Gus Gress is a senior from Thousand Oaks, CA passionate about storytelling and service. A Public Policy and Theater double major with a minor in Spanish, Gus completed his Sanford internship requirement through DukeEngage Paraguay, in which he conducted archival research on human rights at the Museo de la Justicia in Asunción, Paraguay. Gus is a recipient of the Hart Leadership Program’s Leadership in Arts Policy Internship (LAPI) Fellowship, which empowered him to complete his thesis research at the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA) in Boone, NC. At Sanford, Gus has been honored as an Eads Family Undergraduate Research Assistant to Dr. Lisa A. Gennetian, a research assistant to Ph.D candidate Andrew Trexler, and a Runner-Up in the Sanford Career Services Internship Photo Contest. Gus performs with a number of groups on campus, including Duke Theater, Duke Players, Hoof ’n’ Horn, Me Too Monologues, Jazz@Duke, and Speak of the Devil. After graduation, Gus hopes to continue performing and to help create more opportunities for other artists to do the same.

Honors Thesis: The Impact of Local Governmental Investment on a Nonprofit Outdoor Drama

Faculty Advisor: Professor Sarah Wilbur