Dr. Mark Anthony Neal (AAAS), has led Left of Black to national acclaim as host of the digital series. The program recently won two 2025 Telly Awards for video excellence, Silver in the “Interview and Talk Show” category and Bronze in the “Education and Discovery” category, honoring its insightful conversations with Black studies scholars, artists, and activists. Under Dr. Neal’s leadership, Left of Black continues to amplify critical discussions on culture, history, and social justice, reaching audiences… read more about Dr. Mark Anthony Neal’s Left of Black Wins Two Telly Awards »
Dr. Chantell Evans (SoM) and trainee Leslie Vazquez-Rangel were awarded HHMI Gilliam Fellowships, a program that supports scientific excellence while advancing diversity and inclusion in research. Fellows receive three years of support, mentoring, and professional development. Find out more about the award at the HHMI website. read more about Dr. Chantell Evans and trainee received 2025 Gilliam Fellowship »
Dr. Kimberly S. Johnson (SoM) has been named co-lead principal investigator of a $64 million NIH-funded ASCENT Consortium. In this role, she will spearhead the Health Disparities and Community Engagement Core, amplifying the voices of patients and caregivers while advancing equitable, high-quality palliative care. With two decades of groundbreaking work reducing disparities in serious illness care, Dr. Johnson’s leadership positions her at the forefront of transforming palliative care nationwide. Read more… read more about Dr. Kimberly Johnson to Co-Lead Palliative Care Research Consortium »
Dr. Anne Washington (Sanford) has been awarded the 2025–26 Thomas Langford Lectureship by Provost Alec Gallimore, in consultation with the Committee on Appointments, Promotion and Tenure. One of only four faculty selected, she studies governance of emerging digital technologies, emphasizing public interest, shared infrastructures, and combining interpretive methods with computational text analysis. Before completing her Ph.D., Dr. Washington gained professional experience at the Congressional Research… read more about Dr. Anne L. Washington honored with Langford Lecture Award »
Dr. Chantell Evans (SoM) has received the 2025 McKnight Scholar Award for her pioneering research on neuronal mitophagy and mitochondrial quality control in neurons. Her lab investigates how disruptions in these processes contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, ALS, and Alzheimer’s. One of only 10 recipients nationwide, Dr. Evans will receive $225,000 over three years. The award recognizes her innovative science, leadership, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of… read more about Dr. Chantell Evans named McKnight Scholar »
Dr. Tonisha Kearney-Ramos (SoM),is pioneering research on brain-based treatments for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Building on her work with alcohol and cocaine users, she is testing accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to reduce cravings by targeting the brain’s reward system. Her approach emphasizes personalized therapy, matching brain activity patterns to treatment. Dr. Kearney-Ramos is also advocating for equitable access to rTMS, ensuring that advances in addiction care… read more about Dr. Tonisha Kearney-Ramos is rewiring the cannabis-addicted brain »
A "Day in the Life" serie gives behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of various Duke community members, highlighting not only their work but their motivations, hobbies, relationships and more. Dropping off the kids, doing some structural biology, training for soccer season – microbiologist Dr. Erica Washington (SoM) shares what a day in the life of a researcher at Duke University looks. Watch the video below: read more about A Day in the Life of Dr. Erica Washington: The Fungi Expert »
In back-to-back conversations on The Black Studies Podcast, Dr. Tracie Canada (Cul Anth) and Dr. Wylin Wilson (Divinity) discuss their work and recent books with hosts John Dabrinski and Ashley Newby. The Black Studies podcast is a Mellon grant sponsored series exploring the cultural and political meaning of Black Studies as an area of inquiry and its critical methods. Listen to the podcast episodes below.Episode 152 – Dr. Tracie Canada Episode 153 – Dr. Wylin Wilson read more about Drs. Canada and Wilson, Black Studies Podcast »
Drs. Candis Watts Smith (Poli Sci) and Norbert Wilson (Divinity) were two of five Duke faculty named 2023–24 ACC Academic Leaders Network fellows. Through joint sessions at ACC institutions and meetings with Duke administrators, they deepened their understanding of higher education’s operations and challenges. They met leaders overseeing academic affairs, student life, budgeting, research, admissions, development, public affairs, and human resources. Read about the cohort’s activities here. read more about Drs. Smith and Wilson’s year with Academic Leaders Network Fellowship »
Dr. Annette Joseph-Gabriel (Romance) was selected as one of the 2025 judges for the prestigious National Book Award on the “Translated Literature” category. The mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in our culture. Her award-winning work explores race, gender, and liberation in the French Atlantic, blending historical and literary analysis. Learn more here read more about Dr. Annette Joseph-Gabriel selected as Judge for the 2025 National Book Awards »
