Duke Presents Diversity Awards
We give awards, not just to reward great behavior, but to cast a spotlight on certain values that we hold dear," Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead proclaimed at the 2005 Teamwork and Diversity Award luncheon.
The luncheon honored the three individuals who won Diversity Awards and two groups who received Teamwork Awards.
"After we have begun to acquaint ourselves with diversity, we learn that it is more than simply a matter of justice," said Brodhead. "Diversity brings a range and mix of talents. This is a value we care about deeply. And teamwork -- it doesn't always come easily. Coach K says 'two are better than one if two can play as one.' These Teamwork Awards are evidence of what can happen when people work together as one team."
The following people won Diversity Awards:
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Pictured left to right: Provost Peter Lange, Nominator Dr. Christina R. Raetz, Dr. Kenneth Kreuzer (winner) and President Brodhead |
Ken Kreuzer -- Mentoring Minorities
Ken Kreuzer is a nationally known researcher in the field of microbial genetics and molecular biology, but he is better known in the Biochemistry Department as someone who has time for students -- particularly minority students.
"Ken has made it his mission over the past 10 years to increase racial and ethnic diversity of the Biomedical Sciences at Duke and to increase diversity in science as a whole, and he has achieved significant results for both," said Christian Raetz,M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Biochemistry in his nomination letter.
Kreuzer created two programs at Duke designed to excite minority students about careers in biomedicine:
- The Duke Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a 10-week summer research experience that has trained 98 undergraduate students since 1996 in the biological sciences -- most of whom have gone on for further degrees.
- The Duke Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) is a one- to two-year program that provides added research experience, formal coursework and developmental activities to students of color who have completed a bachelor's degree but before they move on to graduate studies. Since 2003, two students completed PREP. Both are in medical school (one at Duke). There are 10 students currently in the program.
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Pictured left to right Provost Peter Lange, Nominator Dr. Pascal J. Goldschmidt, Marsha Newby (winner), and President Brodhead |
Marsha Newby -- 'Wind Beneath the Wings'
Officially, Marsha Newby is an administrative manager in the Department of Medicine. Unofficially, she is the go-to person for minority students, fellows and faculty.
"Although she worked in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Grants and Contracts, [Newby] always found time to make significant contributions to the student minority community," wrote Maxwell Prempeh, M.D., a senior resident in the Internal Medicine Program, in her letter of support for Newby.
Some of the other activities listed in the six letters supporting Newby's nomination were:
- Staunchly supports the Student National Medical Association Chapter
- Supports the Department of Medicine Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee
- Helps plan Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations
- Serves as an surrogate mother for students and fellows.
"Marsha is someone who does not yield to pressure, but has the courage to fight for those whom she supports and for the ideal of equal opportunity that she champions," said Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., chair of the Department of Medicine. "She has fought to ensure that there is a minority voice at Duke."
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Pictured left to right: Nominator Dr. Lewis M. Siegel, Dr. Jacqueline Looney (winner), Provost Peter Lange and President Brodhead |
Jacqueline Looney -- Taking Care of All Students
Jacqueline Looney, associate dean for graduate student affairs and associate vice provost for academic diversity, returned to Duke in 1999 with the intention of improving the lot of all graduate students, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender or any other dividing point. An example of her inclusiveness is the recent publication of a video presentation Duke University Graduate School: Where Your Presence Matters. This video involved over 40 students, faculty and alumni and is a candid, unscripted, and representative reflection of the diversity that is so important to Looney.
"Since Dean Looney's return to Duke in 1999, the Graduate School has risen to the forefront of best practices in the attraction and retention of students who represent diversity in the broadest sense," said Lewis M. Siegel, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for Graduate Education.
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