Knowledge in the Service of Society

Duke’s strategic plan from 2006, titled “Making a Difference,” focused on interdisciplinarity and a campus culture of service that could benefit multiple communities—not just at the university but also locally and globally. At the time, the plan’s keystone phrase “knowledge in the service of society” generated multiple events and initiatives springing up to deliberate and celebrate it. Twenty years later, this motto is a commonplace on campus, and Graduate School alumni are among our strongest exemplars of the myriad ways that Duke builds knowledge in the service of society. (And if you’re interested, you can see Duke Service-Learning’s history page for a rich timeline of civic engagement at Duke.)