In an effort to build long-term relationships and reiterate the university’s commitment to openness, access and intellectual rigor, President Vincent E. Price spent July 10 and 11 in Washington, D.C., to meet with students, alumni, journalists and members of Congress to share Duke’s perspective.
Price spent his first day in D.C. meeting with U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) T’75.
In the evening, he dined with Duke Engage Science and Society students. The conversation ranged from the students’ internships and the lifestyle of Washington, D.C., to the Duke housing policy and free speech on campus. Led by Eric Mlyn and Thomas Williams, the Science and Society program has students study several of the most difficult health, technological and environmental policy problems of the day.
The following day, Price brought Duke’s concerns and aspirations to a larger audience. He spent his morning speaking with journalists about the importance of Duke as a policy-forward institution, one that prizes openness and access. Price then spent the afternoon meeting members of the House of Representatives. After lunch with Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) T’77, he met with Scott Peters (D-CA) T’80, G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Richard Hudson (R-NC).
Price then hosted the annual Sanford on the Hill event at the Capitol Visitor’s Center with Judy Woodruff T’68 and Representative David Price (D-NC). Sanford on the Hill offers alumni in politics on and off Capitol Hill the chance to meet and share their experiences in the policy world. (Read more about the event here.)
One idea drove the entire trip. “A research university is dedicated, not just to transmitting knowledge, teaching, but to discovery, advancing knowledge, pushing the boundaries of knowledge,” said Price, who is a leading global expert on public opinion and political communication. “And policy-making is at its best the application of that knowledge to support the collective welfare. If we want our research, our discovery at Duke to make a difference, a primary vehicle for that is through the public policy process.”