Laurie Sherrill Prince

Freelance writer / editor, The Prince Group

Class Year

1976

Professional Background

Magazine editor, writer

How has being an English graduate from Duke University helped shape your professional success?

Allow me to answer this question by telling a story. When I applied to colleges, I was accepted at both Duke and UNC's School of Journalism. I knew I wanted to write--which would offer a better education to prepare for that career? I visited the editor of my city newspaper, to talk it over. He advised me to go to Duke. "Any newspaper can show you how to write in their style. Get a good liberal arts education." His words were the deciding factor. At Duke I studied not only English lit, but German, Russian, and Greek. The professors were true scholars, and I entered their worlds. Their teaching methods were diverse; in one class, we rarely discussed the literature, but focused instead on the writer's life. Each professor had an intriguing approach. All of the courses I took, from Shakespeare to the Romantics, enabled me to think deeply about words. The power of words. I'm very grateful for the education I received from these brilliant teachers who were passionate about sharing their knowledge and insights.

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