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2026 Sanford Graduation Ceremony · Acedra
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2026 Sanford Graduation Ceremony
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11:29
WELCOME TO THE 2026 CELEBRATION FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY! [APPLAUSE] MY NAME IS MANOJ MOHANAN, INTERIM DEAN FOR THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATES AND WE WELCOME FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES! A FEW GENTLE REMINDERS BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR CELEBRATION: IF YOU ARE CARRYING A CELL PHONE WITH YOU, PLEASE TURN THE RINGER OFF. ONCE YOUR RINGER IS OFF, WE INVITE YOU TO USE YOUR PHONE TO JOIN THE CELEBRATION ON SOCIAL
12:05
MEDIA USING THE HASHTAG SANFORD2026. TODAY, SANFORD CELEBRATES ALMOST 400 GRADUATES FROM OUR UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR, MASTER'S AND PHD PROGRAMS IN A UNIFIED CEREMONY. WE ARE THE ONLY DUKE SCHOOL THAT OFFERS SUCH A CEREMONY FOR ALL OUR GRADUATES AND FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT HOW IT REPRESENTS OUR INTERTWINED SANFORD COMMUNITY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS STUDENTS, AND WE WELCOME YOU INTO A STRONG AND SUCCESSFUL NETWORK OF MORE THAN 10,000 ALUMNI IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES.
12:41
WE ALSO CONGRATULATE YOUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES HERE AND WATCHING ONLINE WHO HAVE OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT YOUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY TO HELP YOU ARRIVE AT THIS EXCITING POINT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR GRADUATES. [APPLAUSE] FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE OUR FACULTY AND STAFF - MANY HERE TODAY - WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, LET'S START THE CELEBRATION.
13:23
IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S GRADUATION SPEAKER, CHAD SARCHIO. CHAD CURRENTLY SERVES AS ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR MISSION AND INTERNATIONAL LAW AT THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. HE HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS A PUBLIC SERVANT - HE SPENT MORE THAN SEVENTEEN YEARS WITH THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION IN A VARIETY OF ROLES, INCLUDING AS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR TWO ADMINISTRATORS AND AS ASSOCIATE CHIEF COUNSEL FOR INTERNATIONAL & INTELLIGENCE LAW.
14:00
I ALSO ASKED WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A TRUE DEA AGENT AND ASK LATER. HE IS ALSO A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. MR. SARCHIO SPENT THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF HIS CAREER AS AN ACTIVE-DUTY ARMY JAG AND LATER RETIRED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL FROM THE RESERVES WITH 24 YEARS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING AS A MILITARY JUDGE. HE EARNED A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FROM THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE IN 2019. CHAD IS A SANFORD ALUM,
14:29
GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY IN 1992. HE EARNED HIS JD FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN 1995 AND HAS TAUGHT AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT GW LAW FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS WHILE ALSO SERVING AS THE 50TH PRESIDENT OF THE DC BAR. HE HAS SERVED ON THE SANFORD BOARD OF VISITORS SINCE 2021 AND IS ALSO THE PROUD PARENT OF A RECENT DUKE GRADUATE - HIS SON RECEIVED HIS BACHELORS IN ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FROM TRINITY IN 2025 AND WILL EARN A MASTER OF
15:01
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FROM THE NICHOLAS SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING A TRUE LEADER AND A DEDICATED FRIEND OF SANFORD, CHAD SARCHIO! [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION, MANOJ, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THAT WAS BETTER ON THE SECOND TRY, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT I THINK, THIS INSISTENCE ON A PROPER, ENTHUSIASTIC GREETING BY A SPEAKER TO AN AUDIENCE IS A TIME-WORN TRADITION IN MILITARY CIRCLES. I THINK IT'S MEANT TO PROMOTE A
15:42
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AND ENGAGEMENT, BUT THEN AGAIN PERHAPS IT'S SHOOTING FOR A LOWER BAR: SIMPLE CONSCIOUSNESS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CELEBRATIONS WERE LIKE LAST NIGHT BUT I THINK WE GOT THAT. WARM WELCOME TO ALL GRADUATES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL'S CLASS OF 2026. BECAUSE I AM A FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT, AND AN ATTORNEY AT THAT, I'M OBLIGED TO NOTE AT THE START THAT THESE REMARKS ARE MY OWN. THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE
16:10
OFFICIAL VIEWS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MY AGENCY, OR ANYONE ELSE. [APPLAUSE] I MUST TELL YOU THAT WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SERVE AS YOUR SPEAKER, I WAS HIT BY A FLOOD OF EMOTIONS. SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMING, ACTUALLY. FIRST, I FELT A WAVE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEND THESE SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS, IN THIS TIMELESS, NEARLY SACRED, BUILDING RIGHT? HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO BE CELEBRATING HERE ON THE FLOOR OF CAMERON? INDOOR STADIUM RIGHT NOW. [APPLAUSE]
16:44
NEXT, I ADMIT TO SOME FEELINGS OF PRIDE, PRIDE THAT OUR ALMA MATER THOUGHT I'D DONE ENOUGH RIGHT IN MY LIFE TO BE THE PERSON ADDRESSING YOU ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY. I DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY. THEN CAME A RUSH OF ABJECT TERROR. WHAT MESSAGE DO I HAVE WORTH SHARING, WORTH YOUR TIME TO LISTEN, EVEN IF ONLY WITH ONE EAR OR THROUGH A BRISTLING HANGOVER? AFTER WALLOWING IN THAT FOR A BIT, I SETTLED INTO A CALM DETERMINATION THAT CAME WITH A SIMPLE REALIZATION: I AM WHO I
17:11
AM, AND I CAN ONLY TALK ABOUT WHAT I KNOW. ACCORDINGLY, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO OFFER YOU IS NOT SO MUCH A COMMENCEMENT SPEECH BUT A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE, IN LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOR WHICH YOUR PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE (OF WHATEVER STRIPE) HAS PREPARED YOU PERFECTLY. AMONG THE MANY PRIVILEGES DUKE HAS AFFORDED ME, A POSITION ON THE SANFORD SCHOOL'S BOARD OF VISITORS IS PARTICULARLY CHERISHED.
