Durham, NC - Allison Haltom came to Duke as a student in 1968 and never left. Over the next 36 years, she became an employee, Duke's first female fund raiser then in 1986 university secretary. Later she was promoted to vice president. At a retirement party for her Tuesday, President Richard H. Brodhead listed her many Duke roles and concluded, "I learned today that you did nursing admissions. What have you not done?"

More than 100 people attended the event in the Doris Duke Center, which included a poem from Vice Provost Judith Ruderman and a Temptations-inspired song from the staff in the university secretary's office.

Haltom served under four presidents. As university secretary, she ensured members of the Board of Trustees were kept abreast of university issues and oversaw presidential transitions. In 2001, she took over the duties of university marshal, which include the operations of major university ceremonies such as commencement.

Her contributions to Duke went beyond her job. As a volunteer, she serves on the Alumni Association's board of directors and has contributed on many women's issues as a member of the Women's Studies Council and the Steering Committee on the Status of Women. Her community work includes service on the board of the North Carolina School of the Arts, and her contributions on child care issues in Durham have been honored with several awards.

At the ceremony, Haltom said although she was retiring, she would never completely leave Duke. She thanked the many people who helped her during her time at Duke, from admissions officers and fund raisers to board chairs as well as her family, husband Professor David McClay and children David and Katie.

Photos: Haltom chats with Botany Professor Richard White, former dean of Trinity College. Below, the University Secretary staff pay a musical tribute. Photos by Megan Morr.