Alumni Council

The Alumni Council is comprised of Nicholas School of the Environment Alums who are elected by the school to serve on a Board for a period of three years each. The Council is responsible for fostering better relationships between alumni, alumni and the school, and between alumni and the student body. Their mandate is ultimately to serve the school on a range of issues as set forth by the Dean of the Nicholas School. The Council convenes once a semester on Duke’s campus to engage with students and to discuss initiatives and also participates in frequent communications with school administration throughout the year.

Benefits & Expectations

Potential Benefits

Connect with the school from a strategic position
Influence the direction of how the school engages with alumni
Learn more about the school and broaden your perspectives on current issues/ topics
Improve alumni relations for the school and university by sharing your individual knowledge and skills
Receive exposure to other disciplines and professions which you may not encounter in your “day job”
Strengthen your reputation and build your personal brand
Enrich your career and/or professional development
Have access to new networks that may not have been previously available or considered
Get advanced invitations to university and school-related events and programs
Have fun!

Time Commitments

Attend on-campus business meetings twice a year — one in the fall and one in the spring. Meetings typically begin with dinner on Thursday evening, followed by our business meeting on Friday morning through late afternoon. Due to special on-campus events, meetings can be scheduled during the week or at a different time than usual, if deemed appropriate.
Attend virtual business meetings held approximately three to four times annually
Actively engage as alumni leaders 3-5 hours monthly

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

“Lead by example” in supporting the school as volunteers and donors
Serve as an ambassador by pro-actively staying apprised of activities, plans, and needs of the school; share pertinent information with your Nicholas School networks.
Participate effectively in a collaborative group process, provide feedback in a respectful manner, and be open to a variety of recommendations
Respond to requests via email and phone for feedback or assistance

Interested in joining the Alumni Council? Contact Director of Alumni ��Ĵ�ýment and Annual Giving, Christy Thompson.

	JOrdan Cox, MEM’27 COASTAL & MARINE MANAGEMENT; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Jordan is a first-year student at the Nicholas School pursuing a Master of Environmental Management with concentrations in Coastal & Marine Systems (CAMS) and Community ��Ĵ�ýment & Environmental Justice (CEEJ), along with certificates in Geospatial Analysis and Project Management within the development sector. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science & Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was a member of the Honors College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. At Duke, Jordan is currently the Nicholas School Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR) Communications and ��Ĵ�ýment Assistant and the Communications Director of the Ocean Policy Working Group (OPWG). This summer, she will be working with the Rachel Carson Council as a Stanback Fellow in Washington, D.C., continuing her work in science communication, advocacy, and environmental policy. She is passionate about environmental education, strategic communications, and visual storytelling, using these tools to translate complex environmental issues into accessible and engaging narratives that foster curiosity and inspire others to care for the natural world.
	Wendy Katua, MEM’27 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Wendy Katua is a Master’s student in Environmental Management at ��Ĵ�ý, where she focuses on the intersection of energy systems and community engagement. Her work is driven by a passion for advancing energy access and supporting a just energy transition. She approaches environmental challenges with a balance of critical analysis and creative thinking, combining technical understanding with a commitment to socially grounded solutions. Her academic and research interests center on the role of policy and clean energy technologies in shaping sustainable and resilient energy systems. She is particularly interested in researching how renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic systems paired with battery energy storage and wind integrated with storage solutions, can enhance grid reliability, flexibility, and capacity in the face of rising electricity demand. She is also interested in examining how regulatory frameworks, institutional structures, and multi-stakeholder collaborations can be designed to support inclusive and effective energy solutions. She aspires to work in clean energy technology development, advancing energy access initiatives, and supporting the transition to low-carbon energy systems in a just and equitable way. Her goal is to contribute to the deployment of scalable clean energy solutions while fostering collaboration between corporate stakeholders and communities to ensure that these systems are both technically effective and socially inclusive.
	Lige nie, mF/MBA'27 MASTER OF FORESTRY; MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Lige Nie is a dual-degree Master of Forestry and MBA candidate focused on advancing natural capital investments that deliver both ecological and community outcomes. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance, Investment, and Banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey, advising clients across food and agriculture, financial services, and energy. At Duke, Lige is building expertise in forest ecosystem management and natural resources finance. She brings analytical and cross-sector problem-solving skills and is particularly interested in innovative solutions that can enable and scale private-sector investments for an equitable and nature-positive economy. Originally from China, Lige enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with her cat, Xiaobao.
	Jordan Sellers, DEL'27 Duke environmental leadership Jordan Sellers is a second-year Master of Environmental Management student at the Nicholas School of the Environment in the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) program. He holds a Master's Certificate in Sustainable Trail Development from West Virginia University and a B.S. in Business Management from Colorado State University - Global Campus. By day, Jordan serves as the Northern Peaks State Trail Coordinator at Blue Ridge Conservancy in Boone, NC, where he leads the planning and construction of a 50-mile State Trail while managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, complex budgets, and grant funding across the High Country of North Carolina. Outside of work, he stays rooted in his community through volunteer trail stewardship, serving on the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce board, and getting outside in any manner possible with his wife and dogs. At Duke, Jordan hopes to build on his conservation and land access work by developing skills in policy, finance, and leadership to expand equitable access to natural spaces across the Southern Appalachians.
	Yitong “Eric” Su MEM’27 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICS & MODELING TERRESTRIAL & FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS Yitong "Eric" Su is a current Master of Environmental Management student and a proud Duke alum. Prior to this program, he earned a B.S. in Molecular Bioscience at Duke Kunshan University and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke. He has a strong interest in studying environmental quality issues and how those issues affect local communities. At Duke, Eric is a senator representing the Nicholas School on the Graduate and Professional ��Ĵ�ý Government (GPSG). Outside of academics, he is also a big fan of soccer and various outdoor activities.
	Rachel Surtshin M.E.M.’27 Energy & Environment; Environment, Economics, and Policy Rachel Surtshin spent the last four years in corporate sustainability at Walmart and Kroger before coming to Duke to deepen her expertise with the economic, policy, and financial levers for impacting change in our food system. She’s passionate about working lands, building resilience to climate shocks with natural infrastructure, and work that bridges the urban-rural divide. She lives in Wyoming and enjoys travel, gardening, hiking, foraging, and creative writing.

Alumni Council

Benefits & Expectations

Potential Benefits

Time Commitments

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Alumni Council Fellows

Eligibility & Selection Process

Eligibility

Selection Process

Current Alumni Council Fellows

JOrdan Cox, MEM’27

COASTAL & MARINE MANAGEMENT; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Wendy Katua, MEM’27

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Lige nie, mF/MBA'27

MASTER OF FORESTRY; MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Jordan Sellers, DEL'27

Duke environmental leadership

Yitong “Eric” Su MEM’27

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICS & MODELING TERRESTRIAL & FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS

Rachel Surtshin M.E.M.’27

Energy & Environment; Environment, Economics, and Policy

Former Alumni Council Fellows

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Giving Back, Leading the Way