Staff Directory

Hometown: Red Wood City, California and Arlington, Texas

Hobbies: My favorite pastimes are exploring nature trails in Durham and Chapel Hill, watching my kids play sports, and listening to podcasts.

Why did you choose Duke OUSF?
I have a background in building, delivering, and assessing co-curricular programs for students. Being at Duke has enabled me to bring these skills to a dynamic group of merit scholars and nationally competitive scholarship applicants, which I thoroughly enjoy. One of the best aspects of my role is the broad range of students I work with—from graduating high school seniors to undergrads to graduate students and alumni.

My doctorate is in Learning, Design, and Technology, and my research focuses on the benefits of experiential learning and electronic portfolios for students, faculty, staff, and employers. Prior to arriving at Duke, I worked over 15 years in honors education.

The best thing about OUSF is the close-knit community. I am grateful for the amazing students and fantastic colleagues I have the opportunity to work with each day. 
 

Hometown: St.Louis, Missouri

Hobbies: I enjoy home renovation projects, gardening, traveling, and pasta making.

Why Duke OUSF?
I came to Duke in the fall of 2010 to enter the Ph.D. program in the Department of Political Science. I'm grateful for the many experiences I've had at Duke since: teaching courses, coordinating DukeEngage programs, interning at The Graduate School, serving as a college advisor, and working in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Joining OUSF in the fall of 2021 is the culmination of these experiences and I'm eager to work with the students, faculty, staff, and alumni that make up the OUSF community.

Hometown: Castle Rock, Colorado

Hobbies: Video games, reading anything and everything, and hanging out with my 7-month old

Tell us a fun fact about you:
I participated in the Disney College Program, and I got to help Mickey Mouse get ready in Hollywood Studios.

Hometown: Santiago, Chile and Wilmington, North Carolina

Hobbies and Interests: mystery novels, cross stitch, cooking, reality shows

Why OUSF?
I was a B.N. Duke Scholar when I was an undergraduate at Duke from 1991-1995. I was very close to my faculty director and scholar cohort- they really helped make my time as an undergrad incredible.  After Duke, I went to law school and practiced immigration law for several years until I became a stay at home mom after my sons were born.  When my youngest was ten, I began to look for part time work, and found the job at OUSF of being an alumni coordinator.  Being an OUSF alum myself, I was super excited to apply, and the rest is history!  I love working here with the students and the staff; I really enjoy coming to work most days!

Sachelle Ford, who grew up in Georgia, brings over a decade of experience in research and curriculum development, assessment, teaching, program coordination and student development to her new role as director of the Rubenstein Scholars and  Duke LIFE (Low Income, First-generation Engagement) Office. Prior to taking this position in January 2020, she most recently served as interim director at the African American Cultural Center (AACC) at N.C. State University.

Dr. Ford has returned to Duke, where she served as lecturing fellow of Duke University’s Thompson Writing Program from 2014-2018. Her courses examined the Black Power movement, the history and culture of African American families, Caribbean literature and contemporary African American literature. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Brown University and a B.A. in English from Emory University, where she was a first-generation, low-income undergraduate student.

Hometown: New York, New York

Hobbies: Hiking, working out, and traveling

Why Duke?
Duke’s commitment to supporting low-income and first-generation students. Duke provides many resources for students and continues to address barriers for 1G/LI students.

Tell us a fun fact about you:
I had the privilege to hike Greve in Chianti, located in Italy.

Hometown: Durham, North Carolina

Hobbies: I enjoy reading, writing and listening to poetry, attempting to cook, and binge-watching different TV shows. Additionally, I love spending time with my puppy, Thor.

Why Duke?
I love the different opportunities that Duke has to offer and the different support that is offered to different student groups and demographics. I believe that Duke promotes identity exploration and sense of belonging through the variety of student organizations on campus, and I am grateful to be a part of a university that is promoting these things!

Tell us a fun fact about you:
I am an Ordained Minister! I became one so that I could perform the ceremony for my sister and her partner. :)

Jaylah Stewart was born and raised in Durham, NC, and obtained her BA in English with a concentration in Teacher Education from North Carolina State University. Additionally, she returned to NC State where she received her Masters in Higher Education Administration. She has had opportunity to gain experience at different institutions and within various student affairs roles (residence life, student conduct, university activities, and student programs). She is very passionate about helping students cultivate a sense of belonging on campuses, especially underrepresented student groups.

Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina

Hobbies: Watching college athletics, reading, going to Broadway shows, listening to all kinds of music, spending time with friends, family, and my two dogs

Why Duke?
Duke’s commitment to diversity and in particular to increasing 1G/LI enrollment and success won me over.

Tell us a fun fact about you: My all-time points scored as a college basketball player at UNC Asheville in one game was 4 points, and it was against the Duke Women in Cameron Indoor Stadium!

