Student Organizations

Duke MPP students participate in and have developed a variety of student-led organizations. These organizations give them an opportunity to become involved with topics in which they have an existing interest or to learn about something completely novel. Working within these organizations allows students the chance to share specialized knowledge and talents with a like-minded community. Often, students also are able to cultivate professional contacts and gain real-world experience. We encourage you to contact any group that interests you.

Sanford Student Representative Council
The Sanford Student Representative Council is responsible for bringing any concerns, questions and recommendations regarding the MPP program (e.g., curriculum, faculty, facilities, etc.), to the administration. It facilitates student involvement in Institute planning, in partnership with the Director of Graduate Studies and MPP Program Coordinator. The SRC also coordinates prospective student visits.

2007-08 Representatives: Grace Stephens, Emily Loney, Paul Esformes, Lindsey Kurnath, Lucy Melcher and Rebecca Rose.

Academic Committee
The Academic Committee serves as a forum for student concerns regarding topics such as: requirements for academic concentrations (global, social, health), course offerings and electives, teaching assistant and research assistant assignments, core curriculum needs, Master’s Projects and faculty and student interaction and advising.

2007-08 Academic Committee Contacts: Edwin McLenaghan, Mark Reichhardt

MPP Student Social Committee
The MPP Social Committee coordinates MPP social gatherings, such as a pizza party in September, a formal holiday party and other social events. The committee also coordinates other events that bring the MPP and PIDP students, faculty and staff together.

2007-08 Social Committee Contact: Melissa LaVigne

Living Policy Forum (LPF)
LPF is a graduate student organization affiliated with the Sanford Institute’s Program on Cross-Sectoral Public Policy. Its goal is to create a forum for discussion and learning about development and delivery of innovative public policy. The group is particularly interested in policy initiatives that cross traditional sector boundaries between the nonprofit, business, community and public sectors. LPF also wants to facilitate opportunities to learn from practitioners about public policy delivery in our local community. LPF does all this by inviting speakers to the Institute, making site visits to Durham organizations and by arranging roundtable discussions with policy faculty.

2007-88 LPF Contact: Edwin McLenaghan

Graduate Professional Student Council (GPSC)
The Graduate and Professional Student Council of Duke University (GPSC – pronounced “gypsy”) is the umbrella student government organization for Duke’s seven graduate and professional schools.

2007-08 GPSC Representatives: Dan Kight, Rebecca Rose

Black Graduate and Professional Student Association
The BGPSA’s mission is to enhance the Duke experience for its members through community service, social events and academically-based programming; to contribute to the community; and to assist in the development of minority leadership.

Sanford Institute Internship Fund Committee
The student-run Internship Fund at the Sanford Institute supports MPP students who take low-paying or unpaid summer internships. In addition to soliciting individual donations from the faculty and others connected to Sanford, first year MPPs engage in various fundraising efforts throughout the year. Fundraisers include the annual Silent Auction & Wine Tasting, concerts and merchandising.

Duke Microfinance Club
The Duke Microfinance Club (DMC) is housed at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy and is affiliated with The Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, the Fuqua School of Business’ Social Impact Club (SIC) and the Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship(CASE) at Fuqua. The DMC connects students across the university who are interested in the power of microfinance to help alleviate global poverty and empower the poor.

The mission of the Duke Microfinance Club is to stimulate healthy debate about microfinance through a network of interested students, faculty, alumni and others within the Duke community. Members also want to raise awareness about microfinance by organizing a speaker series of microfinance leaders, providing opportunities for Duke students to conduct research in microfinance, participating in microfinance conferences and taking part in joint projects with other leading universities and microfinance institutions. They connect members with internship and job opportunities within the industry and give students knowledge and skills that will enable them to serve as future leaders in microfinance.

2007-08 Microfinance Club Representative: Valentina Nikolova

Graduate and Professional Women's Network (GPWN)
The Graduate and Professional Women’s Network has been providing Duke’s graduate and professional women students with personal and professional networking opportunities since 1994. The group’s goals include fostering networking opportunities across departments and schools; sponsoring programs that will teach graduate and professional school women skills that will help them succeed in their careers; providing a forum for discussion of campus and community issues; and advocating on behalf of graduate and professional school women students to the Duke administration.