Dr. Michaeline Crichlow (AAAS) is a historical sociologist whose research spans citizenship, nationalism, development, and diasporic identity. Recently, she co-edited and contributed to three chapters in the book, Decoloniality in the Break of Global Blackness - Movement, Method, Poethics (Routledge). Framed by the violence of globalization, it weaves movement, method, and poethics through the “problem” of Blackness to imagine radical global futures. Dr. Joseph Winters (Religious… read more about New book edited by Dr. Michaeline Crichlow on Global Blackness »
Dr. Danai Fannin (Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences), has been named a 2025 award recipient by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Fannin’s leadership and contributions to clinical education, research, and service in communication sciences. Dr. Fannin’s work on child language disorders and pragmatics, health equity, and early access to autism services reflects both personal excellence and Duke’s commitment to advancing care for… read more about Dr. Danai Kasambira Fannin honored with 2025-ASHA-award »
As Dr. John V. Brown (Music) concludes his tenure as Duke’s Vice Provost for the Arts, the community expresses deep gratitude for his visionary, passionate leadership. Over five transformative years, he unified Duke’s arts identity, expanded student programs, and strengthened community partnerships. He championed access to the arts, especially during the pandemic, and reimagined Duke Arts as a more inclusive, integrated force. Dr. Brown will continue to teach and inspire as faculty. Read more here read more about Gratitude for Dr. John Brown’s Transformative Leadership at Duke »
In Black Ephemera, The Crisis and Challenge of the Musical Archive (NYU Press), Dr. Mark Anthony Neal (AAAS) examines how Black music and culture have been digitized into fleeting background noise, obscuring their deeper meaning. While digital access enables unprecedented engagement with Black archives, Dr. Neal argues it also risks commodifying and erasing cultural memory. Black Ephemera offers a powerful framework for reclaiming the richness of Black cultural production amid the… read more about Black Ephemera, Dr. Mark Anthony Neal Newest Book on the Black Musical Archive »
In his new book, The Disturbing Profane: Hip Hop, Blackness, and the Sacred (Duke University Press), Dr. Joseph R. Winters (Religious Studies) examines hip hop’s volatile sacred through themes like death, pleasure, and blackness. Drawing on black studies, feminist thought, and critical theory, Dr. Winters analyzes artists like Lauryn Hill and Kendrick Lamar to reveal how hip hop unsettles traditional sacred/profane boundaries and resists antiblack violence, reshaping understandings… read more about The Disturbing Profane, a new book by Dr. Joseph Winters »
Provost Alec Gallimore (Pratt), a former aerospace engineer, is leading the university’s strategic shift toward artificial intelligence, launching initiatives to train administrators and expand student access to AI tools. Dr. Gallimore, who joined Duke in 2023, emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, financial sustainability, and computing fluency. His vision includes advancing research, education, and economic development in North Carolina. Drawing from his engineering background, he sees AI as a… read more about Provost Alec Gallimore discusses academic priorities and shift toward AI »
Dr. Jarvis McInnis (English) is an interdisciplinary scholar of African American and African Diaspora literature and culture. In a recent Trinity article, he answered questions about his book Afterlives of the Plantation, a literary exploration of Black modernity and its relationship to the plantation. Drawing on his experiences at Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution founded on a former plantation, Dr. McInnis reimagines the plantation as a space for Black resilience, transformation… read more about Dr. Jarvis McInnis Examines “Afterlives of the Plantation” »
Join us in congratulating the many BTT Faculty at Duke who earned new appointments, tenure and promotion in 2024/25. These faculty hold positions in various departments across the institution. Newly Promoted to Full Professors: “Congratulations to our faculty who have been promoted or appointed to the rank of full professor. This milestone is the culmination of a rigorous and thorough review by faculty peers inside and outside Duke and by the academic leaders at the department/division, school and… read more about Celebrating BTT Faculty Newly Promoted and Tenured at Duke »
Dr. William “Sandy” Darity (Sanford) is among nearly 250 leaders from academia, the arts, industry, policy, research and science elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. Dr. Darity’s research focuses on inequality by race, class and ethnicity, stratification economics, schooling and the racial achievement gap. Induction ceremonies for new members will take place in Cambridge, Mass., in October 2025. Congratulations Dr. Darity! Find out… read more about Dr. William Darity elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences »
Dr. Thavolia Glymph (History) was awarded the Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award from the Cook Society honoring those whose work, research and service reflect Cook’s social activism and leadership. A historian of the U.S. South, Dr. Glymph has produced histories that uncovered important new stories that have reshaped our historical understanding of the Civil War and much of U.S. history.This award is named after Dr. Glymph’s late history department colleague (Dr. Raymond Gavins), the first… read more about Dr. Thavolia Glymph, 2025 Cook Society Honoree »
