Vera Luck
Assistant Vice President, Foundation Relations
(919) 681-0404
vera.luck@duke.edu
Vera leads and supports Duke’s engagement with private foundations to advance research, education, and service, and coordinates the university’s partnership with The Duke Endowment. She has a background in seeking foundation funding in the sciences, having supported many Duke faculty in developing proposals. Vera has worked at Duke since 2001, with previous experience in University Development’s Principal Gifts and Prospect Research offices. Outside of the office, she spends time with her family, their pets, and hopes to someday have an impressive garden
Beth A. Eastlick
Senior Advisor, Foundation Relations
(919) 681-0405
beth.eastlick@duke.edu
Beth provides advice and institutional knowledge to members of the Foundation Relations team. She engages in foundation strategy in collaboration with team members and colleagues in the schools and units, and she assists Vera Luck in coordinating the University’s relationships with major foundation funders, including The Duke Endowment. Beyond strategy, Beth specializes in astute edits and budgetary wizardry. Originally from Montana, Beth earned a BA from Yale and an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and her husband, Duke English Professor Tom Ferraro, live in Durham and have two grown children.
Carol Vorhaus
Director, Foundation Relations
(919) 681-1967
carol.vorhaus@duke.edu
Carol is a seasoned development professional with more than 16 years of experience across all sectors of fundraising. She likes working with faculty on foundation proposals and can skillfully guide new and experienced fund seekers through foundation research and proposal development to winning grants. At Duke she works with senior leadership and faculty in the arts, humanities, and libraries and manages the Duke relationships with the Andrew W. Mellon and Ford Foundations.
Alexandra de Havilland
Director, Foundation Relations
(919) 681-0475
alexandra.de.havilland@duke.edu
Alexandra assists faculty in public policy, law, and the social sciences. She views her role in Foundation Relations as equal parts educator, net worker, editor, and coach, and she uses each of those skills as she works with faculty members on developing proposals for funders. Prior to joining Duke, Alexandra led a non-profit organization that provided comprehensive services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Outside of the office, you’ll see Alexandra biking around campus to get to meetings, running laps around East Campus, or at the Duke Hospital volunteering with the Pet Therapy Program.
Steve Murray
Associate Director, Foundation Relations
(919) 613-1756
stephen.murray@duke.edu
Steve works with science and engineering faculty and, being incurably curious, loves learning about their varied research and helping them pursue foundation funding for their work. Prior to moving to Durham and Duke, Steve led all of the fundraising activities for the Food Bank of the Albemarle, a regional hunger relief organization serving 15 northeast NC counties. When he’s not working, Steve is usually playing his guitar, adding to his vinyl collection, spending time with his wife and dogs, or perfecting his BBQ technique.
Joyce Highhouse
Associate Director, Foundation Relations
(919) 684-3751
joyce.highhouse@duke.edu
Joyce Walker Highhouse manages foundation relationships across Duke, including institutional projects related to K-16 Education. Most recently Joyce worked as a foundation Program Officer in the K-16 sector. Before joining Duke in 2023, she spent more than 15 years in the K-12 Education sector, beginning as a Broad Resident in Urban Education with Durham Public Schools. Dr. Highhouse earned an MBA at Duke University, and her doctorate in Education Leadership at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
Lightsey Darst
Associate Director, Foundation Relations
Lightsey.darst@duke.edu
Lightsey Darst works with faculty across the social sciences, law, and public policy. She enjoys applying her skills as a philanthropic strategist, editor, and connector to assist Duke faculty in expanding knowledge, forging new paradigms, and changing the world. She is an accomplished poet and is currently pursuing a degree from Duke’s Graduate Liberal Studies program.
Kylie Snyder
Assistant Director, Foundation Relations
(919) 684-3743
kylie.snyder@duke.edu
Kylie Meyer Snyder returned to Foundation Relations as Assistant Director, Foundation Relations in 2023. She works with faculty in Trinity Natural Sciences, Pratt School of Engineering, Nicholas School of the Environment as well as on institutionally limited foundation opportunities. She holds a B.A. from University of Florida.
Angela Crews
Administrative Coordinator
(919) 681-0468
angela.crews@duke.edu
Angela coordinates and manages OFR special projects and initiatives. She is the financial TRaC Rep for OFR and supervises the Development Associate. She also manages the Trent Memorial Endowment Fund for faculty and staff across the university with Alexandra de Havilland, Executive Director. She enjoys working outside in her yard, playing with new puppy Mason and spending time with her family and friends.
Sarah Royce
Development Associate
919-684-5114
sarah.royce@duke.edu
Sarah came to the Office of Foundation Relations from Major and Leadership Gifts where she worked alongside Frontline Fundraisers as a Staff Assistant. Prior to joining Duke, she worked at the College of Education at North Carolina State University. While she was at NC State, she was the Administrative Support Associate in the Dean’s suite, as well as the Assistant to the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and to the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Professional Education. Sarah has two adult children and a puppy named Winnie!
