Trinity in Four Acts: Tobias Williams

May 12, 2026

Elizabeth Richardson, Trinity Communications

Tobias Williams (Elizabeth Richardson/Trinity Communications)

Sophomore year is when things start to click, and the unknowns become the familiar. Classes feel more purposeful, friendships run deeper, routines develop and campus becomes home. As our four Trinity students return, the series picks back up to follow their next chapter focused on exploring new opportunities, choosing majors and finding momentum. Through stories, photos, videos and social updates, we’ll capture the energy as they lean in, step up — and hit their stride.

Finding His Stride: Spring Semester

Tobias Williams has settled into the rhythm of life at Duke. Now halfway through college, the student-athlete says the pace of life on campus feels different than it did during his first year.

“This year has gone by a lot quicker, just because I know what I'm doing now,” he says.

This spring, Williams officially declared an Economics major with a minor in African and African American Studies. Much of his coursework reflects those interests, including an econometrics class he says is known for being one of the major’s most challenging.

Alongside his economics courses, Williams has also taken classes like Black Cinema and a follow-up course to “The Good Life,” a popular Duke class that explores big philosophical questions about meaning and purpose. One highlight of the class was a retreat to the mountains with classmates.

“We did a talent show,” he says. “It was technology free, and we also had a lot of time to just sit and reflect.”

Outside the classroom, Williams continues to balance academics with track and field, along with the many commitments involved in preparing for internships and future careers.

“This year I was doing recruiting and track and clubs that I was trying to join,” he says, “and also applying for internships, and also just hanging out with friends.”

The internship recruitment process led him to rethink one potential career path. After exploring finance recruiting earlier this year, Williams says he realized the field didn’t align with what he ultimately wants to pursue.

“I reflected a lot and realized I wasn't in it for the right reasons,” he says. “It was something I was chasing just because it made a lot of money, but ultimately, that wasn’t who I wanted to be.”

Instead, he has started exploring other paths, including consulting with a public policy focus.

“I’m interested in public-centric consulting where I can influence government and policy,” he says.

"I think especially as Duke students, it's really easy to get caught up in everything, like getting a job, joining this club, getting deep into recruiting. But taking the time to appreciate where you are is really important."

His interest in public impact also shows up in a project he’s developing through a national program called the Engaged Athlete Fellowship. As part of the fellowship, Williams will travel to Washington, D.C., this summer and present a project aimed at helping local high school students better understand career opportunities in finance.

“It's exposing financial careers to underprivileged youth in Durham,” he says. “We’ll visit high schools and explain what different careers are in the financial sector.”

The idea came from his own experience learning about these career paths relatively late.

“The process starts so early,” he says. “I didn’t until my freshman spring, and I think if I didn't go to a place like Duke, I would have had no idea it existed.”

Even with the pressures of academics, athletics, and career planning, Williams says he tries to make time to step back and appreciate where he is.

“I like to go for walks in the gardens,” he says. “Sometimes if I have a free hour in between classes, it's nice to be able to reflect.”

Those moments help him remember how far he’s come.

“I think, ‘Wow, I'm really at Duke,’” he says. “There are times in my life I would have never imagined being here.”

Looking ahead to his final two years, Williams says he hopes other students can hold on to that perspective as well.

“I think especially as Duke students, it's really easy to get caught up in everything, like getting a job, joining this club, getting deep into recruiting,” he says. “But taking the time to appreciate where you are is really important.”

Finding His Stride: Fall Semester

September 22, 2025

“It’s weird — but cool — how well you get to know a place after one year.”

For Tobias Williams, summer meant familiar faces and routines back home. Now that he’s returned to Duke, he’s stepping into a bigger role: helping first-years find their footing while he figures out his own next steps.

After spending the summer back home in Minnesota, working at Dick’s Sporting Goods and as a counselor at a Bible camp, Williams returned to Duke early to be an orientation leader.

“I had such a great group in Project Edge last year that I wanted to pay it forward,” he said. “It’s weird — but cool — how well you get to know a place after one year.”

Since sophomores in Trinity declare their majors second semester of their second year, Williams is narrowing down what he wants to do. While he’s still interested in majoring in Economics, he’s thinking about doing investment banking recruiting, which will give him access to a summer internship in finance.

