Executive Director Bill LeFevre to Retire in October 2026
After 19 years of leadership, Bill LeFevre, executive director of Sarah P. Duke Gardens, is preparing to retire in October 2026.
Since joining Duke in October 2007 as the first full-time director of Duke Gardens, LeFevre has guided a period of extraordinary growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the Gardens’ staff, operating budget and visitation more than doubled, the annual fund tripled and the endowment increased fivefold, strengthening Duke Gardens’ reach, mission and long-term sustainability.
“Bill LeFevre’s leadership has transformed Duke Gardens into one of the nation’s premier public gardens and a treasured resource for both the Duke community and visitors from around the world,” said Toddi Steelman, Vice President and Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability at Duke University. “His vision and stewardship have ensured that the Gardens will continue to inspire, educate and serve for generations to come. We are committed to a thoughtful leadership transition that builds on Bill’s legacy and dedication to excellence, innovation and impact.”
Bill LeFevre in the Terrace Gardens
A Vision for Growth
LeFevre’s tenure is marked by a series of ambitious projects that elevated both the beauty and accessibility of Duke Gardens. Among them are the Durham–Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion and Ruth Mary Meyer Japanese Garden, the restoration and relocation of the Roney Fountain from East Campus, and the redesign of the Mary Duke Biddle Rose Garden, including the beloved Rhodes Family Allée of cherry trees.
He also championed innovative and environmentally focused initiatives, including the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, developed as a pilot project of the Sustainable Sites Initiative, as well as the creation of the Piedmont Prairie and the Carnivorous and Coastal Plain Plant Collection.
“Each project was an opportunity to deepen the Gardens’ connection to its visitors and to the broader environment,” LeFevre said. “We wanted to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but meaningful and welcoming to all.”
Garden spaces championed by LeFevre include the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion, Mary Duke Biddle Rose Garden, Rhodes Family Allee, Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, Piedmont Prairie and the Carnivorous & Coastal Plain Plant Collection.
Transforming the Duke Gardens Experience
Most recently, LeFevre has led the development of the Garden Gateway, a $30 million capital project that reimagines the Gardens’ main entrance, expanding facilities and visitor amenities, and creating a more cohesive and accessible arrival experience.
For LeFevre, the project represents a culmination of years of planning and a commitment to ensuring Duke Gardens continues to evolve alongside the needs of its visitors.
LeFevre at the dedication of the Garden Gateway project, March 2026.
Reflections
As he prepares to retire, LeFevre reflects on the people who shaped his experience at Duke Gardens.
“It has been an honor to lead Duke Gardens and work alongside such an incredibly talented and dedicated staff, volunteers and board of advisors,” he said. “I will truly miss the joy that I experience here daily.”
Looking back, he hopes his legacy is rooted in both preservation and progress. “I hope the gardens remain as beautiful as when I first arrived, and that they continue to grow in ways that enrich the Duke Gardens experience for all who visit,” he said.
A national search will be conducted with the support of executive search firm, Kittleman & Associates, LLC, to identify LeFevre’s successor. Learn more.
Questions?
Please contact us at gardens@duke.edu.