Originally piloted with the football team, the vision for the Duke Future Initiative has always been to harness alumni experiences, create a strong network of support, and provide practical experiences for student-athletes. The goal is to highlight the dual benefits the university offers: the opportunity to compete in Division I sports within one of the most competitive conferences, the ACC, while also receiving a top-tier education that prepares them for the future. The Initiative emphasizes that Duke not only supports student-athletes on the playing field, but also in the classroom and beyond, amplifying the idea that once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil.
“We piloted the program with football because we knew it could be a competitive advantage for Duke football.” said Terrell Smith, current Assistant Director of Athletics for NIL Strategy who launched the Initiative in 2022. “There was a strong interest from football alumni who wanted to showcase why Duke is the ‘Best of Both Worlds.'”
Under the former guidance of Smith, this program has offered various internships linking current and former Duke student-athletes. Alongside Smith, Chris Dapolito (Duke Class of 2005), William Hill (2002), Reggie Love (2004), Jamin Pastore (2005), Greg Pritchard (1980), Craig Richardson (1987 & 1992), Mike Schneider (2006) and Ryan Wolitzer (2020) also set the foundation for the Initiative by serving as advisory group members.
To date, the Future Initiative has placed more than 50 student-athletes in internships across the east coast, including New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Now at the head of this expansion is Dorian Jackson, the new Director of the Duke Future Initiative. Having been a former college football player himself, Jackson understands the value of programs such as the Duke Future Initiative for student-athletes. Jackson and the advisory group are charged with adapting and expanding the original blueprint of the Initiative to offer a wider array of professional development resources to all student-athletes, regardless of their sport.
To accomplish this mission, Jackson must focus on expanding the advisory group to include representatives from sports other than football. The advisory group maintains a continuous network of connections between alumni and current student-athletes, while helping advance the mission of the Duke Future Initiative. The terms for eight of these members will end in July, meaning that a need for a new era of alumni connections will be necessary. Jackson and other members of the Duke Future Initiative welcome those interested in serving on the advisory group with open arms.
In addition to the efforts to elect a new set of advisory group members, Jackson will collaborate closely with Dawn Kane, the Director of Student-Athlete Development. Kane, who organizes programming and education to guide student-athletes through the often-challenging transition from sports to the professional world, sees the expansion of the Future Initiative as a game-changer.
“We are very excited to expand the Duke Future Initiative to all student-athletes,” said Kane. “In addition to existing programming that aids student-athletes in resume writing, interview preparation and career exploration, the Future Initiative adds the practical hands-on experience for student-athletes. This program gives student-athletes an opportunity to explore industries and careers, while also providing the alumni a chance to reconnect with Duke Athletics.”
With Jackson’s connections to Duke’s alumni network and Kane’s knowledge in career development, the expanded Duke Future Initiative promises to be a powerful tool for student-athletes looking to make their mark both on and off the field.
A reminder of this ideology is a lanyard that Jackson carries with him, which reads ’40-Year Commitment.’ This phrase signifies that attending Duke is not just a four-year experience. Instead, it represents a lifelong connection. Even after graduating, the idea is that alumni continue to engage with Duke and utilize its resources for the next 40 years.
As the Future Initiative takes its first steps in this new direction, it stands as a testament to Duke’s commitment to the success of its student-athletes, ensuring they are well-prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
Originally piloted with the football team, the vision for the Duke Future Initiative has always been to harness alumni experiences, create a strong network of support, and provide practical experiences for student-athletes. The goal is to highlight the dual benefits the university offers: the opportunity to compete in Division I sports within one of the most competitive conferences, the ACC, while also receiving a top-tier education that prepares them for the future. The Initiative emphasizes that Duke not only supports student-athletes on the playing field, but also in the classroom and beyond, amplifying the idea that once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil.
“We piloted the program with football because we knew it could be a competitive advantage for Duke football.” said Terrell Smith, current Assistant Director of Athletics for NIL Strategy who launched the Initiative in 2022. “There was a strong interest from football alumni who wanted to showcase why Duke is the ‘Best of Both Worlds.'”
Under the former guidance of Smith, this program has offered various internships linking current and former Duke student-athletes. Alongside Smith, Chris Dapolito (Duke Class of 2005), William Hill (2002), Reggie Love (2004), Jamin Pastore (2005), Greg Pritchard (1980), Craig Richardson (1987 & 1992), Mike Schneider (2006) and Ryan Wolitzer (2020) also set the foundation for the Initiative by serving as advisory group members.
To date, the Future Initiative has placed more than 50 student-athletes in internships across the east coast, including New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Now at the head of this expansion is Dorian Jackson, the new Director of the Duke Future Initiative. Having been a former college football player himself, Jackson understands the value of programs such as the Duke Future Initiative for student-athletes. Jackson and the advisory group are charged with adapting and expanding the original blueprint of the Initiative to offer a wider array of professional development resources to all student-athletes, regardless of their sport.
To accomplish this mission, Jackson must focus on expanding the advisory group to include representatives from sports other than football. The advisory group maintains a continuous network of connections between alumni and current student-athletes, while helping advance the mission of the Duke Future Initiative. The terms for eight of these members will end in July, meaning that a need for a new era of alumni connections will be necessary. Jackson and other members of the Duke Future Initiative welcome those interested in serving on the advisory group with open arms.
In addition to the efforts to elect a new set of advisory group members, Jackson will collaborate closely with Dawn Kane, the Director of Student-Athlete Development. Kane, who organizes programming and education to guide student-athletes through the often-challenging transition from sports to the professional world, sees the expansion of the Future Initiative as a game-changer.
“We are very excited to expand the Duke Future Initiative to all student-athletes,” said Kane. “In addition to existing programming that aids student-athletes in resume writing, interview preparation and career exploration, the Future Initiative adds the practical hands-on experience for student-athletes. This program gives student-athletes an opportunity to explore industries and careers, while also providing the alumni a chance to reconnect with Duke Athletics.”
With Jackson’s connections to Duke’s alumni network and Kane’s knowledge in career development, the expanded Duke Future Initiative promises to be a powerful tool for student-athletes looking to make their mark both on and off the field.
A reminder of this ideology is a lanyard that Jackson carries with him, which reads ’40-Year Commitment.’ This phrase signifies that attending Duke is not just a four-year experience. Instead, it represents a lifelong connection. Even after graduating, the idea is that alumni continue to engage with Duke and utilize its resources for the next 40 years.
As the Future Initiative takes its first steps in this new direction, it stands as a testament to Duke’s commitment to the success of its student-athletes, ensuring they are well-prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
