DEMAN Past Events

DEMAN Weekend 2023

After a long pause due to COVID-19, DEMAN Weekend (October 20-21, 2023) returned to campus in a major way. Over 70 incredible alumni joined over 200 Duke students for a weekend filled with fun, connecting, and expanding our network. Highlights include:

Student group tabling at DEMAN Check-In
A Keynote Conversation around the "State of the Industry" featuring Mark Vahradian '89, Robb Chavis '98, Pola Changnon '85, Justin Gilanyi '04, and Angela Zhou '14
Alumni and Faculty Brunch featuring Provost Alec Gallimore and Vice Provost of the Arts John Brown
The first ever Guac-and-Talk-a-Thon mass networking event
TED-style DEMAN Talks led by Carrie Able '04, Michelle Sawyer '11, Allison Chen '24 and Benjamin Chipman '23, and Aaron Lazar '98

This weekend was a fantastic return for DEMAN -- see you at the next one!

Hear from attendees:

“DEMAN is the most special part of Duke, and I’m just so grateful that I got to be a part of it and to keep it alive.”
“I thought the schedule was perfect - it allowed for flexibility, pop-up meetings, and a variety of activities. I loved the enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion of the speakers; the clear sense of caring the alumni have for the students; and the willingness to help and be present for the students. There was visibility of those who can make a difference in the DEMAN world.”
“I especially loved the new guac-and-talk-a-thon! The set up was nice and organic and allowed for a wonderful flow of talking with students.”

2020: DEMAN Weekend-ish

The 11th annual special-edition, DEMAN Weekend-ish (October 21, 2020), featured “black-ish” and “grown-ish” Duke alumni writers for these award-winning comedy shows. They took us behind the scenes of the creative process, explored cultural themes, and shared their career paths. Instead of traveling to Durham for DEMAN Weekend, this year we brought a stellar, live panel of incredibly talented, creative Dukes to you via Zoom.

Our virtual panel featured:

Ritza Bloom ’13, Writer, “grown-ish”
Robb Chavis ’98, Co-Executive Producer, “black-ish”
Vanessa McGee (Dukie), Executive Story Editor, “grown-ish”
Mark Anthony Neal, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor and Chair of African & African American Studies (AAAS) Department

As part of DEMAN Weekend-ish, you are invited to watch our signature industry sessions via our new DEMAN Live series page. No registration required for these hour-long virtual episodes featuring exceptional DEMAN alumni from across the country, including NBC’s “Good Girls,” Beats by Dre and MISS JUNETEENTH.

Watch DEMAN Live episodes
Follow new @DukeDEMAN Instagram

2019

The 10th annual DEMAN Weekend (Nov 1–2, 2019) gathered together hundreds of students and alumni for more than a dozen workshops, a panel discussions, keynote presentations, and social events. This annual gathering has grown steadily since its founding in 2009, but DEMAN also offers a valuable year-round community of inspiration, resources, and connections. Scroll for stories, photos, and a wrap video of the weekend—we hope to see you at DEMAN 2020!

Read In Their Own Words: Celebrating a Decade of DEMAN
View photos from the weekend
View the schedule

2018

November 2-3, 2018 was a busy weekend on campus, with nearly 800 students and 240 alumni joinin

g forces to discuss careers in entertainment, media, and the arts. That makes this event the largest DEMAN Weekend ever! Highlights included: portfolio reviews, StudioDuke, DEMAN talks, a Keynote and Reception at the Nasher and the DEMAN Brunch! A huge thanks to everyone who attended and made the weekend what it was.

Read Building Connections & Community at DEMAN 2018

DEMAN Weekend and Poetry Fox

2017

Over 850 alumni, students and faculty participated in the 8th annual DEMAN Weekend, the biggest one yet!

Here are a few highlights:

Friday's DEMAN Talks hosted by nine academic departments and programs featuring alumni speakers 
Over 350 students and alumni attended the keynote conversation and reception at the Nasher Museum with pop-up screen print, poetry and VR stations by local artists 
President Price and Vice Provost for the Arts Scott Lindroth hosted a special alumni breakfast, followed by a sneak peek tour of the Rubenstein Arts Center (with a surprise pop-up performance by Hoof 'n' Horn)
 Saturday's DEMAN Lounge hosted one-on-one portfolio reviews with DEMAN alumni, as well as resume reviews by career counselors 
Saturday's Industry Sessions featured over 80 alumni across creative industries 
Saturday's wrap party at the Devil's Krafthouse awarded the lucky winners of DEMAN Raffle items, including Beats headphones and tour of Paramount Studios 
DEMAN Downtown, hosted by Fuqua's MES Club, gave graduate and professional students a special opportunity to connect with alumn i

Body

2016

2016 Media Coverage

Photo Essay on Duke Today

Duke Magazine: Amy Gravitt '95 on HBO

See photos from DEMAN Weekend

2015

DEMAN 2015 kicked off Nov. 6 with master classes taught by alumni of departments and institutes including art, art history and visual studies; art of the moving image; English; dance; music; theater and the Center for Documentary Studies. That evening alumni, faculty and students came together for an opening DEMAN reception and Duke University Arts silent auction in Penn Pavilion.

The next day began with an exclusive alumni/faculty brunch and university arts update with Provost Sally Kornbluth and Vice Provost for the Arts Scott Lindroth. Brunch was followed by small group workshops with alumni on a wide variety of topics that range from navigating the music industry to creative production and storytelling. The workshops were followed by a keynote address on music, money and meaning from Mike Posner ’09, a multi-platinum singer, songwriter and producer.

2015 Media Coverage

Read the recap from Duke Today

Duke alumni jam with student muscians during DEMAN Weekend

Mike Posner ’09 and Eric Hölljes ’09 perform “Cooler than Me” during DEMAN Weekend. The two alumni co-wrote the song while they were bandmates at Duke. The song later became a Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 worldwide hit.

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