Thislist of Duke University people includes alumni, faculty, presidents, and major philanthropists ofDuke University, which includes three undergraduate and ten graduate schools. The undergraduate schools includeTrinity College of Arts and Sciences,Pratt School of Engineering,Sanford School of Public Policy, andDuke Kunshan University. The university's graduate and professional schools include thegraduate school, thePratt School of Engineering, theNicholas School of the Environment, theSchool of Medicine, theSchool of Nursing, theFuqua School of Business, theSchool of Law, theDivinity School, theSanford School of Public Policy,Duke Kunshan University, andDuke–NUS Medical School.
As of 2024, 16 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with Duke University. The following list includes only those who have graduated from Duke or spent at least one year as apostdoctoral researcher/medical resident/visiting professor or two years as a faculty member at Duke.
In the absence of a Nobel Prize inComputer science, theTuring Award generally is recognized as the highest honor in the subject and the "Nobel Prize of computing." As of 2015, three Turing Award laureates have been affiliated with Duke University.
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| President | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Brantley York | 1838–1842[587] |
| Braxton Craven | 1842–1863[588] |
| William Trigg Gannaway* | 1864–1865 |
| *Appointed presidentpro tempore during the break in Craven's presidency | |
| Braxton Craven | 1866–1882[588] |
| Marquis Lafayette Wood | 1883–1886 |
| John Franklin Crowell | 1887–1894 |
| John Carlisle Kilgo | 1894–1910 |
| William Preston Few | 1910–1924[589] |
| University officially established as Duke University in 1924 | |
| William Preston Few | 1924–1940[589] |
| Robert Lee Flowers | 1941–1948 |
| Arthur Hollis Edens | 1949–1960 |
| Julian Deryl Hart | 1960–1963 |
| Douglas Knight | 1963–1969[590] |
| Terry Sanford | 1969–1985[591] |
| H. Keith H. Brodie | 1985–1993[592] |
| Nannerl O. Keohane | 1993–2004[593] |
| Richard H. Brodhead | 2004–2017[594] |
| Vincent E. Price | 2017–present[595] |
Donors who have contributed at least $20 million to the university, or founding donors:
| Donor | Total amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke Endowment | $1.5+ billion[596][597][598][599][600] | 1924– 2024 | Various[601] |
| James B. Duke | $40 million ($1.36 billion in 2024 dollars) | 1924 | For endowment; established The Duke Endowment later that year |
| Lord Corporation | $261 million | 2019 | Unrestricted[602] |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $250+ million | 2002–2021 | $46.5 million forAIDS research,[603] $30 million for a new science facility and $5 million for student life initiatives,[604] $20 million for the Duke Global Health Initiative,[605] $15 million for DukeEngage, a civic engagement program,[606] $9 million for undergraduate financial aid and $1 million forFuqua students financial aid,[607] and $4.5 million for water sanitation research. The full list of grants is available at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation website.[608] |
| Peter and Ginny Nicholas | $115+ million | 1999– 2023 | $20 million for theSchool of the Environment and Earth Sciences;[609] $70 million pledged in 2003 for the School of the Environment fully paid by 2022; $25 million pledged in 2023[610] |
| David Rubenstein | $100+ million | 2002–2017 | More than $100 million in total,[611] including $25 million towards a new performing arts center,[612] $20 million for undergraduate scholarships,[613] $13.6 million to Duke Libraries, $20.75 million to the Sanford School of Public Policy, $10 million to Duke athletics[614][615] |
| Bruce and Martha Karsh | $85 million | 2005–2011 | For student financial aid[616][617][618] |
| Anne andRobert Bass | $70 million | 1996–2013 | $20 million for the FOCUS program and various endowed chairs, $50 million for interdisciplinary research[619][620] |
| Disque Deane | $20 million ($56 million in 2024 dollars) | 1986 | To "establish a research institute on the human future"[621] |
| J. Michael and Christine Pearson | $50+ million | 2014 | $30 million to the Pratt School of Engineering to advance engineering and science education, $15 million to the School of Nursing and $7.5 million to the Fuqua School of Business[622] |
| Edmund T. Pratt Jr. | $35 million | 1999 | To endow theSchool of Engineering[623] |
| David H. Murdock | $35 million | 2007 | For "translational medicine" research by theDuke Medical School[624] |
| Dr. Steven and Rebecca Scott | $30 million | 2012–2013 | $20 million for Duke Sports Medicine[625] and $10 million for Duke athletics[626] |
| Dudley Rauch | $30 million | 2021 | For medical student scholarships[627] |
| Jack O. Bovender Jr. | $27.5 million | 2006–2014 | $10 million for Trinity College, $10 million for the Fuqua School of Business Health Sector Management Program, and $5 million for School of Nursing,[628] $1.5 million for a professorship at Duke Divinity School,[629] and $1 million for a scholarship for minority students in the Health Sector Management Program[630] |
| Robert Margolis | $26.5 million | 2015–2023 | For the Margolis Center for Health Policy[631][632] |
| Michael J. and Patty Fitzpatrick | $25 million | 2000 | For a center for advanced photonics and communications[633] |
| William and Sue Gross | $23 million | 2005 | $15 million for undergraduate scholarships, $5 million for medical students' scholarships, and $3 million to support faculty members of theFuqua School of Business[634] |
| Bill andMelinda Gates | $20 million | 1998 | For undergraduate scholarships[634] |
| Washington Duke | $385,000 ($13 million in 2024 dollars) | 1892 | For original endowment and construction |
| Julian S. Carr | N/A | 1892 | Donated site ofEast Campus |
Instrumental Arrangement ... "West Side Story Medley," Bill Cunliffe
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