The Penny Pilgram George Women's Leadership Initiative seeks to deepen the understanding and practice of authentic leadership for women and nonbinary identifying individuals. Funded by the George Family Foundation and named after its Chair and Duke alumna, Penny George, the Initiative provides learning opportunities for undergraduate students of any gender who support the mission of the initiative at Duke. The Initiative strongly encourages women and nonbinary identifying individuals to apply.
Vision
Mission
To deepen the understanding and practice of authentic leadership for women and nonbinary identifying individuals through education, mentorship and the advancement of women in leadership roles.
Learn more from Penny and former cohort members
Apply
Interested in joining the cohort? Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort are open through March 31, 2025 at noon.
If you have any questions, email leadership@duke.edu.
Penny Pilgram George Women's Leadership Initiative Cohort
The PPGWLI Cohort is a community of student leaders at Duke of any gender who support the mission of the Initiative and who are interested in learning more about leadership for women—and its intersections with race, class, and gender—to create positive social change. Women and Nonbinary identifying individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Cohort members will learn new perspectives and skills, have the chance to bring their personal experience to the table, and engage in their areas of interest.
Applications typically open early in the spring semester and are due in early April for the following academic year.
Questions? Email leadership@duke.edu.
PPG Cohort Executive Officers
PPG Mentors
Allison Besch - Director, Career Center, Nicholas School of the Environment
Allyson Jones - Master of Engineering Mgmt, Academic Coordinator
Dr. Amanda Broderick - MD; Internal Medicine, Chief Resident
Dr. Amy Lee - Internal Medicine-Pediatrics / Palliative Care MD
Amy Sawyers-Williams - Duke Arts Campus Engagement Manager
Andrea Jones - Biomedical Engineering, Postdoctoral Fellow
Anna Wallace - Duke Arts Student Engagement Manager
Dr. April Dyer - School of Medicine, ID, DASON; Liaison Clinical Pharmacist
Arianne Hartsell-Gundy - Duke University Libraries, Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Librarian for Literature
Ashley Nagy - Duke Law School, Senior Career Counselor
Bebe Mills - Director of Student Services/Registrar
Bernice Alston - Director, Student Success Center- SON
Bridget Fletcher - Exec Dir, GSPS
Cameo Hartz - Pratt Graduate Student Programs and Services, Career Services & Professional Development - Assistant Director, Career Services
Chloe Benjamin - Pratt Graduate Student Programs and Services
Courtney Sullivan - Nicholas School of the Environment Career and Professional Development Center, Assistant Director, Employer Relations
Crystal Parker - Program Coordinator, Careers & Mentoring, Alumni Engagement & Development
Daria Smirnova - Slavic and Eurasian Studies, Instructor
Dr. Dorothy Sipkins - Medicine, Associate Professor
Emilie Dye - Student Engagement; Director of Strategic Student Engagement Initiatives
Emma Chory - Assistant Prof. Department of Biomedical Engineering
Haley Qualls - AD, CSGD
Jessica Reveal - Campus Life F&A, Assistant Director
Kara Atkins - Assistant Director, Multicultural Advancement, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development
Kaylie Flores - Biology PhD Student
Kiyamia Keili - Program Coordinator, Development at Pratt School of Engineering
Liubov Kartashova - Slavic and Eurasian Studies/Instructor
Lydia McInnes - Women's Center, Assistant Director
Maggie Peterson - Associate Director, Student Affairs development
Marlena Brown - Inpatient Pharmacy--Inpatient Pharmacy Technician
Mary Jia - Biomedical Engineering, PhD student
Meagan Arce - Duke Athletics - Director of Marketing
Medy Mu - Neurobiology; 2nd year PhD student
Megan Ramaker - Duke Molecular Physiology Institute Bioinformatician II
Melanie Tran - Biomedical Engineering; Research and Development Engineer I
Molly Mueller - Athletics Learning Specialist
Penny Fleming - Sanford School of Public Policy, Adjunct Faculty
Rachel Knight - Senior Events Manager, CCFP, Sanford School of Public Policy
Rebecca Dupre - Pratt School of Engineering Dean's Office, Associate Dean of Finance & Administration
Dr. Sara Geraghty - Postdoc, Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies
Shaina Fournier - Assistant Director, Special Events in AED
Dr. Sonia Bansal - Biomedical Engineering, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Stacy Peterson - Senior Director, Campus Engagement, AED
Taylin Jean - Athletic Medicine/ Assistant Athletic Trainer (Swimming and Diving)
Taylor Hamberg - Marketing and Communications: Social Media Manager
Teri de Leon - Fuqua Career Management Center, Assistant Dean
