Desmond Gatling

Program Coordinator, Duke College Advising Corps

desmond.gatling@duke.edu
(919) 724-8525

A native of Ahoskie, North Carolina, Desmond graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Education. While at Duke, Desmond gained a passion for promoting access to education and equity for students from low-income and rural communities. He worked closely with the Center for Multicultural Affairs as a student facilitator advocating for change and equity. Additionally, he was a founding member of Duke LIFE, a student-led group for first-generation and low-income students. After graduating, Desmond went on to serve as a Duke CAC Adviser at Lakewood High School in Sampson County.

As a first-generation high school student from an under-resourced high school, Desmond hopes to make a positive impact in his current role as Program Coordinator by continuing to advocate for students in North Carolina. As Program Coordinator, Desmond assists the Duke CAC Program Director with program management, grant compliance, and adviser supervision. He is responsible for curating annual training for incoming Duke College Advisers and creating innovative opportunities for professional development and experiential learning for the College Advising team. His role also includes engaging Duke University students, staff, and faculty in campus dialogues about higher education, college access programming, and volunteer opportunities, both on-campus and in our partner high schools in Durham County. When he’s not working towards college advising and access efforts in North Carolina, you can find him coaching Duke’s Garba-Raas team (Bull City Raas) or advising undergraduates and student groups like The Growing Club.