Adria Shipp Dunbar
Christensen Family Center for Innovation
Executive In Residence in the Pratt School of Engineering
Research Interests
Dr. Dunbar is the Managing Director of The Christensen Family Center for Innovation. She oversees key initiatives such as the Duke Product Lab and Pratt Founders. Her work focuses on creating a cohesive innovation ecosystem within Duke Engineering that is human-centered, collaborative, and impact-driven.
In her role as Interim Director of the A. James Clark Scholars Program, Dr. Dunbar provides academic and professional mentoring to a highly selective group of engineering undergraduates who integrate leadership, business literacy, and civic engagement into their studies.
As a faculty member teaching Business Leadership for Engineers, she teaches the human systems that make the technical systems succeed. Her courses are preparing the next generation of engineers to lead in complex, interdisciplinary environments.
Dr. Dunbar collaborates widely across campus and with external partners to align Pratt’s innovation initiatives with real-world impact. She works closely with engineering faculty, industry professionals, and student founders to accelerate transformative research, support equitable access to innovation resources, and strengthen Duke’s role as a leader in teaching tech product leadership and engineering entrepreneurship.
Areas of focus: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering • Leadership and Professional Development • Communication • Program Design and Strategy • Innovation Ecosystems
Bio
Dr. Adria Dunbar is an educator and innovative leader dedicated to building communities and systems that empower students, faculty, and organizations to bring transformative ideas to life. With experience spanning k-12 education, academia, healthcare, startups, counseling, and leadership, her deep human background bridges technical disciplines with human-centered approaches to innovation, leadership, and program development.
As Managing Director of the Christensen Family Center for Innovation, Dr. Dunbar oversees all aspects of the center’s operations — including marketing, budgeting, partnerships, and culture.
Education
- B.A. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2001
- M.A. Western Carolina University, 2004
- D.Phil. University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 2010
Positions
- Executive In Residence in the Pratt School of Engineering
Courses Taught
- EGR 190: Special Topics in Engineering
In The News
- Engineering Students Dig for Solutions to Local Challenges (Oct 21, 2025 | Pratt School of Engineering)