INC NEWS - Duke announces new position of vice president for Durham & regional affairs (Herald-Sun)

[John Schelp]

"The Bowen-Chambers report does reach a very important
conclusion: 'it is a mistake to have responsibility
for Duke outreach efforts into the community overseen
by the Vice President for Public Affairs. The effect,
as one person put it, is to think of everthing Duke
does as motivated by PR concerns rather than by a
genuine interest in the welfare of the community.' The
sooner President Brodhead moves the Neighborhood
Partnership Initiative out of Duke's PR office the
better."
--John Schelp (guest column in Herald-Sun, 5/16/06)


Durham Tech's Phail Wynn heading over to Duke
By Carolyn Norton, Herald-Sun, 2 May 2007

Phail Wynn Jr. may be leaving Durham Tech, but he
isn't going far. 

A week after the community college announced his
retirement effective Dec. 31, Duke University said
Tuesday that Wynn will take the newly created position
of vice president for Durham and regional affairs. 

Wynn will work with the community, city officials,
local businesses and the school system to create new
partnerships and strengthen existing ones, Duke
officials said. 

"This is fabulous news," said John Schelp, a Durham
activist and president of the Old West Durham
Neighborhood Association. "He's a great guy -- a lot
of respect in the community." 

Duke President Richard Brodhead said Wynn knows
Durham, the Research Triangle Park and the region "as
few others do." 

"His community and regional leadership include many of
the most active and important educational, business,
government and nonprofit organizations in our
community," Brodhead said in a Duke news release. 

Wynn's appointment means John Burness will take on a
slightly different role. Burness, as senior vice
president for public affairs and government relations,
has for many years worked on community relationships. 

With Wynn working with Durham, Burness said he will
focus on public affairs and federal and state
programs. 

He said he recommended Wynn, who is well-known among
Durham and the business community, for the position.
Burness said it will free him to promote Duke's
programs. 

"Partly because of the last year, we really have to be
focusing on public appreciation of our programs,"
Burness said. "This will enable me to focus more on
the communication aspect." 

In a memo to deans and officers at Duke, Brodhead said
Wynn will develop and launch a strategic plan for
Duke's relations with Durham and the region, including
accelerating economic renewal near the campus,
collaborating with Research Triangle Park and
developing partnerships with the Durham Public
Schools. 

He'll also work to secure permanent funding for the
Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, a collaboration
involving the university, 12 surrounding neighborhoods
and eight schools. 

In addition, he'll work with Duke Medicine on local
health care issues and promote workforce education
programs for Duke employees. 

Wynn was unavailable for comment. But in Duke's news
release he said his 30 years at Durham Tech "allowed
me to focus on areas that I care passionately about:
education and training, and economic development and
community development. 

"This new opportunity will allow me to continue this
professional focus through assisting Duke University
in its ongoing efforts to be an advocate and partner
for economic and community development in Durham and
the region." 

Wynn, an Oklahoma native, came to Durham Tech in 1977
as assistant to the president, the same year he
received his doctorate from N.C. State University. By
1979, he was vice president of support services. In
May 1980, he was named interim president, a position
that was made permanent six months later. 

He's served on numerous local boards and commissions,
including a stint as chairman of the Greater Durham
Chamber of Commerce. The former U.S. Army officer is
also a founding member of the Greater Triangle
Regional Council and a founding trustee of the Kenan
Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at
N.C. State University. 

He was the first black president of a North Carolina
community college...