A new program aims to bring prominent leaders into Duke classrooms to strengthen the connection between theory and practice and challenge students to reach new academic heights.
The Rubenstein Fellows Academy will bring two to four leaders with deep expertise in issues of global importance to campus each year for terms ranging from one to 12 months. The fellows will engage across the university, teaching classes, mentoring students, working with faculty and advising signature Duke programs such as Bass Connections and DukeEngage.
“The Rubenstein Fellows will make Duke stronger by enhancing the student experience, working with faculty across campus to translate research to society and increasing the visibility of Duke on the world stage,” said Laura Howes, director of the Rubenstein Fellows Academy. “The fellows will be accessible across the university -- presenting an enormous opportunity for students from all schools and levels to learn from leaders who have made it to the top echelons in their field.”
The inaugural fellows, on campus now, are Jim Rogers, former chairman and CEO of Duke Energy, the nation’s largest utility, and Dr. Alex Dehgan, former chief scientist at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Rogers has almost 25 years of experience in the energy industry, a tenure during which he served as the CEO of three utility companies, engineered a series of mergers and acquisitions, and operated assets in 17 countries. In the fall, he taught a graduate-level class on renewable energy sources for the developing world with Tim Profeta, director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
Rogers also met with graduate students from five different Duke programs, was a keynote speaker at events such as the Duke University Energy Conference, and held informal discussions with students.
“At the start of the course, the magnitude of global energy poverty seemed overwhelming,” said Dennis Bartlett, a joint Master of Environmental Management/MBA candidate who took Rogers’ class. “Without a doubt, Jim has proven to our class that these issues are not intractable, that they are within our talents and abilities to solve, and provided us the tools and skills to initiate change.”
Rogers too is finding the experience rewarding.
“It has been remarkable to work with such a diversity of students to seek solutions to a major problem facing so many in the developing world,” he said.
Dehgan is working with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative and is partnering with faculty on projects related to biological conservation.
“This is an opportunity to shape how a global university addresses critical grand challenges and unleashes its capabilities too promising to withhold,” Dehgan said.
This spring, he is teaching a course on innovation and entrepreneurship on conservation and development issues. He has also served as a guest speaker across campus and meets regularly with students to discuss their career interests.
"This is an amazing opportunity to learn from and work with someone with incredible experience and, more importantly, sincere passion for making the world a better and more sustainable place,” said Andee Hendee, a joint Master of Environmental Management/MBA candidate serving as a teaching assistant for Dehgan’s class.
Rogers and Dehgan hold open office hours that any student can sign up for through the website: rubensteinfellows.duke.edu.
The program is the result of a $6 million donation from David M. Rubenstein. A native of Baltimore, Rubenstein is co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager. He graduated magna cum laude from Duke in 1970 and serves as chair of Duke’s Board of Trustees.
His gift will help advance Duke Forward, the seven-year, university-wide fund-raising campaign that aims to raise $3.25 billion by June 30, 2017.
Every dollar donated to Duke's 10 schools and units, Duke Medicine or university programs and initiatives count toward the campaign.