Rick Duke
OXFORD, Miss. – Rick Duke, an acknowledged proponent of knowledge-led economic development, is the University of Mississippi’s new director of economic development and executive director of Insight Park.
Duke will be responsible for leading the university’s economic development strategies by leveraging university knowledge to improve the competitiveness of Mississippi businesses, partnering with state and federal agencies and developing the university’s research park and business incubator, Insight Park.
“When I learned about this opportunity, my wife and I were already really impressed with the university and Oxford,” Duke said. “And we are excited about having the chance to become a part of the community.”
Duke, an Atlanta native, has worked in university-based economic development for more than 27 years. His experience will be a major asset to the university, said Alice M. Clark, vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs.“Rick is a proven and respected leader in the practice and theories of economic development,” Clark said. “With Rick at the helm of the university’s economic development efforts, I am confident we can make important contributions to benefit our local region and the state.”
During his previous role as the director of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern Mississippi, Duke developed strong relationships with regional economic development organizations, including the Mississippi Development Authority, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Mississippi Manufacturing Association. He said he plans to continue to cultivate relationships and engage those entities as active partners for Ole Miss.
Duke’s other university experience included a 25-year tenure at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he worked on the academic, applied research aspects of community economic development, including health care and eldercare around the state.
“There is an energy that comes from being on a university campus and representing an institution of higher education,” Duke said. “It’s always appealed to me and that’s why this opportunity appealed to me.”
Christy Knapp, executive vice president of community and economic development for the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, said she is pleased with the university’s choice of Duke.
“He has such a broad spectrum of experience,” Knapp said. “He is not just focused on industrial recruitment; he is focused on many things that can bring investment and jobs into a community, whether it’s a university community or a surrounding community. I’m excited to work with him because I know he can offer us assistance and guidance on subjects like entrepreneurship and health care.”
Duke begins Monday (Sept. 4) and said he already has plans for capitalizing on the master plan of Insight Park.
“Ole Miss has outstanding alumni,” Duke said. “I think the opportunity is rife for proactively engaging the alumni base and exploring their interest in what we would like to do here, in economic development. It is in the university’s best interest as well as Oxford-Lafayette County for the university to be an active player in that aspect of economic development.”
Duke was part of a team that helped to recruit GE Aviation to locate in Ellisville, using research knowledge and faculty expertise at USM as catalyst. He credits a visit with company officials in Batesville for helping GE Aviation decide on south Mississippi when it had an expansion opportunity.
Duke received his undergraduate degree in management from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Florida Southern College. He also has experience in the private sector, having worked 10 years in manufacturing with Kraft Foods.
“Universities represent a critical mass of knowledge,” Duke said. “From my perspective, I need to learn everything about Ole Miss – what our research enterprise looks like, what academic programs are like. I am really excited about the learning opportunity.”
Duke and his wife, Lynne James, have two sons living near Atlanta.
For more information about research and economic development programs at UM, go to http://www.research.olemiss.edu. For information on Insight Park, go to http://www.insightparkum.com.