Duke University has named Karl Hanson its chief real estate officer, effective May 4, 2026. He will lead strategy, development, acquisition and management across Duke's academic, research, clinical and operational properties, reporting jointly to Rachel Satterfield, Duke's vice president of finance and treasurer, and Lisa Goodlett, the health system's senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.
Hanson arrives with more than 25 years in commercial real estate, development, asset management and real estate law. Most recently he served as executive director of real estate for Baptist Health System in Jacksonville, Florida, overseeing a portfolio of more than 2.5 million square feet of medical office and administrative space. At Baptist Health, he led site selection, property acquisitions and development initiatives including ambulatory campuses, ambulatory surgery centers and a large-scale hotel development on a main hospital campus.
Before his healthcare work, Hanson held senior roles in real estate development, asset management and legal leadership. That legal background, Duke said, positions him to navigate complex transactions, regulatory requirements and partnership structures.
The hire arrives as Duke faces pointed public attention over its footprint in Durham. The university pledged $203 million toward local hiring, construction and affordable housing earlier this year. A separate purchase near Central Campus displaced a six-year community gathering space in April. Hanson's portfolio will sit at the center of those tensions.
Hanson lives in Durham with his wife, Melissa, a professor at Duke University School of Law.