Public Policy Graduate Program Staff
Director of Graduate Studies, Public Policy Programs
Ph.D. (Public Policy), Harvard University, 1988
Fritz is an Associate Professor of Public Policy Studies and Political Science. His research focuses on international trade, globalization and governance, international negotiations, and political analysis.
As the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Fritz is the departmental administrator of the rules and regulations of the Duke Graduate School, the designated advocate of the needs of the graduate program and graduate students both within the department and in the University, and the initial advisor of all matriculating graduate students.
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9209 Email Inquiries: frederick.mayer@duke.edu
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, MPP Program
Chuck is responsible for admissions, recruiting and financial aid for prospective and admitted students for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. He can answer questions about the Master of Public Policy curriculum requirements, admissions procedures, and criteria for merit-based financial aid (tuition fellowships and teaching/research assistantships).
Chuck's duties include: Managing the admissions and recruitment for MPP students; serves as liaison with the Duke Graduate School and other academic agencies; plans and implements the spring admitted student visitation day; meets with prospective students during scheduled visits; makes financial aid decisions and attends various student recruiting events throughout the United States and oversea locations.
Chuck joined Duke University in 1996. Prior to Duke, Chuck worked with the Department of Defense for several years in positions of increased responsibility where he was known to parachute from military aircraft during numerous missions while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army.
"The Terry Sanford Institute is a great place to work and study. I enjoy all facets of working with our MPPs, from recruitment to campus visits and inquiries about our program. Providing support to Duke's MPP students will always be my #1 priority."
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9205 Email Inquiries: MPPadmit@duke.edu
Senior Program Coordinator, MPP Program
Helene works with current students and the Director of Graduate Studies in support of the Master of Public Policy Program
From matriculation through graduation, Helene interacts with current MPP students to provide support services. She coordinates orientation and graduation events, serves as a liaison between the MPP Program and the Graduate School, Bursar, and Registrar, and provides course and academic career advice to students. Helene represents student needs to the DGS, graduate faculty, Institute administration, and University officials. Students are encouraged to view the Program Coordinator's office as a gateway to addressing their concerns.
Prior to relocating to the Triangle in 2001, Helene taught middle and high school English at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, DE. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education/Communications from Temple University in 1991. Before joining the MPP Program, Helene worked in Duke University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program. Providing support to MPP candidates continues Helene’s commitment to enhancing students’ learning experiences.
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9207 Email Inquiries: helene.mcadams@duke.edu
Senior Program Coordinator, PhD in Public Policy Program and Program on Global Policy and Governance
Joy manages the Public Policy PhD Program and the Program on Global Policy and Governance (Geneva) Program. For the PhD Program, she works closely with the Director of Graduate Studies Fritz Mayer in supporting current doctoral students, as well as in recruiting prospective students, overseeing admissions, and coordinating program administration. She collaborates with International Internship Advisor Elizabeth Gill in running the Geneva Program, ensuring the provision of Geneva summer services and the program's intensive courses to 50+ graduate students from around the world.
Joy joined Duke University as an employee in 2006; however, she gained familiarity with the university starting in 2005 as a student in the Master of Arts of Liberal Studies (MALS) program. Her appreciation of Duke and the MALS program inspires her efforts to create a superlative educational experience for MPP and PhDPP students. Prior to her employment at Duke, Joy worked with online education, providing online courses to North Carolina students and teachers at LEARN NC, and providing online ESL instruction to global professionals at Englishtown. She especially enjoyed planning performance tours through Europe for high school and college choirs and orchestras at EF Educational Tours. Joy earned a BA in Mathematics and History from Dartmouth College. She is originally from Connecticut and has lived in New Hampshire, London, Massachusetts and Oregon; she moved to North Carolina in 2003.
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9204 Email Inquiries: PPPhD@duke.edu
Admissions and Marketing Associate, MPP Program
Kris is responsible to enhance MPP student recruiting and admissions capacity with the Director of Admissions. He also provides marketing initiatives for the MPP program through coordination with the Director of Graduate Studies and Director of Communications.
Kris started at Duke in 2003 working with the Duke Graduate School where he was responsible for graduate program admissions administration and recruiting outreach. Before joining Duke, Kris managed marketing and sales for a private job search firm.
Kris is a graduate of The City College of New York - CUNY (Political Science) and a Robert McNair Research Fellow.
Admissions and Prospective Student Inquiries: 919.613.9205 or via email: MPPadmit@duke.edu
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9244 Email Inquiries: kristofer.riddle@duke.edu
Program Assistant, MPP Program, PhD in Public Policy Program and Program on Global Policy and Governance
Sarah performs technical and administrative duties in support of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program, Public Policy PhD Program, and Global Policy and Governance Program (Geneva Program). She works directly with the Senior Program Coordinators of both graduate programs. She also provides administrative support as needed for the Director of Graduate Studies and Professors of the Practice for the MPP program.
Sarah has been working at the Sanford Institute since 2005. She holds a Bachelors Degree in history from California State University, Fresno and is currently working on her Master’s in Public History at NC State University.
Phone Inquiries: 919.613.9204 Email Inquiries: sarah.danielson@duke.edu
