2026 Duke Sanford Graduates: Eric Fernando

For a time, Eric Fernando set that vision aside. Growing up in Indonesia, he followed a more conventional path, studying engineering in a system where technical fields often defined success. The early interest in public service never fully disappeared, even as his career moved in a different direction. That changed when he began working in government.

“In 2021, when I began working in government, that long-held passion reappeared with clarity,” he said. “I found excitement in serving the public, contributing to societal development, and shaping policies that could improve people’s lives.”

What once felt like a distant idea had returned with purpose.

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A Return, and a New Direction

His decision to attend Duke traces back to an earlier chapter. As a high school student in the United States, he lived with a host family where both parents worked in government. Their dinner conversations introduced him to public service in a way that stayed with him long after he returned to Indonesia.

“Every dinner, we discussed politics, governance, and public service,” he said. “Those moments left a deeper impression on me than I realized.” That experience lingered as he moved into his professional career. “When I left, I promised myself that I would come back one day, not just to visit, but to grow,” he said.

Before coming to Sanford, he worked at Indonesia’s Ministry of Investment, focusing on regulations related to licensing and incentives. The role expanded how he understood the reach of policy, especially how economic decisions connect to communities and broader systems.

“I came to understand that investment policy is not just about the relationship between the government and the private sector,” he said. “It is deeply interconnected with social communities, NGOs, regional dynamics, and global systems.”

Sanford gave him the space to explore those connections in a more structured way.

Finding Support in Uncertainty

Some of Fernando’s most meaningful experiences at Sanford happened outside the classroom, during a period of uncertainty for many international students.

“There were moments when uncertainty felt overwhelming,” he said. “At times, fellow international students and I could do little more than sit together in shared anxiety, hoping for clarity and stability.” 

What stays with him now is the support he found during that time.

“I am deeply grateful to Belen (Gebremichael), Kristen (Aquilino), Mackenzie (Phelps), and Jon (Colon), whose reassurance and steady presence meant more than I can fully express,” he said. “Their willingness to listen and to show empathy made it possible for me to get through that period.” His peers played a similar role. “I realized that they could not change the policy environment, but they gave me something just as important: a sense of safety and belonging.”

Refining a Policy Perspective

At Sanford, Fernando also found faculty who pushed him to think more carefully about policy and his role within it. Through his coursework, he strengthened his analytical approach and developed more clarity in his writing. Working with Professor Asher Hildebrand, both in class and later as a teaching assistant, gave him a closer look at teaching and mentorship.

“As someone who aspires to become a professor in the future, this experience was particularly meaningful,” he said.

His academic work centered on international development and renewable energy, with a focus on Southeast Asia.

“International development shapes how growth is distributed and experienced, while renewable energy determines how that growth can be sustained without compromising future generations,” he said.

Over time, he began to see these issues as part of a larger, interconnected system.

Lessons in Complexity and Humility

A difficult period during his time at Sanford also changed how he thinks about policymaking.

“What struck me most was how a change in policy within a single country could have such global consequences,” he said. The experience pushed him to think more carefully about how decisions extend beyond national borders. “Policies must be designed with greater awareness of their broader implications, including potential spillover effects on others,” he said. “This realization has made me more committed to approaching policy with empathy.”

It also left him with a clearer understanding of uncertainty.

“Even with careful planning, there are external risks that we cannot fully control,” he said. “This has helped me better understand the limits of individual and institutional control, and the importance of resilience in navigating uncertainty.”

Looking Ahead and giving back

After graduation, Fernando plans to return to Indonesia and continue his work in government, focusing on expanding access to renewable energy.

“My focus will remain on advancing inclusive access to renewable energy,” he said. “I believe that equitable economic growth is not possible if significant segments of the population still lack reliable and affordable energy access.”

He hopes to build on that work over time, contributing to broader efforts across Southeast Asia.

Graduating from Sanford carries a deeper meaning for him, one that connects back to where he started.

“Public policy is not just a career choice for me,” he said. “It is a calling that reflects a long-standing commitment to serve and to make a meaningful difference in society.”