17:38
IT ALLOWS ME TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR AMAZING UNIVERSITY AND ITS STUNNING CAMPUS, TO VISIT MY SON, T'25 AND NICHOLAS '27, WHO IS HERE TODAY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO WHAT SANFORD AND ITS STELLAR STUDENTS AND FACULTY HAVE DONE, ARE DOING, WILL DO TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, ONE POLICY MEMO AT A TIME. I REALLY DON'T MEAN THAT TO SOUND GLIB. I SINCERELY BELIEVE, FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT THIS IS SANFORD'S AND PUBLIC POLICY'S ANIMATING VISION: TO MAKE OUR
18:10
COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE, ONE ISSUE AT A TIME. I SIT ON THAT BOARD WITH SOME OUTSTANDING, INCREDIBLY ACCOMPLISHED PEOPLE. IT IS HUMBLING. THEY ARE TITANS OF INDUSTRY AND INNOVATORS AND INVESTORS AND MORE. BUT WHAT THEY GENERALLY ARE NOT, IS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. I'M NOT TAKING A CHEAP SHOT AT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. THEY WILL NOTE CORRECTLY THAT ONE NEED NOT WORK IN GOVERNMENT TO DO MEANINGFUL POLICY WORK. INSTEAD, I SIMPLY MEAN TO SPEAK IN DEFENSE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE
18:41
AND THAT DREADED B WORD, BUREAUCRATS. I URGENTLY WANT YOU TO CONSIDER COMMITTING YOUR TALENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE, IF NOT FOR AN ENTIRE CAREER THEN AT LEAST AT SOME POINT IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES. THERE ARE MYRIAD REASONS, BOTH SELFLESS AND SELFISH, TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT. LET ME OFFER THREE. FOR ONE, TEAMWORK. IF YOU VALUE TEAMMATES AND BELIEVE THAT MOST GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IS THE PRODUCT OF TEAMWORK, THEN GOVERNMENT SERVICE IS FOR YOU. LIKE WITH A BASEBALL TEAM,
19:08
GOVERNMENT WORK LENDS ITSELF BOTH TO INDIVIDUAL EFFORT (THE BATTER) AND SHARED ENTERPRISE (THE FIELDERS). I'VE SERVED ON EFFECTIVE TEAMS THAT ACHIEVED IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS ON MATTERS LARGE AND SMALL. ONE CREATED AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITY THAT ENSURED MILITARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS WOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO REPRESENT SOLDIERS ZEALOUSLY WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION FROM COMMANDERS WHO HAD VESTED INTERESTS IN THOSE SOLDIERS' CONVICTIONS. ANOTHER IMPLEMENTED DECISIONS
19:34
AND PROCEDURAL REFORMS THAT FACILITATED ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ADDICTION. THESE TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE REQUIRED GRUELING HOURS AND SEEMINGLY HERCULEAN INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS, BUT WITHOUT THE COMPOUNDING INTEREST EFFECT OF TEAMWORK, NONE OF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. AND I COULDN'T HAVE ANTICIPATED ANY OF IT, PROVING THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PASSIONS AND INTERESTS ARE, THERE EITHER IS A TEAM OF BUREAUCRATS WORKING IT
20:01
DILIGENTLY RIGHT NOW AND READY FOR YOU TO JOIN, OR THERE'S A BLANK SPOT ON AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO BUILD IT. I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT YOU WILL NEVER REGRET JOINING A GOVERNMENT TEAM OF YOUR CHOOSING. SECOND, MISSION. ANOTHER GOOD REASON FOR YOU TO DEDICATE TIME AND TALENTS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICE IS THE SATISFACTION YOU DRAW FROM HAVING A MISSION. THAT'S NOT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. MISSION EQUALS PURPOSE, AND PURPOSE IS WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE
20:30
FORWARD POSITIVELY. PUBLIC SERVANTS AT ALL LEVELS DON'T ASK THEMSELVES WHAT OPTION WILL EARN THE MOST MONEY. INSTEAD THEY: · IDENTIFY A CHALLENGE OR OPPORTUNITY, · ASSESS THE GOVERNING LAWS, POLICIES, OR OTHER RULES, · CRAFT ALTERNATIVES DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND · CHART PRACTICAL WAYS AHEAD. THAT KIND OF MISSION-DRIVEN PURPOSE CAN OFFER A MEASURE OF CLARITY IN A COMPLEX, CONFOUNDING WORLD. MISSION BECOMES A NORTH STAR
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THAT HELPS YOU STEER CLEAR OF UNNECESSARY DISTRACTIONS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO DISCERN SIGNAL FROM NOISE. IT HELPS KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. MONEY AND POWER CAN OVERCOMPLICATE THINGS QUICKLY. MISSION SIMPLIFIES HELPFULLY. I KNOW MANY CORPORATIONS HAVE MISSION STATEMENTS, AND PLENTY TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY IN ORDER TO DO WELL WHILE DOING GOOD. BUT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND CIVIL SERVANTS MAJOR IN MISSION. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT FROM DAY ONE, AND EVERY DAY THEREAFTER.
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IN MY CAREER, WHETHER I WAS SEEKING A MEASURE OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, REPRESENTING SOLDIERS IN TIMES OF NEED, HELPING TO KEEP THE PEACE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, OR INFORMING POLICY MAKERS WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE, I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE OBJECTIVE, HAD CONFIDENCE THAT MY TEAMMATES AND I WERE PURSUING A GREATER GOOD, AND KNEW HOW OUR EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED TO MISSION SUCCESS. LOOK, WE ALL LIVE IN THE WORLD, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF
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YOU WILL HAVE STUDENT LOANS OR OTHER DEBTS AND NEEDS THAT MAY MAKE GOVERNMENT SALARIES SEEM INADEQUATE. STILL, CHOOSING TO WORK IN A MISSION- DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT ALIGNED WITH YOUR PRIORITIES AND INTERESTS IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO GIVE YOURSELVES THAT GIFT AT SOME POINT IN YOUR CAREERS. MY THIRD AND FINAL ARGUMENT IN DEFENSE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IS SIMPLE: NOW. HERE'S WHAT I MEAN. I SUSPECT THAT AT SOME POINT IN NEARLY EVERY COMMENCEMENT
22:21
ADDRESS THE SPEAKER COMMENTS ON HOW LUCKY THE GRADUATES ARE TO HAVE COME THROUGH THEIR LAST FOUR YEARS SUCCESSFULLY, WHAT A PRIVILEGE THEY HAVE AS THEY GO OUT TO FACE THE WORLD WITH THEIR DEGREES IN HAND AND THEIR EDUCATIONS IN MIND, AND HOW THE WORLD NEEDS THEM TO USE THEIR TALENTS FOR GOOD. NOW, MORE THAN EVER. I THINK SO MANY OF US SAY THIS BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS TRUE. THERE ARE ALWAYS CRISES, ADVERSARIES, OR UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS REARING THEIR UGLY HEADS, AND SO EXCELLENT
22:46
BUREAUCRATS ARE NEEDED TO RIGHT WRONGS, ACHIEVE EFFICIENCIES, AND MAKE PROGRESS. AND OF COURSE, THE PERILS AND THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW ALWAYS BELONG TO THE NEXT GENERATION. TODAY, NOW, THAT OFFICIALLY MEANS YOU. BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT A GENERATIONAL COP OUT. WE ADULTS IN THE ROOM HAVE SEEN OUR SHARE OF FAILURES AND TRIUMPHS. WHATEVER YOU THINK OF THE SOCIETY YOU'RE INHERITING, ALL THAT MATTERS NOW IS THAT YOU RISE TO MEET CURRENT CHALLENGES AND SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DAY.
