Ingrid Bianca Byerly
senior lecturing fellow Thompson writing program
Professor Ingrid Bianca Byerly is a South African anthropologist/ethnomusicologist whose research lies in the investigation of social protest movements and music revolutions. She serves as the Director of the Humanitarian Challenges Focus cluster, and facilitates the Public Speaking classes at Duke. Dr. Byerly coaches TEDx speakers nationally, and has offered classes in literature, study skills and intercultural communication internationally.
She has also held the position of Course Director and lecturer for international students at the annual Regent Courses in Oxford, England for ten summer sessions. She has taught on four Semester at Sea voyages, traveling to her 60th country on the recent Spring25 voyage, where she was invited to deliver the Commencement speech at the ship’s graduation ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jneQBkppxN4. Her interests include travel, leading students on international field excursions, life histories, photography, filmmaking, animals, mosaicking, stain glassing, and sparkly things. Mostly, she loves Duke’s school spirit, and Duke students.
What are you most looking forward to as a Faculty Fellow?
Getting to know the students who I haven't met in my classes.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates?
One day, take a walk around campus and imagine you've graduated from Duke, and are just visiting as an alumni. You will be overwhelmed by the wonderful realization that you are still here to savor it, as a current member of the student body - and it's not just a deep, fond, distant, nostalgic memory. Cherish every day, and every opportunity - academically and socially.
What is something you think students should know during their time at Duke?
You chose the best university, and it chose you. How fabulous is that?