From service on the Academic Council and numerous university committees, to administrative work in the Department of Classical Studies, Boatwright has long been one of the most active faculty members in university governance.

Her efforts “are highlights of your outstanding career of service to Duke and the classics profession, not to mention your fine record of excellent teaching and research,” McLendon wrote.

The department’s current director of graduate studies, Boatwright also has served as department chair, director of undergraduate studies and as a member of curriculum, personnel and search committees.

For Trinity College, Boatwright has contributed to the A.B. Duke selection committee and other faculty panels. And at the university level, she has served on the Appointments, Tenure and Promotions Committee, the Faculty Women’s Network and other groups. McLendon called her efforts at all levels of Duke “too numerous to mention.”

All this is on top of a fine record of teaching, research, writing and raising a family of two boys with husband Paul Feldblum.

“I guess I don’t get much sleep,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve been here for a long time. I’ve held just about every position there is in the department,” she said. “I hate seeing things not moving forward, and so I think, ‘I’ll just do it.’”

Boatwright said she learned about serving the community from her parents. “My family definitely believed in giving back,” she said. Her father served in the U.S. Navy; her mother was a state legislator in Connecticut.

In her family, she said, “You give your all to what you are engaged in.”

But she added that university service has its own rewards and helps her learn about other areas of Duke. “One of the nice things about doing the work is that you get to meet terrific people from all parts of the university,” she said. “You learn about university life. These are special, smart, dedicated people who really care about Duke University.”

Boatwright said she could not have done as much as she did without her many colleagues at Duke. Even friends in her neighborhood north of campus have helped out.

“I live in a fantastic neighborhood,” she said, where residents carpool, watch out for each others kids and for each other.

She remembered being one of the last houses in the neighborhood without power after Hurricane Fran. Her husband was away in Africa at the time, and she had to return to work. “My neighbors took care of my kids,” she said. “If it weren’t for my neighbors, I would be a lot crazier.”

The Dean’s Distinguished Service Award was presented during the Teaching and Mentoring Awards Dinner on April 22, and comes with a stipend of $5,000.