Joel L. Fleishman

In 1971, Joel Fleishman joined the faculty of Duke University as founding director of the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs (now called the Sanford School of Public Policy), a position he held until 1983. He has been professor of law and public policy studies since 1974 and has served Duke in numerous administrative posts, including that of first senior vice president of the university.

In September of 1993, Fleishman relinquished his administrative duties at Duke to become president of the Atlantic Philanthropic Service Co., the U.S. program staff of Atlantic Philanthropies. Throughout his 10 years with Atlantic, Fleishman continued to teach and work part time at Duke, returning to full-time status effective July 1, 2003.

Fleishman is the author of “The Foundation: A Great American Secret—How Private Wealth is Changing the World” (New York: PublicAffairs Books, 2007). In March 2011, he published his book “Give Smart: Philanthropy that Gets Results.” The book was co-authored by Tom Tierney, chairman of The Bridgespan Group. Fleishman received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina in 1955 and a J.D. in 1959, and an LL.M. from Yale University in 1960.