Blog
Around the World in Seven Themes
Hello Sanford community! I am thrilled to have this opportunity to connect with you all in my new role as interim dean. I look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead. Sanford’s future shines brightly because of the many contributions of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, partners and friends. I am grateful to each and every member of our community for the dedication and support to our school and our commitment to creating a better world.
In my first month as interim dean, I have seen Sanford’s impact and connections on campus and around the globe. Our key themes are evident in every corner of our world, highlighting the importance of public policy in every aspect of our lives.
On my travels in July, I landed in Doha, an unplanned stop thanks to flight delays, where the temperature was a sultry 107 degrees. I noticed how life in that gleaming city would be nearly impossible without air conditioning and technology, and immediately reflected upon our energy and environment research and programs. The research led by our energy and environment faculty at Sanford aims to understand the challenges posed by climate change as well as potential solutions that our planet desperately needs.
Later that week, in India, I met with research partners in health policy and international development, areas in which Sanford is a leader through the work of my faculty colleagues and of our alumni who continue to extend our global reach and impact.
My next stop was in London, where I celebrated Sanford’s future in the meeting with the Rothemere Foundation, through its support for our research and programs in technology policy.
At each point in my travels, whether globally or driving through Boston’s never-ending construction, I reflected upon the implications of our work in social policy – from education, to children and families, to transportation and the contrasts of city and rural life.
Back in Durham, our faculty in media and democracy and security have been actively working on several important projects aimed at civil discourse at Duke. I am pleased to report that we are making significant strides, with our faculty leading a centerpiece Duke Immerse course this fall on media and democracy. Faculty leadership of Bruce Jentleson in Duke’s Middle East Initiative continues to provide deliberate and much-needed dialogue, an excellent example of our security expertise.
As we prepare for a dynamic academic year including Duke’s Centennial and major elections, Sanford is engaging with the university and partners in facing the biggest challenges of our times. Politics is front and center right now in an unprecedented election year, but public policy matters now more than ever. The training we impart to generations of our students will help them leverage windows of opportunity to affect change and reform beyond the politics of our day.
I see a bright and promising future for Sanford because of the work of our community. We are thrilled to welcome five new faculty members, and very soon, to welcome back our students. Together, we will achieve remarkable things. As interim dean, I am here to listen, support and celebrate our community. Your feedback and input are invaluable as we chart our course forward together. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts or concerns you may have: sanford.dean@duke.edu.
It is an honor to step into this role and continue to build public policy at Duke. Thank you once again for your unwavering dedication to our community.
Warm regards,
Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean