The Character Forward Initiative

Great Engineers, Good People

Every university shapes the character of its students. Often, this happens implicitly and unintentionally. We want to make this explicit. We want to bring Character Forward.

We aim to intentionally cultivate positive character traits through our curricular and co-curricular activities. The goal is that our graduates receive a rigorous engineering education while also becoming better people.​

Sunset over the Chapel arcade, West Campus Scenics, evening

Character Forward Workshop: Oct. 15

8:30 am-2:30 pm • Blue Devil Tower • Meals provided

For staff and faculty. We’ll introduce character education, reflect on the history of engineering ethics education and identify the character traits we want to cultivate. Plus, we’ll learn about co-curricular opportunities that put character into practice.

What We Do

Character Forward Workshops

We convene high-impact sessions featuring expert speakers who share the latest in pedagogy around character and ethical development. Register for the Oct. 15 workshop.

Consultation

Do you want to better address ethics or character in your classroom? Are you wondering where to start? Sign up for a consultation with Rich Eva.

Reading Groups

In fall 2024, we’re reading Technology and the Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting, by Shannon Vallor. We will meet over lunch once a month. To express your interest, please reach out to Patrick Morrison.

Leadership Team

Rich Eva

Rich Eva, Director

richard.eva@duke.edu

Rich earned a PhD in philosophy from Baylor University and a BA from Princeton. He specializes in ethics, pedagogy and political philosophy. His experience as a D1 athlete at Princeton sparked his interest in leadership and character development. After Princeton, he worked in New York as an assistant vice president at Barclays Bank helping organize pro bono service initiatives. Rich returned to academia to investigate questions in applied ethics.

Christian Ferney Profile Photo
Christian Ferney Profile Photo

Christian Ferney

Associate Director for Education, Kenan Institute for Ethics

Lisa Gresham Huettel Profile Photo
Lisa Gresham Huettel Profile Photo

Lisa Gresham Huettel

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Professor of the Practice of ECE

Cameron M Kim Profile Photo
Cameron M Kim Profile Photo

Cameron M Kim

Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Department of BME

Ann  Saterbak Profile Photo
Ann Saterbak Profile Photo

Ann Saterbak

Director, First-Year Design Program, Professor of the Practice in the Department of BME

Stacy L. Tantum Profile Photo
Stacy L. Tantum Profile Photo

Stacy L. Tantum

Bell-Rhodes Associate Professor of the Practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering

George A. Truskey Profile Photo
George A. Truskey Profile Photo

George A. Truskey

R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering