Devils and Details

Tyson Haywood Brown is made for Mentorship. Now leading the Samuel DuBois Cook Center at Duke, Brown shares his vision for building multigenerational mentorship that empowers the next generation of scholars and leaders. He reflects on the powerful role of mentorship from his college professors to his grandfather, the Rev. Haywood Brown.

Sadie Tillery is made for Curiosity. As co-director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Tillery says her curiosity in other’s stories makes her more compassionate and understanding. Through the festival, she brings award-winning artists from all over the world to Durham, North Carolina, every year.

Peter Feaver is made for Empathy. As the director of Duke’s American Grand Strategy program, he believes that being able to walk in another’s shoes is a core value. That’s why he organizes an event every four years that gathers Republican and Democratic presidential advisers in discussion.

Angel Collie is made for Leadership. He wakes up and writes down three things he is grateful for every day, taking the chance to lean into gratitude instead of fear. And in Angel’s experience working with faculty and students, he can lead with hope and belonging in partnership with Duke.

Coach Jon Scheyer and Dr. Joseph Turek are made for Teamwork. Head Coach of Duke Men’s Basketball Jon Scheyer and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Dr. Joseph Turek both run successful teams that win together. In this conversation, they discuss the keys to success, what makes a team great and how their unlikely friendship has impacted their journeys.

Suzanne Wardell is made for freedom. As an assistant research professor in pharmacology and cancer biology, she discovered that a drug designed to relieve post-menopausal symptoms could help cure breast cancer. Today, Suzanne credits Duke for providing freedom for her research that is changing women’s health and beyond.

Bill Pan is made for resilience. As a research scientist and professor at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, he has to be. Hear Pan’s story of how drastic cuts to research funding brought him back to the story of his parents’ marriage.

Brandon Garrett, Duke professor of law, has seen the criminal justice system up close by representing defendants who were later exonerated and becoming a scholar of wrongful convictions cases. What is the justice system of our future? One in which technology used for good leads to fairness like never before.

Heather Whitson is made for purpose. Heather Whitson’s life purpose came into focus when her love of science was linked to helping her grandmother confront Alzheimer’s Disease. Through her work at Duke, Dr. Whitson has found that Alzheimer's and dementia are diseases of aging that can be prevented decades before initial symptoms set in.

Ronnie Chatterji is made for innovation. The chief economist of OpenAI and professor of business and public policy at Duke, Chatterji says that technology of our present and future has the power to humanize us and grow our relationships stronger than ever.

Victoria Pinedo is made for community. As a first-generation college student at Duke, Pinedo ’22 says building authentic community takes both courage and using one’s voice. Her secret to successfully navigating a world of firsts? The community she built around her at Duke.

Kate Bowler is made for hope. After being diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at 35, Bowler began re-examining much of what she thought she knew about life, loss and joy. Now in remission, she explains what she has learned about how authentic hope can exist in the midst of life’s greatest uncertainties.

Every year at Duke ends with a celebration of LDOC – Last Day of Classes – with music, parties, and celebrations. And each year a group of student tour guides graduates, giving their final tours around campus. Devils & Details goes along to look into these last things.

DukeMag writer Corbie Hill spoke with the noted sportswriter, who died March 13, for our Fall 2024 issue. Here are excerpts from that interview.

In this episode of Devils and Details senior writer Scott Huler visits a program that brings dogs into Perkins Library, has a conversation about grievance with professor and best-selling author Frank Bruni, and considers what it means when your institution outlasts its trees.

In this episode of Devils & Details, we dig in the dirt with the folks who maintain the award-winning field at Wallace Wade Stadium; we listen in on an interview of sports-writing giant John Feinstein ’77 by staff writer Corbie Hill; we consider the various goodbye and welcome parties Duke throws for its incoming freshmen and its alums moving to new cities; and we look back at the quiet summer campus.

Scott Huler talks with professor of the practice Anthony Kelley ’87, AM’90 about the unfinished symphony of jazz great and former Duke artist in residence Mary Lou Williams. Kelley learned during the Covid lockdown that the late jazz legend had, during her Duke days, left behind an unfinished symphony. That sounded like a challenge and Kelley was up to it. In April 2024 the Duke Wind Symphony premiered his completed “History…” in Baldwin Auditorium.

This month, Devils and Details meets David Ntim, a sophomore chosen as this year’s Duke Chapel Student Preacher. Ntim discusses faith, hope, and finals. We also talk with Lisa Weistart ’92 about "Details of the Devil," a new documentary on Duke's Blue Devil mascot. The Duke Alumni regional teams are showcasing the documentary at various events, with more to come. Additionally, we chat with Emmy-winning writer Michael Schur about his book, "How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question." Host: Scott Huler Guests: David Ntim, Lisa Weistart ’92, Michael Schur