Check out recent updates from our faculty, including publications, recruitment, and other news. The links below highlight ongoing work from faculty during the month of July. We hope you’ll take a moment to explore what’s new and stay connected with the important contributions happening across our school.Dr. Candis Watts Smith (Poli Sci) & Dr. Norbert Wilson (Divinity): A Year of Faculty Leadership Development With the ACC (Duke Faculty Advancement News) Dr. Alec… read more about Summer Reading, stories for July 2025 »
Check out recent updates from our faculty, including publications, recruitment, and other news. The links below highlight ongoing work from faculty during the month of June. We hope you’ll take a moment to explore what’s new and stay connected with the important contributions happening across our school.Recommended Book Readings from Dr. Tracie Canada (Cul Anth), Dr. Jarvis McInnis (Trinity), Dr. Wylin Wilson (Divinity) : Duke Authors’ Hot New Books (Duke Today)Dr… read more about Summer reading, stories for June 2025 »
Provost Alec Gallimore (Pratt), an expert in advanced spacecraft propulsion, addressed the crowd on the second day of the Inaugural Duke Space Symposium hosted at the Sanford School of Public Policy, sharing his personal dream of humanity's journey into the stars. He highlighted Duke's interdisciplinary approach as essential for tackling the complex challenges of space and expressed his belief that such endeavors can yield beneficial technologies on Earth and potentially "inspire and perhaps unite a world… read more about Provost Alec Gallimore addresses attendees of Inaugural Duke Space Symposium at Sanford »
The School of Medicine announced its 2025 Faculty awards that celebrate the excellence and dedication of faculty members who embody the School’s mission and values. Dr. Julius Wilder was awarded the Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award, Dr. Camille Frazier-Mills received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, and Dr. Gerald Bloomfield was awarded for Mentoring Excellence in Health Services Research. Read about all of the SoM 2025 Faculty Awards here. read more about Drs. Wilder, Frazier-Mills, & Bloomfield receive 2025 SoM Faculty Awards »
Dr. Dennis Frank-Ito (SoM), has been appointed as the Director of the Clinical Research Unit (CRU), effective May 12, 2025. His leadership will enhance the CRU's mission in clinical research and support its alignment with the academic goals of the School of Medicine and the HNS&CS department. The CRU is responsible for the operational support and oversight of all clinical research involving human subjects in the Department of HNS&CS. Read more about it here. read more about Dr. Dennis Frank-Ito appointed Director of the Clinical Research Unit »
The Undergraduate Professor of the Year award recognizes a professor, nominated by students, for outstanding teaching and mentorship. Dr. Charmaine Royal (AAAS), who is a faculty member at Duke Global Heath Institute (DGHI), was nominated by students who commended her for how she nurtures critical thinking skills while challenging them to examine their biases and assumptions. Another nominator praised Dr. Royal for pushing students to learn about things they may not have considered before. Read the full… read more about Dr. Charmaine Royal named DGHI Undergraduate Professor of the Year »
Dr. Tyson Brown (Sociology) published in Annual Review of Sociology, an article that provides 10 actionable recommendations for advancing the scientific study of structural racism through theoretically grounded and empirically robust measures and methods. By offering conceptual and analytical clarity, these recommendations aim to enhance research rigor on the structure and function of racism. See the full details here. read more about Dr. Tyson Brown publishes new article on how to study racism »
Dr. Opeyemi Olabisi (SoM) is currently an associate professor in the Division of Nephrology and is a member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute. He also serves as the vice chief for research within the division. Dr. Olabisi who is a highly decorated researcher will assume the role of Chief of the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, effective June 1, 2025. He has received innumerable research awards including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, and multiple NIH R01 grants as well… read more about Meet Dr. Opeyemi Olabisi: The Newly Appointed Chief of Nephrology Division »
On the other side of the hardened activist was a man who stirred his coffee with his daughter's finger and told her it made it sweet. Dr. Mark Anthony Neal (AAAS) wrote to LEVEL about the challenges of Black fathers amid violence and survival and the powerful revelation that the same Malcolm X who put white racists on notice with the rallying cry “by any means necessary” was also a “Girl Dad”, playfully engaging his little daughter at the kitchen table. Read the full article here. read more about Dr. Mark Anthony Neal on Malcolm X as a Girl Dad »
In her Mother’s day article titled, “The Mothers Who Built the Game: Honoring Black Women’s Labor in Football,” in Essence Magazine, Dr. Tracie Canada (CulAnth) calls for greater attention to be paid to the ways Black mothers care for their football playing sons. Dr. Canada talks about the ways that Black football moms are often valorized by the media around Mother’s Day, but seemingly invisible from conversations about their impact on their football-playing sons’ sporting lives and professional… read more about Dr. Tracie Canada Honors Football Moms in Essence »