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2025 Duke Future Initiative Connects 40 Student-Athletes with Alumni and Industry Leaders
9/3/2025 8:00:00 AM | Athletics
DURHAM, N.C. – Forty Duke student-athletes gained valuable career development this summer through internships and immersion experiences with 15 organizations as part of the Duke Future Initiative, which pairs Blue Devils with alumni and industry leaders across the country.
Rising senior Alaina McVeigh of the field hockey team shadowed professionals at Artisan Partners, with stops in both Atlanta and Milwaukee.
"Being able to meet with so many professionals across the company and hear their advice was invaluable," McVeigh said. "They encouraged me to always be the hardest worker in the room and stay open to new opportunities. I came away more confident about exploring career paths after Duke."
Graduate student Anish Rajamanickam of men's track and field and junior women's soccer defender Mia Oliaro participated in a three-day program with Circumference Group, a private investment firm founded by Duke alumnus Jeff Fox '84.
"The case studies pushed us to think like real investors," Rajamanickam said. "It was the perfect way to connect what I've learned in class with real-world decision-making."
Oliaro added: "Hearing directly from the firm's executives gave me exposure to the language of business and taught me how critical analytical thinking is in investment decisions."
Circumference Group Chief Strategy Officer Luca Sechi said, "The student-athletes leaned in, asked great questions, and tackled real investment decisions with professionalism."
Women's soccer goalkeeper Bianca Dominguez and track and field's Maddie Davies each completed a week-long internship at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City.
"This experience opened my eyes to what 'Big Law' really looks like and gave me a chance to connect with attorneys across so many different practice groups," Dominguez said.
Davies emphasized the networking value: "The biggest takeaway for me was how essential building relationships is in the legal profession. That's something I'll carry with me as I consider law school."
Volleyball senior Christina Barrow interned with Intrepid Marketing, contributing to research and case studies on professional sports branding and Atlanta media outlets.
"Working on projects that will actually help the company gave me the chance to apply my skills," Barrow said. "It also helped me realize how important it is to find a career path that feels truly fulfilling."
Football freshman Cole Denson joined Northeast Financial Network in New Jersey, gaining firsthand experience in financial planning and wealth management.
"Meeting with professionals across different roles gave me a clear picture of how financial advising works in practice," Denson said. "It confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in the industry."
Redshirt sophomore Semaj Turner returned for a second summer with Wake County Government, where he focused on leadership and public service.
"I was able to help develop a leadership curriculum that draws from my athletic background and applies it to government decision-making," Turner said. "It showed me how leadership, service, and purpose can intersect."
Several football and wrestling student-athletes spent a week in Atlanta with Student Quarters, a company specializing in off-campus student housing.
"My time at Student Quarters was great," said redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Terry Simmons Jr. "Being able to shadow Andrew Layton and learn directly from him was a privilege."
Layton, a 1990 Duke graduate and Chief Acquisition & Experience Officer at Student Quarters, praised the program's impact.
"This week gave these student-athletes a chance to build the foundation of their careers by meeting C-Suite executives and younger professionals in real estate," Layton said. "The Future Initiative is a true differentiator for Duke."
Blue Devils also gained exposure at some of the world's most recognizable companies.
Graduate defensive back Mem Factor interned at Google, where he and teammates met Duke alumni in Atlanta.
"My experience at Google was incredible," Factor said. "In such a short time, we really got to understand what it's like to work at one of the world's biggest companies."
Matthew Pritchard '01, Head of Industry at Google, was equally impressed.
"Any company would be lucky to hire these kids one day," Pritchard said. "The Future Initiative is Duke at its best."
From law firms to investment groups to technology companies, the 2025 Duke Future Initiative cohort embraced opportunities to explore new fields, build networks, and prepare for life after athletics.
2025 Duke Future Initiative Roster
Rising senior Alaina McVeigh of the field hockey team shadowed professionals at Artisan Partners, with stops in both Atlanta and Milwaukee.
"Being able to meet with so many professionals across the company and hear their advice was invaluable," McVeigh said. "They encouraged me to always be the hardest worker in the room and stay open to new opportunities. I came away more confident about exploring career paths after Duke."
Graduate student Anish Rajamanickam of men's track and field and junior women's soccer defender Mia Oliaro participated in a three-day program with Circumference Group, a private investment firm founded by Duke alumnus Jeff Fox '84.
"The case studies pushed us to think like real investors," Rajamanickam said. "It was the perfect way to connect what I've learned in class with real-world decision-making."
Oliaro added: "Hearing directly from the firm's executives gave me exposure to the language of business and taught me how critical analytical thinking is in investment decisions."