23:18
AND I DO MEAN YOU, SPECIFICALLY, THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. YOU, WHO HAVE IN YOUR TOOLKIT ALL THAT SANFORD THREW AT YOU: ITS READINGS AND MODELS AND INTERNSHIPS AND PAPERS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RIGOR. YOUR PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATION IS A A SKELETON KEY THAT CAN UNLOCK ALL KINDS OF DOORS AND ENDEAVORS, FROM ACADEMIA TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE I'VE LAUDED. BE PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND KNOW THAT YOUR WISDOM TO STUDY PUBLIC POLICY WILL SERVE YOU WELL.
23:49
AND LET ME ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY THE ARTIFICIAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: AI MAY BE COMING FOR OUR JOBS, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS ISSUE IN THIS TIME NEEDS WELL-ROUNDED CRITICAL THINKERS LIKE YOU, ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TO SEE THROUGH AND AROUND THE GOVERNANCE, ETHICS, LIABILITY, POLICY, LEGAL, AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS THAT ALL THIS SO-CALLED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THROWING AT US. ANYWAY, THAT'S MY PLEA AND MY PLUG FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. STILL, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS,
24:17
AFTER ALL, A COMMENCEMENT, MARKING NOT JUST THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR TIME AT DUKE BUT ALSO THE START OF, WELL, EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. SO, COMMENCING WITH THAT DESERVES A STAB AT SOME GOOD ADVICE. AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT COUNSEL I MIGHT OFFER, I CAME ACROSS A LINKEDIN POST INVOLVING ARCHITECTURAL ART AND TWO KEY PHYSICS PRINCIPLES: FLUID FILM LEVITATION AND CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUS STUFF TO WHICH MOST PEOPLE AND CERTAINLY ALL
24:46
PUBLIC POLICY GRADS CAN RELATE. BEAR WITH ME. I THINK THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESSURE AND MOMENTUM ARE PARTICULARLY APT AS YOU BEGIN TO MAKE YOUR WAY IN THE WORLD. PERHAPS ESPECIALLY SO IF YOU HEED MY CALL TO PUBLIC SERVICE. FIRST, PRESSURE, WHICH TAKES MANY FORMS. EACH OF YOU SURELY HAVE FELT IT IN YOUR LIVES. TO PERFORM. TO STAND OUT. TO ACHIEVE. TO REPRESENT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WELL. TO STACK ONE STONE ON TOP OF THE NEXT AS YOU BUILD A RESUMÉ, A FOUNDATION, A REPUTATION, A
25:17
NETWORK, MAYBE THE ROOTS OF A CAREER. THAT KIND OF PRESSURE IS OFTEN EXTERNAL; IT'S DIRECTED AT YOU. IT IS A FORCE THAT WORKS UPON YOU. BUT THERE IS A MORE PRODUCTIVE KIND OF PRESSURE. IT IS THE KIND THAT YOU GENERATE, THAT YOU APPLY TO THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AND THE PROBLEMS YOU UNDERTAKE TO RESOLVE. IT IS PRESSURE BORNE OF YOUR INTELLECT CURIOSITY PASSION AND DRIVE. YOU CHIP AWAY AT ROADBLOCKS. YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT HURDLES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM.
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YOU CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THE SUITABILITY DESIRABILITY FEASIBILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SOLUTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE MOST PRACTICABLE APPROACHES AVAILABLE. AS YOU COMMENCE TO TACKLE THE WICKED PROBLEMS LURKING OUT THERE, BE PREPARED TO APPLY THIS POSITIVE PRESSURE SO THAT YOU BECOME AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE BEHIND GOOD POLICY. MOMENTUM IS PRESSURE'S FIRST COUSIN. WHILE PRESSURE PUTS THINGS IN MOTION, MAINTAINING MOMENTUM IS NECESSARY TO SEE THINGS THROUGH.
26:14
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR IDEAS OR HOW CLEVER YOUR ADVOCACY, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER FRICTION, SELF-DOUBT AND DOUBT FROM OTHERS COMPETITION OBFUSCATION, AND ALL MANNER OF CONTROVERSY. DIG IN. STAY IN THE FIGHT. MOST WORTHWHILE ENDEAVORS TURN OUT TO BE MARATHONS, NOT SPRINTS. COMMIT TO LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES, AND TO NOT BECOMING PRISONER TO THEM. PERSISTENCE MATTERS MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY KNOW. I HAD TO APPLY TO BECOME A MILITARY LAWYER TWICE. FOUR TIMES WAS THE CHARM TO MY
26:46
FINAL ARMY PROMOTION. MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN APPLICATIONS AND NEARLY TWO DECADES OF LABOR IN TWO FEDERAL AGENCIES PRECEDED MY ROLE AS A SENIOR EXECUTIVE. THE TITLES WEREN'T THE POINT SO MUCH AS THE BROADER REACH AND RESPONSIBILITY I SOUGHT, BELIEVING I COULD HAVE MORE POSITIVE IMPACT. WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THE HEADWINDS DON'T MATTER. ALL THAT MATTERS IS HOW YOU TACK AGAINST THEM. SO: BE CONSISTENT, BE UNDETERRED, BE UNFLAGGING, BE DECENT, BE OPEN. ABOVE ALL, STAY IN MOTION,
27:17
MAINTAIN MOMENTUM TOWARDS YOUR GOALS, WHETHER IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR POLICY PROJECTS, YOUR CAREER, YOUR FAMILY, OR YOUR PASTIMES. UNTOLD POSSIBILITY STRETCHES OUT BEFORE YOU. YOU'VE GOT THAT SKELETON KEY IN YOUR POCKET. YOU'RE PREPARED TO APPLY PRESSURE AND KEEP MOMENTUM AS YOU DRIVE FORWARD TOWARD POSITIVE POLICY AND OTHER OUTCOMES. AND, HOPEFULLY, YOU'RE NOW THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE. SO, SANFORD CLASS OF '26, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEYS.
