Sanford Celebrates the Class of 2026

On May 8, Sanford celebrated its Class of 2026, recognizing the achievements of nearly 400 graduates from the undergraduate public policy major, master’s programs and PhD programs in a unified ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Families, friends, faculty and staff gathered to honor the graduates, who now join Sanford’s global network of more than 10,000 alumni in over 100 countries.

Interim Dean Manoj Mohanan welcomed the attendees, noting Sanford’s unique commitment to bringing all graduates together in one ceremony.

“We are the only Duke school that offers such a ceremony for all our graduates and feel strongly about how it represents our intertwined Sanford community,” Mohanan said.

He also thanked the families, loved ones, faculty and staff who supported the graduates throughout their academic journeys.

Chad Sarchio Urges Graduates to Consider Public Service

The commencement address was delivered by Chad Sarchio PPS’92, associate general counsel for mission and international law at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and a member of Sanford’s Board of Visitors. 

Sarchio has built a long career in public service. Before joining the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, he spent more than 17 years with the Drug Enforcement Administration in a variety of roles, including chief of staff for two administrators and associate chief counsel for international and intelligence law. He also served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia.

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Sarchio began his career as an active duty Army JAG and later retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Reserves after 24 years of service, including time as a military judge. He earned a master of science in national security strategy from the National War College in 2019 and his JD from George Washington University in 1995.

Speaking to the graduates, Sarchio framed his remarks as “a Public Service Announcement about Public Service,” urging them to consider government work at some point in their careers.

“I urgently want you to consider committing your talents to public service, if not for an entire career then at least at some point in your professional lives,” Sarchio said.

He made the case for public service through three themes: teamwork, mission and the urgency of now.

“If you value teammates and believe that most great achievement is the product of teamwork, then government service is for you,” he said.

Sarchio also emphasized the clarity that comes from mission-driven work.

“Government agencies and civil servants major in mission,” he said. “You know what you’re about from day one, and every day thereafter.”

He told the graduates that their public policy education gives them unusual flexibility and preparation for an uncertain world.

“Your Public Policy education is a skeleton key that can unlock all kinds of doors and endeavors, from academia to private industry to the government service I’ve lauded,” Sarchio said.

He closed by encouraging graduates to apply pressure to the problems they care about and maintain momentum through setbacks.

“What I’ve learned is that the headwinds don’t matter,” he said. “All that matters is how you tack against them. So: be consistent, be undeterred, be unflagging, be decent, be open. Above all, stay in motion, maintain momentum towards your goals.”

Susan E. Tifft Teaching and Mentoring Award

Professor Jennifer Siegel, Bruce R. Kuniholm Distinguished Professor of History and Public Policy, received the Susan E. Tifft Teaching and Mentoring Award, which honors a faculty member who made outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the undergraduate program.

Siegel was recognized for her rigorous and deeply engaging teaching, as well as her commitment to students’ intellectual growth. Students praised her for challenging them to think critically about complex historical and policy questions while creating a classroom environment grounded in thoughtful dialogue and reflection.

One student wrote that “her commitment to her students is unmatched.” Another said Siegel “exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an educator,” citing her “unwavering integrity, genuine care for every student’s success, and tireless dedication to her craft.”

Richard Stubbing Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award

Professor Tim Nichols received the 2025-2026 Richard Stubbing Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award, which recognizes faculty members who share Professor Richard Stubbing’s deep commitment to graduate teaching and mentorship.

Nichols has taught at Sanford for more than 15 years and played a central role in the development of the Master of National Security Policy Program. He has served as the program’s faculty director through four successful academic years and also leads the Counterterrorism Fellows Program, whose more than 100 alumni maintain a lasting connection to Duke.

Students described Nichols as a “maestro” in the classroom who makes rigorous material come alive and supports students long after the final assignment. One student said he “fosters an incredible learning environment and I grew so much just from the two courses I took with him.”

Another nominator summed up the recognition simply: “This award is long overdue.”

Joel Fleishman Distinguished Scholars

The Joel Fleishman Distinguished Scholar Award, given to students with the highest academic achievement in public policy, was presented to six graduates: Rhiannon Camarillo, Anastasia Crowley, Joseph Raza, Samantha Richter, Jaden Rodriguez and Jackson Streit.

The award honors Joel Fleishman, who joined Duke’s faculty in 1971 and served as the founding director of what became the Sanford School of Public Policy.

Best Honors Thesis

Kate Seneshen received the Best Honors Thesis award for her thesis, “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Secondary School Students Regarding HPV and HPV-Related Cancer Prevention in Urubamba, Cusco, Peru.”

Her thesis examined HPV prevention efforts among adolescents in rural Peru, a population rarely studied in this context. The project included original research and resulted in actionable policy recommendations that have already been shared with Peru’s Ministry of Health, which expressed interest in collaborating to implement the findings from Seneshen’s work.

Terry Sanford Leadership Award

Abigail Bergen and Anastasia Crowley received the Terry Sanford Leadership Award, presented to graduating seniors in public policy who emulate Terry Sanford’s “outrageous ambition” in leadership.

Bergen was recognized for expanding on her experience as a Counter-Terrorism and Public Policy Fellow by leading a sustainable initiative to support civil-military relations with active-duty military and law enforcement professionals. Her work reflected a commitment to trusted relationship-building and to bridging the gap between civilians and the military as a future commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Crowley was recognized for her work to address financial exclusion and barriers to business skill-building among women in rural Uganda. Her leadership centered listening, co-design and collaboration as core principles for action.

Student speaker Shares Food for Thought

Calvin Rausch MPP’26 served as the first student speaker at Sanford’s unified commencement ceremony. She was selected through a competitive process by a committee of students, staff and faculty.

