustee, he is excited to help Duke navigate the challenges facing higher education, to address the growing lack of public trust in institutions like Duke, and to champion Duke’s value to outside stakeholders. He is committed to ensuring that despite external pressures, Duke remains innovative, inclusive, and meaningfully engaged with Durham, our region, and the broader world.
Jax was nominated by the Undergraduate Young Trustee Nominating Committee in 2025. He is serving a three-year term on the board, one year as an observer and two years as a voting member. He is an observer on the Undergraduate Education Committee.
July 2025