A historic black and white photo of students sitting in a circle on the quad talking with a Duke building in the background
Centennial Home » Our Stories » Our Stories: Centennial Oral Histories Program

Our Stories: Centennial Oral Histories Program

Centennial book cover art
Centennial Oral Histories Program

Rick Wagoner

Rick Wagoner is a Duke alumnus, former chair and CEO of General Motors, and Trustee Emeritus of Duke. He is a current member of the Duke University Health System Board of Directors and chair of the Duke-Kunshan Advisory Board. In this interview, he talks about his long history with Duke and the university’s evolution to a global institution.

Read More

Oral history Bill Fulkerson
Centennial Oral Histories Program

Bill Fulkerson Jr.

For more than 40 years, Dr. Bill Fulkerson cared for patients while rising in the leadership ranks of Duke Health. From 2008 until 2021, he served as executive vice president, overseeing the clinical care operations of Duke University Health System. In this interview, he talks about the evolution from one hospital to a health system and Duke’s commitment to the patient above all else.

Read More

Centennial Oral Histories Program

Nan Keohane, PhD

Nannerl (Nan) Keohane served as president of Duke University for 11 years – from 1993-2004. In this interview, she talks with fondness about the people with whom she worked and about pivotal decisions made and enduring programs launched during her tenure.

Read More

A headshot of Bill King during the interview
Centennial Oral Histories Program

Bill King

Think you know a lot about the history of Duke? In this interview, Bill King, who served as Duke archivist for 30 years, shares little known facts and dispels misinformation as only a true historian can.

Read More

Ben Reese during the interview
Centennial Oral Histories Program

Ben Reese

For more than 15 years, Ben Reese led Duke’s Office of Institutional Equity and served as the university’s chief diversity officer. In this interview, he talks about the joys and challenges of this important work — both at Duke and in the broader national context.

Read More

Peter Lange sitting in a chair between two plants
Centennial Oral Histories Program

Peter Lange

Peter Lange is Duke’s longest-serving provost. In this interview, he talks about the importance of taking risks, and Duke University’s evolution during the 15 years he had responsibility for oversight of its academic mission.

Read More