About Us

Eliza Mathew

Senior Program Coordinator of Education Initiatives

Responsibilities

Eliza leads the Duke Office of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA) in its partnership with Durham Public Schools. She collaborates closely with nine partner schools near Duke campus on ideating and coordinating projects and programs that align with district and school goals. Eliza also supports Triangle nonprofits that are connected to DARA’s education vision, and she represents the office by participating in new and ongoing early education initiatives in Durham.

Background & Experience

Eliza joined the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA) in August of 2016 after serving as the office’s A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement Fellow. Before working at Duke, she fostered community and encouraged engaged citizenship as an elementary teacher in Durham Public Schools. Eliza graduated from Elon University with a degree in Elementary Education.

E-mail eliza.mathew@duke.edu
Phone (919) 668-1033

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Donna Hubert

Executive Assistant

Responsibilities

Donna serves as the senior budget and personnel/Human Resources officer for the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA) as well as the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations.

Background & Experience

Donna took on her current role with the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations in December 2002 and extended her work to DARA in July 2008. Her previous experience includes 18 years with the following Duke departments: Office of the Executive Vice President, FAST Track Project, Facilities Planning and Management, and the Central Payroll Office. Donna is a graduate of East Carolina University.

E-mail donna.hubert@duke.edu
Phone (919) 668-1780

Channa Pickett

Senior Program Coordinator

Responsibilities

Channa leads the office’s outreach to and partnerships with Durham’s Hispanic/Latino community, coordinates the Enlaces and Visions programs, and manages the grant-making side of the Doing Good in the Neighborhood employee giving campaign.

Background & Experience

Channa began working in the office in October 2008. She previously managed a branch office of an environmental consulting company. Channa studied at Durham Technical Community College and Duke, and she holds a degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke.

E-mail channa.pickett@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-6296

Dr. Stelfanie Williams

Vice President for Durham and Regional Affairs

Background & Experience

In August of 2018, Dr. Williams joined the office of Durham and Regional Affairs as Duke’s vice president for Durham Affairs. In this role, Williams leads and coordinates Duke’s diverse and innovative community efforts in areas such as economic development, affordable housing, early childhood, K-12 and workforce education, student engagement, neighborhood relations and community health.  She builds connections between Duke and Durham Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University. In addition, she will oversee the Doing Good in the Neighborhood employee giving campaign.

Dr. Stelfanie Williams received her undergraduate degree in public policy and Spanish from Duke University, a master’s in project management from Western Carolina University and a doctorate in education from N.C. State. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, as both a faculty member and in such administrative capacities as director, dean and vice president. She is currently an adjunct assistant professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Education. For the past six years, Dr. Williams has served as the president of Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC), a four-county college in North Carolina with campuses in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties.

Dr. Williams follows the late Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr., who retired after 10 years in the position.

E-mail stelfanie.williams@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-3711

Alyzia McAlmon

A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement Fellow

Responsibilities

Alyzia McAlmon is one of this year’s A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement Fellows. She works to maintain relationships with community partners through writing articles and volunteering with various organizations. Alyzia works closely with the Doing Good in the Neighborhood employee giving campaign and manages social media for the office.

Background & Experience

Alyzia, A Durham native, joined the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA) in March of 2018 after graduating from college in 2017 and returning to her hometown. Alyzia holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in political science from East Carolina University. Prior to her position at Duke, Alyzia served as a communications intern at StudentU, a college-access organization in Durham.

Email: alyzia.mcalmon@duke.edu

Phone: 919-684-1508

James Hardman-Cobb

A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement Fellow

Background & Experience

James joined the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA) in March 2018 as an A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement fellow. James received his Bachelor’s degree in film studies from UNC-Wilmington in May 2014. James previously worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle as a media specialist.

Responsibilities

As an A.J. Fletcher Community Engagement Fellow, James takes the lead on making videos, graphic design and website updates to support the Doing Good in the Neighborhood employee giving campaign. James’ experiences in film and storytelling help us strengthen the Duke-Durham relationship from our office.

Donna Tuck

Executive Assistant to the Vice President

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Donna is the executive assistant to the Vice President of Durham and Regional Affairs (DARA).  She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the VP’s office, to include serving as liaison with internal and external constituents. Additionally, Donna coordinates the VP’s schedule, meetings, travel, communications, correspondences, hospitality and events. She also assists the staff on special projects, lending organizational assistance and management for the benefit of Duke-Durham partnerships.

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE:
Donna joined the office of Durham Affairs in October 2018.  She previously worked at a mental health agency for 7 years as their human resources manager and payroll specialist.  Prior to this she worked at SAS Institute for 5 years as a payroll coordinator.  Donna received her Associate’s Degree in administrative, legal and medical office from Central Carolina Community College.  She is also a licensed real estate broker.

Email:  donna.tuck@duke.edu

Phone: (919) 684-3679

Sam Miglarese

Assistant Vice President and Director,
Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership

Responsibilities

Sam oversees the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership (DDNP) and community engagement efforts for the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs. He is also Duke’s liaison to six neighborhoods and the non-profits of Northwest Central Durham, with a special emphasis on the Walltown and Crest Street neighborhoods. Sam works closely with Duke professional schools and departments as well as student engagement initiatives to connect them to the work and mission of the DDNP.

Background & Experience

Sam came to Duke and Durham in August of 1999 from South Carolina, where he had served for 28 years in full-time church ministry. He is an adjunct member of the Religion Department and the Program in Education. Sam recently served as co-editor for The Long Shadow of Vatican II, a book that will be released in September 2015.

