In 2018, Duke Energy became the first utility to sign on to the HBCU Partnership Challenge, led by Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (D-NC). Since 2018, we have had an increased focus on HBCU recruiting and hiring and strengthened our comprehensive HBCU strategy and engagement to further demonstrate our commitment to this challenge.

Strategic priorities for this program include increasing diverse representation at Duke Energy and overall awareness of energy industry trends; strengthening engagement and culture of diversity and inclusion at Duke Energy and HBCUs; and establishing partnerships with HBCUs and other external partners to source and deepen the pipeline of diverse talent at Duke Energy.

Through the power of inclusion and sustainable relationships with HBCUs, we aim to amplify representation and ensure purposeful alignment and integration of diversity and inclusion efforts to grow and strengthen workforce pipelines. Recent success includes our 2022 student intern program: It was the most diverse program ever, doubling the number of interns from HBCUs between 2022 and 2023.