Alumni Board

College: Wake Forest University, B.S.; Duke University, M.B.A.

Career: Principal marketing consultant at SAS

What DA means to me: For me, Durham Academy represents the place — and the people — who developed, nurtured, and cared for me during my most formative years. To this day, I remain humbled and grateful for all that I learned at DA and consider the personal relationships that I have built through the school community to be among my most cherished. As the parent of two current DA students, I’m particularly proud of how DA has transformed over the years with a genuine commitment to its mission of enabling students to live moral, happy, and productive lives. It’s an honor to represent alumni from across the globe on the DA Alumni Board and I hope we will continue to support the school in striving for excellence in all things.

College: Elon University, B.A.; Elon University, J.D.

Career: Attorney and commercial broker with Real Estate Associates, Inc.

What DA means to me: As a “lifer," DA became the first example to me of what it means to be part of a community. The teachers take a personal approach to making sure students comprehend, honesty and integrity are engrained from day one, and classmates push each other to be the best they can be. The DA experience carries beyond the classroom, giving students the education and confidence they need to succeed in college and through life. I value my time at DA as a student and athlete because of the great memories and lifelong relationships it created. It is a privilege to be able to give back by serving on the Alumni Board.

College: UNC-Chapel Hill, B.A.; Duke University, J.D.

Career: Law clerk with U.S. Courts of Appeals

My memories of DA: I think that Durham Academy excels at creating a strong sense of community. In particular, I have always felt that teachers at DA were fully invested in our personal and academic growth not just for a school year, but for life. Though I have many fond memories from my time as a student at DA, one of my favorite DA memories may actually be a conversation I had with Mr. Cullen last year while we were watching my youngest brother, a "lifer" in the class of 2019, warm up for a cross-country race. Mr. Cullen reminded me of the first time he watched my brother run; during an all-school celebration of the school's 75th anniversary, my brother broke away from his second grade class and sprinted across the lacrosse field to join me in the senior class section, where he was fully embraced as an honorary member of the class.

College: UNC-Chapel Hill, B.A.; University of Virginia, M.D.; University of North Carolina, MPH

Career: Physician with UNC Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

My memories of DA: My fondest memories of DA include my outstanding teachers who gave me the foundation needed to excel in college and beyond, and my fellow students, particularly my teammates on various teams, mostly notably the swim team and cross-country team.

College: Stanford University, B.A.

Career: Physician assistant in orthopedics at Duke Sports Medicine

My memories of DA: I have so many memories of Durham Academy — the brilliant teachers and creative classmates, the best friends that remain with me to this day, the outstanding athletics, the safe and comfortable environment. I was proud to be a part of Durham Academy back then, and am now excited to share the experience with my family.

College: N.C. State University, B.S.

Career: Senior applications engineer at Rockwell Automation

My memories of DA: Spending 13 years at DA provided the framework for my childhood, not just my education. What stands out to me about the experience: the early inoculation of a love of learning from the exposure to a breadth of curriculum presented by motivated faculty; learning in a cooperative, not competitive atmosphere; the camaraderie of sports; and the catalyst for many life-long friendships and connections within the Durham community. We are especially excited about being able to share this with our son, now a DA kindergartner!

College: Duke University, B.A.; UNC-Chapel Hill, M.Ed.

Career: Former middle school counselor; now stay-at-home mom

What DA means to me: In a word: community. Whether on the athletic fields, hiking on Senior Challenge, or in the classroom, I was always part of a team at Durham Academy. At DA, I was routinely challenged, while being supported by teachers, classmates, teammates, and advisors to do my best.  DA created a community where I was encouraged to take risks and reflect on my mistakes. The school’s nurturing environment helped me to push my boundaries, allowing me to discover new interests and untapped strengths. I am eternally thankful for my time at DA and for the many relationships that have outlasted my years on campus!

College: Davidson College, B.S.

Career: Associate director of development for the University of Arizona College of Science

What DA means to me: The thing that I most appreciate about Durham Academy is the dual commitment to intellectual curiosity and community service that pervade all aspects of the student experience. As a student, I learned from and was supported by passionate teachers and administrators who lived out those values in their own work. And now, more than 10 years since graduating from DA, it’s incredible seeing the various ways that my classmates and I continue to grow, challenge ourselves, and strive to positively impact the world around us. Of course, winning two state championships with the field hockey team was a pretty cool highlight from my time there too — go DAFH!

College: UNC-Chapel Hill and East Carolina University, B.S.

