Meet Duke Fuqua’s MBA Class Of 2027

DEEP RESOURCES IN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Paired Principles have also informed some of Fuqua’s signature programming. In terms of Impactful Stewardship, for example, you’ll find an Energy and Environment concentration, which is designed to help students understand how to balance energy demands with environmental considerations, whether their intent is to work in consulting or corporate leadership. In the process, Fuqua MBAs gain a deep understanding of environmental challenges, along with how new technologies and practices – plus financial and operational tools – can mitigate risks and create new business opportunities.

“As someone working in one of the world’s highest-emission industries, I’m eager to lead carbon-neutral change at my industry,” explains Eunmi Ko. “Courses like Climate, Sustainability and Corporate Governance, and the EDGE Seminar (offered by Fuqua’s Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment) will equip me with the insights and practical tools needed to drive real transformation.”

Laila Jalilian also plans to follow in Ko’s footsteps, as she sought a program that “treated social impact as a serious area of business, not a side note.” One place she hopes to do this is through the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE). Here, students learn how to measure, produce, and invest in impact through workshops, projects, and events. CASE was particularly attractive to Cecilia Dolan, an Impact Scholar whose long-term goal is to “lead with purpose.”

“Making a meaningful difference in people’s lives is at the heart of my career goals, and CASE provides the mentorship, resources, and community to help turn that purpose into action. Being part of a cohort of like-minded, impact-driven peers will challenge and inspire me as I explore how business can be used as a force for good.”

In fact, Fuqua is so serious about the field that it rolled out a 10-month Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability degree this summer offered in partnership with the Nicholas School of the Environment. In a 2025 interview with P&Q, Russ Morgan, senior associate dean of operations, notes the degree comes in response from employers and alumni, who note that organizations are struggling to find talent that can “bridge the language of business with the science of climate and sustainability.”

“MBCS graduates will be ready for analyst-level and early career roles at the intersection of business and climate,” Morgan continues. “Think about functions like ESG reporting, sustainability strategy, compliance, carbon risk assessment, supply chain sustainability, or climate-focused marketing. Employers span consulting firms, financial institutions, consumer goods companies, energy and tech firms — really, any sector where climate commitments are now front and center and where organizations realize they need people who can translate climate science into actionable business models and operational strategies.”

LEARNING LEADERSHIP FROM THE BEST

Echoes of Supportive Ambition can also be found in the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE), where legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski actually serves as a Professor of the Practice of Leadership. As part of COLE, MBAs can complete a Leadership and Ethics concentration, along with participating in a Speaker Series and events like New Directions in Leadership Research Conference and the Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Conference.

“I am interested in participating in LEADS (Leadership Engagement and Discussion Series) and eventually serving as a COLE Fellow, where I can mentor first-year learning teams and contribute to Fuqua’s leadership culture,” explains Cassidy Patscot. “This hands-on, reflective approach to leadership growth complements my passion for guiding teams through complex organizational change and people strategy. COLE will help me sharpen the competencies and character required to lead with impact.”

One area where Fuqua MBAs can practice leadership – and Loyal Community – is Fuqua on Board. In these roles, students serve on local nonprofit boards to get insider exposure to developing and executing organizational strategy (and managing personalities and politics too). For Laila Jalilian, Board Fellows was a means to get hands-on experience in the impact space.

“When I spoke with current students and alumni, I kept hearing the same thing: there are more social impact resources here than they could even take advantage of…Fuqua on Board especially stood out to me as a way to stay connected to the nonprofit world during business school. I’ve spent my career working with organizations that directly serve communities, and my long-term goal is to sit on a nonprofit board. Being able to engage with one during my MBA is both personally meaningful and professionally aligned for me.”

