Lucy Duckworth, a 2025 graduate, co-founded the student-run On Call Café, which became a popular spot for students to gather and connect. The café’s opening night saw long lines as students flocked to the new space in Old Union. Duckworth expressed joy at seeing people interact and form connections in the environment she helped create.
The café was designed to provide a relaxed atmosphere where students could socialize and work together post-COVID. “Libraries were still closing at midnight, COHO closed at 10,” Duckworth noted, highlighting the need for such a space on campus.
Duckworth plans to continue fostering connections after graduation. She has played an active role in training student workers and ensuring the café’s sustainability beyond her time at Stanford. Her involvement extends to mentoring new students and engaging with them about their academic and personal challenges.
Her passion for creating positive experiences began early, growing up near Philadelphia. Initially interested in becoming a pastry chef, she worked in various restaurants during her school years. At Stanford’s d.school, she discovered how design could bring people together through projects like an installation that encouraged letter writing among students.
Duckworth has also been involved in initiatives aimed at easing transitions for incoming students. Her senior capstone project, Notes from the Farm, is a collection of stories from seniors and alumni intended to help new students acclimate to Stanford life.
In fall 2025, Duckworth will join Partiful, a party-planning start-up in New York City. She aims to pursue designing spaces and experiences that facilitate social connections. Food remains an integral part of her approach; she recently organized a dinner event focused on sustainable food networking.
Reflecting on her time at Stanford, Duckworth emphasized the importance of spaces that foster connection: “I think the most meaningful things will have been the spaces I worked in that help people feel more connected.”
