Volunteer Leadership

Service, Advocacy, and Leadership

Duke alumni, parents, and friends who serve on Duke’s volunteer leadership boards provide valuable service, advocacy, and leadership to academic and administrative leadership across the University. 

Getting Started

The first step to board participation is understanding the volunteer leadership landscape and deciding how and where you’d like to be involved. Candidates considered for the following boards often have previous volunteer engagement experience with the university, usually starting at the local level with increased levels of engagement or philanthropic impact over time. 

Many boards invite nominations from campus colleagues and the wider alumni community, and many (but not all) boards have nominating committees that review prospective members and make recommendations to the dean or director and fellow board members.

In order to support each board's mission and goals, these positions might have certain qualifications relating to expertise, volunteer experience, and philanthropic support. Please contact each group below for more information.

Contact Us!

For general questions and assistance, please contact alumni-volunteer@duke.edu.

2025 Board Nominations are Open

Do you know alumni with an exceptional commitment to service and passion for Duke? Help us identify Duke’s future volunteer leaders by nominating alumni for board service today!

Nominations are due February 5, 2025:

Global Duke University Boards

Duke University Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Duke University. As the university’s fiduciary, the board is responsible for Duke’s long-term health, overseeing and aligning its strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations with the mission of the university. Through its two affiliated boards, it oversees the Duke University Health System and DUMAC, Inc., the university’s investment company.  

Duke Alumni Board of Directors

The Duke Alumni Board of Directors is the University’s volunteer leadership advisory board representing the global alumni community. Comprising alumni from every Duke school, the mission of the Board is to engage, connect, and celebrate alumni, students, and friends of Duke University. - Nominations Open!

Annual Fund Advisory Board

The Duke University Annual Fund Advisory Board (AFAB) is made up of alumni from a variety of disciplines who are charged with supporting the Duke Annual Fund. AFAB members work closely with the Annual Fund staff to ensure that philanthropic goals are met and that its programs effectively promote the mission of the Annual Fund. Individually and collectively, AFAB members provide strategic guidance to help drive the organization forward and address current and future issues affecting the Annual Fund.

Body

Affinity Boards

Regional Boards

School Boards

Unit, Institute, and Center Boards