EVERYONE LOOKS FORWARD TO FRIDAYS

Fuqua also capitalizes on being five minutes from the Duke University Hospital. MBAs can be part of the Fuqua Center for Health Sector Management (HSM) programming, along with earning an earning an HSM certificate. Jay Pandit has already participated in the HSM Bootcamp, where he received a first-hand look at how Duke Health balances peak efficiency, quality care, and affordability. His classmate, Julissa Davila, is looking forward to completing her HSM certificate.

“What drew me most to the HSM Certificate was its comprehensive approach to healthcare education—combining rigorous academic coursework with immersive, real-world experiences,” she tells P&Q. “Beyond strategy and management fundamentals, the program offers hands-on opportunities through the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum and the Duke University Hospital Experiential Learning Practicum. These experiences provide a rare chance to engage directly with healthcare professionals and key stakeholders, bridging classroom knowledge with practical industry challenges.”

As the first semester closes, maybe the most unforgettable part of the Fuqua experience has been Fuqua Fridays. Think of it as a Friday afternoon gathering of students, faculty, staff over dinner, drinks, and music – often with different themes. Sponsored each week by a different club, Fuqua Fridays are a time for students – across all business degree programs – to swap stories, laugh, and grow relationships.

“It is an opportunity to bridge the gap across all Fuqua students and faculty,” observes Valeria Gavidia. “It offers a friendly and lively environment to create connections that may not otherwise be available in one’s day-to-day MBA curriculum.”

Maybe the biggest highlight for Fuqua alumni is the event that happens after the final Fuqua Friday. “FuquaVision is hands down my favorite tradition at Fuqua, writes ’25 grad Jack Prommel. “FuquaVision screenings always follow our final Fuqua Friday of the term, so the whole crowd is already gathered and ready for a good laugh. It captures the essence of the Fuqua culture — showing how much we value community, humor, and the ability to laugh at ourselves. I love that comedy can bring so many people together, and having your personal “brand” featured on screen always makes for a memorable.”

A CLASS PROFILE

This year, Team Fuqua boasts 426 members, with the school netting an all-time high of 4,032 applications (and accepting just 21% of applicants). Among the class, 46% of the class are women and another 38% are international students, with the class hailing from 17 countries. Another 22% of the class identify as first-generation students, while another 22% brought their partners to Durham. 11% of the class possesses military experience.

On average, the class hit 722 on the GMAT, as scores ran from 680-770 in the mid-80% range. In a surprise, 48% of the class submitted GREs, which stretched from 307-328 in the same range. At the low end, undergraduate GPAs started at 3.16 and finished at 3.91…again at mid-80%.

As undergraduates, the class attended 257 undergraduate institutions, with 14% holding advanced degrees. STEM-based majors account for 35% of the class, while Business and Accounting (29%), Liberal Arts (18%), and Economics (12%) majors hold double digit shares. Professionally, the class has worked for 344 companies, led by these sectors: Financial Services (22%), Non-Profits and Education (17%), Technology (12%), Manufacturing (9%), and Energy, Chemical and Gas (8%).

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSS MORGAN

Earlier this fall, P&Q reached out to Russ Morgan, the senior associate dean of operations, to learn about new developments at the Fuqua MBA. Along with that, Morgan shared how the school supports first-year and international students and integrates AI and interdisciplinary learning into the program. Here is P&Q’s Q&A with Morgan.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Morgan: “I am excited about a lot of the activity at Fuqua right now but will highlight a couple of initiatives that I think are particularly important. First, Fuqua is innovating new courses and embedding AI consistently across the curriculum as we develop future business leaders. From expanded electives in machine learning and algorithmic decision-making to hands-on consulting projects with companies, students are gaining practical, strategic exposure to generative AI and analytics.

Faculty thought leaders are helping students navigate the technical dimensions of AI, and its ethical and managerial implications — preparing them to lead AI transformation responsibly. We’re backed by Duke’s university-wide AI collaborations with initiatives like Deep Tech at Duke supported by OpenAI, which is a first-of-its-kind research effort exploring fields where AI can have the greatest impact. Fuqua MBAs benefit from this broader ecosystem at the forefront of innovation.

