Duke Management Academy Scholars

Mai Nguyen

Title: Administrative Director
Department: Department of Biology
Entity:
Class Year: 2025

Bio:
Mai Phuong Nguyen joined Duke University in March 2023, relocating from the Bay Area, California, where she had lived for over two decades. She currently serves as the Administrative Director for the Biology Department. A highly accomplished administrative leader, Mai brings extensive experience in financial management, human resources, and project management, gained through over 15 years of service within the University of California (UC) system. She has a proven track record of strategic planning, managing complex programs and projects, and building collaborative partnerships.

Her expertise encompasses budget planning and oversight (managing current annual budgets exceeding $15M, and previously managing budgets of $48M), grant management (overseeing approximately $45M in ongoing awarded projects here at Duke), operational coordination (including facilities management for over 400K square feet of space), and human resources administration (from recruiting and onboarding to performance management). Mai has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive process improvements, and enhance profitability. A first-generation college graduate, she holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and dual Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Human Development from UC, Davis.