Duke University and the Pratt School of Engineering offer many resources to encourage diversity and inclusion. From school-wide gatherings to professional groups for students traditionally underrepresented in engineering, you'll find dozens of opportunities to engage with fellow engineers and make friends across our diverse community.
Pratt & Chat: Every Friday afternoon during the academic year, the Duke Engineering graduate student community gathers to socialize. It's a great opportunity to meet many people with diverse interests and backgrounds who make up Duke Engineering.
Campout: For grad students, there's nothing like it: the annual campout brings graduate students throughout Duke together for 36 hours with the goal being an opportunity to buy season tickets to Duke men's basketball games.
Student Groups: Duke Engineering also offers a wide array of student groups that bring together undergraduate and graduate students together around common personal and professional interests.
Our "Engineering a Community" mentoring program seeks to create a more vibrant and inclusive community at Pratt by connecting undergraduate students from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds with engineering master's and PhD student mentors.
The program provides students with a system of support and encouragement, and as well as the opportunity to connect and network with someone who has been exactly where you are and successfully navigated the path that you are undertaking.
All participants gather a few times a year for a social, with mentor-mentee pairs meeting regularly throughout the academic year. To learn more, contact the Director of Diversity & Inclusion in Engineering.
The Duke Technology Scholars Program (DTech) aims to inspire more women to choose careers in computer science and electrical and computer engineering through one-on-one mentoring from Duke alumni and industry leaders, a unique summer internship program with leading tech companies in Silicon Valley and networking events with venture capitalists and industry leaders.
DTech scholars have had internships at such leading firms as Carbon 3D, Apple and Intuit. Mentors have included the deputy director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a vice president at Oracle, and managing counsel at Merck & Co.
Through our Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt co-sponsors the program with the Department of Computer Science in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): The Duke Society of Black Engineers focuses on increasing the number of successful minority engineers at Duke University, and on growing a network among students, alumni and other undergraduate engineers within the Triangle area. NSBE's mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
oSTEM: The Duke chapter of Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) is a LGBTQ+ affirming organization that aims to provide services and support for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to create a dynamic network between students and professionals in industry and academia.
Out For Undergrad (O4U): Out for Undergrad is a national professional development program to help high-performing LGBTQ undergraduate students reach their full potential. Admitted O4U students take part in professional meetings produced with industry partners. Applications to join the next O4U annual class open each March.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): The Duke chapter of SHPE was formed to serve as role models in the Hispanic community. Networking was the key basis for the organization. Nationally, SHPE enjoys a strong but independent network of professional and student chapters throughout the country.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE): The Duke Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers seeks to serve as a center of information on women in engineering at Duke University; encourage women engineers to attain high levels of education and professional achievement; and inform young women, their parents, counselors, and the general public of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities open to them. Nationally, SWE is a not-for-profit educational and service organization promoting engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women.
In addition to the groups listed above, Duke is home to several organizations focused on underrepresented graduate students in engineering and the sciences. Visit our Graduate Student pages to learn more, meet some of our current grad students and learn about recruitment incentives, scholarships and fellowships available at Duke Engineering.
Faculty and students are invited to drop by to meet informally with the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering (ODIE) to discuss topics related to climate, culture, and community at Pratt School of Engineering. Free coffee and pastries served.