Vice President/Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability Toddi Steelman has appointed a committee to lead the search for Duke University’s next Executive Director, Sarah P. Duke Gardens. After 19 years of leadership, Bill LeFevre has announced his plans to retire in October 2026.
Sara Childs, Executive Director, Duke Forest, will chair the search committee. Other members of the committee include:
James Clark, Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science, Nicholas School of the Environment; Professor of Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
John Clements, Associate Vice President for Campus & Business Services
Paul Manos, Professor in the Department of Biology
Maureen Rhodes (P’19), Duke Gardens Board of Advisors
Deborah Rutter, Vice Provost for the Arts
Stelfanie Williams, Vice President for Community Affairs
The committee has been charged with conducting a national search to identify a diverse pool of candidates for the position. Executive search firm, Kittleman & Associates, LLC, will support the committee.
The search committee invites candidate nominations and comments about the position via email to Benjamin Feit at bfeit@kittlemansearch.com. All submissions will be considered confidential.
