Provost Alec Gallimore traveled to Washington at the end of June to advocate for federal research funding, global education, and other pressing issues with federal policymakers.
Gallimore met with a number of officials, alumni and others to discuss a wide range of issues, including funding for scientific research, immigration and international engagement. He was joined by Vice President for Government Relations Chris Simmons and Associate Vice President for Government Relations Melissa Vetterkind. In addition to meetings with staff at the White House Office of Science and Technology, the Duke delegation also spent time with officials from the State Department and the National Science Foundation.
Melissa Vetterkind, associate vice president of the office of government relations, and Chris Simmons, vice president for government relations, outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC.
Vetterkind said that Gallimore’s scientific expertise allowed for robust conversations on the current state of the nation’s global leadership in science and technology, saying, “Global competitiveness is top of mind in DC these days, and this was a great opportunity to have Provost Gallimore lend his voice and expertise in making the case that strong federal investments in fundamental research and policies that encourage international collaborations are core elements of the country’s economic engine and global leadership.”
Also during the trip, Gallimore participated in a panel discussion at Duke in DC, “NC in DC: Bolstering Global Competitiveness through a Research-Based Economy.”The discussion was moderated by Simmons and included leaders from North Carolina’s economic development sector, including Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and Sara Lawrence, Director of Economic Development at RTI International. Participants discussed how North Carolina’s commitment to academic excellence fuels its dynamic research-based economy and helps strengthen the state’s economic competitiveness on both a national and global scale.
For the remainder of the week, the provost attended the New Global Universities Summit, also held at Duke in DC. The event, which was organized by Vice Provost Yakut Gazi and Associate Provost Noah Pickus, convened leaders of universities launched in the last 25 years, including founders, presidents, and provosts from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East.
Regarding the trip and the meetings and events in Washington, Gallimore said, “My visit to Washington was an excellent opportunity to engage with key experts and decision-makers and discuss how we can work together on funding for scientific research, economic development in North Carolina, global education, and other strategic priorities. Our strong presence in the nation’s capital, including Duke in DC, is a tremendous asset in developing these important relationships.”