An Update on Our Strategic Priorities

Sanford is overjoyed to celebrate 50 Years of Public Policy this year (2021-2022). This is also year three of our five-year Strategic Priorities. We continue to make solid progress in our four strategic priority areas:

1. We are enhancing the impact and reputation of our research and expertise through top faculty hires this fall and enhanced policy engagement.
2. We are making great progress on broadening and reimagining our professional offerings. A new executive master of national security policy program is accepting applications, and we have more programs under way.
3. We have launched several new offerings to deepen the undergraduate experience and have a team focused on this priority. We are working to deepen the undergraduate experience through initiatives like Policy Lab, Democracy lab, and to extend CX-Lab to our undergraduates. In addition, we had several immersive experiences last winter break, including working with the Purpose Project.
4. Finally, we have made leaps of improvement in how we are engaging with our alumni and stakeholders. This year, we will keep the best of the virtual experiences as we continue to boost connections with alumni and friends of the school.

I am also thrilled with the progress we are making to develop a healthy, working engine for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Sanford. Last year, we held several town halls, and in the middle of the pandemic our community came together (virtually) to build a DEI collective action plan. In addition, this fall Spenser Darden, our new Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, joined Sanford.

Our priorities matter because they advance to our mission to train students and do research to tackle the policy challenges that impact lives. 

Looking ahead, we have an exciting year as we celebrate this momentous anniversary, launch new programs, welcome new faculty and create opportunities for our students and graduates every day. Navigating another COVID-19 year is a key priority, while delivering the best educational experience to our students. This year, we are recruiting four faculty. We will advance our DEI goals, welcome our first students into our new executive national security program this summer, and continue to deepen the undergraduate experience that makes Sanford truly special.

Thank you for your support and contributions to our community. Join me in the celebration!

Dean Judith Kelley