27:45
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE AMAZING DESTINATIONS YOU'LL REACH ALONG THE WAY, AND I HOPE THAT OUR PATHS CROSS AGAIN SOME DAY, SOME WAY. ONWARD AND UPWARD, BLUE DEVILS! [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU CHAD FOR THAT IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR GRADUATES TO GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AND DO GOOD. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO CALL CHRISTINA GIBSON-DAVIS, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS TO THE PODIUM TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR INCREDIBLE SANFORD FACULTY. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING AND LET ME ECHO
28:34
EVERYONE'S CONGRATULATIONS OF HAVING MADE IT THIS FAR. IN A MOMENT I WILL ANNOUNCE AWARD FOR TWO INCREDIBLE FACULTY BUT AT THIS MOMENT ASK THE UNDERGRADUATES RECEIVING AWARDS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE PROGRAM. OUR FIRST FACULTY AWARD IS THE SUSAN E. TIFFT TEACHING AND MENTORING AWARD, GIVEN TO A FACULTY MEMBER WHO MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TEACHING MISSION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. THE AWARD IS GIVEN IN HONOR OF
29:09
SUSAN TIFFT, WHO WAS THE EUGENE C. PATERSON PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE. IN 2010, THE SANFORD COMMUNITY LOST PROFESSOR TIFFT TO CANCER. WE HONOR HER WITH THIS AWARD. THIS YEAR THE AWARD GOES TO JENNIFER SIEGEL, THE BRUCE R. KUNIHOLM DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL. PROFESSOR SIEGEL IS KNOWN FOR HER RIGOROUS AND DEEPLY ENGAGING TEACHING, AS WELL AS HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HER STUDENTS' INTELLECTUAL GROWTH. SHE CHALLENGES HER STUDENTS TO
29:49
THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT COMPLEX HISTORICAL AND POLICY QUESTIONS WHILE FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE AND REFLECTION. NUMEROUS STUDENTS PRAISE PROFESSOR SIEGEL FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION, NOTING THAT “HER COMMITMENT TO HER STUDENTS IS UNMATCHED”. ONE OF HER STUDENT NOMINATIONS NOTES, “DR. SIEGEL EXEMPLIFIES THE VERY BEST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EDUCATOR,” HIGHLIGHTING THAT HER “UNWAVERING INTEGRITY, GENUINE CARE FOR EVERY STUDENT'S
30:21
SUCCESS, AND TIRELESS DEDICATION TO HER CRAFT” LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT, WITH ANOTHER CONCLUDING THAT “SHE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSOR AND A TRUE ROLE MODEL.” CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT YOUR AWARD. [APPLAUSE]
30:53
AND NOW, IT'S MY HONOR TO SHARE THAT TIM NICHOLS HAS BEEN SELECTED BY OUR GRADUATE PROGRAM STUDENTS AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2026-2027 RICHARD STUBBING GRADUATE MENTORING AND TEACHING AWARD. FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, RICHARD STUBBING WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY TEACHER, MENTOR, AND FRIEND OF GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC POLICY AT SANFORD. THIS AWARD, ESTABLISHED IN 2004, HONORS HIS LEGACY AND RECOGNIZES OTHERS ON THE FACULTY WHO SHARE PROFESSOR STUBBING'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL
31:26
TRAINING OF FUTURE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND TO THE TEACHING MISSION OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAMS OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL. THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT HAS DONE ALL OF THAT AND MORE FOR OVER 15 YEARS AT SANFORD. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY PROGRAM AND HAS SERVED AS ITS FACULTY DIRECTOR THROUGH FOUR SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC YEARS. HE ALSO LEADS THE COUNTERTERRORISM FELLOWS PROGRAM WHOSE 100-PLUS ALUMNI CONSISTENTLY RISE TO FLAG
31:58
OFFICER RANK AND MAINTAIN A DEEP, LASTING CONNECTION TO DUKE. IN THE CLASSROOM, STUDENTS DESCRIBE HIM AS SOMEWHAT OF A MAESTRO WHO MAKES RIGOROUS MATERIAL COME ALIVE, REMEMBERS THE SMALL DETAILS THAT MATTER, AND SHOWS UP FOR HIS STUDENTS LONG AFTER THAT FINAL ASSIGNMENT. ONE STUDENT SAID HE “FOSTERS AN INCREDIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND I GREW SO MUCH JUST FROM THE TWO COURSES I TOOK WITH HIM.” THEIR ONLY REGRET WAS THEY COULDN'T TAKE MORE CLASSES WITH HIM.
