Duke's Sanford January Memo

Dear Sanford Alumni and Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you were able to enjoy loved ones and treats throughout the holiday season. My own December included conference travel and time with family and friends.

I’m thrilled to start 2026 with some amazing news! We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Joel L. Fleishman Deanship, made possible through the generous support of friends, colleagues, and foundations honoring the legacy of Professor Joel L. Fleishman.

Since Joel’s passing in 2024, he has been deeply missed across the Sanford community. A gifted teacher, institution builder, and national leader in the study of philanthropy, Joel shaped generations of students and helped position Sanford as one of the country’s premier schools of public policy.

Joel built the foundation on which the Sanford school stands today. Naming the deanship in his honor is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary legacy. We are grateful to all who helped make this possible.

Read the Full Blog

Manoj Mohanan

Interim Dean and Creed C. Black Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy

Sanford Alumni and Student Mixer

February 11, 5:30 – 7:00 pm EST

Fleishman Commons, Duke Sanford

Calling all Duke Sanford alumni in the Triangle! Join us for an engaging alumni-student networking reception designed to spark connection, conversation, and community.

We are especially pleased to welcome J.J. Johnson PPS ’88, Chair of the Sanford Board of Visitors, who will share personal and professional insights into the power of building meaningful networks.

This gathering is a great opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, meet current students, and offer your perspective on navigating and succeeding in the policy world. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is co-hosted by Sanford Career Services and the Sanford Development and Alumni Relations Office.

Register and Learn More

Duke Women’s Weekend 2026

February 19-21, Duke Campus

Duke Women’s Weekend returns to campus this February. The event has been reimagined to reflect today’s Duke: vibrant, inclusive, and focused on what matters most. This refreshed experience celebrates the evolving journeys of Duke alumnae and those who support them, with an emphasis on connection, reflection, well-being, and professional growth.

Make plans to attend! Women’s Weekend is open to all. As the schedule unfolds, you will see Sanford Faculty and Alumni as speakers on the agenda.

Register and Learn More

Stay tuned for future registration details! More information about each speaker can be found here. Please email Sanford Events at sanfordevents@duke.edu with any questions.

The Power and Policy of Online Verification with Professor Robyn Caplan

March 18, 6:30 – 8:30 pm EST

New York City, NY

The Sanford School of Public Policy is pleased to announce the establishment of the Joel L. Fleishman Deanship, made possible through the generous support of friends, colleagues, and foundations honoring the legacy of Professor Joel L. Fleishman.

Fleishman, who passed away in 2024, was the founding architect of public policy at Duke. After joining the university in the early 1970s, he created the interdisciplinary model that helped define the modern public policy curriculum nationwide. He later led the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs, the Sanford School’s precursor, and went on to build several of the school’s most influential centers, including the Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Center for Ethics, Public Policy, and the Professions and the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society. A gifted teacher, institution builder, and national leader in the study of philanthropy, Joel shaped generations of students and helped position Sanford as one of the country’s premier schools of public policy.

The new endowed deanship reflects Joel’s extraordinary impact on Duke and the field. The effort began several years ago with a campaign to establish the Joel L. Fleishman Professorship of Public Policy, launched under former Dean Judith Kelley. With the successful completion of fundraising in 2025, the professorship now transitions to an endowed deanship bearing Joel’s name.

Sanford’s next dean—expected to be announced later this academic year—will serve as the inaugural Joel L. Fleishman Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy, ensuring that Joel’s vision, values, and commitment to public purpose remain central to the school’s leadership and mission.

“Joel built the foundation on which Sanford stands today. Naming the deanship in his honor is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary legacy,” said Interim Dean Manoj Mohanan. “We are grateful to all who helped make this possible.”

The Fleishman Deanship will strengthen Sanford’s ability to attract and support exceptional leadership for decades to come, continuing the work Joel began more than fifty years ago to advance ethical, evidence-based public policy in service to society.

Bautista Logioco MIDP'04

Senior Peacebuilding Consultant United Nations

Bautista has spent much of his career working at the intersection of peacebuilding, conflict analysis, and public policy. He currently serves as a senior peacebuilding consultant with the United Nations, advising on conflict prevention and peacebuilding across Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Central Asia. Simultaneously, he has built a career in theater and acting in Argentina, exploring how art can create space for dialogue, reflection, and community.

Each month, we want to share updates from our alumni.

Do you have a new job? Receive a promotion or an award?

Celebrating a wedding, birth, or other milestone?

Thank you to our amazing alumni who recently volunteered!

Abby Zofchak MPP'19 - Adam Ezring MPP'08 - Alan Medina Hernandez MPP'22
Alisha Pinto MPP'16 - Alison Conrad MPP'20 - Amanda Donovan MPP'19
Ariadne Rivera MPP'16 - Ben Donovan MPP'19 - Ben Gibson MPP'08
Ben Marglin MPP'99 - Daniel Jasper MPP'13 - Daniel Raimi MPP'12
Dominique Deshommes MIDP'19 - Felicity Kolp MPP'04 - Gabrielle Lucero MPP'17
Garrett Lankford MPP'22 - Grace Brightbill MPP'23 - Himanshi Jain MPP'17
Imad Alhajj MIDP'24 - Isabel Shapiro MPP'22 - Jamie Attard MPP'13
Jessica Maeda Jeri MIDP'21 - John Papazian MPP'12 - Justin Brown MPP'98
Katie Dukes MPP'21 - Lara Gemar MPP'23 - Larissa Harari MIPD'22
Lauren Milam Acree MPP'14 - Maria Carrasco MPP'01 - Maria Cristina Capelo MPP'07
Maya Escueta MPP'13 - Michelle Burgess MPP'18 - Mike McBrierty MPP'03
Natasha Luther MPP'21 - Neetika Prabhakar MPP'05 - Neil Browning MPP'17
Paelina De Stephano MPP'20 - Patricia Rowan MPP'12 - Patrick Nevins MPP'16
Patrick Sabol MPP'11 - Rachel Leven MPP'13 - Rafael Mazer MPP'09
Rossana Zetina MPP'11 - Rossana Zetina-Yglesias MPP'11 - Ryan Phillips MPP'24
Sachi Takahashi-Rial MPP'15 - Sheldon Johnson MPP'15 - Sonia Sekhar MPP'14
Teale Yalch MPP'15 - Tom Fagan MPP'22 - Waewnet Sukkasem MPP'24
Will Davis MPP'87 - Zach McDade MPP'17

Your participation brings invaluable knowledge and experience to the table for fellow alumni and current students, and we greatly appreciate your efforts. As a Duke alum, your unique experiences and talents have the power to make a difference in the lives of others. Consider lending your support as a volunteer to strengthen the Duke network while giving back. 

Interested in joining a Duke board? Ideal candidates have prior volunteer experience with Duke and typically start at local levels, expanding their involvement over time. Nominating committees carefully review all recommendations.

Duke boards are diverse and individually focused, each with distinct goals. Qualifications for board positions may include specific expertise, volunteer experience, and philanthropic support. Review each board's nomination criteria to learn more.

Nominations for the Duke Alumni Board are due January 16, 2026. Nominations for the Regional Boards and Women’s Forum Steering Committees are due Friday, February 6, 2026.

Learn More and Submit a Nomination