For undergraduates interested in creative writing, the halls of the English department in the Allen Building come with a history of award-winning writers first developing their penchant for the page as Duke students. One lesser known detail about all of these supreme wielders of language is that they studied under the tutelage (or with the disciples) of William Blackburn, legendary Duke English professor emeritus. His legacy at Duke still burns brightly today.

Patty Morton ’77, P’06 has become a powerhouse in cultivating Duke University’s rapidly expanding arts landscape. Thanks to friendships gained as an alumna and a patron of the arts, Morton was able to help Duke create and fund a prominent three-year partnership with American Ballet Theatre.