Tessa Jackson - NSoE DEI Office; DEI Coordinator
Ying Xiong - Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education (LILE) AVP for Assessment and Learning Innovation
- Alistar Erickson-Ludwig - Fuqua
- Alyssa Florwick - Duke Civic Engagement
- Faye Hobgood - Time Away Office
- Alex Rosenbery - Housing & Residence Life
- Mariah Jones - Career Center
- Amy Johndro - Counseling & Psychological Services
- Angela Bonner - Career Center
- Audrey Fenske - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Amy Jones - German Studies
- Ami Wong - Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity
- Amy Lee - Duke Health - Internal Medicine & Pediatrics/Palliative Care
- Anaija Lapaix - Housing & Residence Life
- Alicia Rhodes - Career Center
- Anna Wallace - Duke Arts
- Brittney Blazicek - Recreation & Physical Education
- Berkeley Yorkery - Public Policy
- Bridget Fletcher - Pratt, GSPS
- Brendetta Huffman - Rowe
- Brie Sanders - Durham & Community Affairs
- Crystal Parker - Durham & Community Affairs
- Cate Morton - Conference & Event Services
- Carina Carpenter - New Student & Family Programs
- Dawna Jones - Student Engagement
- Emilie Dye - Student Engagement
- Elinor Landess - Dean of Students
- Grace Athy - Career Center
- Paige Vinson - OUE Student Success Academic Guides
- Hadeel Hamoud - Duke Center for Muslim Life
- Holly Bobo - Venue & Production Management
- Jill Solomon - Residence Life
- Jenna McCullers - Dean of Students
- Jessica Reveal - Student Affairs Finance & Admin
- Kimberly Blackshear - Time Away Office
- Leslie Gaber - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Lydia McInnes - Women's Center
- Lauren Coury - Career Center
- Maggie Sandy - AED, MCS
- Elizabeth Moore - Duke International Student Center
- Margot Cardamone - OVP
- Maria Romero - Student Affairs Finance and Admin
- Mathavi Strasburger - OUE
- Maggie McGregor - Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs
- Natalie Cervantes - DISC
- Nina King - Athletics
- Nicole Mitchell - Career Center
- Priyanshu Mishra - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Q McCullough - Venue & Production Managment
- Rebecca Simmons - MEMS
- Susan Rodger - Computer Science
- Samaiyah Faison - Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
- Shakeerrah Lawrence - OUE - Student Success
- Sara Campbell - DuWell
- Stacy Peterson - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Sara Peacock - DukeReach
- Samantha Hill - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Sarah Hay - Sanford Comms
- Sherri McBurrows - Housing & Residence Life
- Shannon Ashford - Institutional Equity
- Shannon Reavis - Duke Campaigns, AED
- Sandhya Pakala - Career Center
- Valerie Jarrett - DUH VP Women's & Children's
- Veronica Johnson - CMC
- Allison Boyer - Alumni Engagement & Development
- Lauren Denton - Center for Multicultural Affairs
- Jennifer Hurtgen - Sandford School of Public Policy & Office of Research Initiatives
- Catherine Allen – Career Center
- Lisa Andres – Thompson Writing Program
- Rukmini Balu – Duke Health
- Leslie Barnes – Athletics
- Kim Bethea – Office of Undergraduate Education
- Kimberly Blackshear – Time Away Office
- Sherryl Broverman – Biology & Global Health
- Brittany Burris – Duke Recreation & Physical Health
- Ashley Costantino – Housing & Residence Life
- Jaylynn Ellington – Women's Center
- Alistar Erickson-Ludwig – Fuqua MQM
- Alex Espaillat – Center for Multicultural Affairs
- Maria Febbo – Sociology
- Audrey Fenske – Alumni Engagement & Development
- Bridget Fletcher – Engineering
- Lindsey Furiness – Duke Civic Engagement
- Carolyn Gilbert – Dean of Students
- Racquel Gill – Duke Chapel
- Thalia Halloran – Hart Leadership Program (Sanford)
- Dani Harmston – Housing & Residence Life
- April Henry – German Studies
- Brendetta Huffman-Rowe – Children's Specialty Triage Services
- Valerie Jarrett – Duke University Hospital
- Dawna Jones – Student Engagement
- Bridget Kerwin – Graduate Student Programs & Services
- Elinor Landess – Dean of Students
- Anaija Lapaix – Housing & Residence Life
- Lynn Lieberman – Fuqua School
- Jeanette Llorens – Athletics
- Kirsten Marinko – Duke Dining
- Quadiriah McCullough – Rubenstein Arts Center
- Lydia McInnes – Women's Center
- Ellen McLarney – Asian and Middle East Studies
- Nicole Mitchell – Career Center
- Amber Mooers – Venue & Production Management
- Sandhya Pakala – Career Center
- Crystal Parker – Durham Community Affairs
- Brianna Pickeral – Durham Community Affairs
- Victoria Pinedo – Undergraduate Admissions
- Jamie Puglin – Student Affairs Assessment
- Ana Ramirez – OUE – Spark
- Jessica Reveal – Student Affairs Finance & Administration
- Alicia Rhodes – Career Center
- Sophia Santillan – Mechanical Engineering
- Sarah Schott – Mathematics
- Jessica Sharpe – Housing & Residence Life
- Laura Shively – Recreation & Physical Education
- Tara Siesel – Athletic Medicine
- Karen Stone – Campus Life
