Duke University | Baldwin Scholars Program

Hi! My name is Lindsay Bayham, but my parents and good friends like to call me “Miss Piggy” due to my love of pigs. I even celebrate National Pig Day on March 1st, a practice I've continued throughout college.

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. As a kid, I used to want to move someplace “exciting,” but now that I’m in college I’ve learned to appreciate St. Louis’ parks, museums, and friendly people. I've enjoyed getting to know Durham's eclectic dining scene, green environment, and laid-back residents in the same way!

In high school I was active with the debate team and political campaigns, and I sang with the St. Louis Children’s Choirs for six years. At Duke, however, I’ve tried to branch out and explore new activities. As a Public Policy major who pursued a Global Health certificate, I nursed my interests in social justice, politics and policy, and cultural activities through diverse avenues. I worked at the Social Science Research Institute, where I was an assistant for a presidential campaign donor study, and as a research assistant for professors in the History and Public Policy departments, researching human trafficking policy and international human rights law.

I was a docent at Duke's Nasher Museum of Art, and co-president of Students of the World, a student documentary group that explores global economic and social justice issues. In my three years with the group, we traveled to Brazil to document environmentally-friendly urban transportation and to Kenya to make a documentary about girls' education. I was also deeply involved with service-learning, which links academic material to real-world experiences with community partners. I was a long-time member and co-president of LEAPS, a student peer facilitation group focused on service-learning experiences. As a participant in the Service Opportunities in Leadership program, I conducted a research study and worked for a non-governmental refugee services organization in Ghana. I will return to Ghana next year on a Fulbright Fellowship, to research the impact of information and communication technologies on migration.

I applied to the Baldwin Scholars because I wanted a community of smart, interesting women. Each of the girls in the program is AMAZING, and I've enjoyed swapping stories, exploring the university, and talking about women’s issues with them. Applying to this program was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Duke!