Andrew Lakis joined the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program in March 2021.  He brings with him 17 years of experience in education, leadership development, fundraising and organizational management.  In 2004, Andrew joined Teach For America as a teacher at Friendship Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.  A native of North Carolina, he worked as an instructional coach in Durham Public Schools and served in multiple leadership roles within Teach For America over the past decade. From 2015 to 2021, Andrew led Teach For America’s largest rural region, working with his team to recruit, train and support over 400 new teachers and partner with almost 1,000 alumni leaders working toward educational equity across eastern North Carolina.  During his tenure as executive director, he also oversaw the launch of Teach For America’s first rural regional summer teaching institute, Eastern NC Residency, and the redesign of Teach For America-Eastern North Carolina’s leadership development program.  Andrew received his BA in History from Duke University, where he was a Trinity Scholar, and his Masters in Elementary Education from American University.

Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey

Dr. Lodewick is the long-time director of the University Scholars Program.  She holds a Ph.D. in French Literature.

Dr. Pierce is the Nicholas J. and Theresa M. Leonardy Professor of Mathematics. She was named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2021 in honor of her contributions to number theory and harmonic analysis. Dr. Pierce has received a Rhodes Scholarship, a Sloan Research Fellowship, a Bonn Research Fellowship, a Birman Fellowship, and won the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2019. Outside the classroom, Dr. Pierce enjoys reading, art, and music.

Dr. Piece enjoys mentoring A.B. Duke Scholars as they pursue their own goals at Duke and beyond. She advises all incoming students to remember that we go to a university to learn more—we are here not because of everything we know already, but because of everything we don’t know yet.

Dr. Jiang is Assistant Professor of the Practice of Statistical Science and QuadEx Faculty Fellow at Duke University. His applied research collaborations broadly deal with health outcomes research in gastroenterology and hepatology. He has a deep passion for statistical education and promotion of statistical and quantitative literacy. Specific pedagogical interests include incorporating undergraduate students in applied statistical research projects and formal teaching of the peer review process. Dr. Jiang is the 2021-2022 recipient of the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, a student-selected and student-nominated award that honors excellence in teaching and advising of undergraduate students.

Hobbies and interests: He enjoys playing the piano and viola, running, and backpacking. His profile photo was taken at sunrise somewhere on a ridge in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Tell us a fun fact about you:

• I was one of the last people to donate hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, lived in the same house Richard Nixon lived in when he was at Duke, and have never had a Caesar salad.
• This is my third time living in the Triangle... hopefully this time, I'm here for good!

Kenneth S. Rogerson is Professor of the Practice at Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy, and former Research Director of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy at Duke University. He is currently the Director of Graduate Studies for the Sanford Master's of Public Policy Program and the Director of Duke's Policy Journalism and Media Studies Certificate Program. He has served as chair of the American Political Science Association’s Information Technology and Politics Section and the International Studies Association's International Communication Section.

Rogerson earned a PhD in Political Science at the University of South Carolina, where his research focused on international relations, international communications and media policy issues. In his dissertation, he examined the evolution of U.S. foreign information policy. He has a Masters of Arts degree in International Relations and a BA in Journalism and European Studies from Brigham Young University.

During his studies at the University of South Carolina Rogerson won the Excellence in Teaching Award, and the journal which he edited, Global Governance, was named the Best New Journal in the United States in Business, Social Sciences and the Humanities by the Association of American Publishers.

Dr. Zanalda is Professor of the Practice in the Social Science Research Institute, Department of Economics, and Department of History, and Director of the Duke University Center for International and Global Studies. An economic historian by training, Dr. Zanalda teaches courses on financial crises, emerging markets, international economy, and the history of globalization. A Karsh Scholarship Faculty Director since 2018, Dr. Zanalda enjoys mentoring and guiding international students through their Duke careers.

Professor Smith's expertise highlights race and ethnicity's role in shaping the American political landscape. Her research agenda illuminates the ways in which demographic dynamics influence citizens' and denizens' of the U.S. understanding of their own identity, their political attitudes, and their policy preferences.

Smith applies the knowledge gained from research to speak to issues that influence real people, including the effects racial attitudes on American politics, diversity issues, and access to resources that ought to be distributed equitably. 

Chris Simmons is the Vice President for Government Relations at Duke. In this capacity, he oversees all aspects of Duke’s government relations program at the federal, state and international levels and serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet.  He arrived at Duke in 2006 after serving in lead advocacy roles for the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the American Council on Education (ACE) in Washington, DC. Simmons is Duke’s principal point of contact and spokesperson on legislative and regulatory issues involving the federal government, Congress, and the Administration, in areas such as student financial aid, academic research, international education, tax policy, intellectual property, and immigration. He also oversees Duke in DC, Duke’s academic center and home for research and official events in Washington, DC.