32:31
TO QUOTE ANOTHER NOMINATOR: "THIS AWARD IS LONG OVERDUE." CONGRATULATIONS, TIM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND ACCEPT YOUR AWARD. [APPLAUSE]
33:12
WE WILL NOW TURN TO UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS; AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD WINNERS TO COME TO THE STAGE AND CALL SUZANNE KATZENSTEIN, DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES TO THE PODIUM TO RECOGNIZE THESE GRADUATES. IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME YOU ALL AND TO RECOGNIZE OUR WONDERFUL GRADUATES OF THE PUBLIC POLICY UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR. I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES. AND TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT
33:47
HELPED MAKE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE JOEL FLEISHMAN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR AWARD. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC POLICY. THE AWARD IS NAMED FOR JOEL FLEISHMAN, WHO JOINED THE FACULTY IN 1971 AND WAS THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF WHAT BECAME THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY TODAY. THE FLEISHMAN AWARD IS VERY COMPETITIVE, AND WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL NUMBER OF ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS
34:15
IN OUR MAJOR. I AM PLEASED THIS YEAR TO PRESENT THE AWARD TO SIX OUTSTANDING GRADUATES. AS I READ YOUR NAMES, PLEASE WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND ACCEPT YOUR AWARD. RHIANNON CAMARILLO [APPLAUSE] ANASTASIA CROWLEY [APPLAUSE] JOSEPH RAZA [APPLAUSE] SAMANTHA RICHTER [APPLAUSE] JADEN RODRIGUEZ [APPLAUSE] JACKSON STREIT [APPLAUSE]
35:30
[APPLAUSE]
35:41
NEXT, I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE OF RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATES TODAY AND HER EXEMPLARY EFFORTS ON THE PUBLIC POLICY HONORS THESIS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OUR HONORS STUDENTS - HONORS STUDENTS, PLEASE STAND! AND LET'S APPLAUD YOUR FINE WORK ON THE HONORS THESIS. [APPLAUSE]
36:17
THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S BEST HONORS THESIS IS KATE SENESHEN. [APPLAUSE] HER THESIS IS ENTITLED “KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS REGARDING HPV AND HPV-RELATED CANCER PREVENTION IN URUBAMBA, CUSCO, PERU” KATE'S THESIS OFFERS A NOVEL AND COMPELLING CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HPV PREVENTION EFFORTS BY CONDUCTING AN ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN RURAL PERU━A POPULATION RARELY STUDIED.
37:02
THE PROJECT, WHICH REQUIRED IMPRESSIVE INITIATIVE AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT TO CARRY OUT, CULMINATES IN ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHARED WITH PERU'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN COLLABORATING TO IMPLEMENT THE FINDINGS FROM KATE'S WORK. CONGRATULATIONS KATE! [APPLAUSE] FINALLY, I HAVE THE HONOR OF AWARDING THE TERRY SANFORD LEADERSHIP AWARD. THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO A GRADUATING SENIOR IN PUBLIC POLICY WHO EMULATES TERRY
37:44
SANFORD'S OUTRAGEOUS AMBITION IN LEADERSHIP. TERRY SANFORD, IN ADDITION TO BEING OUR FOUNDER, WAS A FORMER GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA, A U.S. SENATOR AND PRESIDENT OF DUKE UNIVERSITY FOR 15 YEARS. WE HAVE TWO WINNERS OF THE TERRY SANFORD LEADERSHIP AWARD THIS YEAR, ANASTASIA CROWLEY AND ABIGAIL BERGEN. [APPLAUSE] BOTH EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE THAT WAS ENVISIONED AND MODELED BY TERRY SANFORD. ABIGAIL IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR EXPANDING AND BUILDING UPON HER
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EXPERIENCE AS A COUNTER-TERRORISM AND PUBLIC POLICY FELLOW BY SPEARHEADING A SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ONGOING CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS WITH ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, APPLYING A LEADERSHIP ETHOS OF TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING TOWARD INCREMENTAL AND TARGETED STRATEGIES IN PURSUIT OF ACHIEVING LARGER TRANSFORMATIVE GOALS. [APPLAUSE] ANASTASIA IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN IDENTIFYING AND ACTIVATING A PLAN OF ACTION TO ADDRESS
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FINANCIAL EXCLUSION AND IMPEDIMENTS TO LEARNING BUSINESS SKILLS AMONG WOMEN IN RURAL UGANDA, RECOGNIZING AND COMMITMENT TO CO-DESIGNING AND COLLABORATING AS KEY PRINCIPLES TO ETHICAL LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS ANASTASIA AND ABIGAIL. WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF SANFORD'S 2026 GRADUATING CLASS OF PUBLIC POLICY MAJORS. NAMED READ BY... FACULTY MEMBERS CATHERINE ADMAY, JOAB COREY, AND DEONDRA ROSE. PARENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOS FROM YOUR SEATS.
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YOU ALSO MAY APPLAUD DURING THE STUDENT RECOGNITION.
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THANK YOU, PROFESSOR KATZENSTEIN. TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE OUR PUBLIC POLICY MAJOR GRADUATES. [APPLAUSE]
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NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR SANFORD STUDENT SPEAKER, CALVIN RAUSCH. [APPLAUSE]
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AS YOU CAN SEE CALVIN IS VERY GOOD. SELECTED THROUGH A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS BY A COMMITTEE OF STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY, AS THE FIRST-EVER STUDENT SPEAKER AT OUR UNIFIED SANFORD COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. SHE IS GRADUATING TODAY WITH A MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY DEGREE AND WILL BE [DOING WHAT] AFTER SHE GRADUATES. FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY IN THE NONPROFIT SECTION. CALVIN IS ORIGINALLY FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND RECEIVED HER BACHELOR'S FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA IN
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POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. SHE FIRST ARRIVED AT DUKE IN 2023 AS AN AMERICORPS VISTA WORKING IN FOOD SECURITY EFFORTS AT THE UNIVERSITY. SHE HAS SINCE SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY PANTRY AND CONTINUES TO WORK IN STUDENT AFFAIRS TO BRING BEST PRACTICES POLICY TO THE UNIVERSITY. THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HER TIME AT DUKE, CALVIN HAS SERVED OVER 2,500 STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS AND RAISED OVER
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$180,000 FOR THE PANTRY AND TO EXPAND RESOURCE ACCESS. [APPLAUSE] HER WORK AND RESEARCH SURROUND ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS, FOOD SECURITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THE U.S. SOUTH AND UGANDA. THIS YEAR, CALVIN WAS AWARDED THE WILLIAM J. GRIFFITH SERVICE AWARD FOR ADVOCACY, THE DUKE CORNERSTONE AWARD, AND A 2026 FOREVER DUKE STUDENT AWARD. AFTER GRADUATING, SHE WILL CONTINUE HER WORK IN FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
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CALVIN IS A HUMAN-CENTERED ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY SERVANT WITH A SIMPLE PASSION THAT CONTINUES THROUGH HER MULTIFACETED WORK: FEED PEOPLE. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATES, OUR STUDENT SPEAKER FOR TODAY, CALVIN RAUSCH. [APPLAUSE]
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GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO BEGIN BY OFFERING A HEARTFUL THANK YOU TO THE FACULTY AND STAFF THAT HAVE MADE SANFORD THE ENGAGING AND ENRICHING SCHOOL THAT IT IS. THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU MAKE SANFORD FEEL LIKE HOME. IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, OVER THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE'VE ALL WRAPPED UP THE LASTS ON OUR DUKE BUCKET LISTS. CLIMB THE CHAPEL, TURN IN OUR THESES, OR TAKE A FINAL ZOOM ON A BLUE ADIRONDACK CHAIR.
