A Strong Start

What a great beginning of the semester we have had, Sanford! As we wrap up our first week of classes, I want to recognize all of our returning and new students, as well as our dedicated faculty and staff, and our supportive alumni and friends. Together, we are a community that is working to create a better future with evidence-based policy.

I want to celebrate the newest parts of Sanford, including our executive hybrid Master of Public Affairs program. This program is accepting applications and also recruiting adjunct faculty members. If you know of anyone who might be a good fit to apply or to teach in the program, please contact us.

Sanford welcomes many new members to our community. In July, five faculty members joined our school. This month, we welcomed almost 150 new professional/graduate students into our academic programs. Sanford’s 700 total undergraduate, professional and graduate students will join a powerful network of more than 10,000 alumni from the school.

Our new semester coincides with the 100^th birthday of Duke University and the launch of Sanford’s newest initiative “Bridging the Divide,” featuring former U.S. Senator Richard Burr and Provost Alec Gallimore for the first talk on September 9. This new series led by Polis focuses on civil discourse, where Sanford is a leader through programs like Duke Immerse, the Civil Discourse Project, and more.

Sanford is also gearing up for the election season with valuable resources, expertise and our endowed lectures featuring Liz Cheney on September 4 and David Brooks on October 29. We invite you to learn more about our Sanford events and stay tuned for more exciting speakers coming up.

The world around us appears increasingly polarized, but this is precisely why it is important to remember that our strength lies in our diversity, including diversity of backgrounds, experiences, identities and perspectives. A strong community is a cornerstone of Sanford. We welcome diversity. We recognize that, despite any differences, what unites us is the pursuit of academic inquiry and excellence towards a common goal – to improve human wellbeing locally, nationally and globally. I encourage our entire community to engage in thoughtful and civil discussions, even when there are disagreements. I celebrate all members of our community and I welcome our new students, faculty and staff!

Warm regards,
Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean