James S. Roberts

Vice Provost

A veteran of more than 30 years in the Provost’s Office at Duke University, Jim Roberts served five Provosts and four Presidents in increasingly responsible roles. He retired in 2018 after 16 years as Executive Vice Provost for Finance and Administration. In that role he was responsible with the Provost for developing and overseeing the university’s $1B academic budget and for managing a range of other activities including institutional research, student administrative services, undergraduate financial aid and academic space planning. He was an ex-officio member of the Duke Trustees’ Business and Finance Committee, the Deans Cabinet and the faculty-led University Priorities Committee. He played a significant role in the creation of Duke Kunshan University in China and served as one of its three Duke-appointed trustees and chair of its Finance and Operations Committee.

As part of a phased retirement plan, Roberts now serves as a part-time Vice Provost, working with the Provost and his successor as Executive Vice Provost to ensure smooth transitions in his former areas of responsibility and leading special projects.