Executive Directorship Endowment
Endowing the position of the Executive Director of the Duke Forest is a pivotal opportunity to secure visionary leadership and the financial future of Duke’s biggest and oldest teaching and research laboratory, a foundational asset in Duke’s Climate Commitment. The Executive Director oversees critical administrative, academic, operational, and strategic functions across areas as diverse as teaching and research facilitation for scientists and student across the world, forest and natural resource management that influences and informs local to regional action, internal and external collaborations and partnerships that advance common goals, and property administration that ensures protection of the Duke Forest and its natural and human-made assets. Since 1931, there have only been five Directors. An endowment will make an enduring impact at Duke through guaranteeing excellent leadership of the Duke Forest land base, invigorating opportunities for research and experiential education, and sustaining the environmental health of our region. Together, we can make a profound and lasting difference in safeguarding our natural world and real-world opportunities for learning, discovering, and experiencing.
A Note from our Executive Director
“Leading the Duke Forest is more than a job; it’s a commitment to protecting a living, breathing resource that fuels discovery, education, and conservation. Endowing this role ensures that the Forest will always have the dedicated leadership it needs to thrive, adapt, and continue serving future generations of students, researchers, and nature lovers.”
– Sara Childs
Strong, dedicated leadership is essential to the future of the Duke Forest. Contact our team to learn how you can help secure lasting support for this critical role.