Major:Â International Business and Spanish
Hometown:Â San Francisco, CA
Career Highlights: Four-year letter winner for Women's Tennis; Humanitarian of the Year Award 2005; Three-time Team Captain
Biography:Â Duncan was a four-year letter winner at USF from 2001-2005 on the women's tennis team. She was team captain for three years, and completed an undefeated singles season as a senior in 2004-2005. Duncan currently works as the executive director of Operation Rainbow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to performing free orthopedic surgery for indigent children and young adults in developing countries worldwide who do not have access to related medical procedures or equipment.Â
Why Duncan Chose USF: "The best of all worlds - being part of a team that competes across the country and the opportunity to get an incredible education in an amazing city."
Favorite USF Memories: "We had an incredible team of international athletes who were scrappy, strong, and inspirational. Our coach Hilary Somers inspired us daily as we practiced early in the morning at Golden Gate Park. We were full of USF spirit and when we were playing or training for tennis, we were studying or painting our faces yellow for fellow athletes games. I had a great time during my four years at USF. All of my memories include being around my teammates because we did everything together."
The USF Student-Athlete Experience: "I enjoyed the incredible international focus on the Hilltop, and the setting in a global city such as San Francisco. I lived on campus for all four years. I made lifelong friends and teammates who I still speak with frequently."
They Said It: "In all my years of coaching, Michelle is the most solid leader I've ever been around," said USF women's coach Hilary Somers. "Her energy, positivity and toughness were truly infectious. She was a selfless leader who had the ability to energize and unite a group. Michelle was the glue that held the team together. She was the best listener, advisor, the team's mother hen and a very deserving three-year captain."
Life After USF: Following graduation, Duncan spent a summer volunteering in Ecuador, where she taught English and women's health. In 2004, she was invited to join an Operation Rainbow medical trip to Machala, Ecuador, and fell in love with the organization and the work they do. Now in its 39th year, Operation Rainbow has been providing free surgery to children around the world who need it most. Duncan officially became the organization's director in 2011, and was promoted to Executive Director of Operation Rainbow in 2016.Â
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