Hart Leadership Program

Are you a senior looking for something to do after graduation? Do you have experience engaging with communities, undertaking research, and asking good questions? The Hart Fellowship might be the right fit for you!

A prestigious postgraduate research + service opportunity, the Hart Fellowship funds and equips bright, curious, and thoughtful Duke grads to spend ten months in the field, learning from and working with communities on important humanitarian, social, and political issues. Join us on Zoom this Thursday at 1 PM EST to learn more about this program!

Applications due January 21st at midnight. Link in bio to learn more and apply!

Join us today at 6 PM in Sanford 223 to learn more about the exciting capstone year experience that is the Hart Fellowship! Hart Fellows are changemakers and curious researchers with outrageous ambition to make the world a better place. Come spend some time with us this evening and learn if this opportunity might be the right next step for you after graduation!

Are you a senior or recent grad interested in making a difference on an issue you care about? Trying to figure out what the year after graduation might look like for you? Join us this Wednesday, 12/3 at 6 PM in Rhodes, for an information session to learn more about the Hart Fellowship!

Hart Fellows develop their vision for ethical leadership while engaging in meaningful community-based research projects of tangible benefit to the organizations they partner with. Sound intriguing? Schedule office hours with Lee to discuss your ideas and learn more!

Time is running out to apply for one of four exciting experiential learning opportunities with Hart Leadership Program! Online applications close today, October 1st, at 11:59 PM.

Still discerning whether a program fits your interests and goals? You’re welcome to email Lee or Dr. B before 5 PM or drop by Sanford 115 this afternoon to discuss your lingering questions!

If you’re eager to explore the intersection of leadership and public life, we hope to see an application from you!

Another roundup of what to expect at HLP this week! Applications close for our Laidlaw Scholars, SOL, LAPI, and Patman programs this Wednesday at 11:59 PM! Apply now to be part of the 2026 cohorts for these unique and impactful leadership development programs offered through the Sanford School of Public Policy. There are opportunities available for students of all majors and every year at Duke. Join us for office hours Tuesday or Wednesday this week to learn more and ask your last minute questions before the apps are due!

Join us TODAY, September 25th, for the Public Purpose Symposium! We are offering a full day of programming centered around the question: What is the public purpose of your Duke education?

✨Join us for at 10 AM and 1:30 PM in Sanford’s Fleishman Commons for poster presentations from current HLP students about their community-engaged research and service work. Coffee and snacks provided!
✨At 12:15 PM, three HLP alum will be hosting lunchtime roundtable conversations about their year serving globally as Hart Fellows.
✨Swing by Wellness Center 148 at 2:45 PM to hear from current student leaders about their experience with HLP and how their summer internship experiences have informed their future career paths.
✨Stop by our info table in Fleishman at any point throughout the day to speak with Lee or Dr. B about how you can get involved with HLP!

We hope to see you at any or all of these events! Come and be part of the conversation!

The last Laidlaw Scholars Program Information Session for the 2026 cohort is TONIGHT in Sanford 223 at 5:30 PM! 🥳 Come through to learn about the program components, connect with Dr. Ballard (Program Coordinator), and hear about the student experience from three current Scholars.

Can’t attend?
There’s still plenty of time to learn more by visiting our website, attending office hours, or emailing Dr. B directly! Open office hours will take place next Tuesday in Sanford 115 from 2:30 - 5:00 PM, or reach out to Dr. B to schedule time to meet. ⭐️

Check out all the fun things going on at HLP this week! We still have a few spots available this Thursday for our lunchtime round table conversations – sign up at the link in our bio! Hope to see you at the Public Purpose Symposium in some capacity: we’ll have poster sessions, lunchtime roundtables, and a special student panel in the afternoon.

🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Run, don’t walk, to next week’s final Laidlaw Scholars 2026 Information Session!

Join Dr. Ballard and three current Scholars next Wednesday, September 24th at 5:30 PM in Sanford 223 to learn about the Laidlaw Scholars Program. This is your opportunity to better understand the requirements, get a sense of the student experience, and ask questions as you discern whether the program is right for you.

🤧 Can’t join us? Be in touch!
You’re welcome to visit our website, email Dr. Ballard to schedule office hours, or swing through open office hours in Sanford 115 on Tuesdays 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM. We want to meet you and hear your story ✨

Gearing up for another busy week here at HLP! Juniors — make sure you join us on Wednesday evening to learn more about the Patman program! We’ll be in Sanford 223 at 5:30 PM!

Planning to apply for Patman? Join us next week for an info session all about the Patman Political Engagement Project! This program is geared towards juniors with an interest in policy, democracy, civil discourse, and empowering historically disenfranchised communities for active political engagement. Combining pedagogical preparation with one-on-one mentorship and a summer stipend, Patman Fellows develop critical skills and experience for ethical leadership in a variety of fields.

Swing by Sanford 223 next Wednesday at 5:30 PM to hear from past Patman Fellows about their experiences!

🎤 INFO SESSIONS! Join for 1 of 2 upcoming info sessions for the Laidlaw Scholars Program:

📕 EAST CAMPUS: Thursday, September 11th at 5:30 PM in GADU
📗 WEST CAMPUS: Wednesday, September 24th at 5:30 PM in Sanford 223

Intrigued by the program but not sure if it’s a good fit for you? Come learn about the Laidlaw experience from current Scholars and the Program Coordinator Dr. Lucy Ballard.

Can’t make an info session? No problem!
👋🏾 Visit open office hours with Dr. B on Tuesdays, 2:30-5:00 PM in Sanford 115 for a 1:1 conversation,
👋🏽 schedule separate office hours using Dr. B’s Calendly link on the HLP website, or
👋🏻 be in touch by email