Back on Campus

Read more about these alumni who recently returned to give back to Duke students through mentoring, lectures, and words of wisdom.

Nia-Malika Henderson ’96, national political reporter for The Washington Post and senior writer for the newspaper’s She the people blog, spoke to two classes of students in March. Henderson talked about the path she took to develop her journalism career, which she began when she was thirty, and offered career advice to students hoping to get involved in media and public policy. Her advice? Begin building your brand early by experimenting with Twitter or blogging. “you’ve got to get in the conversation,” she said. Follow Nia on Twitter @niaWapo.

Twenty-seven alumnae working in fields as diverse as media, science, and sports returned to duke in February to speak to more than 320 participants attending the fourth duke Women’s Weekend, sponsored by the duke Alumni Association. participants heard from Lesley Jane Seymour ’78, the editor of More magazine; Beth Stevens ’81, senior vice president of corporate citizenship, environment and conservation at the Walt disney Company; Becca Ward ’12, fencing Olympian; Maya Ajmera M.P.P. ’93, founder of The global Fund for Children; and many more female leaders. The event centered on the theme “Find your Moxie,” and participants were encouraged to reflect upon and to celebrate how duke women can create change in their communities.

Wendy Levine ’95, cofounder of Los Angeles-based Beauty Bus Foundation, came back to duke in March as one of the duke Career Center’s experts- in-residence. The expert-in-residence series features alumni and industry professionals who meet with students and share career advice. Levine’s organization has the mission of providing terminally ill patients with in-home beauty treatments, thereby helping to restore their self-image and dignity.