E-mail sam.miglarese@duke.edu
Phone (919) 668-6275

David Stein

Senior Educational and PepsiCo Program Coordinator

Responsibilities

David works closely with school officials and staff at the eight partner schools to develop strategies and mobilize Duke educational technology resources to address their needs. He also directs initiatives such as Schools Days and the John Hope Franklin Young Scholars Program that help encourage local students to excel.

Background & Experience

David came to Duke in 2000 after serving for nine years as the community liaison for the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. He scouted and marketed inventions for Harvard University for six years and before that was a community planner in Newark and San Francisco. David is a licensed secondary social studies teacher with a degree from Antioch College and attended graduate school in City Planning at the University of California at Berkeley.

E-mail dstein@duke.edu
Phone (919)668-6271

Diann Walker

Staff Assistant

Responsibilities

Diann manages the director’s schedule, works on special projects assigned by the director and ensures that the office runs smoothly.

E-mail dhawes@duke.edu
Phone (919) 668-6279

Mayme Webb-Bledsoe

Senior Neighborhood Coordinator

Responsibilities

As a veteran of Durham grassroots work, Mayme plans and implements strategies through an empowerment model. Mayme is a Technology of Participation (ToP) qualified trainer, and she provides support and technical assistance to community partners, non-profits, local government, civic groups and the private sector in six Southwest Central Durham neighborhoods through the Quality of Life Project.

Background

Mayme holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UNC-Charlotte and a Master of Science in Higher Education from Iowa State University, with a concentration in Organizational Development. Mayme is a Samuel DuBois Cook Society Community Betterment Award recipient, in recognition of her outstanding service to the community.

E-mail mayme.webb@duke.edu
Phone (919) 668-6277

Neil Hoefs

Program Coordinator

Responsibilities

Neil manages relationships with internal and external partners in support of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership (DDNP), coordinates volunteers with special emphasis on undergraduate student engagement, provides support to the senior staff of the DDNP, and completes other Durham and Regional Affairs projects as needed.

Background & Experience

Neil joined the DDNP after serving for two years as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Community Service Center. He holds a degree in Strategic Communication from The Ohio State University.

E-mail neil.hoefs@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-4960

Pat James

Office Coordinator

Responsibilities

Pat manages the office, oversees finances, and helps out with Community Service Center (CSC) projects and events. She provides administrative support to the Director of the CSC and Associate Director of DukeEngage and manages the payroll process for more than 180 students participating in the America Reads / America Counts program.

Background & Experience

Pat joined the office in December 1995 following 16 years as a medical transcriptionist at Duke Hospital. She obtained a Duke certificate in Human Resource Management in 2008. Pat is from Durham and has received the Duke Presidential Meritorious Award and the Samuel DuBois Cook Society Award for her ongoing commitment to the Duke and Durham communities.

E-mail patricia.james@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-4377

Elaine Madison

Director of Community Service Center and Associate Director for Programs, DukeEngage

Responsibilities

Elaine oversees the Community Service Center and all Durham programs within DukeEngage. She has been a senior advisor to DukeEngage since its origin and heads up the University Council on Civic Engagement, which amplifies and coordinates new and ongoing civic engagement initiatives across campus.

Background & Experience

Before coming to the Community Service Center in 1993, Elaine was Associate Director for Duke’s Office of Continuing Education. She holds a J.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was a Chancellor’s Scholar. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Colorado Women’s College and completed graduate work at Brandeis University and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

E-mail elaine.madison@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-4377

Girija Mahajan

Program Director, Duke College Advising Corps

Responsibilities

Girija works with North Carolina partner high schools and Duke Advisors to manage the Duke College Advising Corps, which provides college admissions advising to more than 1,500 students across the Triad.

Background & Experience

Girija began working in the Community Service Center in June 2012 with the America Reads/America Counts program. Before joining Duke, she served in administrative and teaching roles with the Emily K Center, the Center for Teaching Quality and New York City Public Schools. Girija earned both her bachelor’s degree in International Studies and master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Iowa.

E-mail girija.mahajan@duke.edu
Phone (919) 660-3209

Domoniqúe Redmond

Assistant Director for Programs

Responsibilities

Domoniqúe is responsible for the development, planning, implementation and volunteer recruitment for the Community Service Center (CSC) signature programs, as well as non-profit community partner collaborations. As part of the CSC’s outreach and recruitment efforts, she manages e-mail lists and is responsible for website updates that include volunteer and federal work-study announcements and listings. Domoniqúe supervises and mentors CSC’s national service corps members and student interns and is the Program Director for DukeEngage-Durham.

Background & Experience

Domoniqúe joined the CSC in 1997 as Volunteer Coordinator and became the Assistant Director of Programs in 2006 after receiving her Master of Public Administration degree from N.C. Central University. Before coming to North Carolina, she was the Program Assistant for the Tennessee Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (TAHRA) statewide AmeriCorps*VISTA project.

E-mail dredmond@duke.edu
Phone (919) 684-4377

Ana Gomez

N.C. Afterschool Corps VISTA

DUKE ARAC / Community Engagement Specialist

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ana is responsible for the interviewing, hiring and training of Duke undergraduate and graduate students who will go out and tutor in different sites in both literacy and math. She also recruits students and writes the curriculum for the Learning Juntos and Design for Change program; A Spanish parent engagement program and a student program at Lyon Park, respectively.

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE:

Ana joined Duke in August 2018 as the 2018 – 2019 AmeriCorps VISTA for America Reads/America Counts and works as the Community Engagement Specialist. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her fourth year in undergrad, she worked as the director of the Carolina Latinx Collaborative; a part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to provide opportunities for professional development and community engagement for the Latinx student on campus.

Email: ana.gomez1@duke.edu