2004 Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

Cristine Lipscomb Duckworth was honored for leading a professional life in keeping with the Jepson School's values of ethical leadership. Her life has been one of entrepreneurial energy and moral imagination combined with service to society. A gifted and inspiring teacher and leadership coach, Duckworth has used her talents in the service of others at home and overseas.

Following graduation, Duckworth traveled to rural Hungary to teach English. In a small town of about 5,000 people paralyzed by Communist rule, she became a change agent for virtually every significant institution. She worked with social services, the school system and the business community to help these people discover how to live freely, govern themselves and create free market enterprises. She learned Hungarian, a challenging language. Moreover, she made a masterful presentation to an international audience at a conference of business, government and education professionals from all over Europe on leadership education.

After that challenging year, Duckworth returned to Richmond and accepted an internal leadership development position at Ukrop's Supermarkets. In this position, Duckworth created leadership development programs for employees of all levels that markedly changed the culture of an already good company.

Duckworth went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Virginia's Curry School and taught school. At one point, her principal ordered her to change grades after parents complained about her high standards. Rather than work in an environment that asked her to grade on the curve and compromise her values, she left the traditional school classroom and moved into consulting and entrepreneurial ventures related to curriculum development.

Duckworth then started her own consulting business, which she operates today. The business serves many clients and is named INTRAC, which represents instructional design, training and consulting. As a consultant, trainer and curriculum developer, one of her special areas is designing customized eLearning programs and converting traditional corporate training and classroom materials to new media.

Clients have included Wells Fargo, AT&T, First Union, Victoria’s Secret Stores, Mellon Investor Services, MetLife and Pfizer. She conducts train-the-trainer sessions and other customized educational programs.

Duckworth epitomizes the creativity and spirit of the Jepson School and richly deserves recognition as a distinguished alumna.

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