Duke - Sterly Wilder https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/author/sterly-wilder en From the desk of Sterly Wilder: Celebrating our founders https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/desk-sterly-wilder-celebrating-our-founders <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Each fall, the university community gathers to celebrate the founding of Duke—members of the Duke family and the giants on whose shoulders we have stood, those men and women who helped make our university the extraordinary place it is today. Many of these names are on buildings, quads, classrooms, and iconic spaces. However, there are also many who have given their all to Duke through their service and commitment, the unsung heroes who make our campus beautiful every day, who take care of our students and facilities…the list goes on.</p> <p>Founders Weekend is a time to celebrate our past, and each year we honor all of these men and women. For a young university—almost 100 (which is barely reaching teenager status for some of our peers)—we have come so far in large part due to the visionary leadership, commitment, and loyalty of all of our founders. Each fall, we celebrate during this special weekend on campus, and for a few important moments, the university stops to reflect on its past and enjoy its present, while looking ahead to the bright future and opportunities ahead.</p> <p>This year’s Founders Weekend (September 23-26) was particularly special as we also celebrated the Class of 2020 commencement. For the first time in two years, we awarded University Medals, and we named the Sociology- Psychology Building in honor and memory of our beloved alumna, trustee, and friend, Wilhelmina Reuben- Cooke ’67.</p> <p>For me, the weekend was quite emotional. To see our beloved campus alive again on a beautiful fall weekend and to celebrate what is great about this place we call home filled me with joy.</p> <p>In the University Medals ceremony, we honored Peter Nicholas ’64, cofounder of global medical device company Boston Scientific Corporation, who, with his family, gave the naming gift for the Nicholas School of the Environment; Rick Wagoner ’75, former Duke trustee and former president of General Motors; and posthumously, Maryanne Black, former associate vice president for community relations for the Duke University Health System.</p> <p>We also presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Sue Gordon ’81, a Rubenstein Fellow at Duke and former principal deputy director of national intelligence; and the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award to public policy professor Bruce Jentleson.</p> <p>The Friday afternoon ceremony to name Sociology-Psychology (or Soc-Psych, as we always called it) was an extraordinary celebration of the life of Wilhelmina Reuben- Cooke, but more important, for me and for many who knew her, it was a time to celebrate her leadership, her love for Duke, and what her life meant to so many. As one of the first five Black undergraduate students, she was the strength and the glue that held her classmates together. We also heard that she was the strength and the glue that held her family together, and that she exhibited these qualities in her work, her commitment to Duke and The Duke Endowment, and in everything she touched in her life.</p> <p>While the Class of 2020 Commencement was long overdue (but much appreciated), the graduation ceremonies spoke to our present and future. The University Medalists and the Reuben-Cooke dedication spoke to our past. We often talk about the Duke family and its significant and life-changing contributions. But it is also the many who have followed in their steps, those whom we celebrate each fall, that reminds us of where we have been and how far we have come.</p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2021-11-25T11:45:30-05:00">Thursday, November 25, 2021</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/default_images/dukmag-horizontal-placeholder.jpg" width="238" height="140" alt="" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/628503" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buildings and Grounds</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/campus-news" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Campus News</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/duke-asian-alumni-alliance-daaa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Asian Alumni Alliance (DAAA)</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/duke-black-alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Black Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/faculty" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Faculty</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/forever-duke-discover-duke" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Forever Duke, Discover Duke</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/campus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">On Campus</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/reunions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Reunions</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/university-affairs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">University affairs</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/author/sterly-wilder" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sterly Wilder</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issues/winter-2021" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Winter 2021</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-portrait field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Portrait:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-portraits/2STERLY.jpg" width="200" height="240" alt="Sterly Wilder, senior associate vice president, engagement and development" title="Sterly Wilder, senior associate vice president, engagement and development" /></figure></div></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Thu, 25 Nov 2021 16:47:52 +0000 Adrienne Martin 18514370 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/desk-sterly-wilder-celebrating-our-founders#comments From the desk of Sterly Wilder: One office with one goal—engaging our alumni https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/desk-sterly-wilder-one-office-one-goal-engaging-our-alumni <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Last October 30, Dave Kennedy, then the vice president for alumni affairs and development, unveiled a new structure for the staffs of the Duke Alumni Association and University Development. Historically, both of these organizations have reported to associate vice presidents who in turn reported to the vice president. Now these two offices would be merged into one organization under one new title—DUKE ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT—and one new vision. Our work would be conducted as one office with the goal and purpose of creating more seamless and coordinated programs and developing even more meaningful ways to engage our alumni, parents, and friends.