Sanford’s MPA Tech Policy Concentration Creates New Opportunities for Leaders — Tech Policy Month Highlights Why

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program at Sanford is ramping up for a new Technology Policy concentration, designed to help experienced policy leaders navigate the rapidly evolving intersection of technology, governance, and the public good. 

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The new concentration will launch in the 2026–27 academic year, channeling Sanford's expertise in this area into a dedicated learning pathway for MPA students. Sanford's recent “Tech Policy Month” demonstrated the School's leadership in the most pressing technological issues of our time and offered a preview of the types of opportunities that await students specializing in tech policy. Throughout November, Sanford showcased faculty expertise, student engagement, and research that addressed topics such as artificial intelligence, data brokerage, cybersecurity, online governance, and digital accountability. The month featured stories, events, and public conversations that demonstrated how Sanford scholars and practitioners are shaping the national dialogue on technology and society.

For prospective MPA students, Tech Policy Month underscored how Sanford integrates emerging technology issues directly into its curriculum. The School approaches tech policy as both an academic discipline and a real-world practice area, bringing together interdisciplinary faculty and hands-on learning to tackle challenges that cut across industries and sectors. The result is a vibrant, forward-looking community that not only studies emerging technologies, but also actively contributes to public debate and policymaking.

Tech Policy in Action

The program’s growing emphasis on technology was on display during the MPA’s Fall 2025 residency, which culminated in a keynote panel on the future of artificial intelligence and its implications for policy practitioners.

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The panel featured Ronnie Chatterji (Chief Economist at OpenAI and Distinguished Professor of Business and Public Policy at Duke), Matt Perault (Head of AI Policy at Andreessen Horowitz and Senior Fellow at New York University’s Center on Technology Policy), and Anne Washington (Sanford's new Rothermere/Harmsworth Duke Associate Professor, a computer scientist trained in organizational ethnography who applies her expertise in digital innovation to issues of data governance.)  Sanford Assistant Professor Robyn Caplan, an expert on platform governance, moderated the conversation.

The event reflected the cutting-edge focus Sanford is bringing to technology policy. By convening leading voices from academia, government, and industry, the school is exploring how AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping public life. For MPA students, it provided a direct window into the kinds of questions and debates they will continue to wrestle with as public affairs practitioners.

A Curriculum for an Era of Digital Transformation

The Technology Policy curriculum will span topics such as artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity, trade, climate technology, and the information environment. Courses are designed to blend conceptual frameworks with applied practice, enabling students to analyze real-world cases and develop strategies for their own organizations.

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The initial course offerings are currently under development, but sample courses might include:

• Technology in the Public Interest – Examining how technology can be designed and governed to advance democratic values.
• Data Governance & Privacy – Understanding regulatory frameworks and developing governance plans suited to cross-sector contexts.
• Cybersecurity Policy & Practice – Assessing risks and creating response strategies for institutions and critical infrastructure.
• Technology & Climate – Weighing the promise and challenges of digital tools in advancing climate solutions.
• Technology & Trade Policy – Navigating the interplay of innovation, security, and global competition.
• Navigating the Information Environment – Mapping and managing contemporary challenges like disinformation and fractured media landscapes.
• AI Challenges and Opportunities for Public Affairs Practitioners – Developing responsible AI use cases tailored to organizational missions.

The new concentration reflects Sanford’s commitment to equipping public affairs leaders with the skills and insights needed in an era of rapid digital transformation. Whether for technologists seeking to deepen their understanding of policy and management or policy professionals navigating the challenges and opportunities of new technologies, the concentration provides a flexible and rigorous pathway for executive MPA students.