From Durham City Hall to EPA leadership, MPA residency brings policy into practice

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) cohort returned to Durham for a five-day residency that paired classroom learning with civic participation and an exclusive opportunity to engage with senior national policy leaders. From course sessions at Sanford to meetings with Durham officials and a private keynote conversation featuring two former Environmental Protection Agency administrators, the week emphasized applied leadership, civil discourse, and the tangible challenges of governing. The Spring 2026 residency was one of several in-person immersions built into the hybrid executive MPA, which is designed to allow mid-career professionals to earn their degree without leaving their jobs or places of residence.

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Learning grounded in place

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Each MPA residency features an off-site day focused on civic education and engagement, and in this residency, the cohort turned its focus to Durham. Students met with Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, participated in an executive briefing and case study on local government, and joined a Durham history tour led by a local historian. A panel featuring Duke alumni working in local government offered candid insight into public service careers centered on community-level problem-solving.

Back at Sanford, the week included working lunches on leadership, class meetings across cohorts, faculty office hours, and informal gatherings that allowed students to deepen professional relationships. Together, the events reinforced the residency’s goal of connecting policy analysis to place-based decision-making.

An exclusive keynote for MPA students

The residency culminated with a keynote fireside chat featuring Michael Regan and Andrew Wheeler, who served consecutive terms as EPA administrator under different presidential administrations. Moderated by Duke Vice President and Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability Toddi Steelman, the event gave students rare, direct access to two leaders who have managed the highest levels of environmental policymaking from opposing political perspectives. It also served as the latest installment in “Bridging the Divide,” an event series sponsored by the Civil Discourse Project at Duke’s Polis: Center for Politics. 

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Regan, the 16th administrator of the EPA, is spending the academic year as a Polis Distinguished Fellow at the Sanford School. A North Carolina native, he previously led the state’s Department of Environmental Quality and began his career as an EPA regulator. Wheeler, the agency’s 15th administrator, brought experience from Capitol Hill, federal regulatory leadership, and Virginia state government.

Despite their different policy approaches, the two administrators modeled the kind of substantive, respectful dialogue the MPA program is designed to promote. Regan emphasized that environmental progress and economic growth are not competing goals. “Environmental protection and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive, but can go hand in hand because of technology and because of markets,” he said.

Wheeler situated today’s debates within an expanded historical perspective, noting that disagreements regarding environmental policy predate the modern EPA. He additionally pointed out the agency’s global influence. “EPA sets the gold standard for environmental regulations worldwide,” he said.

Leadership, trade-offs, and implementation

Throughout the conversation, both speakers focused on the realities of leadership inside a large federal agency. Wheeler described management reforms and the difficulty of balancing regulatory aspirations with institutional capacity. Regan reflected on the responsibility of delivering major federal investments efficiently while keeping public health and equity at the center of decision-making.

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Both identified the intersection of energy and environmental policy as a defining challenge of this century, stressing the need to understand trade-offs across technologies, markets, and impacts on people. They also spoke candidly about political pressure, media scrutiny, and the significance of remaining focused on outcomes rather than rhetoric.

For students, the discussion offered a behind-the-scenes look at how senior public servants weigh competing demands, communicate risk, and make decisions that affect communities nationwide.

A university focus on civil discourse

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In opening remarks, Duke Provost Alec Gallimore framed the keynote as part of Duke’s wider initiative to teach constructive engagement across difference. “Being able to listen, engage, and build understanding across diverse perspectives is critical to the work of a university, indeed, for a democracy,” he said.

The event was closely aligned with the MPA program’s emphasis on leadership, ethics, and the skills required to navigate disagreement while pursuing the public good, and it reflected Sanford’s commitment to bringing senior practitioners into direct conversation with students.

Students reflect on the residency

For many students, the residency’s combination of national perspective, local engagement, and cohort connection made the experience especially impactful. Sarah Moniz, a Virginia-based MPA student who works in human services, said the in-person format plays an important role in how students learn and collaborate.

“I appreciate getting to kick off every new semester with the in-person residency. The face time with cohort mates, staff, and professors is invaluable. The rapport and work we start at the residency gives us a strong foundation for the rest of the semester, and I don't think we'd be nearly as engaged with each other or our courses without it. I leave each residency feeling connected, energized, and inspired.

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“A highlight of this last residency was the local government focus. At past residencies, we've heard from federal and state-level experts, but because my own work and research are primarily community-focused, learning from local officials was particularly helpful and meaningful for me. I came away with new ideas on how to support better collaboration and resource allocation in my own community.”

Kendrick Cunningham, a Charlotte-based MPA student who works in public affairs and community engagement, said the program’s emphasis on leadership development and ethical practice is guiding how he approaches his career.

“What I love most about Duke Sanford scholars is the fact that we are the political, industry, and cultural thought leaders,” Cunningham said. “I will be spending this semester creating my professional Code of Ethics, improving my decision-making skills, and becoming a master negotiator...I’m looking forward to seeing how my leadership skills progress and what new opportunities lie on the horizon in my new era.”

Looking ahead

As students return to online coursework and professional roles across the country, the Spring 2026 residency reinforced the benefit of in-person gathering to learn from faculty, peers, and experienced practitioners. By pairing Durham-based engagement with an exclusive, high-level policy conversation, the week reflected a defining feature of the MPA program: access to leaders, ideas, and experiences that prepare students to lead across difference and deliver results in complex organizations and systems.