</p> <p>But let’s take a step back—in May 2018, President Vincent Price rolled out his vision for Duke to the board of trustees. His strategic framework had five planks, and “Activating the Global Network” was the fifth one. Rarely, if ever, does a university president call out engaging alumni as a top priority! The president convened a yearlong board of trustees task force co-chaired by Katy Hollister ’81, a trustee, and Dave Kennedy. It quickly became clear that with the support of the president and the trustees, this was the perfect time to create an aligned organization focused on becoming the most engaged and committed global network of alumni, students, parents, organizations, and friends. As an organization, we are committed to exercising unparalleled rigor around one strategy: fostering engagement among our constituents to inspire loyalty over a lifetime. Dave shared the following in his October 30 memo, that going forward we would:</p> <p>• Speak to our audience with one voice.</p> <p>• Set ambitious goals that could only be met together.</p> <p>• Make decisions and prioritize work based on what the data tell us our audience wants and needs from Duke.</p> <p>• Unleash our organization’s full potential, leading to more time, talent, and treasure contributed to further Duke’s vision.</p> <p>In addition, this is how we will become organizationally ready to commence the most ambitious and collaborative campaign in Duke’s history. And, even more important, this is how we will help Duke achieve its ideals and highest aspirations.</p> <p>As the longtime associate vice president of alumni affairs and one who is steeped in the history of this institution, I know that change has its challenges and that, for many of our alumni, the Alumni Affairs office was a key touch point during their student days and beyond. While there no longer is an alumni office, Duke Alumni continues to be the largest constituent group of this university. Our collective power and network hasn’t changed and, in fact, will grow even stronger. We are excited to share our journey over the past few months and look forward to sharing more in the time ahead.</p> <p>So, stay tuned and, as always, stay FOREVER DUKE.&nbsp;</p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2021-06-30T21:15:15-04:00">Wednesday, June 30, 2021</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/default_images/dukmag-horizontal-placeholder.jpg" width="238" height="140" alt="" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/volunteer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Volunteer</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/welcome-party" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Welcome Party</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/women-s-forum" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Women’s Forum</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/young-alumni-events" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Young Alumni Events</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/author/sterly-wilder" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sterly Wilder</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issues/summer-2021" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Summer 2021</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-portrait field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Portrait:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-portraits/Sterly.jpg" width="200" height="240" alt="" /></figure></div></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Thu, 01 Jul 2021 01:21:16 +0000 Adrienne Martin 18513938 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/desk-sterly-wilder-one-office-one-goal-engaging-our-alumni#comments Notes from the desk of Sterly L. Wilder: Doing the pandemic pivot https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/notes-desk-sterly-l-wilder-doing-pandemic-pivot <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>As time has marched on through this pandemic and our cool spring days became long and hot summer days that turned to fall and now winter, it is so hard to believe that what I used to refer to as Alumni World Headquarters has now become my dining-room table and my laptop. <a href="https://alumni.duke.edu/hellokarsh/">The Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center</a>—our beautiful new home for alumni on campus, dedicated in late September 2019 at the corner of Duke University Road and Chapel Drive—transitioned to a headquarters for flu shots and was the most popular voting location in Durham County.</p> <p>In our work-from-home environment, I did not see my office for six months and have not seen my colleagues, except on Zoom. I began to understand what our alumni who live away from Durham feel–not being able to walk on campus, hearing the chapel bells only on Facebook at 5 p.m. every day, and missing the energy and vibrancy of this amazing place.</p> <p>Unlike most alumni, six months is the longest I have ever been away from campus. In fact, I have never been away from Duke for more than a month, and that was for summer camp when I was a teenager.</p> <p>I started my life in Duke Hospital many years ago (you can probably figure out how many years from my class year), grew up a half mile from campus, and have now started my thirty-eighth year of employment at Duke. For me, the physical space of the campus is almost as important as the people—the place that I, and so many, call home is real and tangible.</p> <p>The work of the Duke Alumni staff over the past few months has been extraordinary. In a few short weeks after we went home, we started turning out programs, distributing newsletters, reaching out to our alumni who were on the front lines of the pandemic, and reaching out to students as well. We worked across school and unit lines to forge a partnership with Student Affairs and launched the <a href="https://keepexploring.duke.edu/duke-opportunities/">Keep Exploring initiative</a>, which connected 425 students with alumni for meaningful mentoring or internship experiences.