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The independent news organization at Duke University MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026

ONLINE DAILY AT DUKECHRONICLE.COM

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND YEAR, ISSUE 1

MEET THE 2025-26 CHRON15

Chron15 seeks to recognize the individuals or groups that define what it means to be a member of the Duke community in 2025 and 2026. This year in particular marked a time of resilience. The University lost many members through cost-cutting and new immigration policies, while others learned how to continue supporting the community through a rapidly changing higher education environment. Through it all, the icons, leaders and pioneers nominated by Chronicle readers and selected by a committee of Chronicle staff pushed our community forward, whether through advocacy, athletic achievement, thought-provoking discussion, innovative research or new University programs. These individuals have united us, inspired us and spent their time at Duke making our campus a better place. There are many more individuals and groups that have made invaluable contributions to this University and its community, though The Chronicle can only name 15 of them. We, and our readers, thank countless more for all they do to make our University a home we can be proud of.

she scored 19 points with a remarkable 12 rebounds, winning the ACC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. In the NCAA Tournament’s Sacramento 2 Region, she scored a combined 43 points against LSU and UCLA. “She’s a winner … She does everything that you would want, and she’s unafraid of the moment as well. So I’m just fortunate enough to coach her,” head coach Kara Lawson said of Mair. Mair spent three years in Durham, and after a lessened role in the 2024-25 campaign, she often played long, grueling minutes as the sole primary ball handler this year. Lawson and the team frequently singled Mair out as a consistent performer and energy-setter even in the November and December nadir of this season. Mair’s facilitation prowess was evident as she tied Duke legend Chelsea Gray’s record for assists in a single season with 201. As the 14th pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Mair was the first Blue Devil selected in the first round since 2018. -Chronicle Staff Reports

ICONS Taina Mair

Courtesy of Victor Strandberg

Lena Nguyen

Taina Mair has been the three-year point guard for Duke women’s basketball and was the unquestioned leader of the bunch this year. She led her team to its second straight ACC Tournament win and Elite Eight appearance. Mair’s best came when it mattered most; in the ACC championship against Louisville,

Maliq Brown

Victor Strandberg

Ella Moore chaired the Chron15 2025-26 committee. She is a Trinity junior and a news editor of The Chronicle’s 122nd volume.

When you’ve outlasted five university presidents and built a career longer than many of your colleagues’ entire lives, you become as much a part of the institution's history as anyone else can claim to be. Thus, it’s near-impossible to imagine Duke without Victor Strandberg, but after 60 years, the English professor has taught his final class. Arriving in Durham in 1966, the Massachusetts native brought to the South his wealth of knowledge on literature of all sorts. Although he certainly had his favorite authors, his ability to passionately and effectively teach everything from the Bhagavad Gita to William Faulkner was what made him such a beloved and cherished instructor. His

Serving the University since 1905

Chef's Kitchen

teaching style consisted of lectures and tests rather than the open-table discussions and critical essays English curricula have opted for over the years, yet nothing about the love for literature he instilled in his students felt outdated. Duke, not just the English department, is losing a foundational member of its community. Students and faculty will sorely miss Victor Strandberg and wish they could learn more from him. And after 60 years, that’s all you can really ask for. -Chronicle Staff Reports

Amy Zhang

Transferring to Duke men’s basketball from Syracuse after his sophomore season, Maliq Brown served a twoyear term as the Blue Devils’ premier defensive weapon, developing into a fan favorite for the Duke faithful in the process. The Culpeper, Virginia, native acquired a series of honors during his time in Durham, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Sixth Man of the Year during his senior season. “It’s almost like a different game [Brown] plays,” guard Caleb Foster said of his two-year teammate. “I’ve never played with somebody with such an impact on the team.” With his calm demeanor and 7-foot wingspan, the 6-foot-9 forward stood as the anchor of the pair of 35-win Blue Devils teams, showing to everyone who watched what it meant to be part of a team. And in his final game in Cameron Indoor Stadium — senior night against North Carolina — Brown gave Blue Devil fans one last masterclass, recording his highest totals in points and steals in a Duke uniform with 15 and five, respectively, on 6-of-9 shooting across 30 minutes, cementing his legacy as the model role player for Blue Devil basketball. -Chronicle Staff Reports

@dukechronicle @dukebasketball

Anabel Howery

Some spots on campus just have a way of drawing people in. Chef's Kitchen — the rotating restaurant on the second floor of WU — did exactly that this year, and then some. Home to instant classics like Smashburgers and Don's Classic Subs, the lines that snaked around the second floor became a familiar sight around lunch time, and a reliable sign that something yummy was waiting at the end of them. Students generally didn’t mind the wait and the food was always worth it. The hardworking employees nearly always had to stay beyond the slated closing time of 3 p.m. to finish out the line of students, which they did with grace. The Chronicle is grateful for their diligence and altruism. Beyond the lunch rush, Chef's Kitchen also hosted cooking classes, giving students a chance to slow down and actually learn something in the kitchen, headed up by Chef John Eisensmith. And unlike a lot of dining options, it never felt like it was unnecessarily gouging your food points. Chef's Kitchen struck a rare balance: delicious, unique food you can’t get anywhere else on campus, fair prices and a buzz around it that made it one of the most talked-about spots on campus this year. Here’s to hoping whatever comes next lives up to the standard it set. Please bring Don’s Classic Subs back.

@thedukechronicle

-Chronicle Staff Reports

ICONS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Leaders on Page 3 Pioneers on Page 5