Director’s Welcome

Duke University’s Sanford Institute of Public Policy is a vibrant community whose members are engaged in understanding and seeking solutions to local, national, and global policy issues and teaching students how to do the same.

Since its founding in 1971, the Institute has prepared undergraduates and graduates for leadership roles in government, business, and the nonprofit sector. We’ve fostered in them a sense that in the realm of public decision-making, good intentions and common sense are not enough – critical thinking processes and practical analytical skills are also vital.

The Institute is named for its founder, the late North Carolina governor, United States senator and Duke President Terry Sanford. An energetic, visionary leader, Sanford saw the need for a strong interdisciplinary program that was committed to public service and bridged the gap between the academic and “real” worlds. Sanford challenged faculty and students alike to set “outrageous ambitions” and work diligently to achieve them. These principles continue to guide and inspire the Sanford Institute community today.

At the Sanford Institute you’ll find peers and mentors who will challenge you to make the most of your own potential and to use your ingenuity and leadership to influence the world.

The Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy invites you to join us, and realize your own “outrageous ambitions.”

Bruce Kuniholm
Director, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy
Professor of Public Policy Studies and History