Dean of Academic Affairs, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education
Assistant Professor of the Practice – Program in Education

Dr. Smith was first able to fuse his passion for education and sport at the University of California at Berkeley, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education while playing on the basketball team. At Berkeley, he won the 2006 Jake Gimbell Award which honors the student most committed to academic and athletic excellence.

After matriculating at Berkeley, he worked in San Diego’s inner city, teaching geometry at Lincoln High School and adult education at San Diego Community College. He also established the Phil Smith Basketball Camp to honor his late father, NBA All-Star Phil Smith, using basketball as a means to promote academic achievement. In pursuit of his passions, Dr. Smith has traveled extensively, directing basketball clinics in China, the Philippines and Panama. Furthermore, he was the Lead Teacher’s Assistant at the University of Cape Town, South Africa facilitating a course examining the effects of apartheid and American segregation on contemporary Black, urban economic development. He completed his Ph.D. in Cultural Studies in Education at The University of Texas at Austin. He then conducted post-doctoral research in Spanish at UT’s Mesoamerica Center in Antigua, Guatemala, studying the amalgamation of race, culture, education and athletics. His work has been published in the Journal of Urban Education and The Journal of Race, Gender and Class.

Hometown: Red Wood City, California and Arlington, Texas

Hobbies: My favorite pastimes are exploring nature trails in Durham and Chapel Hill, watching my kids play sports, and listening to podcasts.

Why did you choose Duke OUSF?
I have a background in building, delivering, and assessing co-curricular programs for students. Being at Duke has enabled me to bring these skills to a dynamic group of merit scholars and nationally competitive scholarship applicants, which I thoroughly enjoy. One of the best aspects of my role is the broad range of students I work with—from graduating high school seniors to undergrads to graduate students and alumni.

My doctorate is in Learning, Design, and Technology, and my research focuses on the benefits of experiential learning and electronic portfolios for students, faculty, staff, and employers. Prior to arriving at Duke, I worked over 15 years in honors education.

The best thing about OUSF is the close-knit community. I am grateful for the amazing students and fantastic colleagues I have the opportunity to work with each day. 
 

Hometown: Livermore, California and Port Jefferson, New York

Hobbies and Interests: Languages, baseball, animals, municipal politics, Indian food

Why did you choose Duke?
University towns are my favorite kinds of places, and the Research Triangle is a great university "town." Town-Gown relations is a major driver of my interest in municipal politics, and I've been a super volunteer or consultant on at least seven different campaigns! Mostly, though, I love college towns because I'm fascinated by the University phase of life, with all its challenges, growth, and newfound independence. I love talking with young people about the world and all that they want to do with it, and I'm excited to be part of Duke's effort to equip students to contribute, question, and change that world.

Hometown: Stockton, California

Hobbies and Interests: I spend a lot of time crossword puzzle-ing, reading, baking, and hiking. 

Why Duke?
The best thing about being at Duke is getting to be a part of OUSF! I am enjoying getting to know the Scholars, hearing about their interests and goals, and watching them tackle new challenges. I have great colleagues, and appreciate the OUSF community.

My background and degrees are in French. I lived in three different parts of France at different times in my life—I am a big advocate for study abroad and international experiences since it was such a formative part of my life. I love Durham, but I'm still hunting for a good baguette in the Triangle!

Hometown: Topeka, Kansas

Passions and Interests Outside of Work: Cycling and Social Justice

Why Duke OUSF?
As an employee, my time at Duke has been a rewarding experience for me. 
You see and come into contact with students that really impress and give you hope for the world.

Tell us a fun fact about you: I have been collecting comic books since the 6th grade. My collection contains over 12,000 books.

Hometown: McLean, Virginia, Fort Myers, Florida, and Durham, North Carolina

Hobbies and Interests: hiking, reading, crosswords and other puzzles, soccer, Duke sports, church

Why Duke?
I initially visited Duke in 1990 to interview for an AB Duke Scholarship, and fell in love with the school at first sight. After four wonderful years, I left Duke to embark on my graduate education. As I was finishing my PhD in 2001, I had the great fortune of being offered the opportunity to return to Duke, this time on the faculty. It is a joy to have been here ever since, and the highlight for me is the privilege of working with amazing students.

Hometown: San Diego, California

Hobbies: knitting, crocheting, baking, organ and choral music

Why Duke?
I  guess Duke chose me... I started with Duke Temporary Services and spent time with the Office of Durham and Community Affairs and the Law School before I landed at OUSF.

Tell us a fun fact about you: Not many know this: I have a Ph.D. in Natural Products Chemistry. I consider myself a non-practicing chemist at this point. :) Also: I was part of the panel for the podcast, "The Secrets of Harry Potter." It was one of the most popular podcasts for the Star Quest Production Network in the early 2010s at one point in time.