Duke Advisor Earns Honors from Council on Foreign Relations, United Nations Academic Leadership Suite

Mark Dalhouse, senior quad advisor at Duke’s Academic Advising Center, has received two distinct honors from national and international organizations. 

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) appointed him as a 2026–27 Education Ambassador, where he will join a national network of educators helping students better understand global affairs and recognize their role in shaping the world around them.

In addition, Dalhouse was selected to join the October 2026 cohort of the United Nations Academic Leadership Suite in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dalhouse’s appointments reflect his longstanding commitment to connecting a liberal arts education with citizenship, leadership and public engagement. At Duke, he teaches the Focus Seminar “9/11 and the World We’ve Inherited,” which encourages students to think critically, place current events in historical context, practice intellectual humility and consider how they can become active citizens and leaders.

Every presidential election year, Dalhouse takes Duke students to the Iowa caucuses for 10 days of firsthand political engagement. Students follow presidential candidates, attend rallies and press conferences, and reflect on how their Duke education prepares them for leadership, public service and active participation in their communities. 

“An important principle that guides my work at Duke is the belief that the skills developed through a strong liberal arts education are also the skills required for meaningful citizenship and leadership,” Dalhouse said. 

Facilitated by CFR Education, the educational arm of the Council on Foreign Relations, the eight-month ambassador program connects faculty members and administrators with free educational resources, professional development opportunities and a network of colleagues dedicated to advancing global affairs literacy. 

The 2026–27 ambassador cohort includes approximately 80 high school educators and 80 higher education faculty members and administrators from 42 states, representing a broad range of public and private institutions. Ambassadors will explore innovative ways to incorporate global affairs into their courses, strengthen their teaching practices, provide feedback to the Council on Foreign Relations and share their experiences with colleagues at their institutions and at regional and national conferences. 

Through more than 800 free, nonpartisan multimedia resources, CFR Education supports educators in helping students develop the knowledge, skills and perspective needed to navigate today’s interconnected world. 

The United Nations Academic Leadership Suite is certified by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and designed for senior academic leaders committed to advancing institutional excellence and driving meaningful change within their institutions.

"I’m very excited to be attending this conference next month and am grateful to Duke's Academic Advising Center for its support for this opportunity," Dalhouse said.

Dalhouse earned his Ph.D. in American history from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. His professional experience spans classroom teaching and residential student life, including service as resident live-in faculty at Truman State University, Vanderbilt University and Elon University. Throughout his career, he has mentored students through academic advising, study abroad and study away, learning-living communities, community-engaged learning and internship placement.