Centennial Spotlights look back at the people who had an impact on Duke in its first hundred years, how they contributed to its meteoric rise and the trajectory they helped to set for the university that has endured through its first centennial and will continue to guide us into Duke’s second century.
A new coffee table book collects major moments and little-known stories of Duke’s history
Dr. Charles Johnson faced challenges from the moment he was hired as the first Black faculty member in the School of Medicine in 1970.
Myrna Adams spent her career at Duke trying to make it a better place for all. She served as the first vice president of institutional equity, taking on the position in 1995.
Juanita Kreps was a Duke vice president and professor of economics when she became Secretary of Commerce – the first and only woman appointed to President Jimmy Carter’s cabinet, serving from 1977 to 1979.
After playing on two national championship teams at Duke, Hill played in the NBA for 18 years and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Newsome is a triple Duke alumnus in addtion to having taught for eight years at Duke’s Divinity School. He is an emeritus member of Duke’s Board of Trustees and also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Duke Endowment.
Paul Jeffrey was known as “Monk’s last horn man.” That would be Thelonious Sphere Monk who, along with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Clark, was one of the architects of jazz’s bebop style.