Programs
The Hart Leadership Program offers cocurricular and postgraduate opportunities for Duke students and recent graduates.
We believe that leadership training can and should occur both inside and outside the classroom. That's why all of our core programs involve experiential education, pedagogical preparation, reflective practice, a strong community of peers, and an aspiration to public purpose.
Laidlaw Research & Leadership Scholars
The Laidlaw Scholars Research and Leadership Program is a prestigious 24-month leadership development initiative designed to cultivate ethical leaders across various sectors and fields of interest. This program, supported by a generous gift from the Laidlaw Foundation, aims to equip Duke undergraduates in their first and second years with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to drive meaningful change within their communities and beyond.
Service Opportunities in Leadership (SOL)
SOL is a nationally recognized, intensive 12-month leadership program for current students centered on the idea of embedding in deep community with partner organizations and learning how leadership practice translates to meaningful and impactful community work. SOL's distinctive three-stage structure includes pedagogical preparation for community engagement through a gateway course, funding for an immersive summer experience, and a capstone course providing students with the opportunity to reflect on and integrate their summer experiences into their academic learning and look ahead to how they can continue to engage in meaningful community work beyond their education.
Patman Political Engagement Project
The Patman Political Engagement Project is a program open to students in their junior year, regardless of major, who are interested in political leadership, broadly defined. Patman Fellows begin with pedagogical preparation through a politically-engaged spring course and faculty mentoring. Patman Fellows subsequently conduct either a funded politically-engaged internship or funded research for a politically-engaged senior thesis.
The Hart Fellowship
The Hart Fellowship is a 10-month postgraduate fellowship for recent graduates of Duke. Hart Fellows work with community partners around the world and throughout the US, collaborating on community-engaged research and service. The Hart Fellowship was established in 1995, and since then 118 Hart Fellows have conducted meaningful community engagement in over 40 countries.