In 2021-2022, we deepened the Sanford undergraduate experience through our major, center and program opportunities, undergrad research and our certificate programs - including the new health policy certificate.
Research & Expertise | Professional Programs | Undergraduate Experience | Engagement
Undergraduate Highlights
Public Policy undergraduates demonstrate the meaning of outrageous ambitions and public service in so many ways. Here are just a few from this past year:
Student Stories
Yadira Paz-Martinez
Yadira Paz-Martinez PPS’25 works with migrant families, building her policy knowledge and experience. She said, “Change isn’t going to happen with just one person or with a small group of people. This is going to happen with students and community members that unite together.”
Student Stories
Student Perspective: 'NPR Founding Mothers' Talk
Sanford students thoughtfully listened to NPR “Founding Mothers” Susan Stamberg and Linda Wertheimer in spring 2022. Their takeaways showed the importance of media and democracy. “It’s a key part of democracy for people to be informed and for people to be able to access information about what’s going on in the country, what’s going on in the global scale.” – Hannah Galdes PPS ‘24
Terry Sanford Leadership Award Winner
Olivia Reneau
Olivia Reneau worked as a Polis Director's Fellow, Political Engagement Project Fellow, and produced original research on reparations at the local level as part of her honors thesis project.
Terry Sanford Leadership Award Winner
Shrey Majmudar
Shrey Majmudar held several positions with Duke Student Government, and served on various university leadership committees, including as student member of search committees for key university positions.
Student Stories
Caroline Avery
As a PEP Fellow, Caroline Avery PPS ‘22 came up with the idea of creating an education toolkit specifically designed for young people. “A High Schooler’s Guide to Political Engagement,” prepared by Avery with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, lays out the complexities of civic engagement and activism in a clear, concise and easy-to-comprehend manner.
Student Stories
Inaugural Cybersecurity Pitch Competition
Sanford hosted its first cybersecurity pitch competition at Duke in spring 2022 and PPS major Aden Klein summarized the experience and the results. The event gave 5 teams from Duke University and the Research Triangle the opportunity to present live to a panel of experts in technology venture capital.
Undergraduate Research: Honors Theses
In 2022, more than 30 undergraduates completed an honors thesis paper.
At May 2022 graduation, Arya Patel PPS'22 was recognized for best thesis honors for her work exploring barriers to accessing COVID-19 state relief for female migrant workers in her hometown of Ahmedabad, India.
Read more about her honors thesis and topic.
Student voices
Public Policy majors shared their perspectives on topics ranging from redistricting to leadership to equity in a series called "Student Voices."
Kyle Melatti PPS'22 Graduation Speech
The Sanford School of Public Policy celebrated 187 graduating undergraduates on May 6, 2022. Kyle Melatti PPS'22 was the student speaker.
Kyle Melatti was the student speaker during the afternoon bachelor’s degree in public policy graduation ceremony. He was introduced by Professor Abdullah Antepli, who was Melatti’s mentor in an independent study course on religion and politics. Melatti was co-chair of the American Grand Strategy Student Council, served in Duke Student Government and was a TK Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics and a PEP fellow with Polis and the Hart Leadership Program.
“What a journey it has been,” he said. “We are the last class at Duke to have experienced a fully normal freshman year, before the pandemic.”
A first-generation American, Melatti’s parents are immigrants from Brazil. His mother had been a lawyer, but couldn’t practice here. “I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps,” he said and to make things better in his home state of Nevada.
“Majoring in public policy has made me feel like I am on the path of becoming the civil servant that I’ve always wanted to be,” he said.
Certificate Programs
Health Policy Certificate
New in 2022: Duke-Margolis and the Sanford School of Public Policy jointly educate students in evidence-based health policy analysis, development, and implementation so they are prepared to address complex challenges in health and health care at local, state, national, and global levels.
Policy Journalism & Media Studies Certificate
The DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, part of Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, offers this certificate. As global media undergo a period of rapid and profound change, this certificate is designed for students interested in preparing for careers in media policy, journalism, or any of the associated professions. In 2022, 11 undergraduates earned this certificate.
Child Policy Research Certificate Program
Sponsored by the Center for Child and Family Policy, the Child Policy Research Certificate Program builds students’ knowledge of child and family issues, while also providing the necessary academic tools for students to engage in research that informs policy and practice. In 2022, 9 undergraduates earned this certificate.