Kelly Preussner: The Woman Behind the Scenes

By Charlotte Tannenbaum, Duke Communications Student Assistant

Kelly Preussner. It's a name that many Blue Devils wouldn't recognize, but one that is crucial nonetheless to the success of their favorite players and teams. Preussner is Duke's Associate Director of Academic Support Services, a job that encompasses a wide variety of functions essential in supporting Duke's student athletes. She works closely with women's soccer and other sports here at Duke as an undeniably integral part of the team, though most of her heavy lifting is done behind the scenes.

Trying to juggle the high caliber academics of a top university like Duke with the demands of varsity athletics is overwhelming, to say…