Nicole Duncan is a writer, editor, and communications consultant based in Durham, N.C. She grew up in South Carolina and was one of the few Triangle area transplants to relocate from farther south. She graduated with a degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill and has since worked in the media, nonprofit, and education sectors.

For nearly a decade, she reported on the restaurant industry for the monthly trade magazines, QSR and FSR. During her tenure as head editor, FSR earned consecutive Eddie Awards from FOLIO for Best Feature (2021) and Best Overall Issue (2022). She profiled industry all-stars including Andrew Zimmern, Paola Velez, Daniel Boulud, Fabio Viviani, and even actor/restaurant owner Danny Trejo, but also expanded the magazine’s coverage of under-the-radar innovators and more diverse voices within food service.

Prior to FSR, Nicole worked at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), a research nonprofit operated out of Duke University. At NESCent, she published a quarterly newsletter, provided editorial guidance to resident scientists, and issued press releases promoting the center’s research. She has also worked for Washingtonian magazine and LivingSocial in D.C., and B2B marketing agency Renegade in New York. In her early 20s, she did a gap year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, teaching English as a second language to business professionals.