Fleishman Deanship Announced

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Happy New Year!  I hope you were able to enjoy loved ones and treats throughout the holiday season.  My own December included conference travel and time with family and friends.

I’m thrilled to start 2026 with some amazing news!  We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Joel L. Fleishman Deanship, made possible through the generous support of friends, colleagues, and foundations honoring the legacy of Professor Joel L. Fleishman.  Since Joel’s passing in 2024, he has been deeply missed across the Sanford community. A gifted teacher, institution builder, and national leader in the study of philanthropy, Joel shaped generations of students and helped position Sanford as one of the country’s premier schools of public policy.

Joel built the foundation on which the Sanford school stands today. Naming the deanship in his honor is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary legacy.  We are grateful to all who helped make this possible.  The Fleishman Deanship will strengthen Sanford’s ability to attract and support exceptional leadership for decades to come, continuing the work Joel began more than fifty years ago to advance ethical, evidence-based public policy in service to society.

It is fitting that this month we are highlighting Sanford’s work around the theme, “Public Policy in Democracy.”  Our outstanding research, speakers, internships, and classroom experiences offer our students a wide range of perspectives about the interplay between institutions, media, leaders, and citizenry in democratic systems.  They learn not only about crafting public policy in a democracy, but also how it can strengthen democratic practice. Throughout January, we’ll share stories ranging from undergraduates exploring national policy in our Duke in DC semester, to research on student voting in North Carolina, to examples of leaders whose have made public policy contributions are felt around the world. 

This theme also launches us into upcoming celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the remarkable documents and people that laid the foundations of our own democracy.  Stay tuned for more information about Sanford’s partnerships with the National Archives Foundation, Duke Arts, and other campus collaborators as we highlight the essential role of public policy in supporting democracy in our community, state, nation, and around the world.

Best wishes, 

Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean