Vivian Apple

Class of 2026
Majors in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Concentration) and Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration)

Hi, my name is Vivian and I am from Arkansas! I am double majoring in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Concentration) and Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration). I am interested in a variety of topics ranging from the intersection of biological sex and health outcomes to East Asian languages, history, and literature. At Duke, I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with a large academic community and explore all of my interests, new and old. Outside of class or lab, I am a Chinese language curriculum coordinator for DukeMed Chinese, a volunteer pianist at the Duke hospital, a voracious reader and lover of Ninth Street Bakery cinnamon rolls.

Favorite Class: There are several top contenders for my favorite class at Duke, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be "Storyworlds," AMES 432S, taught by Professor Eileen Chow. In this class, I learned about the mechanics behind books, movies, video games, and TV shows by dissecting the tropes and storytelling devices of the tales we have consumed since childhood. The content, the wonderful group discussions, and classroom environment I had are why "Storyworlds" is one of my favorite classes I've taken at Duke.