Adrienne Clough sees Duke as more than a community, but as a family to which she is proud to belong.
Clough, a second-year student in the Fuqua School of Business’s Health Sector Management Program, is one of three finalists for the graduate Young Trustee position. She believes her experiences—ranging from launching an alumni mentorship program to serving as Executive Fellow and co-Chair of the Fuqua Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series—have introduced her to the many facets of Duke.
Even the basketball fan camaraderie of Cameron Indoor Stadium has added to her understanding of the University and its opportunities, she said.
“At Duke, in my program and across the University, you can have a vision and you can actually make it happen,” Clough said.
One of Clough’s passions is assisting fellow students with their future plans by conducting mock-interviews, reviewing resumes and generally sharing her knowledge with others, she said.
After receiving a full-time employment offer from the prestigious Boston Consulting Group, Clough has dedicated herself to helping other students, said mentee Jill Otto, a first-year Fuqua student.
“She’s a do-er,” Otto said. “She’s not the kind of person who you tell something and it gets forgotten. She goes after it.”
One of Clough’s goals is to bridge the gaps between undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni.
“The more you can bring the whole family together, the better off all parties are,” she said.
A Young Trustee is someone who not only has a thorough understanding of the Duke community, Clough said, but also someone who can break down problems and find the information needed to solve them. She added that her consulting background will assist her with this challenge.
“Doing that work is something I enjoy and that I think could make me an effective Young Trustee,” she said.
This would not be Clough’s first experience working with a Board of Trustees. After graduating from Princeton University, she spent three years working as an investment officer for the school’s endowment where she regularly collaborated with Princeton’s trustees.
“She has a great blend of analytical ability and creative thinking,” said Wendy Kuran, Fuqua’s associate dean for centers and corporate relations.
Kuran also emphasized Clough’s generous and engaging personality.
If selected, Clough said she views the position as a way to continue her pursuit of strengthening the Duke family. The position is not about just promoting graduate student interests, she noted, but about making the best decisions for the whole University.
Otto believes working to accomplish these goals will come naturally for someone who is so passionate and approachable.
“She makes an effort to reach out and listen to people and hear new ideas,” she said. “She is very curious and interested [in what people have to say].”
Clough—whose husband, sister and brother-in-law are all associated with the University—said she is pursuing the position of graduate Young Trustee not only to continue her efforts to improve a school that has given her so much, but as a way to remain close with the entire Duke family.
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