Mary T. Semans Delivers Shaw’s Founders Day Convocation Address

Photo Caption: back row - President Newsome (l) and Attorney Willie E. Gary (r) with Honorary Degree recipients Dr. and Mrs. Semans

(Raleigh, NC) -- Mrs. Mary T. Semans delivered the keynote address for Shaw University's Founders Day Convocation on October 31st. Mrs. Semans, who served on Shaw University's Board of Trustees from 1962 until 1974, also received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Shaw University during the Convocation. Her husband, Dr. James Hustead Semans, who is Professor Emeritus of Urology, Duke University Medical Center, also received an Honorary Doctorate Degree.

During her speech, Mrs. Semans referred to President Newsome as C.G. "That's how he was known at Duke," she said. President Newsome met Mrs. Semans at Duke University where he received his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Mrs. Semans went on to say that "We should all thank the Lord every day for Henry Tupper and his wife, Sarah. I feel Dr. Tupper would be proud. He would embrace Dr. Newsome and say, 'Keep it going: you were meant to be here, at this time and this place.' He would be amazed and believe it was divine intervention that brought Dr. Newsome here. He could not have designed a better candidate to take the reigns."

She concluded her speech by making a commitment to honor the legacy of Dr. Tupper. "It is now our responsibility to keep Tupper's hope alive. Not only to be alive but to thrive...to flourish and to be there for others who follow. We have a lot of work to do to honor Henry Tupper's hope, to keep it alive and make it bigger and better. As part of the Shaw Family, Jim and I will pledge to do all we can to honor that dream."

Over the years, Dr. and Mrs. Semans have amassed a number of awards and honors due to their philanthropic interest in and devotion to the education, arts, and medical communities. Their philanthropic spirit is evident in the many joint awards received, including: the Giannini Medallion for their meritorious service to the North Carolina School of the Arts; Award of Merit from Duke University Health & Hospital Administration Alumni Association for contributions to the Medical Center, University, and state; Presidential Award from the North Carolina Association of Arts Council for helping to foster work of the States emerging artists; North Carolina Philanthropy Award; and the North Carolina Award for their contributions to the arts and to the State.

A member of Duke University's founding family, Mrs. Semans is the granddaughter of the late Benjamin and Sarah P. Duke, and the great-granddaughter of the late Washington Duke, who along with his sons (Benjamin N. and James B. Duke) were the chief benefactors of Trinity College and its successor, Duke University. Her mother, Mary Duke Biddle, established the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Her father, Anthony Biddle, was a General in the United States Army and Ambassador to Poland, among other military appointments.

Mrs. Semans received her academic training from the Hewitt School in New York City and Duke University where she earned an Associate of Arts Degree in History in 1939.

Currently, Mrs. Semans serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of The Duke Endowment; Vice Chairman of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation; Trustee Emeritus, Duke University; Chairman, Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee; Honorary Trustee, North Carolina School of the Arts; Member, Board of Visitors, North Carolina School of the Arts; Trustee Emeritus, North Carolina Museum of Art; Member, Advisory Board, Kenan Institute in Ethics at Duke University; Member, Advisory Council of Friends; Member, Board of Visitors, Davidson College; and Member, Drama Advisory Board, Duke University. Her civic background includes service as Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Durham from 1953 to 1955 and membership on the Durham City Council from 1951 to 1955.

Mrs. Semans has received Honorary Degrees from Furman University, Pfeiffer College, Duke University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Davidson College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campbell University, Elon College, North Carolina Central University and the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Her first husband, Dr. Josiah Charles Trent died in 1948. He was a Professor of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center and established the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. Mrs. Semans established the Trent Foundation in the memory of Dr. Trent. In addition to grant making, it created the Josiah Charles Trent Professorship - The first Professorship program in the history of medicine at Duke University.

Shaw University, founded in 1865, is the oldest Black institution of higher learning in the South. Since 2003, the University has been under the leadership of Dr. Clarence G. Newsome. Dr. Newsome's leadership pursues the theme: Strides to Excellence: Only the Best!