Sarah P. Duke Gardens to Welcome New Director in 2027
Grace Elton will lead the 55-acre institution, bringing experience from her previous role at the New England Botanic Garden.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in People
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Grace Elton will take over as executive director of the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens in 2027. She succeeds Bill LeFevre, who served as the first person in the role for 19 years.
Why it matters
Elton brings a track record of growth from her nine-year tenure as CEO of the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, where she oversaw double-digit increases in key operational metrics. Her appointment marks a transition following the completion of the $30 million Garden Gateway project, which introduced a new welcome center and expanded green space.
During her nine-year tenure at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Grace Elton drove an 81% increase in annual visitation and a 47% rise in membership. These results follow the 2026 completion of the $30 million Garden Gateway project at the Durham site.
The players
Grace Elton
Incoming executive director of Sarah P. Duke Gardens who previously led the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill.
Bill LeFevre
Retiring first executive director of Sarah P. Duke Gardens who served in the position for 19 years.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
A 55-acre public garden and department of Duke University.
The details
Elton will work alongside LeFevre during her first month to ensure a seamless transition of leadership at the gardens. As executive director, she oversees the operations of the 55-acre facility, a department of Duke University. Her previous background includes serving as horticulture director at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, providing experience in managing complex botanical operations and capital development projects.
Timeline
April 2026: The Garden Gateway project opened.
2027: Grace Elton begins her new role.
Market Landscape
The leadership change follows the successful 2026 completion of the $30 million Garden Gateway project. This expansion set a new baseline for the facility's visitor capacity and physical footprint.
Local operators and institutional partners should watch for potential shifts in the garden's programming and outreach strategy once Elton settles into the role in 2027. Her historical success in boosting membership and visitation metrics suggests a potential focus on scaling engagement and revenue-generating events.
The takeaway
Elton's appointment signals an emphasis on high-growth performance metrics following the recent expansion of the facility. Managers should monitor how she pivots from the project-based growth of the Garden Gateway to sustained operational scaling.
Further reading
For more on local leadership shifts and organizational updates, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Duke Chronicle.
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