New Scholarship Endowment Started In Nan Keohane's Name

Dec. 24, 2003

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DURHAM, N.C. - Duke athletics has established a new scholarship endowment honoring outgoing university president Nan Keohane. The Nannerl O. Keohane women's athletic scholarship will be awarded for the first time in the fall of 2004, shortly after Keohane steps down from the presidency this summer.

Distributions from the endowment fund will provide scholarships for undergraduate women varsity athletes who demonstrate excellence in athletics and a commitment to Duke and the broader community.

A group of donors, inspired by an initial gift of $100,000 from university trustee and former field hockey player Kimberly Jenkins, launched the scholarship in the hope that it will eventually become a fully-funded scholarship with a principal of at least $750,000. The fund was opened as part of the Strength in Numbers Campaign, chaired by Karl Sheffield '54. The campaign seeks to raise $5 million for women's athletic scholarship endowment.

Keohane has been a devoted supporter of all Duke athletic teams during her tenure, but especially the 13 varsity women's teams. Duke has added 34 women's scholarships over the past four years as part of its effort to become compliant with Title IX.

"I am deeply honored by the establishment of the new scholarship for women athletes in my name," Keohane told BDW. "I can imagine no better way to recognize my leadership as I move on to the next stage of my life. As an avid supporter of Duke athletics, I have been especially committed to advancing the status of women's athletics during my time here. We are fortunate to have so many strong coaches and teams in women's sports at Duke, and I am delighted to know that in the years to come, some of these fine young women will hold a scholarship bearing my name. It's a wonderful way to be remembered at Duke."

"Nan is such an avid sports fan for all of the athletic endeavors at Duke, including those sports that don't often get the big publicity," said Jenkins, a 1976 Duke grad who has been a trustee since 2001. "She showed up on the sidelines and cheered with genuine school spirit for all the women's sports. She also took great pride in publicly recognizing their remarkable accomplishments. At the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, she opened the meeting with remarks about the incredible victories of the field hockey team and the women's golf team.

"Nan's support means a great deal not only to the coaches and the athletes, but to all of the women at Duke who strive for excellence in so many endeavors. She is a significant role model and an inspiration. I'm pleased to help honor her in a way that is meaningful to so many people."

Jenkins was among the first group of varsity field hockey players at Duke in the early 1970s, competing at a time when the players had to buy all their own equipment and pay for their travel to games. She has spent her career in the information technology sector, most recently serving as the president of the Internet Policy Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. She served on the presidential search committee for Keohane's successor, Richard Brodhead. Among other early donors to the Nan Keohane scholarship fund are several trustees and former presidents of the Duke Alumni Association.

"President Keohane made it clear that she would be uncomfortable with overt fundraising to recognize her retirement," said Susan Ross, associate athletics director and director of development. "But when asked, she did send the trustees a list of six areas that were of special interest to her. We were very pleased that scholarship support of women's athletics was one of her priority causes, and were delighted that Kimberly and others are making a permanent scholarship in her name possible."

Anyone interested in contributing to the fund can contact Ross at Duke Athletics, Box 90546, Durham, NC 27705.

New Scholarship Endowment Started In Nan Keohane's Name

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