Academic Advisors and Deans

My advisor is no longer at the Academic Advising Center.
Do I have a new advisor?

Yes, any student whose advisor leaves the Academic Advising Center is assigned to a new academic advisor. You can see the name of your new advisor on ACES. Click on the Academics button from the main menu and then select the Academic Info link. Contact information for your advisor is available online.

Can I change advisors?

We strongly recommend that you continue to work with your first-year advisor through your sophomore year until major declaration. This way, you can build a mutually beneficial relationship with your advisor that will be especially helpful as you make changes – whether big or small – in your academic plans.

In the event that you believe that you would work better with a different advisor, please schedule an appointment with your academic dean to discuss your advising needs and why you do not think your current advisor is working out.

Who is my academic dean?

Your academic dean remains unchanged from your first year at Duke. Deans are assigned to students based on the first-year residence hall. Your dean’s name is also in ACES. Click on the Academics button from the main menu and then select the Academic Info link.

Dean Donna Kostyu is the dean for students who lived in Alspaugh, Bassett, Brown, Pegram

Dean Milton Blackmon is the dean for students who lived in Aycock, Epworth, Giles, Jarvis, Wilson

Dean Lynn White is the dean for students who lived in Gilbert-Addoms, Southgate

Dean Aaron Todd is the dean for students who lived in Bell Tower, Blackwell, Randolph

Other academic advising resources

As you make decisions about your major, study abroad, research and internships, you should not rely exclusively on one person for all the information you need about your academic life at Duke. While your advisor will probably be the person you talk to most often about your class schedules, grades, and academic plans, we encourage you to take advantage of other people on campus for specialized and personalized advice.

Your academic dean can help you to:

  • Understand academic procedures in Trinity College
  • Manage a problem with a course or instructor
  • Access academic support services
  • Deal with a personal or family emergency
  • Withdraw from a course
  • Take a leave of absence
  • Submit requests to reschedule final exams
  • Arrange for an incomplete
  • Get pre-approval for transfer course work
  • Learn more about Program II and interdepartmental majors

Your prehealth advisor can help you to:

  • Learn about required courses for medical, dental, or veterinary school
  • Schedule prehealth coursework while also accommodating major and other graduation requirements
  • Prepare for the application process by taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities on and off campus

Pregraduate, prebusiness and prelaw advisors can help you to:

  • Understand required course work, if any
  • Plan course schedules appropriately
  • Discover ways to gain necessary experience
  • Prepare for the application process

Directors of undergraduate studies (DUS) can help you to:

  • Understand the requirements of majors/minors offered in their department or program
  • Learn about mentored research opportunities
  • Get pre-approval for transfer course work including study abroad
  • Find out about career and graduate school options

Staff in the Office of Study Abroad can help you to:

  • Explore study abroad programs
  • Understand study abroad eligibility requirements
  • Complete the application process
  • Decide on the right program(s) for you
  • Determine how courses taken abroad can be used toward your degree requirements

Your professors can help you to:

  • Find opportunities for research or independent study
  • Learn more about a discipline or subject that could lead to a major, minor or certificate program
  • Improve your approach to reviewing material, writing and studying