About
I was born in Africa and grew up in Singapore, Indonesia, Nigeria and Cameroon. My dad was a petroleum geologist whose explorations took my family all over the world. I attended The Masters School just outside New York City, where I discovered my love for writing - and asking questions.
After an adventurous childhood, my first real job was at McDonald’s in Plano, Texas, where I managed to receive the recognition of McDonald’s Founder’s Day “Outstanding Service Person.”
I graduated from Texas Christian University’s journalism program, now the Schieffer School of Journalism. I covered crime and city and county government as a staff writer for the Pulitzer Prize winning St. Petersburg Times, now The Tampa Bay Times.
I am now Executive Director of Communications for the Office of Communication Services at Duke University, where I serve as the editor for the award-winning Working@Duke magazine and co-editor for Duke Today. I received a master's degree in liberal studies at Duke University and conducted research for my master’s thesis into grief following the death of a loved person in a car crash in North Carolina. The thesis was recognized in April 2021 as an “Exemplary Master’s Project.”
I'm always looking to make a difference and affect positive change. I received a certificate in documentary arts from Duke's Center for Documentary Studies after producing "The Mothers," a short documentary film about mothers in Durham, North Carolina, who support each other through grief after losing a child to murder.
I count among my passions exploring places near and far and enjoying life with my family, which includes a mischievous silver labrador, Vinny.
Get in touch with me at LeanoraMinai@gmail.com.