At Duke, I Love…

Working@Duke invited Duke employees to fill in the blank: ““At Duke, I love ________.”

And they responded with full hearts.

For Valentine’s Day, here’s what (or whom) employees love at Duke:

Katie Altieri, in front with blonde hair, poses with her Duke Health and Fitness Center colleagues.

“At Duke, I love all the people that I work with every day. They are a great group of people who are always willing to help. It is a pleasure to come to work daily!”

Katie AltieriExercise specialistDuke Health and Fitness Center12 years at Duke

Mary Barzee, in the center wearing a black outfit and turquoise necklace, stands outside the Power House with her Duke TIP coworkers.

“At Duke, I love how the university spurs and supports downtown businesses. Duke TIP is in the downtown Power House, which is a renovated, old Durham building. Thanks in part to Duke having these buildings full of employees during the day, that brings more businesses and restaurants to downtown Durham. … it’s exciting to see.”

Mary BarzeeAssistant director for field studiesDuke TIP (Talent Identification Program)7 years at Duke

August Burns is on the far right.

“At Duke, I love the diversity of people and their cultures. Many groups at Duke bring together people from all different cultures to share one thing in common - the Duke experience! This photo was taken at the Small Cafe in my hometown, Pittsboro, North Carolina. I took some visiting scholars to see the small rural towns and taste some local cuisine. What a great time!”

August BurnsDepartmental business managerFitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Pratt School of Engineering8 years at Duke

From left to right, Valerie Glassman visits with Sharron Bradshaw, a Duke Dining cashier, in the Marketplace on East Campus.

“At Duke, I love visiting Ms. Sharron, who works as a cashier at the Marketplace! She has a sunny disposition, knows everyone who comes through her line and is always in a great mood! It's such a nice break from my day to get lunch there and see her smiling face.”

Valerie GlassmanAssistant dean of studentsOffice of Student Conduct9 years at Duke

Lora and her husband, Bob, stand next to his Triumph motorcycle. They are visiting Allen & Son Barbeque in Chapel Hill.

“At Duke, I love my husband, Bob, who has been working in Dr. Tom Coffman's lab for more than 25 years. There aren't too many people who can say they're married to someone who does heart transplants for mice!”

Lora GriffithsGrants and contracts administratorResearch Administration, Department of Medicine10 years at Duke

“At Duke, I love that I can walk outside between buildings and enjoy all of the beautiful landscape, birds, red-tailed hawks and flowers. Duke really does a fabulous job of incorporating natural beauty with amazing and diverse works of architecture.”

Kathleen HannonTechnical directorVascular Laboratory, Department of SurgeryLess than a year at Duke

“At Duke, I love the lemurs. I’ve always loved lemurs. They’re my favorite animal. For Christmas last year, my husband surprised me with a certificate to be a Duke lemur keeper for the day. You basically do what any keeper would do. You feed the lemurs and then you go around and clean up after the lemurs and watch the lemurs out in the forest. It’s a lot of fun.”

Ashley LunnStaff assistantDuke Divinity Office of Academic Formation and Programs2 years at Duke

From left to right, Tracy McNeil and his wife, Annie, on a cruise.

“At Duke, I love my wife, Annie McNeil. She is employed at Duke Regional Hospital.  Annie is one amazing woman. I really know what beauty is. I see it day after day, in her eyes, in her smile, in her face and in her heart. Annie is a beautiful person, inside and out. Every year that passes, I feel grateful and blessed to have met and married her. I am thankful for her loving me unconditionally and for investing in our marriage every single day. Annie, I love you so very much.”

Tracy McNeilAdministrative assistantFinance & Administration, Office of the Provost22 years at Duke

“At Duke, I love making people feel less scared about being sick. I always ask if I can get you a warm blanket, can I get you anything, trying to make them more at ease. A lot of the time, the patients just want to talk.”

Dana RiggFinancial care counselorDuke Raleigh Hospital Emergency Department7 years at Duke

“At Duke, I love basketball! I am a huge men’s basketball fan. The fan base, the students and the rivalry between the ACC teams makes it so exciting.”

Nicki TantFinancial care counselorDuke Sleep Disorders Center8 years at Duke

Linda Yi is visiting the Great Wall of China during her 2012-13 fellowship with Duke’s Hart Leadership Program, which provides leadership courses and experiential learning opportunities to undergraduates.

“At Duke, I love the path I found here, the direction it's sent me on and the tools I've been given to keep on building my own yellow brick road. My path of service learning, specifically in China, sparked my interest in not only education but cross-cultural and international education, and from a logistical and operational perspective, all my Chinese skills come from the Chinese classes I took at Duke.”

Linda YiChina Program coordinatorDuke TIP (Talent Identification Program)5 years at Duke (Yi graduated from Duke in 2012 with a Visual Arts bachelor’s degree)