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FOR ME, IT'S BEEN MAKING SURE I HAVE ONE LAST MEAL WITH THE CLASSMATES AND COLLEAGUES I LOVE. FOOD IS CENTRAL TO MY LIFE━I'VE STUDIED FOOD SECURITY HERE AT SANFORD AND SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY PANTRY. FOOD IS CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES━THESE PAST SEMESTERS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH LATE-NIGHT SNACKS DURING PROBLEM SETS AND WONDERFUL MEALS WHERE CONVERSATIONS STRETCHED LONGER THAN THE PLATES LASTED. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE
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PURSUIT OF FOOD. AND, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT IT HAS THREE LESSONS TO TEACH US ABOUT POLICY, ABOUT LIFE, AND ABOUT CONFIDENTLY MOVING INTO THE NEXT UNKNOWN. THE FIRST LESSON FOOD TEACHES US IS THAT THE BOLDER THE FLAVOR, THE MORE MEMORABLE THE MEAL. IT'S NOT BLANDNESS WE REMEMBER. IT'S SPICE, SHARPNESS, SWEETNESS, THE UNEXPECTED COMBINATIONS THAT MAKE SOMETHING WORTH RETURNING TO. YOU HAVE AN EDUCATION FROM SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. SO I KNOW YOUR MIND IS FULL OF
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FLAVORFUL, NUANCED, AND BOLD IDEAS. DON'T LOSE YOUR APPETITE FOR THEM. STAY CREATIVE, MAINTAIN YOUR CURIOSITY, AND DON'T BE MADE TIMID BY A LOUDER VOICE TELLING YOU IT CAN'T BE DONE. DON'T SHY AWAY FROM TRYING NEW INGREDIENTS, THINK BIG ABOUT IMPROVING BROKEN SYSTEMS, AND STAY AUDACIOUS ABOUT DEDICATING YOUR TIME AND MIND TO THE GNARLIEST, STICKIEST ISSUES. I WANT TO SHARE A QUOTE WITH YOU: “WE ARE LIVING IN A MORE UNSETTLED WORLD THAN OUR FATHERS KNEW. ... A WORLD WHERE THE ONLY
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THING THAT IS CONSTANT IS CHANGE. WE ARE NOT HERE TO BE THE VICTIMS OF CHANGE. WE ARE HERE TO BE THE MASTERS OF CHANGE. WE MUST HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT IS LARGER THAN THE CONFUSION AROUND US." IT ECHOES TODAY BUT WAS FIRST SPOKEN BY TERRY SANFORD IN 1961. WE ARE NOT HERE TO INHERIT THE WORLD AS IT IS━WE ARE HERE TO SHAPE WHAT IT BECOMES. SO BE BOLD. THINK BIG. BE THE CHEFS OF NEW POSSIBILITIES. YOU'VE LEARNED FAR TOO MUCH FROM THIS INSTITUTION TO START THINKING SMALL.
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[APPLAUSE] SECONDLY, FOOD TEACHES US THAT NOT EVERY BITE IS SWEET. WHAT A DIFFICULT, AND BROKEN WORLD WE ARE GRADUATING INTO. WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF “UNPRECEDENTED CIRCUMSTANCES”. IN SHORT: WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US. I CANNOT FATHOM NOR DESCRIBE HOW MUCH WE NEED TO PURSUE. SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FLAVORS IN LIFE ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY PLEASANT. THEY CAN BE HARD TO SWALLOW, AND THEY ARE WHAT GIVE A MEAL ITS RICHNESS. I URGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT
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BITTERNESS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY, IT IS THE BEGINNING OF DEPTH. THESE FLAVORS MAKE US PAUSE, PAY ATTENTION, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE REALLY TASTING. SAVOR IN DISCOMFORT: DO NOT RUN FROM WHAT YOU ENCOUNTER BUT RATHER, LEARN FROM IT, AND LET IT REFINE YOU. ALLOW IT TO DEEPEN YOUR COMPASSION FOR OTHERS WALKING DISADVANTAGED PATHS. TERRY SANFORD, IN HIS 1971 INAUGURATION SPEECH: “THE RESTLESSNESS OF OUR TIME IS NOT A SIGN OF FAILURE, BUT A SIGN OF LIFE.
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IT IS THE STIRRING OF A PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO ACCEPT THINGS AS THEY ARE.” USE THE UNDESIRABLE FLAVORS OF THIS LIFE TO BUILD A NEW PALETTE, A NEW PURPOSE, A NEW PASSION. AND, WITH THIS CHALLENGING TASK IN MIND, I REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE MEANT TO BUILD PLATES THAT ARE LAYERED AND FULL━WHERE BITTERNESS IS BALANCED WITH SWEETNESS, SALT, AND SPICE. REMEMBER TO PUT ASIDE TIME TO ENJOY A SLOW MEAL WITH FRIENDS. RELISH IN THE DESSERTS OF HOBBIES AND HIKES. DESPITE IT ALL, STRIVE TO ENJOY
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THE DELICIOUSNESS OF LIFE. AND LASTLY, ANY GOOD MEAL IS SHARED IN COMMUNITY. WE ARE GATHERED TODAY━PEERS, PARTNERS PROFESSORS PREDECESSORS━TO CELEBRATE YOU. LOOK AROUND. THIS IS YOUR VILLAGE! SANFORD UNDOUBTEDLY BREEDS INFORMED POLICY MAKERS. BUT GOSH, IS IT A FACTORY FOR GOOD FRIENDSHIPS. AS WE TAKE THE BITTER WITH THE SWEET, IT IS THESE INDIVIDUALS TO YOUR LEFT AND TO YOUR RIGHT THAT WILL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOU IN WHAT CAN BE THE LONELINESS OF DOING HARD WORK. HOLD ONTO THEM.
