Trinity College of Arts & Sciences recently honored four staff members with Dean’s Pillar of Excellence Awards. The Dean’s Pillar of Excellence Awards recognize outstanding non-teaching staff whose work strengthens the mission and daily life of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. The 2026 awards honor individuals who consistently demonstrate outstanding service, leadership, initiative, community, collaboration, enthusiasm and inclusion. Established in 2017, the award celebrates staff accomplishments and… read more about Trinity College Honors Four Staff Members with Dean’s Pillar of Excellence Awards »
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed powerful ideals about liberty, equality and the right of people to govern themselves — and the meanings of these notions has been debated, interpreted and tested ever since. As Duke celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the milestone offers a chance to look beyond 1776 and revisit the ideas that helped shape the nation. The following Trinity College courses explore the intellectual roots, global revolutions… read more about 1776 in the Classroom: Exploring the Ideas Behind the Declaration of Independence »
Congratulations to Kate Driscoll who was appointed Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Romance Studies! read more about Professor Kate Driscoll Appointed Mellon Assistant Professor of Romance Studies »
Power in the modern world is increasingly exercised not just through military force, but through technology, finance and control over information.Walter D Mignolo, professor at Duke University, argues that while what we historically see as “formal colonialism” may have largely ended, systems of Western dominance continue through economics, culture, technology and knowledge production.“Coloniality is not over. It is all over the world,” Mignolo said, arguing that modern ideas of development and progress often have the effect… read more about Duke's Walter Mignolo Comments on Big Tech's Global Dominance »
Beginning Monday, May 11, a new library search platform will launch.Learn more here. read more about New Library Search Platform Will Launch On May 11 »
“Whenever I said I was interested in Black Italians, people would ask: ‘Are there Black people in Italy?’,” said Duke doctoral student Barbara Ofosu-Somuah. The question — and the assumptions behind it — helped spark Ofosu-Somuah’s research into Black Italian literature, translation, and the circulation of Black feminist thought in contemporary Italy. Now, the Romance Studies Ph.D. candidate has been awarded the prestigious Rome Prize, earning a year-long fellowship at the American Academy in Rome, where she will… read more about Studying Black Feminist Thought in Italy as Rome Prize Fellow »
Christina Colwell knew she wanted a college where friendships would grow beyond the classroom and professors felt more like mentors than voices at the front of a lecture hall. A campus visit with her father during Blue Devil Days made that vision a reality. “The faculty and students I met were so kind and accessible, and there was such a vibrant community spirit,” she recalls. “I remember calling my mom and telling her I needed to be here.” From her sophomore year in the… read more about Rewriting the Formula: How Christina Colwell Brought Her Path to Science, Language and Cameron Indoor »
Angelli Garibaldi-Arias is a first-generation student born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is double majoring in English and Romance Studies with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Her research focuses on medieval and early modern literature — particularly Dante’s Divine Comedy and Cervantes’ Don Quixote — exploring questions of ethics, migration, empire and human value. Through literary and philosophical analysis alongside interviews with immigrants, her honors thesis, “Global Inequalities:… read more about Angelli Garibaldi-Arias '26: Reading Migration Through Literature »
Karina Lu is a senior from Seattle, Washington majoring in History with a concentration in Law & Governance and a minor in French. During her time at Duke, she competed in the American Moot Court Association Nationals, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, received a Fulbright Scholarship, and published research with the Duke Center for Firearms Law and the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law. Her senior thesis, “Embodying the Revolution: Female SentDown Youth on the Yunnan Frontier, 1969–1980,” explores… read more about Karina Lu '26: Learning to Think Across Disciplines »
Romance Studies doctoral student, Barbara Ofosu-Somuah, has been awarded the Rome Prize to work on her dissertation. “Reimagining Italianità: Black Feminist Forms and the Politics of Belonging" explores how Black feminist thought has circulated and developed through translation and other forms of cultural production in contemporary Italy. Integrating archival research with oral history, Ofosu-Somuah documents how Black feminist politics became embedded within Italian feminist discourse and how Black Italian… read more about Barbara Ofosu-Somuah Awarded the Rome Prize »
