Dr. Lee Baker is Mrs. A. Hehmeyer Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, and African and African American Studies. In this edited and condensed interview, he describes how science and society shape one another, the racist underbelly of assimilation, and how piecing together the lives of people living in the early 20th century can be a bit like detective work. Read more here. read more about Meet Your Humanities Faculty: Lee Baker »
From February through April, the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences will be hosting a six-event mental health webinar series, "Taking Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones." The 30-minute webinars are designed to provide practical expert advice for Duke University and Duke Health community members and their families who may be struggling with different mental health challenges. Time will be allotted for participant questions. Learn more here. read more about Duke Psychiatry Experts Offer Mental Health Webinar Series »
The Department welcomes new faculty member Dr. Franklin Cason, Jr. as an assistant professor of the practice in cinematic arts. Cason is a filmmaker and film scholar who has taught courses in film theory, history, aesthetics, criticism, and analysis. His research interests have been primarily concerned with film, modern visual culture, and media studies. As such, his writing and artistic practice reaches across the disciplines of art history, film studies, digital multimedia, graphic novels, philosophy, sociology,… read more about New Faculty Member Franklin Cason, Jr. Joins Cinematic Arts »
This month, Duke Today featured a collection of 10 Duke-authored books detailing the history of Black life in America. While this is not a comprehensive list of all Duke scholarship on Black history, it is intended to be an introduction to the multifaceted work of Duke scholars in public policy, history, documentary studies, religious studies, African and African-American studies, cultural anthropology, sociology, art, art history, and visual studies. View the books here. read more about 10 Duke-Authored Books on Black History »
Trina Rodriguez of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) shared her poem as part of OIT's DiversifyIT program. She wrote her first spoken word poem, “Who Could Understand the Plight of a Black Man?” and performed it last July during a virtual “Living (IT) While Black | Open Mic,” a program of DiversifyIT at Duke. DiversifyIT launched in 2015 to encourage Duke’s IT community to participate in advancing inclusion and diversity in the IT profession through networking, outreach and development… read more about Spoken Word Performance Highlights Need for Racial Justice »
Nature Biotechnology, a monthly journal covering the science and business of biotechnology, highlighted Dr. Samira Musah as a part of their recognition series of outstanding and trailblazing Black researchers around the US for Black History Month. View more here. read more about Congratulations to Dr. Samira Musah on her feature by Nature Biotechnology »
Professor Gina-Gail Fletcher, a Duke law professor who specializes in market regulation, comments on the recent trading development with GameStop that for her "what is truly problematic about this is the regulators' flat-footedness." She added, "Right now, the integrity of the market is at issue." Read more here. read more about Wall Street's cops weren't ready for GameStop. They're paying attention now »
Professor Emerita Karla Holloway (English) discusses her novel Gone Missing in Harlem, inspired by a Black infant’s abduction in 1932 New York. Read more here. read more about Gone Missing: Publishers Weekly Talks with Karla FC Holloway »
The Arc of Justice podcast responds to the need for Acknowledgement, Redress and Closure to remedy historical injustices that have been faced by Black Americans. This six-part podcast series, grounded in the scholarship of Duke Professor William Darity, Jr. and folklorist Kirsten Mullen, explores how today’s economic inequality came to be, including the U.S. government’s complicity in its creation. Read more here. read more about The Arc of Justice: Moving from Here to Equality Podcast Premieres March 3 »
In a wide-ranging conversation for Tracklib, Grammy Award winning producer and Professor Patrick Denard Douthit (AAAS), a.k.a. 9thWonder, talks with legendary Jazz musician Bob James about sampling, being sampled and the significance of James' track "Nautilus". View the full talk here. read more about 9th Wonder & Bob James in conversation around sampling and getting sampled »
If you need help, please reach out to one of these resources, to a friend, colleague, neighbor or family member. There are people here who care about you. If you or someone you know is thinking about harming themselves, call 9-1-1. View the full list here. read more about Find Mental Health and Wellness Resources for the Duke Community »
Duke has the capacity to deliver 25,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines per week, Chancellor for Health Affairs A. Eugene Washington said at a Monday conversation with administrators. At the talk, administrators spoke to Duke’s vaccination efforts, hopes for an in-person communication and plans for summer 2021 programs. Read here for some key takeaways. read more about Duke Administrators discuss Vaccination Plans and more for Spring 2021 »
Professor Ashleigh Shelby Rosette (Fuqua) was part of a World Economic Forum panel "Delivering Justice in the New Economy." The discussion was part of WEF's annual event at Davos. Co-panelists were Peter Grauer, (Chairman of Bloomberg), Tatiana Clouthier (Secretary of Economy, Mexico) and Carmine di Sibio (Global Chairman & CEO of Ernst & Young). Moderated by Caroline Casey (Valuable 500). View the full event here. read more about Dr. Rosette discusses "Delivering Justice in the New Economy" on a World Economic Forum panel »
From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century continues to garner accolades and recognition. It was recently covered in The New York Review. Additionally, Dr. William "Sandy" Darity (Sanford) was selected as a finalist for the Annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Book Award. He was also among 56 distinguished experts elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance. BTT applauds Dr. Darity’s continued success. Find more… read more about Many Congratulations to Dr. William "Sandy" Darity as he starts of 2021 strong! »
The Duke University School of Nursing’s (DUSON) leadership in research and education has risen in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Nursing School rankings and improved its standing for 2020 among leading NIH Nursing Research institutions. DUSON’s ranking as an online nursing program jumped four positions from the previous year to be named the #3 program in the nation. In addition, the U.S. News & World Report recognized four of DUSON’s MSN online major programs… read more about DUSON Rises in National Academic and Research Rankings »
The Sanford School of Public Policy faculty members have proposed a variety of ideas to the incoming Biden administration. Among them, Dr. William Darity argues for a commission on reparations. In an article in Vox, professor Darity agreed with this approach, noting that there was precedence for such a commission - a report about Japanese American reparations, Personal Justice Denied, was produced by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. However, Darity warns the quality of… read more about 5 Research-Based Ideas for the Biden Administration »
