Organized by the Office of the President in partnership with Duke Human Resources, the Presidential Awards are among Duke’s highest honors for staff and faculty. Photo of the DLC team (c) HuthPhoto.
The DLC has received one of Duke’s highest faculty and staff honors: the 2025-2026 Presidential Award!
The Presidential Awards program, organized by the Office of the President in partnership with Duke Human Resources, recognizes staff and faculty who best demonstrate the values that define and shape Duke as an institution.
The awards recognize individuals and teams who have made extraordinary contributions throughout the year and are one of the highest honors given by Duke to staff and faculty members. Winners were selected from nominations from across the university and health system, and the DLC was one of only two teams and five individuals to receive this year’s award. We couldn’t be more proud!
The DLC’s Director of Research, Dr. Erin Ehmke, received the award on behalf of the DLC team. Photo (c) HuthPhoto.
“The Duke Lemur Center is a world leader in conservation, research, and education, advancing the protection of some of the world’s most endangered species while enriching learning here at Duke,” said Duke University President Vincent Price at the awards presentation.
“In the face of funding challenges, the Duke Lemur Center reinvented processes and workflows without compromising its mission or animal welfare. They’ve strengthened philanthropic efforts and achieved renewed dual accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or AZA, and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. They even earned a perfect score on their most recent AZA accreditation.
“Through creativity, resilience, and collaboration across research, conservation, animal care, and education, the Duke Lemur Center exemplifies our highest values.”
Members of the DLC’s senior management team at the awards ceremony on March 17, 2026. Photo (c) HuthPhoto.
The Lemur Center has a long history of excellence. Past recipients of the Presidential Award include the DLC’s Curatorial Team; our Executive Director, Greg Dye; our Special Projects Supervisor, Wes Phillips; and our Business Manager, Melissa Dean.
Posted by Sara Sorraia on April 19, 2026.