Laura Eastwood
Senior Business Systems Analyst
(919) 681-0469
laura.eastwood@duke.edu
Laura is our data analyst. She has been in AED since April 2022 and brought with her to this role extensive knowledge of Duke’s financial and sponsored research systems. Laura has been at Duke since 2005, with time in the Law School Alumni & Development office, the office of the University Secretary, and Arts & Sciences / Humanities. Before coming to Duke she was a consultant to colleges on admissions, financial aid and fundraising. Laura lives in Hillsborough. She has two nearly grown sons.
Diane Woodin
Research Analyst
(919) 668-8290
diane.woodin@duke.edu
Diane researches the initiatives and programs of philanthropic foundations for the Foundation Relations team. She works with the team as a kind of matchmaker, one who discovers points of connection between the research priorities of Duke faculty and the grant making missions of foundations. Prior to joining Duke University, she earned her Ph.D. in Art History at UNC Chapel Hill with a focus on women and science in eighteenth-century Europe.
Jesse Optekar
Research Analyst
(919) 681-8134
Jesse.optekar@duke.edu
Jesse researches the initiatives and programs of philanthropic foundations for the Foundation Relations team. He looks to make connections between the current and prospective priorities of Duke researchers to align funding needs with the missions and focus areas of philanthropic foundations. Before joining Duke, he was a consultant in both public education and corporate human resource spaces. Jesse is a North Carolina native, growing up in Boone and graduating from Appalachian State University with a BS in Business Administration. He resides in Raleigh with his wife and son.
Emily Long
Stewardship Coordinator
(419) 290-5293
emily.long@duke.edu
Emily primarily coordinates the stewardship activities of the Office of Foundation Relations. She serves as liaison between AED’s Marketing, Communications, and Stewardship office (MCS) and the Office of Foundation Relations (OFR). Emily is the project lead for The Duke Endowment buildings and endowments impact report, and other foundations as needed. As needed, she collaborates with MCS on other stewardship reports for key foundations and coordinates acknowledgement correspondences for the president and provost regarding foundation awards. Originally from Ohio, Emily attended Lake Erie College and played golf on an athletic scholarship in Painesville, Ohio. She earned a BS in Marketing and Business Administration, as well as an MBA from Lake Erie College. Outside of the office, you can find Emily finetuning her golf game, exploring the beautiful state of North Carolina, or walking her golden retriever, Winston.
ASSOCIATED COLLEAGUES
Office for External Partnerships:
https://externalpartnerships.duke.edu
Victor Taylor
Director, Partnership Resources
(919) 681-1970
victor.taylor@duke.edu
For School of Medicine and School of Nursing:
Jennifer Gallina
Assistant Vice President, Foundation Relations and Strategic Partnerships, Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs
(919) 385-3116
jennifer.gallina@duke.edu
Jennifer leads the Duke Health Office of Foundation Relations and Strategic Partnerships, serving Duke’s schools of medicine and nursing, and the health system. She spearheads activities to initiate and strengthen Duke Health’s partnerships with foundations and companies. Jennifer has extensive experience supporting multi-disciplinary teams in order to pursue grant opportunities in support of research and education. She enjoys collaborating with academic leaders, faculty members, and staff to seek support for strategic priorities, and serving as a partner and resource for representatives from foundations and companies. Prior to joining Duke Health, Jennifer held various positions in foundation relations and research development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in the UNC system office. Jennifer earned a master’s degree from the University of Maryland and bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University.
Anita Gunn Shirley
Director Foundation Relations, Foundation Relations and Strategic Partnerships, Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs
(919) 530-0520 (cell)
anita.shirley@duke.edu
Anita joined Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs in 2006, after serving for more than 20 years in the development field. Anita works with faculty and administrators across the health system to advance strategic priorities centered on health and medical sciences, faculty development, and scholarship support. Before joining Duke, Anita served for five years as the Southeast Foundations Officer for Environmental Defense Fund, for five years as Director of Grants and Programs at Meredith College, and for ten years at Capital Development Services where she authored directories of foundations and corporate philanthropy in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Anita holds a master’s degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College.
Brooke Church
Director
Duke Health Foundation Relations & Strategic Partnerships
brooke.church@duke.edu
919-385-1592 (o) | 984-278-2016 (c)
Brooke joined the Duke Health Office of Foundation Relations and Strategic Partnerships as Senior Associate Director in January 2022. She serves Duke’s schools of medicine and nursing, and the health system, to build and sustain partnerships with philanthropic foundations that support Duke Health’s strategic goals. Prior to joining Duke, Brooke was with the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for many years, where she led foundation engagement across health affairs. Before then Brooke held various roles in primary care program development and evaluation, including work with the North Carolina Office of Rural Health. Brooke has a Master of Science in Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Duke University.
April Mellion
Assistant Director
Duke Health Foundation Relations & Strategic Partnerships
april.mellion@duke.edu
919-385-0011
April joined the Duke Health Office of Foundation Relationship & Strategic Partnerships team as Assistant Director in January 2023. April works collaboratively with Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs staff to initiate, coordinate and implement strategies for effective engagement of foundations and other organizational funders. Before joining Duke, April served as the Stewardship Manager for Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Project Coordinator at the National Governors Association in Washington, DC. April obtained her professional fundraising certificate from Boston University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central State University.