President Brodhead Takes Farewell Tour on Capitol Hill

Duke President Richard Brodhead travelled to Washington, D.C., earlier this week to meet with several members Congress for his last visit to the nation’s capital as Duke’s chief executive.

Brodhead, who has been a regular visitor to Washington during his presidency, met with Congressmen G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and David Price (D-NC), as well as Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Ben Sasse (R-NE).

Brodhead thanked the North Carolina members for their continued support of Duke’s programs and priorities and discussed a range of issues affecting higher education today. He also recognized Butterfield and Price for representing the Duke community, as both have had Duke in their congressional districts at different times during Brodhead’s tenure.

During his meeting with Price, a former Duke political science professor, Brodhead was presented with a copy of a recent Congressional Record honoring his and Cindy Brodhead’s service to Duke over the past 13 years.

“Advocating for Duke, and for higher education, has been an important and enjoyable part of the presidency,” Brodhead said.  “We have been fortunate to have a congressional delegation that understands and supports the university and all its parts.  They recognize the value that Duke provides to North Carolina, and the country, and they are proud to represent us."

Brodhead’s visit came one day after President Trump’s proposed FY-2018 budget was released, and he used the opportunity to express Duke’s concern about proposed cuts to key federal research programs, student assistance, health care and the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.

Brodhead also discussed the importance to Duke of developing a comprehensive immigration policy and the potential adverse affects on the ability of institutions of higher education to function at their highest level.