About - Duke State Relations

Duke State Relations works to advance the priorities of Duke with state policymakers and opinion leaders in order to achieve broad engagement in North Carolina and the region. Our office is responsible for representing Duke University, Duke Health and Duke LifePoint Healthcare issues and interests with government officials and legislators in Raleigh and throughout the state. Duke State Relations works closely with faculty and staff to advance Duke’s legislative and administrative interests, to connect Duke’s expertise to policymakers in state government, and to foster relationships with North Carolina officials on policies related to higher education, health care, employment, public safety and other issues that affect Duke’s stakeholders.

Staff

Katie Lipe

Assistant Director

Katie Lipe joined Duke in 2019 and currently serves as the Assistant Director for Duke State Relations. She manages internal and external communications for Duke State Relations and oversees the “Duke in North Carolina” initiative which aims to demonstrate Duke’s presence, value, and impact across the state. Lipe also works to connect Duke faculty and staff with state policymakers to share research and expertise on legislative issues.

Prior to joining Duke, Lipe worked as a Legislative Assistant at the North Carolina General Assembly for a Senior House Appropriations Chairman. Before her time at the General Assembly, she participated in a public policy fellowship program at the UNC System Office.

Lipe is a proud alumna of East Carolina University where she was a member of the Honors College and graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Communication Studies. During her time at East Carolina, she found her interest in legislative affairs through internships with the U.S. Senate and the N.C. House of Representatives.