A Legacy of Leadership: Dr. Carla Roncoli Announces Retirement from the MDP Program

After 16 years of dedicated service to Emory University, the Laney Graduate School announces the upcoming retirement of Dr. Carla Roncoli, director of the Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) program. Dr. Roncoli will conclude her tenure on January 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by visionary leadership, deep compassion, and transformative impact on students, faculty, and global partners.

Dr. Roncoli joined Emory in 2010 and quickly became an anchor for the MDP community. Over the years, she guided the program through some of its most significant moments, including the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her steady leadership ensured continuity of learning, strengthened partnerships, and reinforced the program’s core commitment to preparing students to address complex global development challenges.

What sets Dr. Roncoli apart is her deeply personal and student-centered approach to leadership. Known for championing experiential learning, she consistently encouraged MDP students to pursue opportunities that allowed them to apply their skills in real-world settings. Under her direction, academic year internships and immersive summer field practicums became signature elements of the program, helping students develop the practical expertise and cultural agility that define the MDP experience.

Her work to cultivate strategic relationships with organizations across the globe expanded students’ access to meaningful fieldwork and professional networks. Whether fostering placements with NGOs, international agencies, or community-based organizations, Dr. Roncoli ensured that MDP graduates left Emory not only academically prepared but also shaped by experiences that clarified their purpose and strengthened their confidence as global practitioners.

Her influence extends far beyond administrative leadership. A gifted mentor, Dr. Roncoli is known for her generosity, unwavering support, and ability to help students and colleagues navigate both academic and professional paths. This commitment was formally recognized in 2025, when she received the Laney Graduate School Award for Outstanding Director of Graduate Studies. The award celebrated not only her leadership but also the countless hours she invested in mentoring, advising, and uplifting members of the MDP community.

Dr. Roncoli’s impact can be seen in the strength of the program she helped shape. Under her guidance, MDP continued to innovate and evolve, responding to emerging global challenges while staying grounded in the values of ethical practice, community engagement, and interdisciplinary scholarship. The program’s graduates—now working across sectors including climate resilience, global health, sustainable development, humanitarian response, social entrepreneurship, and policy—carry forward the imprint of her teaching and leadership.

While her presence will be deeply missed, Dr. Roncoli’s legacy endures in the students she mentored, the partnerships she built, and the community she cultivated. The Laney Graduate School extends its heartfelt thanks for her extraordinary service and wishes her the very best in her next chapter.