Rausch, originally from Atlanta, earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in political science and international affairs. She first arrived at Duke in 2023 as an AmeriCorps VISTA working on food security efforts and later served as executive director of the Graduate and Professional Student Government Community Pantry.

During her time at Duke, Rausch helped more than 2,500 students access basic needs and raised more than $180,000 to support the pantry and expand resource access. Her work and research focus on basic needs, food security and human rights, with a particular focus on the U.S. South and Uganda.

In her remarks, Rausch used food as a central metaphor for policy, community and life after Sanford.

“Food is central to my life,” Rausch said. “I’ve studied food security here at Sanford and served as the Executive Director of the Graduate and Professional Community Pantry. Food is central to our lives.”

She told her classmates that food offers three lessons: bold flavors make the meal memorable, not every bite is sweet, and any good meal is shared in community.

“You have an education from Sanford, so I know your mind is full of flavorful, nuanced, and bold ideas,” she said. “Don’t lose your appetite for them. Stay creative, maintain your curiosity, and don’t be made timid by a louder voice telling you it can’t be done.”

Rausch also reminded graduates that hard work in public policy should happen alongside joy, friendship and rest.

“Despite it all, strive to enjoy the deliciousness of life,” she said.

She closed by celebrating the Class of 2026 and the community they built together.

“As I encounter the bitter and the beautiful in this next phase of my life, I will feel gratitude that somewhere, a Sanfordite is cooking up something good,” Rausch said.

Celebrating Sanford’s Graduate Programs

The ceremony also recognized graduates from Sanford’s graduate programs.

Vicki Bogan, professor and director of graduate studies for the Master of Public Policy Program, introduced the MPP graduates, describing the program as a top-ranked, two-year residential graduate program that prepares students to become impactful leaders, scholars and professionals in public policy.

Cory Krupp, director of graduate studies for the Master of International Development Policy Program, recognized the MIDP graduates. This year’s class included 18 fellows from 14 countries. Krupp also recognized Nish Kharal, who received a 2026 Forever Duke Student Leadership Award.

Tim Nichols recognized graduates from the Master of National Security Policy Program, noting that the class included members of the U.S. Armed Forces, civilians serving the U.S. government, and consultants and contractors working in the security sector. He also thanked the families who supported students as they balanced graduate study with demanding professional responsibilities.

Jackson Ewing recognized graduates from the international Master of Environmental Policy Program, offered by Sanford in collaboration with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke Kunshan University. Ewing emphasized the importance of international research and educational collaboration on environmental challenges.

Anna Gassman-Pines, senior associate dean of faculty, recognized graduates from Sanford’s PhD programs. The ceremony included graduates from the PhD in Public Policy and the University Program in Environmental Policy PhD, jointly administered by Sanford and the Nicholas School of the Environment.

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Five PhD graduates were hooded during the ceremony:

Paulo Antonacci, PhD in Public Policy, whose dissertation is “Essays on Tax Policy Optimization Under Heterogeneous Treatment Effects,” was hooded by Sanford professor Kate Bundorf.

Christopher R. Behrer, PhD in Public Policy, whose dissertation is “Essays in Health Economics,” was hooded by Interim Dean Manoj Mohanan.

Braydon Wade Madson, PhD in Public Policy, whose dissertation is “Trapped in Transit: Essays on How Irregular Migration Shapes International Relations,” was hooded by Sanford professor Sarah Bermeo.

Jaelyn M. Nixon, PhD in Public Policy, whose dissertation is “Perceptions and Ground Truths: How Subjective Interpretations and Objective Realities Impact Student Academic Aspirations and Parental Decision,” was hooded by Gassman-Pines.

Brenda Ndanu Onyango, Joint PhD in Public Policy and Sociology, whose dissertation is “Race and Gender Differences in Patient-Centered Communication and Diabetes Management Across the Life Course,” was hooded by Sanford associate professor Mallory SoRelle.

Mohanan: “Don’t Confuse Difficulty with Defeat”

In his closing remarks, Mohanan told graduates that their Sanford training had prepared them to face difficult, uncertain problems.

“The journey to this moment has not been easy,” he said. “These have been tough times in higher education and, frankly, tough times in the world. And yet here you are: still standing, still learning, still choosing public service.”

Mohanan joked that many undergraduate students had already proven their resilience by surviving his PubPol 155 course. He also recognized the intensity of Sanford’s graduate programs, including the 72-hour memo.

“Nothing says ‘welcome to public policy’ like trying to solve a complex social problem while the clock ticks and you realize why time is a truly binding constraint,” he said.

He told graduates that alumni often describe Sanford’s greatest lesson as the ability to solve problems.

“Not ‘having all the answers,’” Mohanan said. “But the habit of asking the right questions. The discipline to find the root cause and the patience to work through uncertainty. And the courage to execute, especially when the solution is imperfect, politically messy, or personally inconvenient.”

Mohanan said he expects future deans will one day hear stories about the Class of 2026 and the major problems they helped solve.

He also shared a line from the Bhagavad Gita, explaining that it reminds us that people can control their actions, but not the outcomes.

“We can choose our effort. We can choose our integrity. We can choose to show up, again and again, even when results are uncertain,” Mohanan said.

He closed by urging graduates to keep moving forward, especially when public policy work becomes slow and frustrating.

“When the work gets hard, and it will, don’t confuse difficulty with defeat,” Mohanan said. “Don’t confuse setbacks with failure. Progress in public policy is often slow, nonlinear, and frustrating. But it is possible. And it is worth it.”

After the ceremony, graduates recessed from Cameron Indoor Stadium and joined families and friends in K-Ville for photos, celebration and Locopops.

Congratulations to the Sanford School Class of 2026.