Sanford is Made for This

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As the academic year draws to a close, there's a familiar energy on campus: a blend of intense focus during final projects and exams and the hopeful anticipation surrounding Commencement. It’s a time that naturally leads to reflection on our shared journey and the path ahead. For us at Sanford, it reinforces our commitment to preparing leaders equipped to tackle complex challenges with bold ideas and a dedication to public service.

Looking forward requires reflection, strategic planning, and clear communication about our priorities. To that end, I'm excited to share a new development: the launch of Sanford's new campaign website. This site is designed as a window into our vision for the future and how we are focusing our efforts to strengthen the core pillars of our mission – research, teaching, and engagement.

The central theme woven throughout the site is "Sanford: Built for Connection, Collaboration & Community." This reflects our fundamental belief that policy solutions are most potent when diverse perspectives come together. It highlights Sanford’s unique role as a hub within Duke, connecting expertise across disciplines, and aligns with the university’s broader “Made for This” focus on creation and building impactful solutions. When Terry Sanford and Joel Fleishman started this endeavor in 1971, in many ways, it was Duke's inflection point for interdisciplinary research. The "outrageous ambition" that sparked that genesis is a central rallying cry to Duke's campaign. This campaign is made for a school like Sanford.

The website articulates how we prioritize resources to enhance our work in critical areas that define today's policy landscape. We are focused on strengthening Sanford’s contributions in:

• Technology Policy: Convening vital conversations and research to navigate the complexities of AI and digital governance, ensuring technology serves the public good, as seen in our recent discussions with OpenAI leaders.
• Democracy, Politics & Civil Discourse: Fostering dialogue and developing leaders capable of strengthening democratic institutions, exemplified by our efforts to bridge partisan divides.
• Health Policy: Advancing innovative and equitable solutions to pressing healthcare challenges, including empowering students to apply policy skills directly to community health needs.
• Energy & Environment Policy: Driving research and action for climate resilience and a sustainable future, informed by global perspectives like those gathered by our students at COP29.
• The Student Experience: Providing transformative educational opportunities, financial support, and real-world experiences – like this powerful student project exploring WWII history in Japan – that prepare our graduates to lead and serve effectively.

These priorities represent our commitment to tackling pressing issues and ensuring our students are prepared for impactful careers. We intend to move forward with a strong sense of purpose, channeling support strategically to deepen our impact in these vital fields.

I invite you to explore the new campaign website here: https://madeforthis.sanford.duke.edu/

Learn more about our vision, the work already underway, and how connection and collaboration fuel everything we do at Sanford. Thank you for being an integral part of our vibrant community.

Warm regards,

Manoj Mohanan Interim Dean