Pierre Byrd Navigates Immigration Regulations

Name: Pierre Byrd

Position:  Senior International Student Scholar Advisor, Duke Visa Services

Years at Duke: 8

What I do at Duke is: I assist foreign nationals who are coming to Duke to study, work, research, teach or practice medicine. They have to navigate a complicated minefield of immigration laws and regulations. We make sure that those immigration regulations are respected by both the foreign national and by Duke. There are roughly 4,050 foreign nationals at Duke, including students and those we call scholars - people who are visiting at Duke but not enrolled in classes. The bulk of my day is spent either talking with these people and the departments they are associated with to explain their options and the long-term consequences of those options, or processing the paperwork. 

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me, they should ask me about: Food. I enjoy talking about cooking, eating and finding new places to eat. It is a great icebreaker. I have an encyclopedic knowledge of the restaurants in the area, but I don't have a favorite. My answer depends on what I'm in the mood for.

If I had $5 million, I would: Probably squander it. I might try to find something useful and philanthropic to do, but I'd be more likely to do something quirky like helping 5,000 people in Durham pay their rents this month. 

My first ever job was: As a waiter at The Forest at Duke retirement community. I figured it was a good idea to get some job experience no matter what it was. It was important to learn to show up and get the job done.

The best advice I ever received was: My parents' encouragement to go out and explore the world. I was raised in Durham, and I like it here. The natural inclination would be to stay in a place I love, but I was encouraged at a young age to go out and explore different countries, different experiences. 

A turning point in my life was: When I graduated from Guilford College and realized I didn't want to go into the field I had a degree in - economics. But I had a dual major, economics and international relations. So I just shifted over to the international part. 

What I love about Duke is: Working in an academic community, where people have so many different reasons for being here. It can be exciting to talk to people about what their goals are, and what their hopes are for what they are going to do with their experience at Duke. Many of them come here with the intention of returning home and sharing what they have learned with their home country. 

The last book I read was: "The Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss. It is the second in a series called the Kingkiller Chronicles.  It's supposed to be a trilogy, but I think it may take more than one more book to wrap the story up.

If I could have one superpower, it would be:  I figure most people pick something they know they ought to do for a New Year's Resolution, so I'd like the ability to make people follow through on those resolutions. Starting with me. 

Pierre Byrd was nominated as a Blue Devil of the Week by a
Duke colleague. Do you have someone special in mind for Blue Devil of
the Week? Nominate your colleague.