Mary Frances Luce Appointed Dean of Fuqua

Mary Frances Luce

The following is a summary of a story originally on the Office of the Provost website. 

Mary Frances Luce has been named dean of the Fuqua School of Business, Duke Provost Alec D. Gallimore announced recently. Luce will begin her term April 1. 

Luce has served as interim dean since August 1, 2024. Luce is the first Fuqua graduate to serve as dean, having earned her Ph.D. in business administration in 1994. She joined the Duke faculty in 2004 and is the Robert A. Ingram Professor of Business Administration. 

During her time as interim dean, Luce oversaw the school’s participation in the university-wide strategic realignment and cost‑reduction process. She reorganized faculty leadership, implemented changes in recruitment for the Daytime MBA program, and oversaw growth in Fuqua’s Executive Education programs, which nearly tripled revenue and increased Duke faculty participation and partnership. Fuqua recorded its second‑highest fundraising year in 2025, including a record for gifts to the Annual Fund.

“I am thrilled to be named dean of Fuqua at this moment in its history,” said Luce. “My experience as interim dean has only deepened my conviction that Fuqua’s future is extraordinarily bright.  … The magic of this school is its people—the talent, commitment, and shared purpose of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners.”

Luce has held other leadership positions at the university level. She previously served as an associate vice president for Duke’s Office of Research & Innovation—the first to be focused on the humanities, arts and social sciences. Luce also served as interim executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University.

Luce’s research centers around emotion and decision-making, particularly in health contexts. She has developed courses in healthcare marketing and value-based care and has contributed to curricular innovation, particularly in health sector management.

Luce succeeds Bill Boulding, who served as Fuqua’s dean from 2011 to 2024 and is the J.B. Fuqua Professor of Business Administration. 

For more information, see the full story on the Office of the Provost website.