Along with a friend, he’s starting a new club called “Leaders of Color in Finance,” which aims to address the barriers to and underrepresentation from people of color in finance.

Williams acknowledges that his second year will be much busier than his first. But, he said, he knows what he wants to accomplish this year and is excited for basketball, as well as for the sense of familiarity that comes with having been at Duke.

As for advice he’d give incoming first-years?

“If there's an event that interests you even a little bit, just go to it,” Williams said. “It's easy to think that you know what you want to do, but sometimes you try something new and you realize how awesome it is, and it can change everything.”

tobias at summer camp with other counselors sitting on a pier — As part of his summer, Tobias Williams worked as a camp counselor in McGregor, Minnesota, where he led activities and built connections with campers. (Photo courtesy of Tobias Williams)

Tobias standing in front of Duke Chapel — After a busy summer back home in Minnesota, Tobias Williams is jumping back in as an orientation leader, getting ready for finance recruiting season, and starting a new club. (Elizabeth Richardson/Trinity Communications)

Beginnings and Discoveries: Spring Semester

May 19, 2025

“My expectation when coming to a school like Duke as a student-athlete was that I would only be friends with people on my team and be looked at differently by the rest of the student body,” he says. “I find that to be the opposite of what has happened.”

When Tobias Williams first decided to come to Duke, the student-athlete wasn’t sure how he’d fit in. Coming from Minnesota to a high-powered academic environment with a strong sports culture, he expected his world to revolve around teammates and training.

“My expectation when coming to a school like Duke as a student-athlete was that I would only be friends with people on my team and be looked at differently by the rest of the student body,” he says. “I find that to be the opposite of what has happened.”

Instead, he found friends everywhere he looked, not just on the track team. “I have met so many good people that don't play sports and many of my best friends at Duke are people that don't play sports.”

Williams’ experience shows how Duke’s environment encourages connection across disciplines, identities and interests. It’s a place where friendships form in the classroom, on the quad, or even during a rare Southern snowfall, one of his favorite memories from his first year.

“In a way, it brought me back to Minnesota,” he said. “I don't want to say I miss the Minnesota weather, but it was really nice to experience some snow without the negative temperatures.”

So far, Tobias is still planning on majoring in Economics. “My major, my summer plans and even what I want to do post-grad has stayed relatively the same, which I think is pretty rare among Duke students,” he said.

This summer, Williams’ will be home in Minnesota, working at Dick’s Sporting Goods, training for track and field and spending time with friends, family and pets.

“For the last two weeks of summer, I’ll be going up to a summer camp that I've been going to since I was little and working as a counselor, which is always a great time,” he said.

He’s also looking forward to being an orientation leader for Project Edge. “I’ll be welcoming in the new class of first-years and helping them move in, and showing them around campus to get them situated before classes start.”

Track team members Tobias Williams and Drew Smith pose with a teammate.

Beginnings and Discoveries: Fall Semester

December 17, 2024

"There's so much to explore here, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store."

Leaving behind his predominantly white high school in Minnesota, first-year Tobias Williams is finding himself immersed in a new world. Drawn primarily to Duke’s rigorous academics and track team, the move to Durham from the Midwest also brought a benefit he wasn’t expecting.

“The diversity was the first thing I noticed,” he said. “As a Black man who grew up in a majority white suburb, it was a shock — in a good way – to see so many people who looked like me.”

Academically, Williams is tackling a challenging course load, majoring in Economics while minoring in African & African American Studies. The task is demanding, but he appreciates the supportive environment Duke provides.

Outside the classroom, Williams is a member of the Duke track team. The grueling schedule and daily practice keep him busy, but he's excited to compete at the collegiate level. "Track is going to be a big part of my experience here, both in regard to competition and socially,” he says.

He’s also eagerly anticipating basketball game days. "I'm really excited for basketball season," he says. "It's going to be a blast."

From the stadium to the classroom, Williams remains focused on making the most of his Duke experience and embracing the opportunities that come with this new chapter. "There's so much to explore here," he said. "I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store."