Grace Ryan, she/her

Class of 2026

Grace Ryan is a Minnesotan native, where she grew up in it’s capital city, St. Paul. Prior to studying at Duke Sanford, she received her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International and Regional Security and Spanish minor from Hamline University. During her undergraduate career, Grace focused on researching the impacts of international development strategies, technologically driven democratization movements, and how secure economies create secure states. Grace most recently worked as a project manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, where she managed projects that furthered the Community Development and Engagement team’s work in identifying policy solutions for issues affecting low- and moderate-income communities, with a particular focus on matters related to labor market institutions and housing affordability. Apart from the Federal Reserve, Grace has experience with federal, state, and local governments and non-profits, and her work has ranged from overseeing statewide executive appointments, supporting state political party finances, and legislative affairs. Grace is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to Duke, but is most looking forward to learning from and engaging with her peers and faculty. She has a passion for understanding the intersections and relationships between community, policy, and the economy. Outside of class, Grace enjoys kayaking, hiking, pottery, and attempting to cook. You can probably find her with a book and a hammock missing her two cats, Miso and Murphy.

Areas of Policy Interest: