Building Sanford’s Future Together

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I appreciate the warm welcome that Sanford’s alumni have extended to me as I begin my tenure as the Joel L. Fleishman dean.  My early days have been an exciting whirlwind of activity, including just returning from the Provost’s retreat in Asheville, NC, where I spent time with colleagues from across the University.  These Duke leaders, too, were incredibly generous with their friendly reception and enthusiasm for strengthening our interdisciplinary ties across campus.

One of the great privileges of serving as dean is seeing the many ways that alumni carry the school’s values into the world. Across sectors and communities, it is obvious that Sanford alumni are leading, serving, and creating positive change—and their work reflects the purpose of a Sanford education.

That spirit is especially evident in this year’s Duke Alumni Awards. Sanford alumni were recognized in three of the four award categories, a tremendous accomplishment and a source of great pride for our School. 

Please join me in congratulating this year’s Sanford honorees:

Daniel Karslake PPS’87 received the Charles A. Dukes Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for extraordinary, sustained service to Duke University. Maya Ajmera MPP’93, Sophia Jamal PPS’17, Mark Mazzetti PPS’96, and Cameron Oglesby T’21 MPP’23 received the Beyond Duke Service and Leadership Award for exceptional service and leadership beyond Duke. Andrew Layton PPS’90, Hayley Sanon PPS’17, and Edith Hawkins MPP’00 received the Forever Duke Award for exceptional service to the Duke community.

These alumni exemplify the values of service and leadership that define the Sanford community. Their recognition also points to the meaningful contributions of Sanford alumni everywhere—contributions that strengthen Duke, their communities, and society. We look forward to celebrating them at Homecoming and recognizing the many ways our alumni continue to carry the spirit of Forever Duke forward.

Celebrating alumni accomplishments naturally leads to a larger question: How can Sanford build an even stronger partnership with its alumni as we look to the future?

Alumni are not simply members of a community with whom we hope to stay in touch. They are trusted advisors, advocates, and ambassadors—and an extraordinary source of experience, ideas, connections, service, and leadership. Their perspectives can help strengthen our programs, expand opportunities for students and graduates, and advance Sanford’s mission.

That is why I am particularly pleased that Sanford has formed a new Graduate Program Alumni Council. The Council is helping build a stronger, more connected network of graduate alumni and creating meaningful opportunities for alumni to engage with one another and with the school. I look forward to meeting with Council members in early October, hearing their perspectives, and exploring how we can work together to realize Sanford’s full potential.

That conversation will be part of a broader effort to listen and learn from alumni across Sanford. In October, I invite Sanford undergraduate, graduate, and professional alumni to join me for a series of virtual “Meet the Dean” conversations. These gatherings will give me an opportunity to introduce myself, share some early reflections and emerging priorities, and—equally important—hear from you.

I want to learn from your experiences and perspectives: What has your Sanford education meant in your life and work? What are your hopes for the School? What opportunities do you see, and what ideas do you have for its future? Each session will include time for questions and answers, open discussion, and networking with fellow alumni.

These virtual conversations will be an important beginning. As I travel and participate in regional alumni events, I look forward to continuing these conversations in person and getting to know more of the Sanford community.

Our alumni have already made an extraordinary difference in the world. My hope is that, by listening to one another and drawing more fully on the experience, ideas, connections, and commitment of this community, we can deepen Sanford’s impact in the years ahead. 

I look forward to beginning that work together.

JR DeShazo

Joel L. Fleishman Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy