Trustees Begin Review of Duke’s Global Strategy

Board votes to name boardroom in honor of the late trustee emerita Janet Hill

At its quarterly meeting, the Duke University Board of Trustees began a year-long program of engagement focused on Duke’s global strategy. The goal for the discussions will be to refine the approach for leveraging Duke’s existing global assets to advance Duke’s strategic priorities and address major global challenges such as climate change, global health, and sustainable economic development.

The program includes participation by students, faculty and administrators, allowing participants to gain collective insight, contribute their expertise, and provide advice to senior leadership in planning for the future.

The September meeting began with an overview by President Vincent Price and Provost Alec Gallimore, outlining the goals of the session and the plans for the remaining three sessions. Discussions were led by the following faculty and university leaders:

  • Peter Feaver, professor of political science
  • Krishna Udayakumar, founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center
  • Chris Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute
  • Tom Coffman, dean of the Duke-NUS Medical School
  • Mary Frances Luce, interim dean of the Fuqua School of Business
  • Amanda Kelso, associate vice provost for experiential education, Office of Undergraduate Education.

The trustees also approved the naming of the Allen Building Boardroom and President’s Suite in honor of the late Trustee Emerita Janet Hill. Janet Hill served as a member of the Duke University Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2021 and was honored posthumously in 2022 with the University Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service. Janet Hill’s son, Trustee Grant Hill ’94, and his wife Tamia have made a gift to support the renovation of the historic Allen Building spaces, which were named the Janet Hill Executive Boardroom and the Hill Family Presidential Suite.

In other business, the board:

  • Welcomed new trustees Amy Abernethy, co-founder of Highlander Health, Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug, Michael (Mike) Stone, firm partner at TPG; and new young trustees Andrew (Drew) Greene, a 2024 Duke graduate, and Rickard (Rich) Stureborg, a Duke Ph.D. candidate in computer science;
  • Welcomed Kim Taylor, Duke’s new vice president and general counsel;
  • Reviewed the university’s annual financial reports;
  • Received updates on Duke University Health System and the upcoming fundraising campaign; and
  • Approved recommendations from the board’s standing committees.

Trustees also took part in events as part of the Centennial Founders’ Day and Homecoming Celebration Weekend, including the Presidential Panel with Duke’s three living presidents, a dinner honoring the recipients of the University Medals, the dedication of the George and George-Frank Wall Center for Student Life on East Campus, and the Celebration and Concert in Wallace Wade Stadium.