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Kaitlyn Williams T’26 graduated from Duke University with a self-designed Program II degree focused on inequality in education. Originally from Northern Virginia, Kaitlyn’s academic and professional interests center on questions of access, belonging, and student success in higher education. Her senior thesis explored the experiences of first-generation, low-income students at Duke, examining how identity and institutional culture shape students’ sense of belonging on campus.
Outside the classroom, Kaitlyn was deeply involved in student leadership and community engagement. She served as President of Duke University Union, overseeing the organization’s 27-person executive board and helping lead some of the university’s largest student programs and traditions. She was also a SPIRE Fellow and taught the program’s first-year seminar for three years, supporting underrepresented students pursuing STEM fields. Beyond campus leadership, Kaitlyn worked with Duke’s Office of Climate and Sustainability as a Green Devil Intern, volunteered in a third-grade classroom at Sandy Ridge Elementary School, and mentored middle school girls through The Growing Club.
This fall, Kaitlyn will begin a Master’s of Education program at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she plans to continue exploring issues of educational equity and student success while working in the Dean of Students Office. As Young Trustee, she is excited to bring a student-centered perspective to board discussions, help Duke navigate a rapidly changing higher education landscape, and strengthen the university’s commitment to access, belonging, and public engagement. She hopes to ensure that Duke remains a place where students from all backgrounds can thrive while continuing to serve as a force for positive impact in Durham and beyond.
Kaitlyn was nominated by the Undergraduate Young Trustee Nominating Committee in 2026. She is serving a two-year term on the board, one year as an observer and one year as a voting member. She is an observer on the Undergraduate Education Committee.
July 2026