Duke IT Academy Launches with Focus on Leadership and Connection

Inaugural cohort embarks on a three-month journey to strengthen skills and see the bigger picture of IT’s role at Duke

IT Academy class
The members of the Duke IT Academy gather at the kickoff event earlier this month. Photo courtesy of Duke OIT.

During a recent kickoff celebration for the first cohort of the Duke IT Academy, Duke University Chief Information Officer Tracy Futhey shared the simple mission of the new professional development program.

Speaking to the 17 members of the IT Academy’s inaugural class, drawn from across the Office of Information Technology, Futhey said the program’s focus on building leadership skills and understanding colleagues’ work will strengthen connections within the department and improve how it serves Duke. From maintaining campus-wide wireless networks to running the software that manages student data, OIT’s large staff carries out a wide range of interconnected tasks essential to the university’s operations.

“This represents more than a one-time program and effort,” Futhey told the group “This represents an investment in all of you, in our organization and in IT at Duke.”

Duke University Chief Information Officer Tracy Futhey addresses the members of the Duke IT Academy. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

Developed by Duke OIT leaders and Duke Learning and Organization Development (L&OD), a unit in Duke Human Resources, the Duke IT Academy blends a curated series of leadership development courses and opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of IT at Duke.

This fall’s program, featuring participants selected from Duke’s OIT staff, will serve as a pilot, with feedback shaping potential future versions open to team members from across Duke.

The kickoff event, held Aug. 5 at OIT's administrative offices at the Power House in downtown Durham, was the first of the nine in-person academy sessions scheduled over three months.

The morning session featured icebreakers and remarks from organizers and leaders, including Duke Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis. In the afternoon, participants heard from the Customer Service and ServiceNow teams on how user experience shapes the work of Duke OIT.

Other sessions in late August and September will provide instruction from L&OD experts and others on cultivating connections, critical thinking, effective communication, presentation skills and project management.

Members of the Duke IT Academy listen to IT Academy Facilitator Trina Rodriguez during the kickoff event earlier this month. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

“This isn’t just a collection of modules and topics—it’s an intentional journey,” said Keisha Williams, Assistant Vice President for L&OD, at the kickoff event. “Lean into the discomfort. Embrace it. Growth lives on the edge of what’s familiar.”

In October, leaders from nine OIT teams – Identity Management, IT Security, Network & Connectivity, Data Analytics, IT Tools, SAP, People Soft, Alumni Development and Web & Mobile App Development – will meet with academy members over three sessions to share their work and discuss challenges they face.

“OIT is huge, there are so many different things that we touch around campus,” said Trina Rodriguez, IT Academy Facilitator and Duke OIT Training & Education Practitioner. “Because we’re busy coding or fixing a computer problem or answering a phone, we don’t get the opportunity to see how vast we are. So sometimes you lose focus on the bigger picture. Taking this time to step back from your narrow view can give you the opportunity to see just how massive we are and how critical we are to the university at large.”

How are you practicing professional development in your school, department or unit? Share your stories, ideas and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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