Black, who served as vice chairwoman for the past year, replaces Mary AnnPeter , who joined the board in 1995 and served as chairwoman since 2004.

Appointed by the Durham school board, Black serves as associate vice president for Community Relations with Duke University Health Care System. During her career as a social worker specializing in psychotherapy with children and their families, she was named the 1994 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. She also brings many years of public service to this volunteer position, serving as a Durham County commissioner from 1990 to 2002.

The mission Black established for the Office of Community Relations centers on enhancing Duke Medicine's relationships with local governments, community leaders, faith communities and other groups.

Burness retired in 2008 after serving 17 years as Duke University's senior vice president for public affairs and government relations. A member of Duke's senior leadership team under Duke presidents Keith Brodie, Nannerl Keohane and Richard Brodhead, Burness guided the university's interactions with reporters, elected officials, community leaders and others beyond Duke's campus.

He was responsible for the university's offices of news and communications, community affairs, photography and government relations in Washington, Raleigh and Durham.

He also was instrumental in establishing the nationally recognized Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, through which the university has established partnerships with 12 neighborhoods near its campus and the seven public schools and one charter school that serve them.

In addition to raising funds to support youth development and K-12 education, affordable housing, community-based health clinics and nonprofits serving partner neighborhoods, the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership also expanded the number of Duke students, faculty and staff engaged in the life of Durham.

After retiring from Duke University, Burness returned to Lancaster, Pa., to lead his alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College, for a one-year term as interim president.

Burness has served on Durham Tech's Board since 2009, when he was appointed by the Durham school board.