Case Study
Duke University

Duke University, based in Durham, North Carolina,is a prestigious private research university renowned for its academic excellence and strong interdisciplinary programs. Established in 1838, Duke offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degrees across its ten schools and colleges, including the highly regarded Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering. The university is committed to fostering intellectual curiosity, innovation, and ethical leadership. With a student-to-faculty ratio that supports close collaboration, Duke encourages students to explore diverse fields, engage in research, and tackle complex global challenges.

Outside the classroom, Duke is known for its spirited campus life and deep sense of community. Students enjoy a vibrant mix of cultural, athletic, and service opportunities, from Division I Blue Devil athletics to dozens of student-led initiatives. The university’s scenic campus includes iconic landmarks such as the Duke Chapel and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, offering a balance of tradition and modernity. Its proximity to the Research Triangle further enhances opportunities for real-world experience and professional growth.

Duke University is a Protopia design partner and our first customer. Thanks to its vision and leadership, 200,000 Blue Devils across the globe can seamlessly network with each other.

Expand and simplify networking for all students and alumni

With over 17,000 students, 10 colleges, and a campus in Kunshan, China, top-ranked Duke University has one of the most global, diverse, and passionate communities in the world.

While engagement between alumni, faculty, staff, and students was high, the Duke Alumni Association (DAA) wanted to further elevate it and set goals to: 

  • Create more connections between alumni and students
  • Reach new, unengaged people
  • Create value for participants and campus
    Improve our data on alumni
  • Increase engagement with existing alumni portal

Empowering campus partners to boost engagement

At Duke University, Circles has become a powerful tool for delivering tailored engagement across its diverse schools and programs. The Fuqua School of Business and the Pratt School of Engineering each have their own branded Circles within Protopia, providing their students with a personalized entry point into Duke’s broader alumni network. These Circles not only reflect each school’s identity, but also leverage Protopia’s intelligent matching to preferentially connect students with alumni who share relevant academic or professional backgrounds. 

Each Circle also comes with its own reporting within the Protopia Dashboard, enabling campus partners to track engagement and impact specific to their audience. This approach ensures more meaningful, trusted interactions while still keeping the full strength of the Duke alumni network intact. Circles has helped Duke scale targeted engagement without adding complexity for students, alumni, or staff.

Elevating Engagement at Duke University

Susan Gordon, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Careers, Mentoring, and Campus Engagement at Duke University, discusses why Duke partnered with Protopia.

Engagement outcomes

Now in its seventh year with Protopia, Duke University has set a high bar for truly broad + inclusive engagement for Blue Devils everywhere.

alumni and supporters who have been engaged
0
volunteers who have mentored a Blue Devil
0
leads of high-value prospect engagement
> 0
of alumni updated their information
0 %

“With a community as large and diverse as ours, we needed a truly different and innovative solution to connect our alumni and students. Protopia’s AI has made networking simple, seamless, and scalable and allowed us to engage so many new people, and all without another app to sign up for or use for our already busy alumni.”

Sterly Wilder
Frm. Senior Associate Vice President, Alumni Engagement and Development
Duke University

Are you ready for the future of Alumni Engagement?

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