 
Rooted in Trust, Driven by Community, Powered by Belonging
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from the
executive director
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from the executive director
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Dear Pratt Community,
Welcome back to campus! As we begin the 2025–2026 academic year, I am excited to reconnect with returning students, staff, postdocs, and faculty, and to extend a warm welcome to the new members of our community. A new semester always brings fresh energy, collaboration, and opportunity, and I look forward to embarking on this journey with you.
I also want to acknowledge that Duke has been navigating a period of transition and uncertainty. While change can be challenging, it also opens space for us to come together, support one another, and reimagine what it means to be in community.
As part of this renewal, I am pleased to share that our office has a new name: the Office of Culture & Belonging. This name emerged from a robust engagement process with more than seventy students, staff, postdocs, faculty, and Board of Visitors members, reflecting on the heart of our work.
Alongside this update, we are launching several new programs and services designed to foster connection, learning, and morale across Pratt:
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In addition, we’re excited to launch two new opportunities for the entire Pratt community to connect this fall:
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Pratt Third Thursdays – A monthly gathering open to all students, staff, postdocs, and faculty to share light snacks, conversation, and community. Kicks off this Thursday, September 18, from 4:00-5:30PM in the Teer Lobby and Lounge.
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Dialogue with the Dean – A new listening series beginning in late September, offering space to share experiences, ask questions, and help shape the future of our Pratt community. Sign up here »
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These efforts reflect our shared commitment to strengthening engagement and belonging, especially during this period of renewal and transition. I look forward to connecting with many of you soon and to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
Warm regards,
Cloe Liparini, MA (she/her/hers)
Executive Director of Culture & Belonging
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highlighted events
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New Initiative | Pratt Third Thursdays |
Monthly gathering open to all community members—staff, postdocs, faculty and students
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Thursday, September 18 | 4:00-5:30pm | Teer Lobby and Lounge
- Thursday, October 16 | 4:00-5:30pm | Fitzpatrick Atrium Level 1
- Thursday, November 20 | 4:00-5:30pm | Fitzpatrick Atrium Level 3
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Pratt Family Film Night – Disney’s Lightyear |
Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 6:30pm | Harrington Engineering Quad
Sign up here »
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2025 Pratt Virtual Graduate Bootcamp |
Friday, October 17 | 1:00-4:00pm | Virtual | Free
Apply here »
Are you a promising engineering or computer science student considering graduate study? Join us for the 2025 Pratt Graduate Program Bootcamp, a dynamic, one-day virtual event.
Since 2016, the Bootcamp has brought together students from across the country to:
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- Explore graduate opportunities in engineering and computer science
- Learn about Duke's cutting-edge Master’s and PhD programs
- Gain insider strategies to position yourself for graduate school success
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This year’s event is sponsored by the Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr), the Athena AI Institute for Edge Computing, Pratt Admissions and the Pratt School of Engineering.
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upcoming
training workshops
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upcoming training workshops
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Learn more about our upcoming trainings below.
Descriptions and registrations links can be found here »
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Reset & Rebuild: Leading Teams Through Change (Pratt) |
Wednesday, September 24 | 11:00am-12:00pm | Virtual
Sponsor: PAS, Pratt Human Resources & Pratt Office of Culture & Belonging
Register here »
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Religious Pluralism: Creating Space for All Faiths in the Workplace |
Thursday, September 25 | 12:00-1:30pm | Virtual
Sponsor: Pratt Office of Culture & Belonging
Register here »
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Bridging the Gap: Working Effectively Across Generations |
Monday, October 6 | 2:00-3:30pm | Virtual
Sponsor: Pratt Office of Culture & Belonging
Register here »
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additional events
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Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month |
Kicks off on Friday, September 26 in Durham, NC
To learn more, check out Discover Durham »
Duke CSGD is participating in the Durham Pride Parade on Saturday, September 27 from 11:00am-2:00pm. To sign up and join in, click here »
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fellowship & scholarship opportunities
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fellowship & scholarship opportunities
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The vision of the Maclin Fund is that no eligible Pratt School of Engineering undergraduate should miss out on educational growth because of costs not covered by financial aid—attending a conference, flying to an interview, taking a workshop or repairing a computer, for example. The fund was created through the generosity of Valecia Maclin, Class of 1992.
Learn more and apply »
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The WIN Empowerment Fund was created through the generosity of the Pratt School of Engineering group within the Duke Women's Impact Network (WIN), whose mission is to encourage leadership and philanthropy among women and the friends of WIN. The WIN Empowerment Fund makes direct and positive impacts on the lives of financial-aid-receiving students by helping cover expenses such as graduate exam and application fees or professional attire.
Learn more and apply »
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monthly observances
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- September 5 | Labor Day (USA)
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September 8 | Feast of the Nativity of Mary (Catholic & Orthodox)
- September 15 | Hispanic Heritage Month begins
- September 22-25 | Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
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All event times listed in Eastern Time (ET) unless otherwise noted.
Pattern by Steve Schoger | Icons by FontAwesome | CC BY 4.0
The Pratt DEIC Committee acknowledges that the land the greater university occupies are the ancestral lands of the Shakori, Eno, and Tuscarora people.
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