Open Design Strategists are Duke undergraduate and graduate students who conduct qualitative and quantitative research about open design pedagogy, co-lead open design sprints across Duke, and help conduct research focused on open design and innovation.
Contact us to learn more about this role: opendesignstudio@duke.edu
Rachel Grainger
Originally from Southern California, Rachael graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Film & Media Studies and Communication in 2018. Rachael then joined Peace Corps where she served in rural, central-eastern Ukraine. In Ukraine, she worked in English education, technology education, and teaching innovation, guided by New Ukrainian School reform. Most recently, she worked with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), supporting digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, and rural economic development strategies. She is currently a second year Master’s of Public Policy student at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
Diane Sanchez is an environmental advocate who is driven by her passion for environmental justice and increasing access to nature. She is a second-year Masters of Environmental Management student at the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. Diane has experience working on environmental policy and advocacy and is looking forward to working on Climate Resiliency in Durham.
Amanda Booth
Born and raised in the Houston area, Amanda graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. After college, she went to IBM to work as a product content designer. She’s spent her time in the tech industry teaching design thinking, improving user experiences, and advocating for data privacy. Most recently, Amanda worked at Affirm, Inc. on consumer finance compliance issues. She is currently a second year Master’s of Public Policy student at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
Ritvik Janamsetty is a Junior majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. He is passionate about using technology to achieve broader social benefits. He has served as the Co-Director for Duke Tech for Equity, a Duke program that matches students to non-profits needing technological assistance. He is excited to work with the Open Design Studio and develop more pathways to get people involved in “tech for good.”
