The Sanford School of Public Policy is dedicated to providing programs, events and activities intended to solidify connections with alumni and friends.
Alumni Video Blog Series
The #WhyPublicPolicyMatters YouTube vlog series features Sanford alumni talking about how they use policy skills in the professional world. For example during the COVID-19 pandemic, public policy has been changing from day to day, and our alumni have to either plan for or deal with the repercussions in a variety of roles. Listen to real stories, from real alumni, talking about how they are tacking these fast-moving changes. Explore the collection.
The programs below will resume once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
36 Hours at Duke
Imagine spending a weekend back at your old college campus with your favorite professor and inspiring students. What kind of conversations would you have? What kind of ideas could you generate? Join Sanford faculty in a collaborative alumni and student workshop weekend where alumni partner with current Sanford students for an intensive learning experience around a topic like journalism, entrepreneurial leadership, and social justice. The program includes faculty-led workshops, small group conversations, and Duke/Durham activities. Weekends typically start with a dinner on Friday evening and end with brunch on Sunday. For more information, please contact Susan George James.
- Award-winning: 36 Hours at Duke was named one of the best alumni programs in the nation! It won a 2018 CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze Award for Innovative Alumni Program from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Sanford Salons
Sanford Salons are based on the tradition of the Jeffersonian dinner which began in the late 1800s when Thomas Jefferson would invite guests to his home in Monticello to converse around a specific topic. In the spirit of these dinners and the engaging conversations you had with students, faculty, and staff during your time at Sanford, Sanford Salons are an opportunity for alumni to come together on the critical issues of our time for meaningful conversation through a public policy lens. Browse Sanford Salon website.
Regional Events
Sanford hosts alumni events all over the country featuring some of our great faculty and alumni leaders. Gather over an intimate dinner to discuss important topics like racialized social bias and immigrant health, media, technology and politics, the Green New Deal and more. Some of Sanford's most beloved faculty members and rising stars travel the country and the world to meet alumni. Sanford Salons have happened across the US (Chicago, Denver, Oakland, DC) and internationally (Paris, Shanghai and more).
Let's connect!
- Join the official LinkedIn group for the Sanford School of Public Policy. Connect with 2,000 students and alums
- Let us know when you are in the area. We can facilitate meetings with faculty, class audits, even lunch with current Sanford students.
- Want to suggest an alumni program or event? Great! Please contact Susan George James.