UW–Madison’s Sky Duke, a PhD student in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies, has been selected as a 2025 Equity and Inclusion Graduate Student Fellow by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM).
The fellowship supports graduate students, young professionals, and undergraduates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds by providing resources to attend APPAM’s annual fall research conference, which will take place in Seattle, Washington. While at the conference, Fellows will be recognized for their accomplishments and connect with APPAM’s Policy Council and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee members.
Duke is a third-year PhD student whose research focuses on postsecondary finance policies that promote equity and inclusion for marginalized student populations, with a particular emphasis on college access and success among adult and low-income students. She uses critical quasi-experimental methods in her work.
A McNair alum and current Educational Graduate Research Scholar, Duke says her worldview is shaped by her experiences as a disabled, White, low-income, and queer woman. She strives to use her educational opportunities in service of those who face systemic barriers at institutions of higher education. After completing her degree, she plans to pursue a practice-oriented career outside of academia.
Learn more about this year’s APPAM Equity and Inclusion Fellowship recipients.