Hi! My name is Ananya Pinnamaneni, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a Class of 2028 Baldwin Scholar! I grew up in San Ramon, CA, with my family originally having roots in Andhra Pradesh, India.
I’ve been an advocate for gender equality from a young age, trying to dispel misconceptions about feminism and remove the negative stigma that many people have about the topic. During high school, I started a non-profit organization called Gender ShEquality and wrote a children’s book titled Feminism 101: A Guide to Gender Equality with the goal of educating kids about feminism from a young age. Thus, coming into Duke, I was eager for the opportunity to be a Baldwin Scholar and join a community that empowers female leaders and advocates against gender inequity.
Currently, I’m planning to major in biology and global health on a premed track. Having witnessed the widespread lack of access to healthcare in developing countries, I’m passionate about working towards eradicating these disparities. I’m also interested in the intersection between healthcare and policy, and I hope to leverage my knowledge as a future physician to work towards reforms in existing health policy.
Beyond academics, some of my on-campus involvements include Duke University Union (DUU), The Chronicle, Hindu Students Association, WISER, and Camp Kesem. Each of these activities has played a distinct role in my Duke experience thus far, and I’m excited to see how these groups can continue to help me grow.
I look forward to experiencing everything that Duke has in store for me and strengthening my bonds with this incredible group of women over the next three years!