Katie Becker: The Study of Truth, Beauty and Social Justice
Katie Becker
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Major: Psychology (A.B.)
Minor: History
Clubs/organizations: Duke Presbyterian Campus Ministry, Duke Chorale, Duke Chapel Scholars, Ubuntu Selective Living Group, The Duke Chronicle
Other activities: Duke Chapel Student Preacher, DukeEngage New York (2014) and RIPP-Engage Research Fellowship (2016), Bass Connections, Study Abroad, Philip R. Costanzo Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship
Post-Graduation Plans: Fulbright Scholarship in Mexico
Favorite Duke memory: My favorite memory was probably giving a concert in an amphitheater on a beach in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, with the Duke Chorale on the last night of our spring tour. To be surrounded by my friends making beautiful music in such a gorgeous part of the world was one of those memories that I know I’ll treasure forever. It was something I could have never predicted having the opportunity to do when I elected to attend Duke, but it reminded me just how lucky I have been to spend the last four years of my life here.
Katie Becker has spent her four years at Duke dedicated to the pursuit of beauty, truth and social justice. She experienced and provided beauty through her international travel singing with the Duke Chorale. As Katie said about her time in Costa Rica, “To be surrounded by my friends making beautiful music in such a gorgeous part of the world was one of those memories that I know I’ll treasure forever.”
Commencement HomepageIn seeking truth, Katie worked with the Duke Presbyterian Campus Ministry and was chosen as a Duke Chapel Scholar. She also had the honor of being chosen as this year’s Duke Chapel student preacher, and gave her sermon on April 2. "Katie has a gift for asking important questions for our time and bringing theological, ethical, political, and social issues together in a way that causes those around her to think more deeply and live more intentionally,” said Rev. Katie Owen Aumann (T'06), Duke Presbyterian Campus Minister. “She balances her poignant questions and commitment to serious issues with humor and hospitality that have enabled her to be a leader and welcoming presence in the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Duke."
Her social justice work includes serving as the primary organizer for an ecumenical campus-wide social justice advocacy series called “J-Ville,” (a play on “K-Ville”). The event highlighted issues of human trafficking and took a look at how sex trafficking impacts the lives of women and immigrant communities. Through her own initiative, Katie built a relationship with a sex trafficking survivor, welcomed her to campus to speak, and curated an art display in Duke Chapel of artwork by survivors of human trafficking.
Katie’s post-graduation plans are to work in Mexico as a Fulbright Scholar.