Academic Deans
Every student has an assigned academic dean, based on their first-year residence hall (see list below). Your dean will work with you throughout your four years at Duke providing support and advice about university policy and requirements, and helping with other issues such as academic planning, course withdrawals, and leaves of absence as needed. If you are experiencing academic difficulties you should see your academic dean as soon as possible.
Major Deans
Milton Blackmon, Ed.D.
As an academic dean, I support students who live or lived in Epworth and Randolph Houses. I am the graduate business school advisor. I am the academic dean and college advisor for visiting international students. I co-coordinate the Scholarship Pipeline Initiative. I assist in developing ways to... Contact me »
John H. Blackshear, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean I provide support for first-year students residing in the Jarvis and Bell Tower dorms. In addition, I am the Diversity and STEM Pathways Officer for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences as well as the Director of the Duke STEM Pathways for Inclusion, Research and Excellence... Contact me »
Paula E. Gilbert, Ph.D.
I serve as the academic dean for non-degree students (also known as Continuing Studies students) and all summer visiting students. Administratively, I am the director/dean of the Duke Office of Continuing Studies and Summer Session and a volunteer advisor for the Academic Advising Center. Contact me »
Donna Kostyu, Ph.D.
As an academic dean, I support students who live or did live in Alspaugh House. I am also the Director of the Health Professions Advising Office, where we work with freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and alumni who are applying to medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions schools... Contact me »
Rachael Murphey-Brown, Ph.D.
As Academic Dean, I support students who live or did live in Blackwell House and am the administrative liaison for academic departments in the social sciences. Additionally, I direct Program II, co-direct the Peer Advising Program, coordinate the Graduation with Distinction Program and serve as the... Contact me »
Karen Murphy, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean, I support first year students in Gilbert-Addoms and Blackwell, sophomores who lived in Brown their first year, and juniors and seniors who lived in Gilbert-Addoms and Epworth their first year. I am the curriculum dean for Trinity College and the liaison for natural and... Contact me »
Minna Ng, Ph.D.
As Academic Dean, I support students who live or did live in Gilbert-Addoms and Blackwell residence hall. I am the faculty director for the David M. Rubenstein Scholars Program, and teach in the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program. Contact me at (919) 684-2130. Contact me »
Alyssa Perz, Ph.D.
As an academic dean, I support students who live or did live in Southgate House. I serve as a prehealth advisor, and as dean and academic advisor for the women’s basketball team and football players. I am also the director of the Cardea Fellows Program and a lecturer in the Department of Biology. Contact me »
David Rabiner, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean, I support students who live in the East House and seniors in Brown residence hall. I serve as the director of the Academic Advising Center (advising.duke.edu). The AAC is a student's primary academic home in Trinity College until they declare a major and join a department. I am... Contact me »
Sarah Russell, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean, I support students who live in Brown and Pegram residence halls. I also serve as Director of the Undergraduate Research Support office, and I am an adjunct instructor in the International Comparative Studies major. Contact me »
Jesse S. Summers, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean, I support students who live or lived in Pegram or Randolph. I serve on the Courses committee, oversee House courses, and am the academic liaison for Robertson Scholars, for Duke Student Government, and for the Humanities to the DUS Program. Contact me »
Sabrina L Thomas, Ph.D.
As an academic dean, I support students who live or did live in Wilson House, current juniors and seniors who lived in Jarvis House residence halls and students attending Duke as participants on the domestic exchange program with Howard University and Spelman College. I also serve as director of... Contact me »
Gerald Wilson, Ph.D.
As an academic dean I support first-year students who live in Basset House and some designated upperclassmen. I am the Appeals Officer in the College and I advise students in the University who are considering careers in law. I teach one lecture course each semester, “American Dreams/ American... Contact me »
Jenny Wood Crowley, Ph.D.
As an Academic Dean, I support students who live or did live in Giles House and Randolf House. I direct the SPIRE fellows program and co-coordinate the Pipeline Initiative. I also teach in Duke’s History Department and the FOCUS program. Contact me »