Press "Enter" to skip to content

Humans of Duke Sanford

Stories from the people who make up the community at the Sanford School at Duke University.

@duke_sanford | @dukeuniversity | #HumansofDukeSanford

Tell us about your passion project or your roommate's groundbreaking research. Point us to the professor who has supported you from the start. We're collecting Sanford stories on our HumansofDukeSanford Instagram - DM us with your story ideas! Read more
This month was like, a really, really terrible month to be honest, for me. It’s not that I have a lot to do, but because in my home country it was a terrible month. In the end of the September, there was a war in Armenia that started. It was Read more
This month was like, a really, really terrible month to be honest, for me. It’s not that I have a lot to do, but because in my home country it was a terrible month. In the end of the September, there was a war in Armenia that started. It was Read more
I crossed the border when I was three years old - involuntarily and unconsciously. I am undocumented, illegal, an alien. Yet, I have been made American in the fullest sense. I pledged allegiance to the US flag from kindergarten to my senior year in high school - more than a decade Read more
I crossed the border when I was three years old - involuntarily and unconsciously. I am undocumented, illegal, an alien. Yet, I have been made American in the fullest sense. I pledged allegiance to the US flag from kindergarten to my senior year in high school - more than a decade Read more
Myra: We worked at the same company in #Boston helping homeowners go solar. Raffi: I was there first and when Myra came to interview, I said, “Wow I really like that interviewee…” (laughter) After the two-week training period, we were walking to the train station after dark, about to go Read more
Myra: We worked at the same company in #Boston helping homeowners go solar. Raffi: I was there first and when Myra came to interview, I said, “Wow I really like that interviewee…” (laughter) After the two-week training period, we were walking to the train station after dark, about to go Read more
My friends called me up saying, “Hey, would you be interested in making a platform for students like me, who are really passionate about social justice and politics, but don't actually know what they're voting for how to how to make a difference?” I was like, “That sounds like a Read more
My friends called me up saying, “Hey, would you be interested in making a platform for students like me, who are really passionate about social justice and politics, but don't actually know what they're voting for how to how to make a difference?” I was like, “That sounds like a Read more
The moment I sat in on my first public policy class, it was clear to me, that public policy all along was what I was interested in; the ability to improve people’s lives through a multitude of avenues. I knew that was what I was interested in, but I didn’t Read more
The moment I sat in on my first public policy class, it was clear to me, that public policy all along was what I was interested in; the ability to improve people’s lives through a multitude of avenues. I knew that was what I was interested in, but I didn’t Read more
I’m a lawyer and [before the pandemic] I was preparing myself for the Lawyer’s Soccer World Cup. I am on Mexico’s national lawyers’ team (I play right wing), and was set to represent at the World Cup in Marrakesh. Teams of lawyers come from all over - Brazil, EU, Argentina. Read more
I’m a lawyer and [before the pandemic] I was preparing myself for the Lawyer’s Soccer World Cup. I am on Mexico’s national lawyers’ team (I play right wing), and was set to represent at the World Cup in Marrakesh. Teams of lawyers come from all over - Brazil, EU, Argentina. Read more
I have really enjoyed North Carolina. I’m from the Midwest, I went to college in the Midwest. North Carolina is “Midwest-nice.” I adore it. I like the smiling people at the store - people wave at you when you’re walking by.  Everyone is kind. Before the program, the MPP students Read more
I have really enjoyed North Carolina. I’m from the Midwest, I went to college in the Midwest. North Carolina is “Midwest-nice.” I adore it. I like the smiling people at the store - people wave at you when you’re walking by.  Everyone is kind. Before the program, the MPP students Read more
I’m from NC, born and raised. I graduated from NC Central and after graduation I interned at Institute for Southern Studies in Durham. It’s a progressive organization, focused on the South. In my research I would look at issues like voter suppression, cash bail, and injustice in criminal justice. I Read more
I’m from NC, born and raised. I graduated from NC Central and after graduation I interned at Institute for Southern Studies in Durham. It’s a progressive organization, focused on the South. In my research I would look at issues like voter suppression, cash bail, and injustice in criminal justice. I Read more
Meet Jonathan Liu, a 1st-year MPP student! “I decided to come to Sanford because of its small cohort size compared to other programs. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve been able to meet a majority of my cohort. Even though classes have mostly been online, there’s already a sense of Read more
Meet Jonathan Liu, a 1st-year MPP student! “I decided to come to Sanford because of its small cohort size compared to other programs. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve been able to meet a majority of my cohort. Even though classes have mostly been online, there’s already a sense of Read more
Meet Hayley Thompson, a 1st-year MPP student at Sanford! “Sanford was always one of my top choices throughout my graduate program search. Between small class sizes and a strong social policy program, Sanford was the whole package. Plus, Durham seemed like a wonderful place to live! Since getting here, I’ve Read more