Senior Jonathan Bigelow is not embarrassed to admit he is a “Duke dork.” So it is no surprise that the former president of the Duke University Union is eager to continue his relationship with the University well past commencement—potentially as a Young Trustee.
Although Duke is often considered a young institution that has experienced incredible growth in recent years, Bigelow recognizes that “within all of these positive things, there is a lot to be said about the University’s growth and maturity.... Any strategic plan that comes out in the next three years should be called ‘Dealing with Excellence.’”
Bigelow also believes student leaders and administrators have determined that the time is ripe to face the long-standing challenges in academic advising and residential life.
He would like to see the University continue to develop academic excellence by increasing interdisciplinarity at all levels. Furthermore, he cited the “lack of cohesion in the undergraduate experience” as one of the University’s greatest weaknesses. He believes the gaps in academic policy could be remedied by making individual departments more accountable and by further using graduate students in mentorship capacities.
“I don’t see students having the experience” in residential life or academic guidance “that everyone in the University’s administration would like them to be having,” Bigelow said.
Beyond undergraduate issues, Bigelow views the improvement in quality of care at Duke University Medical Center and Health System as a pressing issue the Board of Trustees should address in the near future. “The burden of research, treatment and teaching on many academic physicians in the hospital is not met by an adequate support from the DUMC administration,” Bigelow wrote in his Young Trustee application.
“Improving health care at DUHS,” he continued, “is vital not only for its intrinsic value; the health system is the bedrock of Duke’s relationship with the Durham community, the Research Triangle and the state of North Carolina.”
Bigelow’s personal connection with the University began as a middle school student when he received treatment at the Medical Center. Just a few years later, the valedictorian from a rural, North Carolina high school would embark on his college career right back in Durham.
“I owe quite a bit to Duke University—I came to Duke a very shy, unprepared, top student from a poor, rural North Carolina school,” he said. “I’m leaving Duke well-prepared not only to become a productive member of society but also to be one of its leaders.”
As president of the Union and student advisory board chair for the Nasher Museum of Art—just two of his campus leadership positions—Bigelow has worked with a myriad of administrators and fellow student leaders, developing relationships and perspectives he feels would be an asset to the Board.
“Jonathan is adept at navigating both the student and the ‘grown-up’ world,” said Sheila Curran, executive director of the Career Center. “[He’s]the best kind of pain in the neck. He’ll never leave you alone when there are ways to make what you want to do just a tiny bit better, but he’ll make sure you enjoy the challenge, the collaboration and the hard work.”
Bigelow’s leadership style could also add dimension to the Board if he were selected as a Young Trustee, said Sue Wasiolek, assistant vice president for student affairs: “A main aspect of Jonathan’s leadership style is one of constantly asking difficult questions. He shows his love for Duke by constantly trying to make all of us reflect on who we are and where we are going—trying to move us towards continuous improvement and excellence.”
Regardless of what the future holds, Bigelow said he will always consider Duke “an amazing collection of people: outstanding faculty, staff and students—the confluence of which makes four years of Duke last a lifetime,” or for a potential Young Trustee, at least three more years.
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