Joel Fleishman’s booming North Carolina voice filled the Chapel with a celebratory Jewish prayer Thursday, as the former director of what is now the Sanford School of Public Policy looked back on 38 years at the University.
Fleishman, currently a professor of law and public policy and director of the Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Center for Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions, said the prayer during his address at the Founder’s Day Convocation, shortly before President Richard Brodhead awarded him the University Medal for Distinguished Service.
“You, Joel Fleishman, illustrate the continued work of institution-building as much as any living Dukie,” Brodhead said before Fleishman’s speech. “It’s almost enough to make me want to give you a medal.”
Brodhead also awarded a University Medal to Ernest Mario, who served 18 years on the Board of Trustees. Mario, a pharmaceutical industry leader, was the first chair of the Duke University Health System.
In his speech, Fleishman described the creation and growth of the University and the evolution of the Sanford School from two rooms in the Old Chemistry building to two modern buildings at the corner of Towerview Road and Science Drive. Sanford became Duke’s 10th school July 1.
Although he touched on his own role in building the school, Fleishman spent much of his speech recognizing the contributions of many others throughout the University community, from former University presidents to his personal assistants.
“All of them not only nurtured the institution we were building together, but they gave me the professional and personal support that made it possible for me to navigate that institution,” he said.
Fleishman said he believes Sanford’s mission dovetails with Duke’s mission of educating students to serve their communities. The public policy analysis skills that the school teaches help create “leaders with hearts to serve,” he said.
Fleishman added that Sanford was the first public policy school to focus on leadership and is also distinct from many of its peers because it combines substantive policy research and theoretical education.
“It was the hardest speech I’ve ever had to give.... I hate speaking about myself,” Fleishman said following the speech as a long stream of friends congratulated him outside the Chapel. “I’m deeply touched by the whole thing.”
Brodhead also presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to an individual with ties to Sanford, though she graduated before Duke began teaching public policy.
“Apparently some of you recognize [Judy] Woodruff,” Brodhead said, as he introduced the PBS correspondent and gave her the award.
Woodruff, Woman’s College ’68, has worked as a television journalist for CNN and NBC and has been involved in several aspects of the University. She also taught a class in Sanford in 2007.
Woodruff studied political science as an undergraduate and said two of her professors—David Paletz and Allan Kornberg—strongly influenced her decision to become a journalist.
“This is the place where I first envisioned journalism as a career,” Woodruff said in an interview following the ceremony. “This is not just another award for me. It’s very personal and emotional.”
Joining Fleishman, Woodruff and the other honorees on stage was Mbaye Lo, assistant professor of the practice in Arabic. Lo, who also directs DukeEngage in Egypt, received the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award for his teaching and guidance of students both in and out of the classroom, Brodhead said.
“I never taught to get recognized,” Lo said. “To be a successful teacher, you just have to enjoy the classroom.”
Brodhead also gave a teaching award to Daniel Lew, professor of pharmacology and cancer biology, who “is constantly challenging students to think for themselves,” Brodhead said.
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