Right now he's learning about science policy on Capitol Hill, but next year, junior Kevin Parker will be responsible for the policy and programming coming out of the Duke University Union as its incoming president.
Parker was elected Monday by the Union, the largest student programming body on campus. He will begin his term in April and serve for one year, succeeding junior Jonathan Bigelow.
"The Union has done a lot of great things over the years, and next year is the 50th anniversary," Parker said. "What we need to do is not only remember all the great things we've done before... things like bringing concerts back into Cameron.... [We] also need to move in new directions. There's a lot of talk on campus about problems with social life... [and the] Union needs to step up."
Although much of his work with the Union will involve the commemoration of its 50th year on campus, Parker said that plans for that celebration are still in their infancy. In the meantime, he said he hopes to focus on increasing the Union's presence on campus, improving opportunities for faculty-student interaction and providing input and direction as plans for the new West Campus student center evolve.
"It's certainly clear that he'll have to continue the Union's advisory role as far as West Campus student center renovations are concerned, which will be a tremendous challenge as the renovations begin to come to fruition," Bigelow said. "The Union has also been very committed to advising the administration on how the [Bryan Center] can be better maintained in the short term and maximized for use of students who may not see the BC renovated while they're here as students."
Parker's goal of focusing on the smaller aspects of the Union's programming as well as the major events will be important in the coming year, as the Small Programs Committee is just finishing its first full year of operation, Bigelow said, adding that he was confident in his successor's ability to carry out the Union's mission of enriching student life on campus.
"Kevin is going to breathe some fresh air into the Union's leadership next year," Bigelow said. "He speaks with authority about the importance of the Union's role in student life and in general. He also has interesting things to say about how important the Union is for the Duke community and the Durham community."
Since the beginning of his involvement with the Union's Cable 13 committee his freshman year, Parker has gained experience with the individual membership, financial and leadership aspects of the organization. He served as chief financial officer for Cable 13 his sophomore year and as the station's chair last semester.
"He's a joker basically," said Wai-Ping Chim, the current chair of Cable 13. "He has his professional side, but he's really goofy and light-hearted. He would make being part of the Union and running the Union a friendly, happy place to be. It can get stressful, but if he keeps the mood lighthearted, it would definitely help."
In addition to exercising general authority over all of the Union's activities, Parker will serve as chair of the Union's board, which serves as a governing and steering organization.
"He is tasked with representing the Union to administrative bodies, not least of which is [the Office of] Student Affairs," Bigelow said. "One of the big duties will be to connect with Duke's incoming leaders to make sure they understand the Union's role and significance on campus."
Hailing from Bearington, Ill., and double-majoring in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering, Parker--also a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity--is spending his semester taking classes at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and working for the House of Representatives Committee on Science. He said he hopes to pursue the science, technology and human values certificate.
Cindy Yee contributed to this article.
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