chieving faculty excellence requires Duke to be actively—and simultaneously—engaged on several fronts: It must ensure the retention of faculty leaders, whose careers serve as inspiration for both students and colleagues, and support the efforts of every faculty member to become the best teacher-scholar possible. Duke also must recruit exceptional new faculty, often amid intense competition from other institutions. To do both, the University must provide the resources necessary to enhance teaching and to support research.

The Nicholas Faculty Leadership Initiative is designed to help meet those needs by stimulating as much as $75 million in new endowment through matching new gifts for a range of purposes.

Endowed professorships, directorships, and curatorships are traditionally awarded only to well established senior scholars. The Nicholas Initiative will endow a wide range of positions and levels, so Duke can attract and encourage the most promising—and sought after—talent.

Endowed research grants, sabbaticals, and leaves will make it possible for faculty members at every career level to pursue research objectives and further scholarship. New endowments will also increase the amount of support to smaller research projects, particularly in the humanities.

Endowed funds for faculty development will enable Duke professors to invigorate teaching skills, develop academic enhancements, master emerging educational technologies, build bridges to other disciplines, and serve as intellectual ambassadors around the world.

Endowed funds to improve the infrastructure of teaching and research will support Duke’s ability to provide faculty with the most productive environment possible. New funds will enable the University to improve research spaces and update equipment and instrumentation, particularly in the sciences and engineering.

Go to the Nichloas School website