DURHAM — On June 2, at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York City, Duke University alumnus and former trustee Tom Clark, President Richard H. Brodhead and more than 150 people helped launch the new Duke LGBT Network (DLGBTN) with sponsorship by The Duke Alumni Association (DAA).

DLGBTN is dedicated to the service of the LGBT community of the university and involves faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Duke.

The event included comments by Clark, a member of the LBGT Network Steering Committee and a past president of the Duke Alumni Association, and Janie Long, director of Duke’s Center for LGBT Life.

According to Duke Today, Clark received the Charles A. Dukes Award one of the alumni association’s top awards for volunteer service and was honored for his work as DAA president and for efforts to established the DAA’s first Diversity Inclusion Committee, which promotes outreach to underserved groups of alumni.

Duke added, “This kick-off event is an extraordinary example of how Duke alumni want to remain connected to each other, and to the campus community,” said Kyle Knight, communications chair for the Duke LGBT Network. “President Brodhead’s presence at the event sends a strong message about the priority that the University places on advancing an inclusive and supportive Duke community.”

The event was underwritten by Credit Suisse through the effort of alumnus and steering committee member Todd Sears.

Brodhead encouraged the network to play a valuable role in Duke life through building connections between students, alumni and others and by serving as an advocate on campus, Duke concluded.

For more information, visit dukealumnicenter.com/LGBT. : :