</p> <p>With the help of colleagues on campus, we launched <a href="https://www.coursera.org/programs/coursera-for-duke-alumni-864wr?authProvider=dukealumni">Coursera for Duke Alumni</a> and developed a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwcGsFNV18eqvbB8xf58gIg">YouTube page to curate our Lifelong Learning</a> programs, as well as content from every school at Duke. <em>Duke Magazine</em> went virtual—and now is back in print. We learned we could connect easily with alumni from Raleigh to Singapore and San Francisco by Zoom and engage more alumni than ever before.</p> <p>We pivoted, we engaged, we celebrated, and we came together as a university and alumni community. So, while I miss my beloved campus a great deal, I have now come to appreciate the experience of most of our 180,000 alumni who live in all corners of the world (and even in Chapel Hill).</p> <p>Know that Duke Alumni will come out of this pandemic stronger, better, and more excited than ever to find ways to engage you in the life of your university, your home. And, when it is safe, we will welcome you back to campus with open arms.</p> <p>BE SAFE, BE WELL, AND BE FOREVER DUKE.</p> <p><em>Sterly Wilder '83 is senior associate vice president, engagement and development</em></p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2020-12-09T20:30:00-05:00">Wednesday, December 9, 2020</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/default_images/dukmag-horizontal-placeholder.jpg" width="238" height="140" alt="" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/career" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Career</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/duke-alums-engage" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Alums Engage</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/duke-asian-alumni-alliance-daaa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Asian Alumni Alliance (DAAA)</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/duke-black-alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duke Black Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/forever-duke-discover-duke" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Forever Duke, Discover Duke</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/forever-learning" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Forever Learning</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/author/sterly-wilder" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sterly Wilder</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issues/winter-2020" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Winter 2020</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:41:48 +0000 Adrienne Martin 18512532 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/notes-desk-sterly-l-wilder-doing-pandemic-pivot#comments How are you ForeverDuke? https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/how-are-you-foreverduke <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><em>Sterly Wilder ’83, associate vice president for alumni affairs, talks with Blake Byrne ’57, the Alumni Distinguished Award winner for 2013. Byrne recently stepped down as chair of the advisory board of the Nasher Museum of Art.</em></p> <div class="caption caption-center"> <div class="caption-width-container" style="width: 250px;"> <div class="caption-inner"><img alt="" class="media-image" src="/sites/default/files/users/196305/sterly-wilder.jpg" style="height:375px; width:250px" /> <p>Sterly Wilder. Credit:&nbsp;Chris Hildreth.</p> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>How did Duke contribute to your art interest?</strong></p> <p><strong>BB: </strong>I did go to the museum a little bit when it was on East Campus. But I never took a course in art history. Well, I sat in for about three meetings of the class, but it was to be graded on a curve, and I thought I’d get pummeled. The more direct influence was my classmate Peter Fisher [’57]; he was getting his law degree when I was getting my M.B.A. at Columbia, and visiting his apartment, which was filled with art, really fueled my interest.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>When did you start collecting art?</strong></p> <p><strong>BB: </strong>I started collecting seriously in 1988, after I moved to New York. From there I went to my first Art Basel fair, visited every booth, and wrote down the name of every artist I liked.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>Were you a campus leader?</strong><br /> <strong>BB: </strong>I did work on the Union’s Major Attractions Committee with Bill Griffith [’50, then a student-affairs administrator]. But I guess it was after I graduated that I began to see myself as a leader. I also didn’t come across as the most accomplished student, though several professors in economics really impressed me. My French professor told me if I promised never to take a French course again, he’d pass me. As it happens, I ended up living in France.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>Talk about your volunteer leadership for Duke.</strong></p> <p><strong>BB: </strong>My mother had a great influence on my life, and I learned about the tradition of philanthropy from her. So I contributed something like $50 in my first annual-giving gesture, and I’ve kept it up. I just assumed you did that. When I was president of my class, we set a then-record of</p> <p>$50,000 for reunions giving. And I said, that’s too much work for just $50,000, and we have to find a way to raise expectations. And we did.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>Of course, you’ve had a lot of service on Duke boards.</strong></p> <p><strong>BB: </strong>Being on the Trinity board of visitors was a perfect way to keep up with Duke and Duke people, including [longtime history professor and dean] Bill Chafe. And from there it was the Nasher board. What a wonderful eight years that was. To this day that building seems so extraordinary, so beautiful, and so accommodating of art.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>Even as a Californian, you enjoy lots of opportunities to return to campus, don’t you?</strong><br /> <strong>BB: </strong>This past spring, it was a great honor to be the speaker at the Lavender Graduation [for LGBT students]; there were thirty-one graduates at the ceremony, and it was just wonderful. In the fall, I’m back for the DEMAN weekend [the culminating weekend of the Duke Arts Festival], a Nasher board meeting, and a Duke Forward event. We’re having this conversation in May; next month, I’m back to watch my grandson for the last two days of Coach K’s basketball camp.</p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2013-07-26T00:00:00-04:00">Friday, July 26, 2013</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-main-images/byrne.jpg" width="250" height="313" alt="Blake Byrne ’57" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/volunteer" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Volunteer</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/author/sterly-wilder" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sterly Wilder</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issue/special-2013" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Special 2013</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Fri, 26 Jul 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Joseph Sorensen, JOSEPH E. 18498662 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/how-are-you-foreverduke#comments How Are You Forever Duke? Grant Hill https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/how-are-you-forever-duke-grant-hill <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><blockquote> <p><br /> <em>Sterly Wilder ’83, associate vice president for alumni affairs, talks with NBA star (and former Duke basketball standout) Grant Hill ’94, who now plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>I was your pre-major adviser, and we met the first day you were on campus. Do you remember whether I gave you a hard time?</strong></p> <div class="caption caption-center"> <div class="caption-width-container" style="width: 250px;"> <div class="caption-inner"><img alt="" class="media-image" src="/sites/default/files/users/196305/hill-250x375.jpg" style="height:375px; width:250px" /> <p>Credit: Barry Gossage</p> </div> </div> </div> <p><strong>GH: </strong>I probably gave you the harder time. But if there was any nervousness on my part as a new student, you made me feel comfortable. I don’t know whether I ever officially thanked you for the time we went shopping to furnish my apartment. Getting my first off-campus apartment was a big deal.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>As a student, how much did you know about the alumni association?</strong></p> <p><strong>GH: </strong>I didn’t realize how organized the alumni association was—how much coordinating activity went into planning events and activities around the world. But I certainly saw intersections between student life and alumni happenings on campus, particularly around Homecoming.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>What’s the greatest lesson you took from your undergraduate experience?</strong></p> <p><strong>GH: </strong>Duke expects the best from you in a lot of ways, certainly in the classroom. And for me as a student-athlete, of course, there was a commitment to excellence with life outside the classroom, as well. There were a lot of obstacles and challenges along the way. But life lessons come from those moments when you’re challenged.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>How closely do you follow what’s happening on campus today?</strong></p> <p><strong>GH: </strong>Having a mother who’s on the board of trustees is a huge thing in keeping up with a place that gets even better, even more exciting in its academic opportunities, even more inclusive, than it was when I was there. Neither of my parents went to Duke. But they have fallen in love with Duke.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>You’ve done everything from opening the Homecoming Dance with President Brodhead to helping produce the film that’s a tribute</strong> <strong>to Coach Al Buehler. What do you most like doing as a volunteer?</strong></p> <p><strong>GH: </strong>Pretty much everything. I’ve heard our trustee David Rubenstein [’70] say the word “philanthropy” is rooted in the Greek word for love of humanity. Duke alumni share a tight bond; it’s really love of Duke.</p> <p><strong>SW: </strong><strong>What do you look forward to after you retire?</strong></p> <p><strong>GH: </strong>The basic thing I look forward to is visiting campus more frequently. Maybe one day, if they do well enough in school, my two girls will want to apply to Duke. My wife is a recording artist, and both girls are musically inclined. They can hold a note, unlike their father. And watch out—they also both enjoy competing as athletes.</p> </div></div></div> <h3 class="field-label"> Published </h3> <span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2013-05-15T00:00:00-04:00">Wednesday, May 15, 2013</span><section class="field field-name-field-main-image field-type-image field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Main image:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://alumni.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dm-main-images/Forever%20Duke_1.png" width="568" height="370" alt="Forever Duke logo" title="Forever Duke logo" /></figure></div></section><section class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alumni" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alumni</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/athletics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Athletics</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Writer:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/author/sterly-wilder" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sterly Wilder</a></li></ul></section><section class="field field-name-field-issue field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Issue:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/magazine/issue/summer-2013" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Summer 2013</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label"> Featured article </h3> No <h3 class="field-label"> Background color </h3> blue <h3 class="field-label"> Cover Story </h3> <h3 class="field-label"> Homepage </h3> Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Joseph Sorensen, JOSEPH E. 18498724 at https://alumni.duke.edu https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/how-are-you-forever-duke-grant-hill#comments