Innovative. Thoughtful.
Engaged in matters of consequence.
These characteristics are embedded in the DNA of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. The Sanford School of Public Policy is pleased to announce these faculty appointments for 2024-2025.
Joab Corey
Joab Corey has recently been appointed as a faculty member at the Sanford School of Public Policy, where he will focus on core public policy courses, including Public Policy 303: Microeconomic Tools for Policy Analysis and Public Policy 304: Economics of the Public Sector. Corey brings with him a distinguished academic background, having earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from West Virginia University (WVU). His Ph.D. research examined the interplay between natural resource abundance, institutional quality, and economic growth across U.S. states, reflecting his deep commitment to understanding and improving economic policy.
Corey’s research interests span state and local policy, international economic development, applied microeconomics, and economics education pedagogy. His current work builds on this foundation, focusing on innovative teaching strategies and the integration of economic theory with policy applications. At Sanford, Corey aims to enhance the department’s educational approach through interactive and engaging methods, contributing to a vibrant academic community and fostering closer relationships with his students. His recent publications in the Journal of Economics Education underscore his ongoing dedication to advancing the field of economics education.
Susan Colbourn
Susan Colbourn is an Associate Research Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy, where she has been a key member of the faculty since 2021. She earned her undergraduate degree in history and international relations from the University of Toronto, followed by a master’s degree in the history of international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD in history from the University of Toronto. Her academic career includes postdoctoral fellowships at Yale University's International Security Studies.
Colbourn's research focuses on post-World War II international affairs, particularly the European security order, the role of nuclear weapons, and NATO. Her current project involves a comprehensive history of NATO, tracing its development from the late 1940s to the present. She is deeply interested in how historical events and interpretations influence contemporary policy challenges.
At Sanford, Colbourn contributes to the Program in American Grand Strategy and is known for her innovative teaching methods, including organizing the annual international staff ride, which provides students with hands-on experiences of significant historical events. Her commitment to historical research and education continues to inspire and engage the Sanford community.
Garry S. Mitchell
Garry S. Mitchell, Jr., newly appointed as Assistant Professor of Public Policy, recently earned his Ph.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As a Stone PhD Scholar in Inequality and Wealth Concentration at the Kennedy School and an Ethics Pedagogy Fellow at the Safra Center for Ethics, Mitchell’s background reflects a profound commitment to educational justice and inequality.
Mitchell's research sits at the intersection of sociology, history, and philosophy of education, with a focus on the punishment-to-privilege spectrum in K-12 schools and its broader societal implications. His current work investigates College Preparatory School Programs (CPSPs), which aim to assist low-income, minoritized students in competing for spots in elite independent schools. By combining empirical data with ethical analysis, Mitchell seeks to illuminate how these programs affect upward mobility and influence educational discourse. His research aims to challenge prevailing assumptions about mobility and highlight the nuanced experiences of marginalized students as they navigate these educational pathways.
Hannah Postel
Hannah Postel joins Sanford as an Assistant Professor, bringing her expertise in migration and public policy to the university. She holds a PhD in Demography and Social Policy from Princeton University and has conducted research in diverse contexts, including a Fulbright grant in Zambia. Postel has previously worked with multiple public policy organizations including the Center for Global Development and the International Organization for Migration.
Her research focuses on historical immigration restrictions in the U.S. and their enduring effects, as well as the relationship between economic development and migration in the Global South. At Sanford, Postel aims to reshape the narrative around migration, emphasizing its fundamental role in human existence and advocating for policies that leverage its benefits.
Jonathan Zhang
Jonathan Zhang, a renowned applied economist and health economist, has joined the Sanford School of Public Policy as an Assistant Professor. Zhang’s appointment at Sanford will see him leveraging his expertise in quantitative methods and policy analysis to address pressing real-world challenges in health economics. His educational journey began with a statistics major at Vancouver’s university and led to a PhD in economics from Stanford University, where he discovered his passion for health economics through a transformative graduate course.
Zhang’s research focuses on the behavior of healthcare providers and the effects of public policies on health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations. His current work explores critical issues such as mental health, substance use, and the impacts of policy interventions on these areas. His close collaboration with the Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention exemplifies his commitment to impactful research. At Sanford, Zhang looks forward to contributing to the vibrant academic community, mentoring students, and engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations, all while continuing his groundbreaking research in health economics.
Our faculty
Sanford boasts a dynamic blend of academic scholars and professors of practice, whose real-world leadership experience enriches the classroom environment. Our faculty members engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle pressing issues such as income inequality, obesity and hunger, energy policy, child neglect and abuse, healthcare access, democratization, foreign policy, and global concerns.
With a robust faculty lineup that includes 40 tenure-track professors, 25 research professors and professors of the practice, five lecturers, 20 professors emeriti, and numerous Duke faculty with secondary appointments, Sanford is a powerhouse of expertise and innovation.
Pictured: NPR's TV critic Eric Deggans (right) teaches students as a part of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy. In 2024, TV host Jon Stewart spoke in Deggan's class.