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Asher Hildebrand's career has centered around building bridges, and as the leader of Duke’s new Master of Public Affairs program, he hopes to build many more.
Hildebrand brings a wealth of experience and vision to his roles at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. With more than 15 years in government and politics—spanning senior positions in Congress, a presidential campaign, and international democracy-building efforts—he now dedicates himself to training the next generation of public affairs leaders.
As a faculty member, Hildebrand teaches courses on domestic politics, policy analysis, legislative advocacy, and American democracy in Sanford’s graduate and undergraduate programs. Beyond the classroom, he serves as the inaugural Director of Graduate Studies for Duke’s new executive Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program, set to welcome its first cohort in 2025. This innovative program combines academic rigor and practical training with the flexibility of hybrid learning, empowering mid-career professionals to advance their leadership and impact without leaving their careers.
In this Q&A, Hildebrand shares insights into his vision for the executive MPA program, reflects on the values that guide his work and offers a glimpse into the transformative potential of this new endeavor.
how does your background inform your mpa program work?
Prior to joining the Sanford faculty, I spent more than 15 years working in politics and government, holding senior leadership roles as a congressional chief of staff and a policy director for a presidential campaign. My experience as a practitioner and a manager helped me understand the leadership challenges facing public servants and the skills and knowledge that mid-career professionals need to advance in their careers. It also helped me appreciate the unique educational needs of working students: although I chose to enroll in a full-time, residential MPA program, many of my friends and colleagues sought out part-time graduate programs with flexible degree options or passed on graduate school altogether because of the opportunity cost to their careers.
The Sanford MPA will offer mid-career public affairs practitioners—like those I used to work with and manage—access to a world-class graduate education tailored to their unique needs and preferences, without the opportunity cost. And for the organizations that employ them, it will offer advanced training and greater job satisfaction for their leadership-track employees, without any disruption to their workforce.
Terry Sanford told students to “stand for something.” What do you “stand for” in your role at Sanford?
I stand for a world in which every human being can live a life of dignity, opportunity, and meaning. At its core, public affairs is the practice of unlocking this human potential by dismantling the things that threaten it—whether they be longstanding threats such as poverty, disease, and conflict or newer ones such as climate change and technological disruption. Government has an essential role to play in this effort, and schools of public policy and public affairs remain on the frontlines of training future generations of public sector leaders. But the complex and interconnected challenges we face today require solutions that are broader than government, and we must thus take a broader view of public service that includes leaders in the private and non-profit sectors as well.
The executive MPA program will help the Sanford School more fully realize its mission by training public affairs practitioners from all sectors, as well as mid-career professionals in other lines of work who are interested in transitioning into a rewarding career in public affairs.
The MPA curriculum is designed to deepen our students’ knowledge, update their skills, and refresh their commitment to public service at a crucial moment in their careers.
Asher Hildebrand
Is there a “typical” MPA student? What kind of careers will they pursue?
We hope that every MPA student will bring a distinct background, perspective, and lived experience to the program! Broadly speaking, however, the ideal member of the MPA cohort will have at least seven years of experience in government, politics, the non-profit or philanthropic sector, or private-sector professions such as consulting or government relations and will have demonstrated the potential for leadership within their organization or community of practice.
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The MPA curriculum is designed to deepen our students’ knowledge, update their skills, and refresh their commitment to public service at a crucial moment in their careers. We expect many of our students to continue working at their current employers and assume greater leadership roles and responsibilities upon graduation. Others will use the program as an opportunity to transition to a new organization within their current field or to a new field altogether. Employer demand for public affairs practitioners remains strong, and Sanford’s career services team is excited to work with our MPA students to help them find the right professional role for them.
does the hybrid program offer advantages to students?
While some “hybrid” programs offer little more than a camera at the back of a classroom, ours will be custom-built to incorporate the latest advances in digital learning. By combining intensive in-person residencies with synchronous and asynchronous online instruction, the Duke MPA will allow each cohort to develop a strong social and professional network while also giving students the flexibility to earn their degrees from anywhere in the country.
A hybrid, accelerated degree is not for everybody: students who prefer a full-time, residential graduate experience will be better suited to Sanford’s highly ranked Master of Public Policy program. But for students who want the “Duke experience” without having to leave their jobs or move their families, the MPA will be a great complement to Sanford’s existing program options.
What are you most looking forward to as program Director?
Engaging with our students. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the public servants—in all sectors—who work every day to advance the common good. The opportunity to help established or emerging public affairs leaders enhance their skills and expand their impact on society is the opportunity of a lifetime.