Second, I have been encouraged by how we have hit our stride this past year in how we have rethought what a scholarship can be. The Fuqua Impact Scholars program moves beyond the traditional model of simply offering financial support — important as that is — and complements it with a structure that invests in students’ personal and professional development.

What stands out about this approach is its responsiveness. The program is built around what students say they’re looking for: deeper connections to purpose, mentorship that reflects their goals, and opportunities that align with the kind of impact they want to have. Importantly, the program is designed to adapt to the interests and aspirations of the scholars themselves.

Fuqua Impact Scholars are selected not just for their achievements, but for the potential they’ve shown to lead in ways that matter. The program supports that potential with access to people, experiences, and resources that help them grow as business leaders and thoughtful contributors to their communities and industries.

It’s a meaningful step toward aligning business education with purpose, and it reflects Fuqua’s broader commitment to developing leaders who are ready to make a difference.”

P&Q: What do you see as the main differentiator that distinguishes your MBA program from other schools? How does it enhance the student experience and make them more attractive to employers?

Morgan: “Fuqua belongs on any list of top MBA programs for students looking to develop academically and professionally. Based on decades of conversations with students and other stakeholders, I believe Fuqua’s edge stems from our culture and the connectivity to Team Fuqua — a way of working that is supportive and collaborative and draws out the strengths of others toward excellence.

Team Fuqua creates a true sense of belonging and mutual respect that allows students to bring their authentic selves to all of their engagements on campus. In addition, this culture extends beyond campus and students build lifelong, trusted networks through strong peer and alumni bonds.

The extension of our culture to employers is incredibly valuable. Employers repeatedly express how they value Fuqua grads for many of the attributes needed to effectively lead: emotional intelligence, team effectiveness, and humility. Fuqua grads are often described as strong team players and culture carriers, ideal for the high-performance, collaborative work environments that describe a majority of effective organizations today.

In a world of AI and evolving technical tools, Fuqua graduates bring a human element to overlay on the application of these tools.”

P&Q: What types of services do you provide to first-year MBAs to ease their transition into business school?

Morgan: “The transition to business school can be difficult, and the challenges are different for each person. At Fuqua, we make a significant investment in preparing all students to be successful in the MBA program. We recognize and value that students have widely diverse backgrounds, and we tailor our services and preparation programs to meet each student’s needs. Some of that preparation is through resources we provide prior to the program, while some of it is through how we set up the curriculum and provide support once their program begins.

When admitted, we evaluate each student’s readiness for the quantitative elements of the program and make recommendations around the use of resources including MBA Math and the learning modules in GMAC’s Business Fundamentals offerings. We have found it important for students to be prepared to apply software tools for analytics, especially within the Excel environment, and encourage students to begin to develop these skills through a curriculum that is available prior to beginning at Fuqua.

We also spend time before and after program launch to guide students’ career preparation. This programming begins when students are admitted. Depending on each student’s needs, that can involve significant early connection with our Career Management Center (CMC) in the spring and summer before starting the program or during the summer as co-curricular development that is scheduled along with classes.

We intentionally begin classes in early August as a way to provide a modified summer term where students can academically get their feet underneath them. Their first courses focus on development that will enable success throughout their program:

• Leadership Ethics and Organizations
• Entrepreneurial Mindset and Action
• Leading Business in a Complex World
• Collaborative Leadership

All of our core classes have one or more Academic Fellows to help guide students to resources for review and tutoring. We have a cohort of second-year students, trained by the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE), who work with each team of first-year students to guide their development as a leader and team member.

We have a strong student government that partners with our Office of Student Life to support students’ journeys, including through the more than 60 professional, diversity, and social clubs at Fuqua. Similarly, there are a wide variety of health and wellness initiatives that are the product of student-staff partnerships.”

Next Page: In-depth Profiles of 12 Members of the MBA Class of 2027.

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