Career: Owner of German Grille (retired occupational therapist)

What DA means to me: I graduated in the first graduating class of DA’s Upper School in 1975 with a group of 27. DA taught me so many important lessons for my career, including critical reasoning, ability to ask questions, importance of observation and accurate documentation for scientific endeavors and ability to independently plan and execute long term projects. I believe I can teach myself almost anything using available resources and thus, so far, I am a self-taught watercolor artist and seamstress.

College: Columbia University, B.A.; Duke University, M.B.A.

Career: Head of Go To Market at Fidelity Labs

What DA means to me: For me, DA is my community — it is where I have friends, teachers, coaches, mentors and mentees. As an alum and parent to two children at DA, I am grateful to be a part of a community that embraces intellectual curiosity, fosters growth in and outside of the classroom, and values authentic and meaningful connections. I have a bond with many of my teachers that has carried on beyond my time in their classroom, and I’m thrilled to see the same kind of bond developing between my children and many of their teachers. From my work in FinTech and Marketing, I’ve become an advocate for STEAM and for strong communities that evolve to meet the needs of its people. I’m happy to see DA’s community continues to include the tradition of Lower School reading buddies, while adding innovative programs such as STEAM in kindergarten and design thinking in the Lower School TED lab.

College: North Carolina Wesleyan College, B.S.; Manhattanville College, M.Ed.

Career: Director of admissions and enrollment at the International School of Brooklyn

What DA means to me: As a former student, faculty member, coach and administrator, DA means so much to me. DA helped me become passionate about teaching and learning. The faculty, staff, students and parents at DA encouraged me to always strive to foster an inclusive community. The four years as a student and nine years as a faculty member helped me embody positive qualities, behaviors and values both within and outside of the DA community. I am so grateful for all the lifelong friendships I established at DA, and I am always proud to give back.  

College: Duke University, B.A.; China Europe International Business School, M.B.A.

Career: Business development director at Colite International; broker at Frasher Whaley Realty Group

What DA means to me: DA is home. It’s a beacon that, no matter where you are in the world, tends to draw you back to it. I lived abroad for 13 years, and DA was a big part of the decision to move back to Durham. As an alumnus and now DA parent, I can truly appreciate the value that the school offers. It shaped my character and personality into who I am today.

College: UNC-Chapel Hill, B.A.; Purdue University, M.B.A.

Career: Director of business development at SportsMEDIA Technology

What DA means to me: Durham Academy engenders a most unique environment — one that perpetually pushes students to work harder, think more analytically, and tackle the impossible, yet one that simultaneously provides deep nurturing and support to lead students to success. I always look back to Durham Academy as the place responsible for instilling this balance of core principles and for laying the foundation of my character.  And I wouldn't trade that for the world.

College: Elon University, B.A.

Career: Assistant director of development at Durham Academy

What DA means to me: To me, Durham Academy is all about family. I’ve been a member of the DA community for the past 28 years and have loved experiencing the school as a student, alumna and staff member. Now that my daughter is a student here, I get to see DA through her eyes, and I know how lucky she is to be a part of a community filled with compassionate and talented teachers that have so much heart for their students.

College: Duke University, B.A.; Duke University, M.B.A.

Career: Founder and CEO of NextPlay

What DA means to me: While I have plenty of incredible memories of friends, school trips, and alumni events since graduating, DA means much more than just those memories. Had I gone to another school without an incredible faculty like DA, a somewhat lazy and unmotivated kid like me would have been at risk of being left behind or lost in the shuffle. Thanks to DA, I not only kept up, but was admitted to Duke and was able to begin tapping into my potential as I matured.

College: Bucknell University, B.A.; Pittsburgh University, M.P.H. & M.S.W.

Career: Staying at home with 5-year-old twins and maintaining Licensed Clinical Social Worker certification

My memories of DA: I have a few great memories of DA. One is the annual class trips to start each school year.  They were so much fun, allowed me to try new things and were a welcome reconnection after the summer. Second would be the balance of freedom and accountability from my teachers and the school in general. It prepared me for college, grad school and life, but it was also just exciting to be independent. Last but not least would be that I married one of my best friends from high school, and it is such a good time to look back on our memories together!

College: UNC-Wilmington, B.A.; N.C. Central University School of Law, J.D.

Career: Attorney (practicing in the area of insurance defense litigation)

What DA means to me: As a "lifer," I never fully appreciated all that DA had to offer until I had moved on. DA is a unique place where every teacher takes a personal interest in each student, and in doing so they create an atmosphere in which they can expect and demand greatness from their pupils. Hard work, excellence, diligence and high moral fiber is not merely a suggestion at DA; it is a way of life. I look back on my experience as a DA student with pride, and I am humbled at the lengths to which many of my teachers took in teaching, encouraging and preparing me. I was shaped into a person of whom I can be proud because of my experience at DA, and it is truly an honor to serve on the alumni board.