Ian Hitchcock and Merritt Cahoon

Hyperscaler data centers are rapidly expanding to meet demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital services, creating sustainability challenges. The scope of data center-driven electric load growth and impacts on electric rates is uncertain. Water use for cooling is another challenge, particularly in water-scarce regions. At the same time, tech companies have ambitious sustainability goals and are investing in next-generation clean energy technologies such as advanced nuclear and geothermal power. By prioritizing energy and water availability in their siting, increasing the transparency and efficiency of their operations, and continuing to invest in renewable energy, hyperscalers could help to accelerate sustainability solutions rather than being an impediment to a sustainable future.

Zavera K. Basrai, Caroline Y. Yoon, and Nathan A. Boucher

Community Health Workers (CHWs) have long been trusted guides in American Indian communities, bridging cultural gaps and expanding access to care. A new article co-authored by Sanford’s Nathan Boucher with Sanford students Zavera Basrai and Caroline Yoon highlights how CHWs can strengthen home and community-based services by offering culturally grounded support, health education, and chronic disease management. Despite proven benefits, CHWs face barriers such as limited funding, lack of professional recognition, and inconsistent credentialing. The authors argue that formal certification, training, and reimbursement policies are critical to fully integrate CHWs into the healthcare system. Their findings suggest that investing in this workforce can improve community wellness and reduce health disparities for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

David Schanzer

What can games teach us about national security? A new report co-authored by Sanford’s David Schanzer evaluates the educational value of simulations and war games for training the homeland security workforce. Using a homeland security focused game called Acceleration, Schanzer and colleagues studied three classroom iterations involving 66 Duke students. Participants took on roles of government and non-state actors, submitted moves, negotiated strategies, and adapted to shifting global dynamics. The findings point to clear benefits of game-based learning, including stronger problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability. The report offers a replicable model for assessing simulations, providing policymakers and educators with new evidence that experiential learning can play a vital role in preparing homeland security professionals for complex, real-world challenges.

Jonathan Zhang

Pulse oximeters are used daily in hospitals and clinics to measure blood oxygen levels, but they do not work equally well for everyone. A new working paper co-authored by Sanford’s Jonathan Zhang examines how this technology, which tends to overestimate oxygen levels in darker-skinned patients, contributes to disparities in care. Using data from 3.5 million emergency department visits in the Veterans Health Administration between 2014 and 2018, the study finds that Black patients received systematically lower rates of follow-up care than white patients with the same pulse oximeter readings. The results show how bias embedded in medical technology can ripple through downstream decisions, deepening inequities in health outcomes. The authors call for greater representation in device development and more scrutiny of how technology design affects patient care.

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program at Sanford recently announced a new Technology Policy concentration, designed to help experienced policy leaders navigate the rapidly evolving intersection of technology, governance, and the public good. Read more about this concentration.

Sanford has named Stephen Buckley, Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, as the interim director of Polis: Center for Politics.

Buckley succeeds Abdullah Antepli, who was recently named President of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, a globally recognized center for art, spirituality, and social justice. Antepli had led Polis since 2024, guiding the center through a period of growth and renewed focus on civil discourse. Read more about Polis in 2025. 

General Charles Q. Brown Jr., formerly the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, will join Duke University for a two-year appointment as executive-in-residence, Provost Alec D. Gallimore announced.

As the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2023 to 2025, Brown was the principal military advisor to the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense and National Security Council. At Duke, Brown will have a joint appointment in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Pratt School of Engineering. He will co-teach a course linked to Duke’s Program in American Grand Strategy, an interdisciplinary program that helps to prepare students for careers in U.S. foreign policy and national security. Read more about Brown's role. 

Michael S. Regan, who recently served as the 16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is joining Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy as a Polis Distinguished Fellow for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year. Regan will also be actively involved with the Civil Discourse Project (CDP) at Duke. Read more about Regan's role at Sanford. 

Danny Werfel, who recently served as the 50th Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is a Sanford Master of Public Policy alum (MPP'97), is returning to Duke as a Polis Distinguished Fellow for the upcoming academic year. Werfel will also be actively involved with Duke's Civil Discourse Project (CDP). Read more about Werfel's return to Sanford. 

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