Duke Management Academy Scholars

Joy Parton

Title: Assistant Director of Engagement, Multicultural Advancement
Department: Duke Alumni Engagement and Development
Entity:
Class Year: 2025

Bio:
Assistant Director of Operations and Engagement, Multicultural Advancement Duke University Joy Parton serves as the Assistant Director of Operations and Engagement with the Multicultural Advancement team at Duke University. While she is relatively new to AED, Joy is not a newcomer to Duke. Prior to her current role, she worked in Special Events and, before that, spent 15 years at Duke Hospital as a Volunteer Coordinator. Her passion for working with volunteers shines through in every aspect of her career.

In her current position, Joy takes on the responsibility of liaising with several National Affinity Boards, including Duke First, Duke Hispanic/Latino Alumni (DUHLA), Duke Arab Alumni, Duke LGBTQ+ Network, Duke Native American/Indigenous Alumni (DNAIA), and Duke Pacific Islander Alumni (PAIA). She supports and manages these boards and their associated committees, coordinates university resources, interprets university policies, and much more.

Joy's extensive background in operations, coupled with her love for the Duke Alumni community, makes her a strong asset in her role. Her experience as an operations lead at Duke Hospital has equipped her with the ability to manage teams in a fast-paced environment. She is highly organized and driven, with a passion for efficiency and quality control. A true "people person," Joy has a natural ability to connect with others, making her an integral part of any team.

Outside of work, Joy enjoys volunteering at her church and with local non-profits, as well as staying active with Zumba. She also loves watching horror movies and spending quality time with her family during game night.

Her motto, "Work smarter, not harder," reflects her approach to problem-solving, creativity, and resourcefulness. Joy believes that "problems are nothing but wake-up calls for creativity" (Gerhard Gschwandtner), and she thrives on finding innovative solutions in every aspect of her work.