Dr. Adia K. Ross, Duke Regional Hospital's chief medical officer, interviewed by ABC11 to answer viewers’ questions, and directing people to the Duke Health website to register for a vaccination appointment. She shares "I want people to think about this in the current context in how the vaccine is being distributed and which population is going first," said Dr. Ross. "So, you should feel very confident healthcare professionals would not put their own at risk for something if we didn't… read more about Dr. Adia K. Ross comments on reassuring vaccine concerns in ABC11 »
President Vincent Price and other Duke leaders began the semester on a positive, but cautious note, telling faculty and staff during a virtual conversation Monday that Duke remains in a comparatively stable position both financially and in protecting campus health during the pandemic. During the conversation broadcast on YouTube, Price, Provost Sally Kornbluth, Chancellor Dr. Eugene Washington and Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis answered questions submitted in advance by faculty and staff. The full briefing… read more about Duke Leaders Update the University Community »
Symposium keynote speaker and Professor of Dance at Duke University, North Carolina, Dr Thomas F. DeFrantz speaks from his personal experience of queering on a project which “shifted the sense of what my dancing could be and could be for” as well as asking wider questions of what queering might evoke for us in terms of imagination, effort, agreement and limitless possibilities. Read more on his experience here. read more about Towards an otherwise sort of being: Queering the Somatic Symposium »
Congratulations to William Darity Jr. and co-writer Kirsten Mullen for being named finalists for the annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) book award for From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. The ASALH Book Prize will recognize an outstanding book that engages the archival record to illuminate and analyze African Americans’ social, political, and cultural realities. While an engagement with archives is required… read more about Congratulations to William Darity on finalist selection for annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Book Award »
Congratulations to Senior Lecturing Fellow Crystal Grant, who has been elected to the board of directors of the Clinical Legal Education Association. Read more here. read more about Congratulations to Crystal Grant on her appointment to the Clinical Legal Education Association Board of Directors »
Dr. William Darity, Jr. was among 56 distinguished experts elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance. He was approved by The Board of Directors of the National Academy of Social Insurance, bringing the total active membership to over 1,100. The Academy advances solutions to challenges facing the nation by increasing public understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security. This mission encompasses established social insurance programs – Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Insurance,… read more about Congratulations to William Darity on being elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance »
The windows of Durham Station have become the latest canvas for a powerful national art initiative that seeks to emphasize the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color and to encourage public discussion about the virus and its toll. The Nasher Museum, in collaboration with Duke Arts and Duke Health, began presenting the national RESIST COVID/TAKE 6! campaign last fall. “TAKE 6” refers to the recommended feet of distance that people should keep from one another to… read more about GoDurham, Duke partner on art campaign that highlights two viruses: COVID and racism »
“Our democracy is not only fragile, but it can be destroyed in a flash. How do you get people to believe in this idea of democracy again?” Paula McClain, Duke professor of political science and dean of The Graduate School, quoted on the PBS NewsHour on the challenge facing the new Biden administration to unify the nation. Read more here. read more about Paula McClain comments on the challenge facing the new Biden administration to unify the nation »
The tuition assistance program provides reimbursement of tuition for eligible classes taken at Duke or any other higher educational institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with a physical presence in North Carolina. The benefit provides Duke employees who have at least two years of continuous full-time service up to $5,250 per calendar year to cover a maximum of three classes per semester or quarter. Read more here. read more about Earn an Academic Degree with Duke's Reimbursement Benefit »
Charmaine Royal, Professor of African & African American Studies and Martin Smith, Dean of Academic Affairs at Trinity College of Arts and Sciences among board named to oversee selection process for new Nakayama Scholars Service program. Nakayama Public Service Scholarship is part of the university’s efforts to encourage students to use their Duke experience to engage with the large challenges facing communities around the world and will provide tuition assistance to five seniors who plan to enter public… read more about New Nakayama Scholars Program to Support Students Seeking to Enter Public Service »
Co-Director of the Wrongful Convictions Clinic James E. Coleman Jr. was elated to celebrate the clinic's 10th client to be exonerated this month. On Jan. 19 a Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge vacated the conviction and ordered the release of Wrongful Convictions Clinic client Willie George Shaw, who spent nearly six years in prison after entering an Alford plea in connection with the death of a nursing home resident. Read more on the case here. read more about Exoneration of Willie Shaw marks 10th secured by Wrongful Convictions Clinic »
In ArtReview's Power100 series, they recognize the most influential people in 2020 in the contemporary artworld. Felwine Sarr (Romance) was honored alongside Bénédicte Savoy for their advocacy work regarding the repatriation of cultural artifacts and other items to be returned from Western museums to their African origins. Read more here. read more about Congratulations to Felwine Sarr on being honored for his work in ArtReview »
Oluwadamilola Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS, FACS, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, looks to the future of breast cancer care in 2021, and outlines the increased importance of social determinants of health and well as the significance of reducing disparities between cancer care in all patients. This interview was recorded via an online conference call with The Video Journal of Oncology (VJOncology). Read more here. read more about Oluwadamilola Fayanju presents on reducing disparities in breast cancer care at SABCS 2020 »
Shennette Garrett-Scott of The New York Review gives a detailed examination of Professor Darity (Sanford) and Kirsten Mullen's From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. Read more here. read more about What Price Wholeness?: A review of From Here to Equality »