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At Duke Graduate School, two students represent opposite ends of the generational spectrum: Myrick Howard, 71, a student in the Liberal Studies program, and Andy Kapoor, 19, a student in the Materials Science and Engineering program, represent the oldest and youngest enrolled students.
Though separated by over five decades, Howard and Kapoor share a love for learning, the drive to explore new fields, and the desire to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.
A Life Reconnected with the Humanities
Myrick Howard’s story is one of coming full circle. After growing up in Durham, finishing a history degree in 1974 and a dual master's in city planning and law in 1978 at UNC-Chapel Hill, and having a long and distinguished career in historic preservation, including 45 years leading Preservation North Carolina, Howard came home to Duke to pursue a degree in Liberal Studies.
“I went to Durham High. You know, at the end of the yearbook it says, ‘member of this club and that club,’ and one of the things that’s in there for two [of my] years was ’Thursdays at Duke.’ Duke was bringing in kids like me, working class kids, to meet people, to go to a class here and there, that sort of thing. So, I feel like there’s a real interesting full circle,” Howard said.
Despite achieving success in award-winning career, including designation by the Raleigh News and Observer as the 2023 Tar Heel of the Year, Howard knows he has a lot left to learn in life.
“I’ve read a fair amount about the need for people to have some sort of fulfillment and enrichment as you get into the encore years. I just finished a 45-year career. It wouldn’t be terribly surprising if I don’t have another 20-25 years ahead of me. I want to learn stuff and do stuff and maybe even dig in on some research related to North Carolina.”
One potential research topic Howard is considering exploring is analyzing the relationship between North Carolina and the slave trade from the Carolinas to states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana after the invention of the cotton gin.
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Now in his 70s, Howard’s passion for history, architecture, and social issues propels him into education and discovery. Returning to academia, however, presented challenges Howard hadn't anticipated.
“I’m reading some work that I haven’t looked at in 50 years,” Howard said. “I taught at [UNC] for 35 years, so it’s interesting to come back over to the side of being the student. I’m reintroducing myself to things from the distant past, but then I come at it with a really different point of view, so it’s interesting.
Howard has considered what others may think about taking on graduate school at this stage in his life: “Other folks may think it’s weird, but that’s okay.”
The Thrill of Scientific Discovery
Andy Kapoor’s academic journey, meanwhile, is just beginning. At 19, Kapoor is diving headfirst into his Materials Science and Engineering master’s program after finishing his undergraduate degree, a B.S. in biochemistry, in just three years.
Despite his young age, Kapoor speaks with the maturity of someone who’s navigated complex research environments for years. His undergrad was packed with hands-on research, from investigating molecular biology in the lab to experimenting with autonomous drones in computer science. Yet Kapoor admits that jumping into graduate school was no easy feat.
“Transitioning to advanced unfamiliar material has been one of the most challenging aspects of graduate school,” he said. “I think getting used to the environment. It took me less time than expected thanks to a lot of the friends I've made. They made the transition very easy, going from somewhere like California to somewhere like North Carolina. I think just getting myself caught up to speed with where everyone else is at.”
Kapoor was drawn to Duke largely because of its research capabilities, particularly in the field of material science.
“Duke is one of the top leaders in research. I met with one of the professors, Dr. Blum, over the summer during the admitted students’ day,” Kapoor said, “and when he was telling me about the opportunities at Duke, what kind of research he was doing in his lab, I think that was the most captivating resource that Duke offered. So apart from it being one of my dream schools to attend, I think it's a great place for me to expand my research.”
A Shared Love for Learning
While their paths and stages in life differ, both Howard and Kapoor emphasize the importance of curiosity and continuous learning. Howard, with decades of experience in his field, sees graduate school as a way to stay intellectually engaged with his interests.
“I’ve really been getting my mind disciplined for the workload. I’m at least 20 years older than the next oldest person in the class,” he said.
For Kapoor, graduate school is an opportunity to dive deeper into his interests in computational intersections of science and technology.
“I think it’s important to explore what you want to do from a very young age,” he said, “I think that me just trying different things, that definitely gave me all the little experiences that I needed to make up my mind in the future.”
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What Howard and Kapoor share is a deep appreciation for the Duke community. “I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere,” Kapoor remarked, “I found that [Dr. Blum’s] group has been very supportive, catching someone who hasn’t done material science up to speed and also making sure you feel included.”
Howard echoed this sentiment, marveling at the sense of camaraderie he’s found with classmates much younger than himself. “They could not be nicer. People have been very welcoming.”
Looking Ahead
Howard and Kapoor are both charting exciting futures. For Howard, the culmination of his studies in Liberal Studies may be a return to writing, perhaps focusing on the historic preservation work that’s been central to his life. For Kapoor, the possibilities seem endless. He’s already considering pursuing a Ph.D., with plans to continue working on computational simulations in material science.
Despite being decades apart, Howard and Kapoor’s shared commitment to lifelong learning is proof that there’s no limit to what we can achieve when we follow our passions and are led by curiosity.