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Financial Planner to Event Planner

Duke Global Health Institute's Darlene McCain enjoys the art of hospitality

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One of the most important things in Darlene McCain’s life is family – Here in her office at the Duke Global Health Institute, she holds a photo of her two grandchildren, McKenzie and Isaiah Russell-McCain, and another of her great-great grandmother from Guadalupe, Cecelia Couze. Photo by April Dudash

Name: Darlene McCain Position: assistant director of finance, Duke Global Health Institute Years at Duke: 4.5

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What I do at Duke: Part of my role is to provide oversight and management of research and financial administration for global health. I probably would say in short that anything that has a dollar sign on it, I'm responsible for reviewing and approving and ensuring compliance and accuracy.

If I had $5 million, I would: Establish some recreation centers throughout the community and not just in urban areas, but in suburban areas as well. I grew up attending recreation centers. It's a safe place for children to grow and really to challenge their mind.

My first ever job: I worked for Washington D.C.'s Summer Youth Employment Program and I worked for Wilhelmina Rolark (civil rights activist) with the city council, and I was 14 years old.

If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: What makes you happy? And I would first talk about my family, my husband and my three sons, and my beautiful granddaughter, and then about what I love to do, and that's to practice hospitality.

The best advice I ever received: Consider the other person's needs. Growing up in two major metropolitan cities, in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, there were so many needs from individuals within the community. No matter where you were in life, you could still extend yourself to help someone else, and that brings about the greatest joy. More importantly, I saw that in my mother. If there was one word I could use to describe my mom, that was "selfless."

What I love about Duke: The pride that Duke shares, bestows upon everyone. You really feel like you're part of this family, this extended family.

When I'm not at work, I like to: Spend time with my family and friends, just kind of practicing hospitality. (McCain also attends church and volunteers with the PTA, NAACP, voter registration drives and Hope Worldwide, an international charity that helps the world's poor and sick.)

If I could have one superpower, it would be to: Heal the sick and the poor, and make sure everyone's well-fed and that everyone is well-clothed and warm.

Something most people don't know about me: I was the homecoming queen in high school in Washington D.C.

The skills I bring to my work are: I'm a visionary. I get to see the big picture of what it really means to provide education, training and research to global health and what global health disparities mean.

A movie I like: Titanic. (It's about) innocent love and the fight to survive.

A unique thing in my office: A picture of my great-great grandmother from Guadalupe. (Her name is Cecelia Couze, and McCain received the picture from her grandmother.) When people come in, they say, "This woman looks just like you. Where did you pick this up in your travels?"