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Stelfanie Williams Reappointed to Second Term as VP for Durham & Community Affairs

Stelfanie Williams against a backdrop of Durham
Stelfanie Williams has led Duke's efforts to build Durham partnerships to advance the quality of life in the wider region.

Stelfanie Williams will serve a second five-year term as vice president for Durham and community affairs, President Vincent Price announced this week.

The reappointment followed a routine administrative review that was conducted by a committee chaired by Dave Kennedy, vice president for alumni engagement and development. Her new term begins July 1, 2023.

“Stelfanie has been a remarkable leader, fostering relationships with our neighbors and partners across the region,” said Price. “Through the Strategic Community Impact Plan, she is leading Duke’s efforts to forge purposeful partnerships in the areas of housing, education, employment, health, and building nonprofit capacity to advance the quality of life in Durham. I am grateful for her leadership and continued service to Duke and our community.”

A Duke alumna, Williams was named vice president in 2018, succeeding Phail Wynn, Jr. who served in that role for a decade.

At the time of her appointment, Williams had served nearly seven years as president of Vance-Granville Community College.

As vice president, she guides Duke’s engagement efforts to advance the well-being of communities through education, health, housing, employment, and other community partnerships including coordination with residents, leaders, local government, anchor institutions, nonprofits, campus members and other stakeholders. She engages with issues such as economic development, affordable housing, early childhood, K-12 and workforce education, student engagement, neighborhood relations and community health. 

She works closely with local institutions from Durham Public Schools to Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University to shape and advance shared goals for the greatest possible impact.

Among her many civic commitments, she is a board member for Durham Children’s Initiative, Durham Public Schools Foundation, GoTriangle, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Made in Durham, and United Way of the Greater Triangle.

At Duke, Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and Spanish, and she received a master’s degree in project management from Western Carolina University. She also holds a doctorate in education from North Carolina State University, where she was recognized with the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award in 2014 and honored as a Distinguished Alumni in 2019.