University Scholars Program

Designed to stimulate an interdisciplinary, inter-generational community of scholars, the University Scholars Program was created in 1998 by the Office of the Vice-Provost of Interdisciplinary Studies with a gift from Duke University Trustee Emerita Melinda French Gates.

The University Scholars Program (USP) welcomed its first matriculating class in 1999. This innovative program was the first of its kind in the United States and around the world, bringing together undergraduates, graduate students, and students from Duke’s professional schools.

Spotlight on Michelle Giffoni-Albor

Michelle Giffoni-Albor is a rising sophomore dedicated to bridging narrative storytelling and numerical thinking to better understand how language shapes relationships and learning experiences. Through programs like Focus: KISS, she has explored how culturally responsive pedagogy can shape inclusive and impactful academic environments. During her summer internship with Raising A Reader MA through DukeEngage Boston, she merged her interests in data and storytelling while interviewing caregivers to support digital fundraising efforts. A Mathematics and Spanish major, Michelle is excited to work as a calculus teaching assistant, deepening her commitment to exploring teaching, numerical thinking, and communication across disciplines and cultures.

Learn more about Michelle Giffoni-Albor

The University Scholars Program is located within the Office of University Scholars and Fellows (OUSF). Our Uni's are part of a larger community of merit scholars and academically engaged students at Duke University.

Get to know the University Scholars and Staff