Duke Flags Lowered: Gerald Wilson, Teacher and Advisor to Thousands Over Six Decades, Dies

Gerald Wilson
Gerald Wilson's six decades of teaching and advising at Duke shape the lives of thousands of students

Gerald Wilson, who for six decades at Duke guided thousands of students as an advisor, academic dean and history professor, died Sept. 12.

In his teaching and administrative roles, Wilson helped strengthen Duke as an institution and made connections with students that lasted beyond their graduations.  In 2013, Wilson received the University Medal, Duke’s highest honor for distinguished service.

In presenting the University Medal, then-President Richard H. Brodhead highlighted Wilson’s “brilliant mind, huge heart and warm soul” and described him as someone who “embodies the best character of this university.”

“A university is an institution, but it’s one that is created anew each day by the quality of human interactions.  Duke has been fortunate to have Gerald Wilson breathe life into its human interactions for the last half-century,” Brodhead said at the 2013 ceremony.

Gerald Wilson arrived at Duke in 1958, when he enrolled in the Divinity School. The next year, he joined the administration as assistant housemaster — a kind of resident advisor. That began a long career at Duke, with Wilson later becoming an academic adviser for political science, history and public policy majors and then as adjunct professor on the history faculty. 

Gerald Wilson receives the University Medal from Academic Council chair Josh Socolar and President Richard H. Brodhead in 2013.
Gerald Wilson receives the University Medal from Academic Council chair Josh Socolar and President Richard H. Brodhead in 2013.

He became senior associate dean of Trinity College, serving as the chief operating officer for the dean’s staff.  He retired in 2021 as a senior associate dean emeritus for Trinity.

A graduate of Davidson College, Wilson earned a degree from Duke Divinity School (1961), a master’s in religion from Duke (1968), and a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“For over half a century, Gerald Wilson was a pillar of the Duke community,” said Trinity College Dean Gary Bennett. “He advised, mentored and inspired generations of Duke undergraduates — including my own spouse. 

“Gerald served our community with both grace and impeccable style. Even after retirement, he remained an active and engaged presence, continuing to connect with students. Like many of my colleagues, I’ve often thought about how Gerald’s selfless dedication to our students and Duke is a model for us all to follow.”

The colleagues and students who worked with Wilson regularly named Wilson as one of the people who helped shaped their future.

“In his roles as teacher, pre-law adviser and friend, he has made a difference in students’ lives and helped nurture their love of learning,” said Sterly Wilder, who knew Wilson both as a student and then through decades of working in Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving. “But it doesn’t end there.  It’s a lifelong association, as Dean Wilson performs many marriages — and then oversees the baptisms of children — of former students across the generations.”             

As a history instructor, Wilson’s courses on “Leadership in American History” and “American Dreams, American Realities” — where he attempted to define the American character — were regularly filled to capacity.

“Gerald was a beloved instructor who taught two important courses for the department which were a huge draw for our undergraduates,” said Sumathi Ramaswamy, chair of the Department of History. 

“Additionally, the department is the beneficiary of the Gerald Wilson Faculty Support Endowment and the Gerald and Virginia Wilson Endowment, which we use to support various key faculty initiatives including an annual manuscript workshop for our Associate Professors.  He will be deeply missed by our entire community of faculty and students.”

Gerald Wilson advised thousands of students over his many decades at Duke.
Gerald Wilson advised thousands of students over his many decades at Duke.

In addition to these classroom and administrative duties, Wilson also served as associate university marshal from 1989 to 2015, where he used his experience and knowledge to organize core university events such as opening convocation, Founders’ Day, commencement and presidential inauguration.

Among his university honors, Wilson received the Presidential Award in 2010 and the Brodhead Service Award in 2019.

As part of his support for university students, he and his wife Ginger established the Virginia S. and Gerald Lee Wilson Scholarship Fund, which supports access to Duke for North Carolina high school students.

Wilson continued his love of learning and teaching with the Osler Lifelong Learning Initiative (OLLI). Recently, OLLI at Duke inaugurated the Ginger and Gerald the Bill Wright Award for service. 

In a 2019 interview with Working@Duke, Wilson said he never expected to become an administrator when he arrived as a Divinity School student. What changed his mind was the joy he experienced in helping other students.

“This is exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I get to talk and listen to the most interesting people every day,” Wilson said.

“At the beginning of each semester, I have every student in my courses tell me their names, majors, where they’re from and an interesting fact about themselves,” he said. “I like to know each of my students. I love listening to their stories.”

Gerald is survived by his loving wife, Virginia “Ginger” of 60 years, his daughter Holly Schrader (Scott) of Naperville, Illinois, and two grandchildren Clayton Douglas Schrader and Sydney Arden Schrader, a brother John Christian Wilson (Marianne) of Chapel Hill, a sister Nancy Miller of Wilmington and many nieces and nephews. Gerald was predeceased by his parents and brother Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Jr.

No memorial service is planned.