Three alumni have been nominated to Duke’s Board of Trustees by the Duke Alumni Board Executive Committee. All are new to the board and will begin serving six-year terms as of July 1, 2025.
Anne Faircloth ’91, P’23
Faircloth is a farmer from Clinton, North Carolina. She cares deeply about Eastern North Carolina, where she has spent most of her life, and is eager to make connections between business, philanthropy and government to improve the lives and livelihoods of folks living in this important part of the state.
As president of Buffalo Investments and Lafayette Farms, Anne owns and manages multiple agricultural and real estate businesses in Sampson County, North Carolina. In her non-profit work, Anne serves as a trustee of the Anonymous Trust.
She is currently a member of the boards of the NC Rural Center, the NC Museum of Art, UNC Health, the Madeira School, and the Sampson Community College Foundation in addition to serving on the NC Board of Agriculture.
Anne graduated from Duke University, cum laude, in 1991. As an alumna she has served as a reunion class chair as well as on the Annual Fund Advisory Board and the Climate Commitment Task Force. She received an M.A. in English and creative writing from Hollins University in 2000. In 2021, she was named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor.
Anne is married to Frederick Beaujeu-Dufour, a member of the Nicholas School of the Environment’s Board of Visitors. They have two children: Nancy, a Duke alumna (’23) and Julian, an undergraduate student at Washington and Lee University.
Garheng Kong Ph.D.’00, M.D.’01, M.B.A.’03
A physician, scientist, and engineer by training, Kong has more than two decades of experience investing in innovative companies in all areas of health care and has led more than 35 companies to successful exits (IPO and M&A).
Kong is the managing partner and founder of HealthQuest Capital, a private asset firm that provides growth capital to transformative companies that are improving value in the health care system. Prior to founding HealthQuest, Kong was a partner at Intersouth Partners and Sofinnova Investments; spent time at GlaxoSmithKline and McKinsey; and was CEO of two health care companies.
Kong also serves as lead director of LabCorp and on the boards of Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Be The Match, Duke University Health System, Dell Children’s Foundation, UT President’s Commercial Advisory Board, and the Austin Healthcare Council Board. He is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow, Kauffman Fellows Mentor, and member of YPO.
Kong received undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering and biological sciences from Stanford, while on an athletic scholarship, and earned M.D., Ph.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Duke University.
Connie Mitchell Shelton M.Div.’97
Bishop Shelton was elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church on Nov. 2, 2022. Her assignment as resident bishop, North Carolina Episcopal Area, commenced on Jan. 1, 2023, in the North Carolina Conference, one of 53 conferences of The United Methodist Church in the United States.
As bishop, Shelton oversees the work of 433 churches and 936 clergy leaders across 56 counties in eastern North Carolina, from Elon to the coast and from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border.
As an emeritus member of the Board of Visitors of Duke University Divinity School, Shelton lives in the rich history of Methodist founder John Wesley, who said, “Education of highest quality will produce a capable and caring citizenry to serve the world’s communities.” Grounded in Wesleyan theology and practice, Shelton envisions the Church joining God’s transformational work of peace-building in every community.
Shelton’s experience includes serving as pastor of rural, urban, small, medium and large membership churches, executive director of The United Methodist Hour radio and television ministry of the Mississippi Conference, director of Field Education at Duke University Divinity School, director of Connectional Ministries, and a district superintendent of The United Methodist Church.
Shelton holds a bachelor of science in radio, television and film and an M.A. in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also has a master of divinity from Duke University Divinity School (’97) and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Shelton is married to the Rev. Dr. Joey Shelton, M.Div.’97 and they have two adult daughters.
The bylaws of Duke University call for the election of one-third of its trustees by the graduates of the university. These three individuals are approved for final submission to the alumni body, with additional nominations permitted by petition. After notice appears, alumni may submit a petition within 30 days signed by one-half of one percent of the alumni body to nominate additional candidates.