The Journey After Duke: Reflections and Connections with Alumni

Join a panel of alumni reflecting on their professional lives since departing Duke. An opportunity for structured networking with the speakers and other Duke alumni who are leaders in their fields (access a list via Duke Box) will follow the conversation. The event is open exclusively to graduate and professional students. 

• Kai Cui, Ph.D ’12 (Statistics & Decision Sciences), Managing Director at Neuberger
• Alexis Franzese, Ph.D.’07 & ’11 (Sociology and Psychology), Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Elon University
• Steven Nicklas, Ph.D., T’03, Director of Quantitative Trading at Cargill, Inc.
• Moderator: Patricia Sánchez Abril A.B.'96, J.D., Dean of the University of Miami School of Law

Not sure what to expect from this event? Read reflections from past event participants.

Learn more about our speakers:

Image

Kai Cui, Ph.D ’12 is a managing director at Neuberger, where he leads data science and AI investment solutions efforts. His team partners with investment teams across asset classes to integrate data science, alternative data, and AI into investment research and portfolio strategies. Prior to joining Neuberger, Dr. Cui held similar roles at Point72 Asset Management, focusing on big data and advanced analytics in long/short equity research. He began his career at Validus, a reinsurance and insurance-linked securities manager. Dr. Cui earned a B.S. from Tsinghua University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in statistics from Duke University.

Image

Alexis Franzese, Ph.D.’07 & ’11 is a professor of sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Elon University.  She completed a doctoral degree in sociology in 2007 as well as a doctoral degree in psychology (clinical) in 2011, both at Duke University.  Her clinical internship was completed at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (2010-2011) in Durham, NC.  Her research and teaching explore self, identity, and well-being, with particular focus on authenticity. She is currently writing a book on authenticity under contract with HarperCollins. Her work also examines identity and meaning in travel and tourism, with Disney serving as a strategic domain of focus; she is co-editor of the 2025 volume Why the Magic Matters: Discovering Disney as a Laboratory for Learning (Bloomsbury Academic). Her scholarship has appeared in journals including Personality and Individual Differences, Sociology Compass, and Aging and Mental Health. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Franzese hosts the podcast Being Authentic AF and delivers public speaking and professional development programs on authenticity and the science of well-being. 

Image

Steven Nicklas, Ph.D., T’03 is the director of quantitative trading at Cargill, Inc., responsible for building a new proprietary trading desk for a family office with a mandate to deliver uncorrelated financial returns using rigorous quantitative research.  Prior to his current role, Steve was a senior director of quantitative trading/execution at Cargill where he managed a team of developers, quantitative researchers, project managers and operations staff to design, implement, operate and support the greenfield Quantitative Execution Platform, a modern centralized execution platform for global exchange-listed futures and options.  Prior to joining Cargill, Steve was a managing member and portfolio manager for Lake Hill Capital Management and Leucadia Asset Management, a subsidiary of Jefferies Financial Group, where he built and managed quantitative trading strategies for institutional investors and high-net-worth families. Before beginning his career in the financial markets, Steve completed his Ph.D. in Economics at New York University with a focus on macroeconomics and econometrics.  He also earned a B.S. degree in mathematics from Duke University. 

Image

Patricia Sánchez Abril, A.B.’96, J.D. is Dean of the University of Miami School of Law. She is professor of Business Law at the University of Miami Herbert Business School and has served in academic leadership roles at the Graduate School and Miami Herbert Business School. Her research centers on privacy and business law. Professor Abril’s teaching interests include business law, negotiation, and business ethics. In 2018, she was awarded the University of Miami Faculty Senate Outstanding Teaching Award. After graduating from Duke as an A.B. Duke Scholar, Professor Abril earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

This Professional Development Series event is sponsored by The Graduate School and Alumni Engagement and Development.