The Office for Faculty Advancement has awarded seed grants to seven new projects led by Duke faculty members. The theme for this grant cycle is “Building Community and Strengthening Networks to Improve the Faculty Experience.”Faculty were invited to propose innovative initiatives to build community, creative approaches to address specific mentorship needs, and novel approaches to improve the faculty experience.The seed grant program will provide financial support for these projects through April 2027. Project leaders… read more about Trinity Faculty Awarded Seed Grants by Duke Office of Faculty Advancement »
A public policy and French double major, Miller’s undergraduate work explores how democracies and institutional design have reduced status-based political backlash. She completed her honors thesis in public policy under the advisement of Professors Nick Carnes and Mallory SoRelle. Inspired by the French legislative elections, Annabel’s thesis examines support for populist parties and whether changes to electoral systems could sway voting behavior. Additionally, as an intern for Congressman Brad Schneider, Miller conducted… read more about French (and public policy) major Annabel Miller selected for competitive James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. »
Two Duke Seniors, Annabel Miller and Mia Xie, were selected among only 18 winners nationwide for the competitive James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This marks an institutional first: two Duke students earning the fellowship in a single year. Miller and Xie will each spend a year at the Carnegie Endowment supporting the work of senior scholars at the forefront of domestic and international policy.“We are so proud of Annabel Miller and Mia Xie for earning the James C.… read more about Two Trinity Seniors Win Gaither Junior Fellowship at Carnegie Endowment »
Learning a new language isn’t just about grammar and vocabulary, it’s a gateway to forming personal connections, shifting perspectives and viewing the world beyond our own front doors. “It’s one of the most transformative things a student can do in college,” says Luciana Fellin, professor of the practice in Romance Studies and Linguistics, and chair of the Trinity Language Council. “Languages aren’t just codes, they’re living systems infused with culture, history and complex societal issues.”At Duke… read more about Language Is Culture; Culture Is Language »
Post contributed by John B. Gartrell, director John Hope Franklin Research Center The John Hope Franklin Research Center is pleased to share that the archive of philosopher, scholar, and author Sylvia Wynter will be opened to the public beginning March 3. The archive, which was acquired by the center in 2018, has been undergoing processing for the past 2 years and the writings series will be made available first to researchers, with the remaining sections of the collection opening by the summer of this year.To… read more about Franklin Research Center Announces the Opening of the Sylvia Wynter Papers, Exhibition, and Symposium »
There is an ancient Otomi story about the beginning of the world. It’s a tale of a boy who, many years ago, escaped from the evil rulers of the world. He climbed a great tree, from which drops of water sprang forth, giving rise to corn. By the time the evil rulers realized what was happening, the boy had risen to become the Sun. The animated short film from “68 Voces - 68 Corazones” based on the Otomí (Hñähñul) traditional tale, "Ra m´ui ra hyadi ne ra tha" (The beginning of the… read more about Bringing Indigenous Languages to Life Through Animation »
In the fall, the Department of Romance Studies partnered with the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Carolinas (FACC Carolinas) and SKEMA Business School to host the Journée Découverte du Français Professionnel et des Affaires: a symposium on French for business. Karine Provot (left) and Emma Howell (right) collaborated with SKEMA’s Director Gisa Rollin to bring around 40 French-speaking students from the international business school to campus for the event. (Jacob Whatley/… read more about Discovering French for Business and Beyond »
Read the article in the Duke Chronicle about this year's French Film Festival. read more about Duke's French Film Festival opens with a focus on memory, identity and resistance »
Presented in collaboration with Screen/Society and with the support of Albertine Cinémathèque This year’s program features recent works by emerging French and Francophone filmmakers, alongside restored classics and politically engaged documentaries. Each film is introduced by a guest expert and followed by a discussion, creating a vibrant forum for critical thinking and exchange. Themes include memory, identity, resistance to authoritarianism, and the complexity of desire… read more about 2026 French Film Festival, Jan. 29 - Feb. 13 »
Read María Molano Parrado's article about her internship experience, read more about From the Classroom to the Galleries: My Internship at El Museo del Barrio »
