After a remote work arrangement, Leanora Minai returns on-site in Durham
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Members of the Office of Communication Services in Duke Human Resources. From left: Travis Stanley, Leanora Minai, Sonja Likness, Jodie Valade, Stephen Schramm and Paul Grantham (front). Not pictured: Paul Figuerado, Greg Whitaker and Wendy Morris.
When I packed up my office in Durham nearly four years ago and drove south down I-95, I didn’t know what to expect. I had lived in Florida before, but this was different. I wasn’t returning to old haunts. I was stepping into the unknown in Orlando, leaving behind the rhythms of campus life, my close-knit team and the in-person interactions that had shaped my work and life in the Triangle area for 17 years.
The move was for my wife Heather’s career, a pivotal opportunity. And I was grateful that my own career at Duke could continue, thanks to a remote-work pilot. I leaned in, embracing video calls and digital collaboration, and trips back to campus, determined to prove that my commitment to Duke transcended geography.
And yet something was missing.
At first, I attributed it to usual challenges: finding new routines, making friends, learning how to belong in a city that wasn’t quite home. But as time passed, I realized that fully remote work, at least for me, had its limits. I felt lonely.
I missed being physically part of something bigger than myself; the structure of a work community, the sense of place that comes with belonging to a community within an institution. I missed the hum of an office, the way conversations linger in hallways, the way ideas catch momentum when people share the same space. I missed the texture of campus life: the carillon’s bells across West Campus, the surprise of stumbling upon a free performance or art exhibit and interacting with you.
Orlando gave me so much. Being away felt like going off to college – an experience that stretched me in ways I never expected, pushing me to grow, adapt and rediscover parts of myself I might never have explored had I not taken a risk and embraced change. I served on the boards of the Orange County Historical Society and Orlando chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. I picked up golf, got bit by the bug and plan to keep honing my swing. I taught a news reporting class as an adjunct at the University of Central Florida and, as a season ticket holder, found a community among fellow fans of the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League.
But after much reflection, Heather and I have returned to Durham, where we now live.
After my first week on-site at Duke in early April, I can say this with certainty: it feels good to be back. On my first Monday morning back on campus, I arrived to find a surprise “Welcome Home” banner above my office door. That small but meaningful gesture set the tone for a week filled with the kind of in-person connection I’ve missed deeply.
There’s something special about being able to pop by a colleague’s cubicle to chat about a story in progress, or the Final Four, or sharing Dunkin’ donut holes during our editorial team meeting. Even getting my first voicemail on my desk phone felt exciting.
My roots run deep here, and so does my sense of belonging. This isn’t just a return. It’s a homecoming.
Now that I’m back on campus, I’d love to catch up with you. If you have a story to share, an idea to pitch, or just want to chat over coffee, my door - and inbox - are open. Whether you’re on-site, hybrid or fully remote, let’s find a way to connect. I’ve missed seeing people, and I’m excited to swap stories and hear what’s on your mind.
