New Leadership Position to Focus on Economic Development

Duke has created a new leadership role to lead and create critical programs to positively impact economic opportunity across the Duke and Durham communities.

The role of Associate Vice President for Economic Development will report jointly to Stelfanie Williams, Vice President for Durham & Community Affairs, and Daniel Ennis, Executive Vice President.

A search committee has been established to lead the recruitment process, and it will be led by Sara Childs, Executive Director for Duke Forest. Other members of the committee are:

• Rukmini Balu, Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, Duke Office of Durham & Community Affairs
• Michelle Carter-Jenkins, Director of Human Resources, Duke Facilities Management
• Keith Chadwell, Deputy City Manager, City of Durham
• Doug Heron, Associate Vice President, Office of Government Relations, Duke University
• Kimberly Hewitt, Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer, Duke University
• Debra Clark Jones, Associate Vice President for Community Health, Duke Office of Durham & Community Affairs
• Antwan Lofton, Vice President, Human Resources, Duke University
• Jesse McCoy, II, Clinical Professor of Law and Supervising Attorney, Duke Law Civil Justice Clinic
• Will Tricomi, Associate General Counsel, Duke Office of Counsel

Williams said this concerted approach will help further strengthen the relationships between Duke, local government, and a broad range of community organizations to advance purposeful partnerships.

“Our goal is to build on the University’s decades-long foundation of intentional and collaborative community engagement,” she said. “This position will lead a team within Durham and Community Affairs to help expand and deepen internal and external relationships that foster meaningful and enduring economic opportunity.”

Duke’s total community benefit and investment over the past 10 years is more than $5.9 billion, and Ennis said this new role will help coordinate decisions regarding Duke’s future investments in community initiatives.

“Duke and Durham are inextricably linked, and we are always looking for ways to support the growth and success of our shared community by reinforcing the importance of locally-sourced and inclusionary hiring, purchasing and construction management practices,” he said.

The position will coordinate across Duke University and Duke University Health System in facilitating, developing, and communicating new programs and initiatives.

Storbeck Search, a Diversified Search Group company, is helping facilitate the search process. Additional information for interested applicants or those wishing to nominate someone for the role can be found on the Storbeck Search website.