A former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Duke sociologist who has given decades of service and millions of dollars to the university, and a researcher tackling the most common cause of cancer death will be the first inductees into the Duke Graduate School Few-Glasson Alumni Society.

The society recognizes graduates of the school who have distinguished themselves through their career accomplishments, the potential of their current endeavors, or their support for graduate students and graduate education at Duke. It is named for William Preston Few, the first president of Duke University, and William Henry Glasson, the first dean of The Graduate School. Candidates for the honor are nominated by members of the Duke community.

The three inaugural inductees are Martin Dempsey (A.M.’84 English), a retired four-star general; Linda George (Ph.D.’75 sociology), a longtime Duke faculty member; and Yibin Kang (Ph.D.’00 genetics), an endowed professor of molecular biology at Princeton University.

“We could not have asked for a better group of alumni as the first class of Few-Glasson honorees,” said Paula D. McClain, Ph.D., dean of The Graduate School. “They are exemplary examples of the many ways in which our graduates leave their mark on society.”

The Few-Glasson inductees will be honored during The Graduate School’s homecoming reception and 90th anniversary celebration at Duke Gardens on September 30...