Investing in a Brighter Future

James B. Duke was an investor who saw his Indenture as an investment in the future, and universities and hospitals as institutions vital to our region’s future. He recognized the potential for a small liberal arts institution — Trinity College in Durham, N.C. — to foster social and economic development in our region and promote human happiness.

In his Indenture, James B. Duke expressed a strong desire for the University to become a place of true leadership in the educational world; to attract students of great character; and to advance this region through education, research and our commitment to the professions.

As we reflect, 100 years later, on our benefactor’s original vision, I think it is fair to say that Duke University has achieved that position of true leadership in the educational world.

The question before us now: How will we lead going forward? At our core, we are in the business of identifying and developing human talent. It is through our people — our faculty, staff, students and alumni — that we make a positive difference in our region and the world.

That is why our strategic vision for Duke University’s second century begins and ends with people and is centered around community.

Through our research and education mission, we are empowering bright and talented people to address the challenging problems our society faces today.

These are not the same problems this region faced when James B. Duke signed the Indenture of Trust. Today we are working to address climate change, manage economic innovation in our region in a way that is just and equitable, and create avenues to build community in a social and political environment that more readily fosters division and disagreement.

To address these problems, we need to ensure that we are attracting and supporting scholars, students and staff who have a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences.

We also have the opportunity to redefine and transform teaching and learning for the 21st century. One hundred years ago, when the Indenture of Trust was signed, Trinity College had just revised its curriculum, laying the groundwork for a 20th century model of education.

We have perfected that model. Now is the time to think about a 21st century model of education that is experiential, leans into problem solving, and leverages diverse teams of talent.

Our vision for the next century also prioritizes community. James B. Duke saw this university as a vehicle to build a happy, healthy community. To that end, we are rethinking and expanding our vision across many domains, including residential education, athletics and the arts.

The fourth element of our vision is partnering with purpose. I think James B. Duke would be especially proud of this because as a businessperson, he saw the value of partnerships and innovation.

Thanks to the longstanding support of The Duke Endowment and other generous donors, we have many resources to support this work, but through partnership we can multiply what we are able to achieve with those resources. While we cannot do everything, and we do not aspire to do everything ourselves, we do aspire to partner with others to achieve even greater outcomes in the future.

One hundred years after our founding, Duke University is now home to an extraordinary community of alumni — more than 200,000 strong — who are advancing James B. Duke’s vision through their work and service here in the Carolinas and around the world. Today, we are strengthening this global network through new initiatives and programs to support our alumni throughout their lives, and connect alumni to each other and to our current students so they can all benefit from this tremendous community we have together built.

I am confident that, despite all the change we’ve seen over the past 100 years, our vision that begins and ends with people, and is centered around community, is very much in keeping with the extraordinary vision James B. Duke expressed in his Indenture. I look forward to the many ways this great university will serve society and uplift humankind during its second century.