By: Emily Siegel, MEM candidate
Raquel Bensadoun, MEM‘19, didn’t plan on attending the Nicholas School. She nearly didn’t make the application deadline. However, when signs started appearing in her daily life, she knew she was meant to be at Duke.
It started with an old professor’s Facebook post, then another on LinkedIn, then an MEM poster hanging at the Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Fla. Raquel took these cues as her signal to apply to the Nicholas School, and her gut feeling was confirmed at Admitted Students Day. She immediately felt a sense of belonging, and can even pinpoint this moment to a gathering in the Duke Forest, surrounded by other like-minded prospective students, and knowing this is where she wanted to be. The universe dropped her one last sign when she received a letter offering the Nicholas Scholarship, the highest level of financial aid offered at the Nicholas School.
While at Duke, Raquel made the most of her experience studying Coastal Environmental Management (CEM). She traveled to Singapore through a class at the Marine Lab and developed such a bond with Dr. Dan Ritschoff and Dr. Tom Schultz that, when the trip was canceled years later (due to COVID), the professors rerouted to Florida to watch her present at a conference.
Harnessing GIS for wetland protection, emergency management
Currently, Raquel is a Geospatial Services Supervisor for the N.C. Department of Information Technology. She works closely with the Department of Transportation to manage online mapping, develop tools to track mitigation of wetland impacts prior to new roadway construction, and make data more accessible to the public. She even publishes data for bat surveys to inform new infrastructure projects.
On the side, Raquel is passionate about emergency management and has utilized her proficiency in GIS to assess hurricane damage, mapping shelters in flood zones and ultimately helping communities in need. Her GIS Certificate and advanced coursework are crucial to her impact in these various roles, as well as the soft skills she learned at the Nicholas School such as communication and project management.
Using Nicholas School resources for career development
Raquel’s relationship with the Nicholas School didn’t end after graduating. In fact, it only continued to grow stronger as she took advantage of the many resources made available to alumni. Specifically, Raquel credits much of her success in navigating the post-graduate world to the Career & Professional Development Center (CPDC). From helping with interviews to negotiating offers to talking through tough workplace dynamics, CPDC played a crucial role in her transition to the workplace even years after graduating. As a young professional first getting settled in her career, Raquel was grateful for the support to fall back on and guide her through this formative time.
Today, Raquel still stays in touch with several Nicholas School faculty and often crosses paths at conferences across the country. Another highlight of graduate school for Raquel was the tight-knit bond she formed with both the CEM and Nicholas Scholar cohorts. She recalls evacuating the Marine Lab during Hurricane Florence and couch surfing with fellow Scholars while in Durham – she says this was a sure way for the community to unite and really solidify a unique bond among the class.
Raquel has worked hard to achieve her dream job, and would advise others on their career journey to network, cold call, and connect with alumni just as she did. Openness and willingness to meet with peers in the field is key – you never know when a small interaction will lead to that next big role or promotion down the line. Raquel is passionate about passing on the same communication and mentorship she has received from fellow Nic Schoolers, and embodies what it means to be a part of the Nicholas School family.
Did you know Duke has an online alumni database that is searchable by school, location, and industry?
Visit the Duke Alumni webpage to view Raquel’s profile and to update your information.