- Mathavi Strasburger – Academic Advising Center
- Emily Thompson – Duke Recreation & Physical Education
- Breana va Velzen – Chapel Services
- Jenny Wood Crowley – OUE & History
- Catherine Allen - Career Center
- Franca Alphin - Student Health
- Eileen Anderson -Romance Studies
- Lisa Andres Thompson - Writing Program
- TJ Beezley - Recreation & Physical Education
- Tearria Beck-Scott - University Events
- Katherine Black - Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Kimberly Blackshear - Time Away Office
- Brittany Burriss - Recreation & Physical Education
- Shruti Desai - Student Affairs
- Samaiyah Faison - Center for Muslim Life
- Audrey Fenske - Career Center
- Meeghan Ford - Athletics
- Lindsey Furiness - Durham and Community Affairs
- Liadainn Gilmore - CAPS
- Sarah Hay - Fuqua Admissions
- April Henry - German Studies
- Brendetta Huffman - Pediatric Complex Care Service
- Jennifer Hurtgen - Sanford School of Public Policy
- Valerie Jarrett - Duke University Hospital
- Megan Kelly Deyncourt - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
- Connie Kim - Radiology
- Lynn Lieberman - Continuing Studies
- Jeanna McCullers - Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
- Jenn Moerman - Student Affairs
- Julia Orlidge-Diehl - Fuqua Admissions
- Maggie Peterson - Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
- Stacy Peterson - Energy Initiative
- Kristin Pfeiffer - Collaborative Learning & Communications
- Jamie Puglin - Assessment
- Alicia Rhodes Career Center
- Brie Russell - Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs
- Sophia Santillan - Mechanical Engineering
- Rebecca Simmons - MEMS
- Christie Smith - Duke Homecare and Hospice
- Claire M Smith - Duke Athletics
- Sara Stevens - Duke Alumni Engagement & Development
- Karen Stone - Conference & Event Services
- Grace Sullivan - Dean of Students Office
- Nerine Tatham - CAPS
- Breana van Velzen - Chapel Services
- Catherine Allen - Career Center
- Michele Armstrong - Student Conduct
Leslie Barnes - Athletics
TJ Beezley - Recreation and Physical Education
Kimberly Blackshear - Sanford School-Center for Child and Family Policy
Tara Carty - Conference and Event Services
Li-Chen Chin - Student Affairs
Laura Coutts - Career Center
Samaiyah Faison - Center for Muslim Life
Audrey Fenske - Career Center
Anna Jacobs - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Megan Kelly Deyncourt - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Jennifer Levy - Career Center
Lynn Lieberman - Continuing Studies
Maria Maxell - Student Affairs
Sarah Neff - Student Engagement
Maggie Peterson - Office of Student Conduct
Jamie Puglin - Housing and Residence Life
Alicia Rhodes - Career Center
Alicia Santana - Housing and Residence Life
Sophia Santillan - Mechanical Engineering
Francesqa Santos - Student Engagement
Claire Smith - Duke Athletics
Stacia Solomon - Career Center
Sara Stevens - Duke Alumni
Karen Stone - Conference and Event Services
Grace Sullivan - Dean of Students Office
Johanna Supernaw - Alumni Affairs
- Irina Adams - DKU Programs
- Zoila Airall - Student Affairs
- Lisa Andres Cole Thompson - Writing Program
- Laura Andrews - DukeReach
- TJ Beezley - Recreation and Physical Education
- Kimberly Blackshear - Sanford School of Public Policy
- Sheri Branson - Recreation and PE
- Hayley Broadhead - Global Education Office
- Sheila Broderick - Women's Center
- Carina Carpenter - Housing and Residence Life
- Jenn Chambers - Alumni Affairs
- Rachel Coleman - Career Center
- Samaiyah Faison - Center for Muslim Life
- Maria Finnegan - Health, Wellness, PE and Recreation
- Leigh Garstecki - Recreation and Physical Education
- Valerie Glassman - Office of Student Conduct
- Bibi Gnagno - Women's Center
- QuiAnne' Holmes - DuWell
- Anna Jacobs - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
- Meera Jayaraman - Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
- April-Autumn Jenkins - Women's Center
- Eulena Jonsson - Campus Life
- Megan Kelly Deyncourt - Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
- Jennifer Levy - Career Center
- Lynn Lieberman - Continuing Studies
- Maria Maxell - Student Affairs
- Jeanna McCullers - Office of Student Conduct
- Lindsey Parker - DuWell
- Amanda Pennino - Recreation & Physical Education
- Melissa Rains - Office of Undergraduate Scholars & Fellows
- Hunter Roberts - Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity
- Alicia Santana - Housing and Residence Life
- Sophia Santillan - Mechanical Engineering
- Sarah Schott - Mathematics
- Aviv Sheetrit - Jewish Life at Duke
- Claire Smith - Duke Recreation & Physical Education
- Karen Stone - Conference and Event Services
- Grace Sullivan - Dean of Students
- Johanna Supernaw - Alumni Affairs
- Casey Terrell - New Student Programs
- Morgan Williams - Academic Resource Center
- Jenny Wood Crowley - Trinity Academic Deans
- Kate Zhang - Dean of Students