Sanford Institute Milestones

1971 At President Terry Sanford’s invitation, Joel Fleishman returns to his native state to establish the new public policy institute.
1972 Trustees establish the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs, housed in the Old Chemistry Building on West Campus. First faculty appointments include Willis Hawley and Bruce Payne from Yale and James Vaupel from Harvard.
1973 Research centers in communications and health policy established.
1974 First class of public policy majors graduates – seven in all.
  A master’s degree program, limited to students who are also studying law or pursuing another professional degree, is established and admits its first students.
1975 The Department of Public Policy Studies is created and given its own tenure lines. Joint degree programs with business, engineering and divinity launched.
1977 The Washington Post sends six journalists on mini-sabbaticals to Duke, initiating the Visiting Media Fellows Program.
1978 The stand-alone master’s degree is created and admits its first five students.
1981 Board of Visitors convenes for first time as part of the Institute’s 10th anniversary celebration. L. Neil Williams serves at its first chairman.
1982 Joel Fleishman becomes director of Duke’s Capital Campaign for Arts and Sciences; Robert Behn becomes director of the Institute.
1985 Terry Sanford resigns from the Duke presidency to focus on his political career.
  Philip Cook becomes Institute director.
  Center for International Development Research established; William Ascher and Malcolm Gillis, co-directors.
1986 Terry Sanford elected to the U.S. Senate.
  Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism created under the direction of Charles Clotfelter.
  PPS major graduates 120 students.
  The Leadership Program is created under the direction of Bruce Payne.
1987 Mid-career master’s program in International Development Policy (PIDP) launched by the Center for International Development Research, with five fellows in the first group.
1989 Decision to build a new building for the Institute announced, with a site across from the law school.
  Bruce Kuniholm becomes Institute director.
1991 Institute renamed the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy.
  Groundbreaking ceremony held for new building.
  The DeWitt Wallace–Reader’s Digest Special Projects Fund endows the center for communications and journalism.
1992 The Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Center for Ethics and Public Policy is established under the direction of Joel Fleishman.
1993 First Master of Public Policy degrees awarded (renamed to reflect the professional nature of the program).
  Terry Sanford returns to Duke as President Emeritus and professor of the Practice of Public Policy Studies.
1994 William Ascher becomes director of the Institute.
  New $13 million building is dedicated and opens in September.
1996 Sanford Institute establishes its first Web site.
1997 Philip Cook becomes Institute director.
1998 Center for Health Policy, Law and Management created under the direction of Frank Sloan.
1999 Center for Child and Family Policy created under the direction of Ken Dodge.
2000 Bruce Jentleson becomes director.
2003 Groundbreaking held for Institute’s second building.
2005 PhD in Public Policy program approved.
  In July Bruce Kuniholm becomes director for second time.
  Second building, Rubenstein Hall, is dedicated and opens in August.
  Provost-appointed task force recommends Institute become a school of public policy.