Philip J. Cook and Marc Jeuland

Gun violence is more than a public safety crisis—it’s a financial burden on society. In their study, Philip J. Cook and Marc Jeuland highlight that firearm-related injuries cost the U.S. an estimated $97.6 billion annually, factoring in medical expenses, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life. Their findings underscore that reducing gun violence could yield significant economic and social returns. The study demonstrates how investments in prevention, including community violence interruption programs and stricter firearm regulations, can lead to fewer injuries, lower healthcare costs, and improved public safety—presenting a compelling economic case for action.

(Photo: John Guccione via Pexels)

Justin Sherman

What can the U.S. learn from decades of privacy design to tackle cybersecurity threats? Justin Sherman’s groundbreaking paper draws on global examples to connect “privacy by design” with “security by design.” Highlighting the National Cybersecurity Strategy’s objectives, he identifies six actionable lessons for building resilient systems. For instance, Sherman emphasizes the success of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in integrating privacy and security principles into system architecture. By adopting similar approaches, he argues, the U.S. can strengthen its cybersecurity frameworks while protecting individual trust and privacy in an era of increasing digital threats.

(Photo: MS Image Generator)

Ian Hitchcock (Sanford Master of Public Policy Student)

Wyoming’s coal communities are at the crossroads of change, and federal initiatives are playing a critical role in easing the transition. Co-authored by Ian Hitchcock, MPP ’24, a new report from Resources for the Future examines the impact of federal efforts to provide support to “energy communities” like Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. It finds that there is a fundamental lack of capacity among local and state officials to access the considerable array of federal resources made available through recent legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, the work of the federal Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (the “Energy Communities IWG”) - which emphasizes relationship building in communities, strengthening local governance capacity, and flexibility in program design – shows how placed based policymaking and support can create a sustainable path forward for coal communities navigating the clean energy transition.

(Photo: David Brossard via Flickr)

Abdullah Antepli and Manoj Mohanan

It’s no secret that Americans’ ability to engage in meaningful conversations across political, cultural, and ideological divides feels more strained than ever. In this episode, we discuss how to bring people together. Two words: civil discourse. Sanford professor Abdullah Antepli is a nationally recognized expert in civil discourse. Recently, he’s been teaching a course on the topic and creating public forums for dialogue between people with opposing views. Antepli leads Polis, Duke’s Center for Politics. He talks with Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke.

(Photo: Sanford School of Public Policy

2024 was a prolific year for Sanford faculty and staff, with books covering the gamut of Sanford's key themes. Read more about recent books published by members of the Sanford community here.

This December, Sanford and Polis hosted a two-part conversation with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in Duke’s Washington, DC office. Sanford Professor Kate Bundorf and Interim Dean Manoj Mohanan joined both senators to discuss the potential for bipartisan legislation focused on health care policy. Read a summary of the event here. 

The director of the Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research, Whetten, and team are turning around health disparities and inequities – locally and globally. Whetten has served as a driving force in the creation of the Duke Global Health Institute and its original educational programs and moved numerous Duke University diversity, equity, and inclusion committees forward. Read more about Whetten's Trailblazer highlight here. 

For the 12th consecutive year, two scholars from Sanford have been named among the most influential education policy experts in the nation. Professors Helen “Sunny” Ladd and Charles Clotfelter were recognized in the 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, which highlight academics who contribute meaningfully to public discussions of education policy. Read more about their work here. 

Sanford congratulates William A. “Sandy” Darity Jr., Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics, on receiving the inaugural William Spriggs Memorial Award at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Annual Fall Research Conference in November 2024. Read more about the newly created award here. 

Copyright © 2024 SSPPDuke, All rights reserved. 
You are receiving this because you are a member of the Sanford School Community or have signed up to receive it.

Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy
201 Science Drive
Durham, NC 27708 United States
919-613-7401

We respect your privacy, click here to view Duke University's privacy policy statement.