Hello fellow alumni and friends,

As we enter the holiday season, I am grateful for your continued support and inspired by the extraordinary momentum across Duke Engineering this year.

We celebrated five new named professorships, strengthening our ability to recruit and support world-class faculty across key areas of innovation. Donor partnerships are also accelerating discovery—advancing research in sustainability, energy, and materials through flexible funds and new graduate fellowships.

We also honored the legacy of Professor Joe Izatt, whose impact on biomedical engineering continues through a new fellowship supporting future innovators. And our Board of Visitors again played a vital role in connecting students with alumni, guiding strategic priorities, and championing the future of Duke Engineering.

Together, these milestones reflect a community united by purpose and energized by possibility. Under Dean Lynch’s leadership, we are poised for another remarkable year of innovation, collaboration, and impact.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Wishing you a joyful holiday season!

With appreciation,

Jim Ruth E’01
Senior Associate Dean and Director of Development & Alumni Affairs
Duke Pratt School of Engineering

Mike Lenz E’85, B’94, Valecia Maclin Topping E’92, Sanyin Siang E’96, B’02, Tammy Sheffer

The Pratt School of Engineering Board of Visitors gathered in Durham for an energizing weekend as alumni and industry leaders came together to share expertise, guide strategic priorities, and strengthen Pratt through volunteer service and philanthropic leadership.

The highlight of the weekend was the interaction with students. Through sessions such as the “Level Up: Toolkit for First Internships and Jobs” panel and the “Career Speed Networking” event, students met directly with alumni and Board members to learn how to stand out in interviews, build confidence, and make the most of the Duke Engineering network. These conversations offered practical guidance on professionalism, communication, and leadership while giving students valuable practice presenting themselves and their ideas.

Students and alumni connect during Career Speed Networking.

During the business sessions, members heard from Rob Voss of Ballinger on the transformational future of Hudson Hall, a project that will honor the building’s history while creating a modern home for engineering education. The sessions continued with MEMS Department Chair Christine Payne, who outlined the department’s strategic direction, and Professor Jungsang Kim, who shared insights into emerging work within the Duke Quantum Center.

Watch a video showcasing our vision for the future of Hudson Hall.

Later, the Board heard from students and alumni about Founders and Product Innovation at the Christensen Family Center for Innovation, where speakers discussed how ideas become market-ready products and how the Center supports innovation, product development, and entrepreneurship at Duke.

Committees continued important work in innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, financial growth, student experience, and belonging, sharing insights, reviewing progress on major initiatives, and exploring opportunities to strengthen community and support future leaders.

If you would like to get more involved with Pratt and support programs that connect alumni and students, please reach out to us.

 “The BoV panel discussion provided me with invaluable advice from individuals once in our shoes and now with years of experience. Speed networking allowed me to practice my newfound skills and evaluate strategies for securing meaningful connections.”

—TOBAN DOODY E’28

The Pratt School of Engineering is excited to share the establishment of five new named endowed professorships this past fiscal year—an extraordinary demonstration of philanthropic leadership and belief in Pratt’s mission. These gifts strengthen our ability to recruit and retain world-class faculty, support transformative programs, and advance innovation across our school.

Donors: Stefan A. Dyckerhoff E'94 and Wendy G. Dyckerhoff

Created to strengthen Duke’s leadership in Electrical and Computer Engineering, this professorship reflects the Dyckerhoffs’ commitment to advancing fields that define the future of computation, communications, and technology. Their generosity supports faculty excellence in an area central to innovation across the engineering landscape.

Donors: Nancy-Ann DeParle P'22, P'24 and Jason DeParle T'82, P'22, P'24

Established in honor of Dr. Rebecca Simmons, Professor of the Practice in Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, this professorship recognizes distinguished scholar-practitioners whose teaching and applied expertise enrich the student experience. The DeParles’ gift highlights the vital role of professors of the practice in bridging engineering education with real-world impact.

Donor: Christopher H. Young E’97

Supporting a faculty leader of distinction in design, innovation, or related fields, the Young Family Directorship elevates Duke’s growing emphasis on human-centered design and creative engineering education. This gift strengthens Pratt’s commitment to shaping future innovators who combine technical depth with imaginative problem-solving.

Donor: Deborah Y. Liu E'98 and David Liu

This directorship will support the leader of the Christensen Family Center for Innovation, enabling Duke to advance bold ideas at the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. The Lius’ investment ensures that the Center’s Director has the resources to foster an innovative ecosystem for students and faculty alike.

Donors: Warren Brackin E'97, P’29 and Karen Freeman Brackin T'00, P'29

This directorship supports a scholar-practitioner of distinction who leads First-Year Computing, a signature Pratt program that shapes students’ foundational engineering experience. The Brackins’ gift honors Kenneth W. and Janice W. Freeman and ensures that Duke remains at the forefront of engineering education from a student’s very first semester.

From flexible research funds to graduate fellowships, Pratt donors are empowering faculty and students to pursue breakthroughs in sustainability, energy, and materials innovation.

At the Pratt School of Engineering, faculty are pushing boundaries at an unbelievable pace and redefining the future of learning, discovery, and design. This momentum is powered by direct donor support that accelerates high-impact research, invests in promising frontiers, and enables our faculty to align their work with the world’s most pressing challenges. Recent gifts exemplify this partnership in action; fueling innovation and ensuring that Duke engineers remain at the forefront of transformative discovery.

A gift from Don Bellman E'66 to the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science provides flexible support, empowering rapid-response funding for faculty research, new ideas  and equipment, and support for undergraduate and graduate researchers. A gift from Steven Ying P'29 and Young Kim P'29 establishes a cohort of Ph.D. fellowships through expendable funds to advance research in Energy Sustainability and Materials Engineering, while also providing inaugural funding for the Duke Materials Innovation (DMI) initiative. And with a gift from JR E'85, P'19 and Jennifer Matthews P'19, the field of sustainable materials research gains further momentum through a graduate fellowship supporting work in Laura Dalton’s lab. During a recent campus visit, JR Matthews stopped by Dr. Dalton’s lab to meet the graduate fellow, Soniya Tiwari; an inspiring reminder of how generosity directly connects people and progress. Together, these investments and the personal engagement of donors exemplify the Duke Engineering community’s shared commitment to exploring new scientific frontiers and building a more sustainable, innovative future for all.

In a moving tribute to the life and legacy of Professor Joseph Izatt, the Duke community is proud to announce the establishment of the Joe Izatt Memorial Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering, made possible through the generosity of Richard Li E'11.

A visionary researcher, dedicated mentor, and beloved Chair of Duke BME, Joe Izatt’s influence shaped the trajectory of biomedical imaging and guided generations of students toward impactful careers in engineering, science, and medicine. His pioneering work in optical coherence tomography (OCT) revolutionized diagnostic imaging, and his leadership was marked by integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to elevating others.

This newly established fellowship honors Professor Izatt’s legacy by supporting outstanding graduate students in biomedical engineering, ensuring that his passion for discovery and mentorship continues to inspire and enable the next generation of innovators. Through this investment in future leaders, Richard Li has created a lasting tribute in memory of Izatt’s contributions to Duke and to science that will be felt for years to come.

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