Forbes Names Duke Among America’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2024

University and Health System are among 500 employers lauded for commitment to inclusion

Duke from above.
Image courtesy of Duke Marketing & Communications.

Duke University and Duke University Health System earned spots on Forbes' 2024 list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity, which was released Tuesday.

The list, which was produced by Forbes and market research firm Statista, featured 500 U.S- based employers that excel in demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Duke University Health System placed 251st while Duke University ranked 257th .

The recognition from Forbes is based on survey responses from more than 170,000 American workers from organizations that employ at least 1,000 people. Respondents were asked to review employers' approach to diversity as it relates to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability.

“We are incredibly proud of our diverse workforce and value the many experiences that each of our team members bring,” said Antwan Lofton, Vice President for Duke Human Resources. “With a community made up of so many different voices, we’re able to make decisions that are not just through one point of view, but based off of the many cultures and backgrounds that make up Duke.”

In recent years, Duke University has emphasized the importance to building an inclusive culture.

Duke University gained insights into the experiences of students, staff and faculty through campus-wide surveys in 2021 and 2024. To help the university live up to its core values of respect, trust and inclusion, it formed the Racial Equity Advisory Council to coordinate and operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across Duke.

Meanwhile Duke University Health System’s Moments to Movement endeavor, which was launched in 2020, began important and continuing conversations about strengthening the human experience for all patients and team members. These conversations helped create the Duke Health Pledge, the Health System’s commitment to an unwavering collective stance against systemic racism and injustice. And across Duke University Health System, there has been a sustained emphasis on providing equitable care for patients and creating a culture of belonging in which all team members can thrive. That work is seen in the piloting of an inclusive leadership training program and enhanced recruiting efforts which include strong partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

“It’s rewarding, it’s heart-warming to know that our people feel seen, they feel heard, they feel valued,” said Rhonda Brandon, Duke University Health System Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “The mosaic of our workforce makes us a better organization, makes us a better care provider. It makes us the best.”

Employees at Duke University and Duke University Health System can find connection through Employee Resource and Affinity Groups created to nourish common bonds among colleagues. These groups not only form communities of those with like interests but also includes their allies and advocates.

“We do a lot of institutional work, but it can be a challenge to make sure that it really resonates with people’s lived experience of Duke,” said Duke Vice President for Institutional Equity Kim Hewitt. “So this recognition is maybe one signal that we are tapping into how individuals are feeling or experiencing Duke as a place that’s really committed to its values.”

Earlier this year, Forbes included Duke University in its list of “America’s Best Employers.” Newsweek recently included Duke University on its 2024 lists for “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity” and “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women.”

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