History

In response to President Keohane's urging for action on issues of diversity and inclusiveness, a Steering Committee was established in the fall of 1997 to clarify direction and outcomes for several initiatives designed to focus on Duke's current work culture and areas for improvement. The Steering Committee, with members Judith White, John Strohbehn, Myrna Adams, Janet Dickerson and Clint Davidson, was also to facilitate integration and coordination of plans and efforts of the following task forces:

  • Work Culture Task Force;
  • Task Force on Faculty and Students.

Work Culture Task Force

The group charged with developing recommended strategies to improve Duke's work climate was the Work Culture Task Force, chaired by Clint Davidson, Associate Vice President of Human Resources. The Steering Committee provided nominations for this Task Force which was to be comprised of deans, faculty members, staff and students who could:

  • describe experiences and perspectives relevant to Duke's work place culture;
  • provide advice on needs and opportunities for strengthening the work culture;
  • make recommendations and assist in evaluating proposed initiatives for improving Duke's work culture.

President Keohane sent letters of invitation to nominees resulting in the following Work Culture Task Force members:

Ed Bailey
Anne Keefe
Deborah Roth
Jim Roberts
Pamela Gann
Norm Christensen
Cathy Davidson
Bob Korstad
Ben Reese
LeRhonda Manigault
Nata Brown Adams
Clint Davidson

Assistant Director, Bus.& Fin., Dept. of Pharmacy, DUH
Administrative Manager, Dept. of Anesthesiology, DLTMC
Chief Operating Officer, DCRI*
Vice Provost for Budgets and Planning
Dean of Law School
Dean of Nicholas School of the Environment
Professor, Dept. of English
Assistant Professor, Public Policy Studies
Assistant Vice President, Cross-Cultural Affairs
BSA Vice President, PCOBA Representative
Fuqua School of Business, Fuqua Diversity Task Force
AVP, Human Resources, Chair Work Culture Task Force


* At time of nomination, Assistant Chief Operating Officer, DUH

Charge

The charge of the Work Culture Task Force was to:

  • Consider ways to improve the climate for all workers at Duke, including particularly minority workers;
  • Provide perspective, input and feedback to those who will be designing and developing specific program provisions;
  • Ensure that program initiatives were ready to begin by July 1, 1998.

Human Resource Practice Leaders

In addition to Work Culture Task Force members, Practice Leaders were invited to support the committee's work and to:

  • provide expertise regarding Duke's Human Resource programs, policies and practices;
  • furnish in depth knowledge and information regarding contemporary work place practices;
  • assume responsibility for developing proposals for program initiates that incorporate recommendations of Task Force members.

The Practice Leaders were:

Louanna Roberts
Evelyn Wicker
Dr. Joe Corless
Jane Tucker
Reggie March
Alex Semilof
Ceil Sheehan
Lori Roger
Jim Wulforst
Jacque Jones

Director, Human Resources, DUMC
Director, Hospital Career Development, DUH
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, DUMC
Director, Human Resources, Trng. & Ogr. Dev.
Senior Consultant, Human Resources
Roc. Cons., Human Resources, Trng. & Ogr. Dev.
Manager, Human Resources, Trng. & Ogr. Dev.
Manager, Human Resources, Communications
Director, Duke Dining Services
Ops. Mgr., Human Resources, Ctr. for Mgt. & Prof Dev.