Phail Wynn will become Duke’s new vice president for Durham and regional affairs when he retires from Durham Tech on December 31. Allison Haltom will step down as university secretary and vice president at the same time.

Wynn holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma, North Carolina State University and the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a former chair of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Greater Triangle Regional Council and a member of the boards of directors of the Triangle Community Foundation, the Research Triangle Institute and SunTrust Banks, Inc.  He is a founding trustee of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at N.C. State. Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. awarded him The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2000.

Wynn’s new position at Duke will cover a wide range of activities involving Durham and the local region. He will work with city officials to accelerate economic renewal in areas close to Duke’s campus, such as on Ninth Street and downtown, and promote new collaborations between Duke and RTP. He also will advance sustainability efforts and play an active role in Duke’s interactions with local partners such as the Durham Public Schools, North Carolina Central University and Durham Tech.

In addition, Wynn will work with colleagues at Duke Medicine to address local health care issues, promote workforce education programs for Duke employees and help secure new permanent funding for the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership.

“My 30 years at Durham Tech have allowed me to focus on areas that I care passionately about; education and training, and economic development and community development,” Wynn said. “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.”

In announcing Wynn’s appointment, Brodhead praised Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations John Burness, who has led many of Duke’s programs with Durham and been the guiding force behind the nationally recognized partnership. “John will continue to be responsible for our federal and state relations programs and will focus his energies on strengthening Duke’s communications programs to help ensure public appreciation of Duke’s excellence,” Brodhead said. Burness and Wynn will work closely over the next several months to effect a smooth transition to the new position, Brodhead said.

Haltom has served for 36 years under four presidents in roles of increasing responsibility at Duke. A 1972 alumna of the previous Woman’s College at Duke, she was the first woman to serve as head of Duke's Annual Fund. She became university secretary in 1986 and was named vice president in 2001. She coordinates the activities of the board of trustees, oversees university ceremonies such as commencement and manages the hiring and review processes for senior university officials.

“Including my undergraduate years, Duke and Durham have been my home for four decades,” Haltom said. “I have had the privilege of working with many people who care deeply about making Duke a better place for students, faculty and employees. I feel that I have been part of something special in higher education.”

Praising Haltom for her “intelligence, warmth, savvy and commitment,” Brodhead noted how her leadership has extended beyond Duke to the development of national programs for board professionals and service on the boards of UNC-Asheville, the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Hill Center of Durham.

“My predecessors and I, as well as the board chairs she has served, have benefited from Allison’s wise counsel and support,” Brodhead said. “I am especially grateful for her assistance in managing my transition to Duke, which she handled with expert care.”