The first memory I have of visiting an art exhibition was with my father in my hometown, Bogotá, back in 2009. It was the second solo exhibition of the American pop artist Andy Warhol in Colombia, whose visual language had a significant impact on the country. I was particularly struck by the organization of the artworks, the accompanying texts, and how art brought people together to the same space. Little did I know that sixteen years later, I would be involved in curating two exhibitions at El Museo del Barrio, the first… read more about From the Classroom to the Galleries: My Internship at El Museo del Barrio »
Watch the YouTube video here. read more about Watch the International Creole Day Celebration Video »
Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has invited its faculty to submit proposals for the creation of new research initiatives on campus.Following the successful launches of the SPACE Initiative and the Society-Centered AI Initiative, the Trinity Research Initiative will support new directions for interdisciplinary research through seed funding for nascent research collaborations, community-building, and complementary educational and outreach activities.Open to all areas of research and… read more about Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Invites Proposals for New Research Initiatives »
Jenna Arafeh, a second-year History student at Duke University, has been awarded the 2025 Dante Prize by the Dante Society of America for her essay, “The Lone Star’s Resurrection: Abel Tesfaye’s Reimagining of the Commedia in Modern Sound.” The prestigious honor, awarded annually since 1887, recognizes the best undergraduate essay on Dante and remains one of the most distinguished literary prizes in the humanities. Arafeh wrote her winning essay in Spring 2025 as a student in Martin Eisner’s class, Dante's Divine… read more about Jenna Arafeh Wins 2025 Dante Prize »
The Modern Language Association of America is awarding its 28th annual Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Publication Award for a Manuscript in Italian Literary Studies to Kate Driscoll, assistant professor of Romance Studies. Her manuscript, "Tasso and Women Readers: Literary Hospitality in Early Modern Italy," will be published by Cambridge University Press.The award is one of 23 that will be presented on January 9, 2026 during the association’s annual convention, to be held in Toronto. The members of the selection committee were… read more about Kate Driscoll Receives Scaglione Publication Award for a Manuscript in Italian Literary Studies »
What do cooking dumplings and meeting a former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have in common?Both are memorable experiences first-year students had this fall, thanks to Trinity College’s Arts & Sciences Curriculum.Finding your footing in a new place can be challenging, but the Arts & Sciences Curriculum’s First-Year Experience helps students make meaningful connections from the moment they arrive on campus.All first-year students in Trinity College participate in the First-Year Experience through… read more about Building Connections Through the First-Year Experience »
What makes a good book? This was one of the impossible questions Annette Joseph-Gabriel, the John Spencer Bassett Associate Professor of Romance Studies, had to answer as a judge for the 76th National Book Awards for Translated Literature. We asked her to share some of the insights she gathered from this experience, and how she recommends one should dive into the world of translated literature. Spoiler alert: her advice is “Run, don’t walk.”This interview was lightly edited for clarity and length.… read more about What Makes a Good Book? Annette Joseph-Gabriel Shares Her Insights on Being a Judge for 2025’s National Book Award »
Nous recevons Felwinne Sarr, écrivain sénégalais qui n’a pas peur des mots tels "vie commune", "hospitalité" ou encore "solutions". Un intellectuel qui vit entre l’Afrique, l’Europe et les États-Unis et qui trouve refuge autant dans Nietzsche, Frantz Fanon et le zen japonais. France 24 welcomes a Senegalese writer who isn't afraid of words like "community life," "hospitality," or "solutions." An intellectual who lives between Africa, Europe, and the United States, and who finds… read more about Interview With Felwine Sarr on France 24 »
Students interacted with faculty, staff and other students from different programs in every corner of Duke. (Trinity Communications) From the moment I entered Penn Pavilion, I was welcomed by enthusiastic professors and friendly Trinity Ambassadors who generously shared their insights and patiently answered my many questions. Their warmth set the tone for an encouraging and intellectually vibrant experience. As I moved through the fair, I made a conscious effort to visit tables I… read more about More Than Choosing a Major: A First-Year’s Reflection on Majors Fair »
His "Evening School" begins with a central question: In an age of deepening global divisions and fractures, how can we imagine the possibility of a shared life on a planetary scale?The programme unfolds in three thematic sequences, each featuring athree multidisciplinary lecture with Felwine Sarr and major voices in contemporary thought and creative practice;three "sensitivity workshops" involving other artists and approaches.Click link to learn more! read more about Felwine Sarr: Intellectual-in-residence at the Centre Pompidou and the Festival d’Automne »