Circumference Group Chief Strategy Officer Luca Sechi said, "The student-athletes leaned in, asked great questions, and tackled real investment decisions with professionalism."
Women's soccer goalkeeper Bianca Dominguez and track and field's Maddie Davies each completed a week-long internship at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City.
"This experience opened my eyes to what 'Big Law' really looks like and gave me a chance to connect with attorneys across so many different practice groups," Dominguez said.
Davies emphasized the networking value: "The biggest takeaway for me was how essential building relationships is in the legal profession. That's something I'll carry with me as I consider law school."
Volleyball senior Christina Barrow interned with Intrepid Marketing, contributing to research and case studies on professional sports branding and Atlanta media outlets.
"Working on projects that will actually help the company gave me the chance to apply my skills," Barrow said. "It also helped me realize how important it is to find a career path that feels truly fulfilling."
Football freshman Cole Denson joined Northeast Financial Network in New Jersey, gaining firsthand experience in financial planning and wealth management.
"Meeting with professionals across different roles gave me a clear picture of how financial advising works in practice," Denson said. "It confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in the industry."
Redshirt sophomore Semaj Turner returned for a second summer with Wake County Government, where he focused on leadership and public service.
"I was able to help develop a leadership curriculum that draws from my athletic background and applies it to government decision-making," Turner said. "It showed me how leadership, service, and purpose can intersect."
Several football and wrestling student-athletes spent a week in Atlanta with Student Quarters, a company specializing in off-campus student housing.
"My time at Student Quarters was great," said redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Terry Simmons Jr. "Being able to shadow Andrew Layton and learn directly from him was a privilege."
Layton, a 1990 Duke graduate and Chief Acquisition & Experience Officer at Student Quarters, praised the program's impact.
"This week gave these student-athletes a chance to build the foundation of their careers by meeting C-Suite executives and younger professionals in real estate," Layton said. "The Future Initiative is a true differentiator for Duke."
Blue Devils also gained exposure at some of the world's most recognizable companies.
Graduate defensive back Mem Factor interned at Google, where he and teammates met Duke alumni in Atlanta.
"My experience at Google was incredible," Factor said. "In such a short time, we really got to understand what it's like to work at one of the world's biggest companies."
Matthew Pritchard '01, Head of Industry at Google, was equally impressed.
"Any company would be lucky to hire these kids one day," Pritchard said. "The Future Initiative is Duke at its best."
From law firms to investment groups to technology companies, the 2025 Duke Future Initiative cohort embraced opportunities to explore new fields, build networks, and prepare for life after athletics.
2025 Duke Future Initiative Roster
- Alumni Media Network (Craig Richardson '87 '92) – Raymond Adams (wrestling), Sam Bodensteiner (women's soccer)
- Google (Matthew Pritchard '01) – Gemyel Allen (football), Julius Columbs (football), Mem Factor (football), Bariate Kara (football), Kaleb Lanier (football), Bradley Smith (football)
- Student Quarters (Andrew Layton '90) – David Anderson (football), Marquise Collins (football), Terry Simmons Jr. (football), Aidan Wallace (wrestling)
- Intrepid Marketing Group (Torrey Winchester '09) – Christina Barrow (volleyball), Jake Taylor (football)
- Circumference Group (Jeff Fox ' 84) – Axel Blom (men's lacrosse), Adrian Byasima (men's soccer), Caroline Dysart (women's soccer), Phoebe Goldthwaite (women's soccer), Lauren Ingram (volleyball), Julia Magliaro (track & field), Mia Oliaro (women's soccer), Phillips Moore (track & field), Anish Rajamanickam (track & field), Cameron Roller (women's soccer), Bradley Smith (football)
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Demetrius Warrick '05) – Maddie Davies (track & field), Bianca Dominguez (women's soccer)
- Northeast Financial Network (Chris Dapolito '05) – Cole Denson (football), David Hussey (wrestling)
- Wake County Government (Tommy Moorman '88) – Kyren Condell (football), Vontae Floyd (football), Semaj Turner (football)
- Fanatics (Glenn Schiffman '91) – Tre Freeman (football), Terry Moore (football)
- Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery – Ethan Grimminger (wrestling)
- Align Technology (Joshua Snead '13 '16) – Aaron Hall (football), Chandler Rivers (football)
- MetaMetrics – Jeremiah Hasley (football)
- STARZ – Emma Koabel (women's basketball)
- Artisan Partners (Eamonn Callahan '05) – Alaina McVeigh (field hockey)
- TrackX – Chelsea Proutt (rowing)
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