$12 million from The Duke Endowment will endow law professorships

Duke University has received a $12 million award from The Duke Endowment to fully endow three professorships at Duke Law School. The grant honors individuals who have made a significant impact on the Duke Law community and directly strengthens the core of the Duke Law experience—the faculty.

In addition to providing tools needed to recruit and retain excellent faculty members in a competitive environment, the professorships will honor and sustain the legacies of three Duke Law luminaries: Jerome M. Culp Jr., L. Neil Williams Jr. ’58, J.D.’61 and William B. McGuire LL.B. ’33.

“Duke Law has long been distinguished by its outstanding faculty,” said President Vincent E. Price. “We are grateful for this support from The Duke Endowment, which will honor the legacies of Professor Culp and Duke Endowment trustees Williams and McGuire, while equipping current and future generations of legal scholars to carry forward Duke Law’s tradition of excellence and impact.”

Culp joined the faculty in 1985 and in 1989 became the first tenured Black professor at Duke Law. He was a prolific scholar with wide-ranging interests, including race and the law, law and economics, and labor economics issues. He believed “being a law professor could effectuate change in the world,” and his scholarship transformed the legal landscape. Culp was also a kind and generous mentor and a wise, nurturing teacher.

A prominent figure in legal and cultural circles, Williams had a long history with Duke University. He served as chair of the Duke Law Alumni Association in the 1970s and as a Duke University Trustee (1980-1993; chair 1983-1988). Williams was instrumental in the formation of the Duke Management Company, the university’s investment management arm, and served as a director until 1997. Williams served as a trustee of The Duke Endowment from 1997 to 2012, including as vice chair from 2008 to 2010 and chair from 2011 to 2012.

McGuire was the first president of the Duke Bar Association and helped establish the Duke Bar Association Journal, which continued publication until 1942. After graduation, McGuire joined the Duke Power Company (now Duke Energy), where he started as assistant general counsel and eventually rose to the role of president in an extraordinary 41-year career. McGuire served as a trustee and vice chair of The Duke Endowment from 1965 to 1988.

“Our faculty is the lifeblood of the university and the Law School,” said Provost Alec Gallimore. “These professorships provide long-term stability for these vital positions and ensure current and future deans can confidently appoint exceptional faculty members, knowing they are supported by lasting resources.”

Most top law schools have faculty who are renowned scholars. What makes Duke Law faculty stand out is their devotion to teaching excellence, enthusiasm for including students in their research, and long-term commitment to students’ professional development. When asked what made their experience special, alumni across decades emphasized the deep relationships they developed with faculty, which continue throughout their careers.

“We’re so grateful to The Duke Endowment for supporting what we believe is the best law faculty in America,” said Kerry Abrams, dean of Duke Law School. “The relationships that students form with our faculty empower them to discover new interests, passions, and capabilities beyond what they could have imagined.”

Faculty support, specifically endowed professorships, is one of Duke Law School’s highest priorities in MADE FOR THIS: The Duke Campaign. Endowed professorships are essential to maintaining Duke Law’s rise in reputation and sustaining its commitment to a transformational student experience.

“Duke Law School attracts exceptional scholars and teachers through long-term investments in their success,” said Charles C. Lucas III J.D. ’90, chair of The Duke Endowment Board of Trustees. “The Endowment is proud to help ensure that this tradition of support for outstanding faculty continues.”

Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $5 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.