Program II offers five awards for graduating seniors, to be presented at the Program II graduation ceremony in May. Faculty mentors nominate students for these awards, and nominations are reviewed by the Program II Director and Faculty Committee Chair.
Our 2025 awards were given to:
Best Senior Thesis: Rowan Haffner
Rowan was nominated by his faculty mentor Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Chauncey Stillman Professor of Practical Ethics, who wrote:
I nominate Rowan Haffner’s thesis for the prize for the Best Senior Thesis in Program II. His thesis is thorough, clear, organized, original, personal, and important. It is important not only theoretically in uncovering fascinating facts about an understudied topic but also practically in providing guidance and self-understanding to the many people (like him) who struggle with epilepsy. He worked mainly independently but organized a team of advisors on the many parts of his thesis because no single person would advise him on all of it. He was a pleasure to work with, and he plans to continue working on this topic and maybe turning his thesis into a book. Rowan’s thesis is among the top five undergraduate theses that I have advised in my 45 years of teaching. He deserves this award.
Best Senior Capstone Project: Grace Dewyer
Grace was nominated by her faculty mentor, Dr. Juliana Barr, Associate Professor of History, who wrote:
Grace Dewyer’s capstone project, “Navajo Medicine and Healing: Historical Injustice and its Health Consequences for the Navajo Nation,” embodies the essence of Program II. In it, she brings together historical, anthropological and linguistic sources to tell the story of Navajo medicine men and women, diviners, herbalists, and doctors who – since the 19th century – have maintained a sophisticated system of care that bridged between traditional healing practices and Western medicine as they protected their communities and their nation from the onslaught of US colonialism.
That creative combination of “the traditional” and “the modern” reflected the healers’ knowledge that “health is more than the physical wellness of a person; it is also connected to emotional, spiritual, and environmental balance.” Grace’s project shows that maintaining that balance has been at the heart of both continuity and change in the painful but resilient history of Navajo medicine and healing.
In turn, that balance between traditional wisdom and modern innovation is critical for anyone today working in Indigenous communities and in the hospitals that serve them. The tools for achieving that balance come from wide-ranging fields of knowledge, and the toolkit Grace has built here at Duke – as evidenced in her innovative capstone research – will carry her forward into her own career in public health and medicine.
Curricular Impact Award: Carina Lei
Carina was nominated by Susan Thananopavarn, a Lecturing Fellow in the Thompson Writing Program and Core Faculty Member for the Asian American and Diaspora Studies Program, which was approved by Duke’s curriculum committee and made formally available as a certificate just two years ago, due to the inspiration and tireless efforts of students like Carina.
Her nominator wrote:
From her first year at Duke, Carina’s work in Asian American and Diaspora Studies has raised awareness of this interdisciplinary field at Duke. Her final project for my “Writing 101: Asian American Narratives” class, a graphic novel exploring the history of Chinese American laundry workers, was chosen for publication in Deliberations and has served as a model for all my writing classes. The following year, she co-directed the Asian American Studies Working Group (AASWG), a student activist group that worked towards promoting Asian American studies as an academic program. Carina was also an integral part of the student team for Margins, Duke’s student-led creative publication for Asian and Asian American students that is featured on our website.
Carina’s work in Asian American mental health as part of her Program II has also influenced our program. In the fall, we offered a course in Asian American mental health for the first time, and her enthusiasm for this course and the field in general has made this topic a priority for future course and programmatic offerings.
Community Builder Award: Eleanor Mackey
Eleanor's nominator, Dhruv Rungta, the current president of the Majors’ Union, wrote:
In my eyes, Eleanor is the heart of Duke and of Program II. Her kindness and the way she brings people together is inspiring and has made such a big difference on campus and in the Program II community. She co-led the Program II Marine Lab Retreat this year—our first and biggest majors union event—which helped spark meaningful friendships and a strong sense of community. From planning bonding activities like a PowerPoint night and board games to making sure all the logistics were spot on, the trip would not have been possible without her. She also led the charge on designing a PII tiered mentorship program that would connect students, upperclassmen, and alumni in the field. When it launches next year, I have no doubt it will be an appreciated and highly valuable asset to our program.
Excellence in Human Rights and Advocacy: Durga Sreenivasan
Durga's nominator was William “Sandy” Darity, Jr., Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy. Dr. Darity wrote:
I would like to nominate Durga Sreenivasan for recognition for Excellence in Advocacy/Human Rights. Durga truly has made her mark as a champion of the sustainable development movement globally, fully complementing her research on climate change, economic inequality, and economic development. As an Environmental Justice Fellow, she worked with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, contributing directly to the city’s first environmental justice report and acquiring thick, first-hand knowledge about the cities vehicle congestion pricing policy. She has worked on a sustainable development project in Karnataka, India and taught young children at the Shanti Bhavan School in Tamil Nadu, India. In addition, she has studied and observed sustainable development practices in rural France. Finally, I must add that she has been a co-leader in developing strategies for climate change mitigation and reparations as a member of South-North Scholars, a network of young professionals and scholars focused on worldwide sustainable development providing expertise to the United Nations. Durga’s accomplishments represent a remarkable—and somewhat seamless—combination of rigorous scholarship and human rights activism. Her efforts will contribute, literally, to saving the planet.