Tenured Faculty Become Long-Term Partners in Duke’s Future

Around 50 newly tenured faculty gathered last month to celebrate a milestone and reflect on what comes next in their careers. 

Provost Alec Gallimore welcomed the faculty to a kickoff dinner at the Durham Hotel. “I feel a great deal of pride in your accomplishments,” he told the group. “What will you do in the next stage of your career? Where will your research and teaching take you? What new opportunities and experiences do you want to seek out, and how will you step into leadership? These are exciting questions.”

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Terrie Moffitt, Nannerl O. Keohane University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, offered advice for the next chapter. “You can take more risks with your scholarship,” she emphasized. “You can become more of a voice in your discipline at national and international levels. You can become a thought leader in government. You can give lectures and get out there more.” 

The second day included a slate of conversations, panel discussions and reflections led by senior faculty and leaders who gathered at the Rubenstein Arts Center.

Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, James L. Vincent Distinguished Professor of Leadership, compared the tenure process to scaling a mountain. “Think of tenure as base camp,” she said. “We can look back and see all the things we have accomplished and also see the opportunities in front of us.”

“The leadership, generationally speaking, of Duke University is sitting in this room,” said President Vincent Price. “We’re betting our future on you. That’s essentially what tenure comes down to. You have invested in this institution and the institution has invested in you.”

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“When I got tenure, I felt like I was able to do many more collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, which were very rewarding,” said Charlotte Sussman, chair and professor of English. 

Provost Gallimore emphasized the myriad opportunities that can arise from service roles, which can enrich the life of an academic. “I became a leader relatively early on in my career because people saw how I [operated] in service,” he said, and “the intellectual puzzles you wrestle with are fascinating.”

Coach Mike Krzyzewski reinforced the day’s focus on leadership, highlighting his “three As” — agility, adaptability and accountability. While the three As are simple, he said, leadership is not simple because it’s about people working together.

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Next, the faculty considered how to challenge themselves by setting stretch goals. “A stretch goal is picking something that seems worthwhile and, if successful, could make quite an impact,” said George Truskey, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering. “Work on problems that interest you.” 

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A milestone that lies ahead is promotion to full professor and distinguished professor. “It’s important for newly tenured faculty to see this moment as an accomplishment for the past but also giving you wind in your sails to propel you forward,” said Aaron Franklin, associate dean for faculty affairs in the Pratt School of Engineering. 

“I have always taken intellectual risks, and those increased with promotion,” said Thavolia Glymph, Peabody Family Distinguished Professor of History. “Think about how your work can be bolder.”

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“Now you have the opportunity to take some pedagogical risks,” affirmed Lee Baker, vice provost for undergraduate education. “You should feel you want to bring your research into your classroom. You are becoming the go-to person in your field. Double down on what you do really well [as a teacher] and you will become excellent.” 

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“We’re not just in the business of educating the next generation, but in the business of creating lifelong learners,” added Suzanne Barbour, vice provost for graduate education and dean of The Graduate School. 

Angela Passarelli, associate professor of the practice of business administration, led a closing exercise in which faculty were asked to imagine themselves seven years from now: What are you known for? How do people feel after interacting with you? What kinds of initiatives are you shaping, and what values are unmistakable in your leadership?

Learn More

• Newly Tenured Faculty Celebration & Leadership Retreat 
• Duke Awards Tenure to Faculty Across Disciplines
• Duke Promotes Faculty to the Rank of Full Professor

Main image: Some of the newly tenured faculty members gather on the stairs inside the Rubenstein Arts Center.