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Margaret Epps Named Secretary to Board of Trustees, Presidential Chief of Staff

By Duke Today Staff

Margaret (Maggie) Epps Margaret W. (Maggie) Epps, a veteran Duke University administrator, will become secretary to the Board of Trustees and President Vincent E. Price’s chief of staff effective July 1, 2020, Price announced Thursday.

Epps, who currently serves as special assistant to the president and associate secretary to the board, was elected to the position by the Board of Trustees at its meeting last weekend. She will succeed Richard Riddell, who is retiring in June after 13 years in the position. 

“Everyone who has worked with Maggie has quickly come to rely on her high level of professionalism, creative problem-solving, deep commitment to excellence and strong interpersonal skills,” said Price. “She is a critical partner to me, the senior leadership, the board and others in overseeing the many activities of the Office of the President, helping to organize and track strategic priorities and leading the staff.  The trustees share my confidence in Maggie’s ability to fulfill this critical position.”

The board secretary serves as the chief liaison between the Board of Trustees and the administration, faculty, students and other Duke constituencies to develop annual work plans, and organize board and committee meetings.  The secretary’s office also maintains the records of the board, including the minutes, bylaws and board policies and procedures.

Epps was staff director for the committee that led Duke’s presidential search in 2016, and when Price assumed office in 2017 she added the post of special assistant to the president, overseeing the offices of the president and special events and university ceremonies.

Before joining the secretary’s office in 2014, Epps served as chief of staff to former Chancellor for Health Affairs Victor Dzau.  She came to Duke in 1999 and held senior administrative roles in marketing and creative services at Duke Health prior to her appointment in the chancellor’s office in 2012.

Epps holds bachelor’s (’94) and master’s (’96) degrees in education from the University of Georgia and is a 2016 graduate of the Duke Leadership Academy.