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LET THEM REMIND YOU WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT. FEED EACH OTHER WITH HOPE, GOODNESS, AND DEDICATION TO YOUR CAUSE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS WORK ALONE; IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE DONE THAT WAY. POLICY IS ALWAYS ABOUT PEOPLE. AND WHAT GREAT PEOPLE YOU ARE. THIS CLASS IS FULL OF INTENTIONAL, BRILLIANT, AND QUANT-TRAINED HUMANS. WE ARE BOLD, HUNGRY, AND HAVE ONLY GOTTEN LOST IN THE SANFORD BUILDING ONCE OR TWICE. NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE ZERO DOUBT THAT WE ARE CAPABLE AND TALENTED.
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LIKE A FOOD PANTRY, EACH OF US BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT ESSENTIAL, READY TO BE COMBINED INTO SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN THE SUM OF OUR INGREDIENTS. AS I ENCOUNTER THE BITTER AND THE BEAUTIFUL IN THIS NEXT PHASE OF MY LIFE, I WILL FEEL GRATITUDE THAT SOMEWHERE, A SANFORDITE IS COOKING UP SOMETHING GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU PUT INTO THIS DEGREE, FOR THE HARDSHIPS YOU ENDURED TO MAKE IT HERE. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE GIFT OF YOUR LABOR TO OUR HOPEFUL FUTURE.
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AND THANK YOU FOR A SLICE OF YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I'M PROUD OF YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU CALVIN THAT WAS TRULY AMAZING. AND I AM SO GLAD THAT I DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW HER REMARKS WITH MINE, THAT IS WILL BE TIME. SO YOU CAN RESET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. AND NOW BEGIN THE RECOGNITION OF OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS. RECOGNIZING GRADUATES OF MPP PROGRAM. WELCOME TO THE MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY PORTION OF OUR SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY GRADUATION CEREMONY.
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THE MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM━KNOWN SIMPLY AS THE MPP━IS A TOP-RANKED, TWO-YEAR RESIDENTIAL GRADUATE PROGRAM THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME IMPACTFUL LEADERS, SCHOLARS, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE PUBLIC POLICY WORLD. TODAY MARKS THE CULMINATION OF RIGOROUS STUDY AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. BEHIND EACH GRADUATE IS A STORY OF LONG HOURS, CHALLENGING COURSEWORK, AND A SUSTAINED EFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE WORLD AROUND US.
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THIS ACHIEVEMENT ALSO REFLECTS THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, MENTORS, AND PEERS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR MPP GRADUATES AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SANFORD COMMUNITY AND DUKE UNIVERSITY. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE READING OF NAMES, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RECIPIENTS OF THREE DISTINGUISHED MPP STUDENT AWARDS: THERE ARE FOUR AWARDS. FIRST, THE OUTSTANDING MPP AWARD, GIVEN TO THE STUDENT (OR
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STUDENTS) WITH THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM. SECOND, THE MPP SERVICE AWARD, RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH SERVICE TO THE MPP PROGRAM AND/OR THE SANFORD SCHOOL. AND THIRD, THE MPP CITIZENSHIP AWARD, HONORING THE STUDENT (OR STUDENTS) WHO, THROUGH SERVICE AND CO-CURRICULAR ENGAGEMENT, EMBODY CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND PROMOTE CITIZENSHIP WITHIN THE MPP PROGRAM, THE BROADER SANFORD COMMUNITY, DUKE UNIVERSITY, OR
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THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AND FOURTH MPP PEER MENTOR AWARD, HONORING MPP STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORTING AND MENTORING THEIR FELLOW MPP'S. AND THE WINNERS ARE... FOR MPP OUTSTANDING AWARD WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS. RILEY CATHERINE MARTIN. AND ELIZABETH MARIE SHRANK IREMAN. FOR THE MPP SERVICE AWARD, AJA BULLIC. AND JESHAN EMRON ALI. FOR THE MPP CITIZENSHIP AWARD WE HAVE ANNA GABRIELLA GANOL. AND WE HAVE DOMINIQUE BOUDRY. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR OUR
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MPP PEER MENTORING AWARD WE HAVE JESSE CHRISTIAN DAVIS. NOW IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THE GRADUATES OF MPP PROGRAM.
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CONGRATULATIONS MPP GRADUATES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
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I INVITE DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOR THE MIDP PROGRAM, CORY KRUPP, TO THE SIDE LECTERN TO RECOGNIZE GRADUATES OF THE MIDP PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING! MY NAME IS CORY KRUPP, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOR THE MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY PROGRAM IN THE SANFORD SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM ENROLLS MID-CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND OUR FELLOWS BRING THEIR YEARS OF
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EXPERIENCE TO SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN PURSUIT OF NEW KNOWLEDGE AND APPROACHES TO TACKLING TOUGH DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES. THIS YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS FEATURES 18 FELLOWS FROM 14 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. [APPLAUSE] IT'S THE MOST DIVERSE PROGRAM IN ALL OF DUKE.
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I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE NISH KHARAL, WHO WAS RECENTLY AWARDED THE 2026 FOREVER DUKE STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES STUDENTS WHO ARE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE DUKE COMMUNITY AND WHO EMBODY “KNOWLEDGE IN THE SERVICE OF SOCIETY” AND THE “FOREVER DUKE SPIRIT.” CONGRATULATIONS NISH! AND ALL OTHER SANFORD WINNERS OF THIS AWARD. PROCEED WITH GRADUATING 2026MIDP'S.
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LET'S HEAR IT FOR ALL MIDP GRADUATES! [APPLAUSE]
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I INVITE SANFORD PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOR THE MNSP PROGRAM, TIM NICHOLS, TO THE SIDE LECTERN TO RECOGNIZE GRADUATES OF THE MNSP PROGRAM.
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>> THANK YOU, THIS YEAR'S GRADUATES OF THE SANFORD SCHOOL'S MASTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM REPRESENT MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES, CIVILIANS SERVING THE US GOVERNMENT, AND CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS WORKING IN THE SECURITY SECTOR. WHILE PART OF OUR COURSE PROGRAMMING IS COMPLETED REMOTELY, THESE AMAZING STUDENTS RETURN TO MOTHER DUKE A FEW TIMES EACH SEMESTER FROM FARAWAY PLACES LIKE THE PACIFIC RIM, EUROPE, AND THE MIDDLE EAST TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR CLASSMATES
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AND MEET WITH THEIR PROFESSORS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ENJOY BROAD PARTICIPATION FROM STUDENTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE EAST COAST TO THE WEST COAST. I AM PROUD OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND I AM IN AWE OF THEIR DESIRE TO LEARN AND TO USE THEIR SKILLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY. I SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES OF THESE STUDENTS WHO ENDURED THE EVENING AND WEEKEND EFFORTS OF THESE MOMS, DADS, HUSBANDS, AND WIVES WHILE THEY WORKED IN THEIR DAILY JOBS AND
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COMPLETED THEIR GRADUATE STUDIES. THE FACULTY GRACIOUSLY RETURNS THEM TO YOU...SLIGHTLY WORN AND TIRED. I WILL NOW READ THE NAMES OF THIS YEAR'S MASTERS OF NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY.
