It’s my firm belief that every person reaches their eventual station in life through a set of circumstances unique to them, their talents, and their educational experiences.
That’s certainly true of me and my story. I graduated from Duke in 1975, and to this day, I still find myself relying on the lessons I learned as a Blue Devil as I walk the halls of the Senate.
I like to joke that while I might not be a formal practitioner of my zoology degree, I now work at the biggest zoo in America – Capitol Hill.
At Duke, I learned to engage with my peers in open, honest, and frank discussion – sometimes a lost art in Washington.
I learned about philanthropy and giving back, an ethos embodied by James Buchanan Duke. I try to live up to his example as I travel West Virginia with my female empowerment program called “West Virginia Girls Rise Up.”
I learned about servant-leadership, an attitude championed by the legendary Coach K that every member of Congress should strive to emulate.
Above all, when I reflect on my time as a Blue Devil, I am reminded that Duke is more than a school – it’s a family.
It has been such a privilege to watch that family grow as each of my three children, and my daughter-in-law, have taken the same walk I did across the stage in Wallace Wade Stadium.
My cup runs over with pride in the Blue Devil family.
Now, forever and always, GO DUKE!
For our Spring 2025 special issue devoted to the MADE FOR THIS campaign, we asked some of our notable alumni to tell us, in their own words, how Duke prepared them for their success.