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CONGRATULATIONS MNSP GRADUATES.
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I INVITE SANFORD PROFESSOR AND IMEP FACULTY LEAD, JACKSON EWING, TO THE SIDE LECTERN TO RECOGNIZE GRADUATES OF THE IMEP PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU DEAN, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2026 CLASS OF INTERVAL MASTER'S PROGRAM. THIS IS UNIQUE IN SANFORD AND OUR STUDENTS SPEND TIME AT DUKE AND DUKE KUNSHAN UNIVERSITY IN CHINA. AND STUDENTS GO ON TO CAREERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, CIVIL SOCIETY AND BEYOND. WE ARE COUNTING ON THEM TO SOLVE
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SOME OF OUR GRAVEST CHALLENGES.
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CONGRATULATIONS IMEP CLASS OF 2026!
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I INVITE SANFORD SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN OF FACULTY, ANNA GASSMAN-PINES, TO THE SIDE LECTERN TO RECOGNIZE OUR PHD GRADUATES. [APPLAUSE]
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WE RECOGNIZE, TODAY, GRADUATES FROM TWO PHD PROGRAMS. PUBLIC POLICY DOCTORAL PROGRAM. INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL SCIENCE DEGREE. FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CONDUCTING IN-DEPTH RESEARCH ON PUBLIC POLICY PROBLEMS. AS I READ THE NAMES OF STUDENTS RECEIVING THEIR DOCTORAL DEGREE TODAY, YOU WILL SEE THAT EACH STUDENT IS HOODED BY A FACULTY MEMBER WHO WILL PLACE THE DOCTORAL HOOD OVER THE STUDENT'S HEAD AS A SYMBOL OF THAT STUDENT RECEIVING THIS DOCTORAL DEGREE. PAULO ANTONACCI, [APPLAUSE]
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CHRISTOPHER R. BEHRER, [APPLAUSE] BRAYDON WADE MADSON, [APPLAUSE] JAELYN M. NIXON, [APPLAUSE] BRENDA NDANU ONYANGO, [APPLAUSE]
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CONGRATULATIONS SANFORD PhD GRADUATES!
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LET ME START BY SAYING HOW PROUD I AM OF EACH ONE OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY. THE JOURNEY TO THIS MOMENT HAS NOT BEEN EASY. THESE HAVE BEEN TOUGH TIMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND, FRANKLY, TOUGH TIMES IN THE WORLD. AND YET HERE YOU ARE: STILL STANDING, STILL LEARNING, STILL CHOOSING PUBLIC SERVICE. CHAD REMINDED US TODAY. AND THAT TAKES PERSEVERANCE AND DESERVES TRUE CELEBRATION OF THIS MOMENT. HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE RESILIENT? BECAUSE MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SURVIVED ME.
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UNDERGRADS: ABOUT HALF OF YOU TOOK PUBPOL 155 WITH ME. WHICH MEANS YOU LIVED THROUGH MY SLIDES, MY LECTURES, AND MY WEEKLY MOMENT OF DELUSION WHERE I THOUGHT, “THEY CAN DEFINITELY READ ALL OF THIS.” AND SOMEHOW, DESPITE EVERYTHING, HERE WE ARE TODAY! AND TO OUR MASTER'S AND PHD STUDENTS: I KNOW WE PUT YOU THROUGH THE RINGER, TOO. WE ASSIGN BIG QUESTIONS WITH NO EASY ANSWERS. WE ASK YOU TO QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS, DEFEND ARGUMENTS, AND REVISE DRAFTS THAT YOU
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THOUGHT WERE ALREADY PERFECT. AND THEN WE HAVE SANFORD'S SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE: THE 72-HOUR MEMO. BECAUSE NOTHING SAYS “WELCOME TO PUBLIC POLICY” LIKE TRYING TO SOLVE A COMPLEX SOCIAL PROBLEM WHILE THE CLOCK TICKS AND YOU REALIZE WHY TIME IS A TRULY BINDING CONSTRAINT. BUT HERE'S THE THING: THAT TRAINING HAS PREPARED YOU INCREDIBLY WELL━MORE THAN YOU MAY REALIZE TODAY. BECAUSE IN THE REAL WORLD, THE PROBLEMS WON'T ARRIVE NEATLY LABELED. THEY WON'T COME WITH COMPLETE DATA.
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THEY WON'T WAIT FOR YOU TO FEEL READY. AND SOMETIMES THE TIMELINE WILL BE COUNTED IN HOURS. THE GOOD NEWS IS: YOU HAVE LEARNED HOW TO WORK. YOU PREPARED FOR THAT MOMENT. IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS INTERIM DEAN, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRAVELING TO MEET SANFORD ALUMNI AND FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD. AND ONE THING I HEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN IS THIS: WHAT THEY CARRY WITH THEM FROM SANFORD IS THE ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. NOT “HAVING ALL THE ANSWERS.” BUT THE HABIT OF ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
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THE DISCIPLINE TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE AND THE PATIENCE TO WORK THROUGH UNCERTAINTY. AND THE COURAGE TO EXECUTE━ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SOLUTION IS IMPERFECT, POLITICALLY MESSY, OR PERSONALLY INCONVENIENT. TODAY, YOU JOIN AN INCREDIBLE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 10,000 SANFORD ALUMNI ACROSS THE GLOBE. PEOPLE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TECH RESEARCH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP━ OFTEN QUIETLY, OFTEN WITHOUT APPLAUSE, BUT WITH REAL IMPACT. AND I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
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THAT MAY SOUND BOLD, BUT I MEAN IT: A FEW DECADES FROM NOW, WHEN A FUTURE DEAN TRAVELS TO MEET YOU, I FULLY EXPECT THEY'LL BE HEARING STORIES ABOUT HOW YOU HELPED SOLVE MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING SOCIETY. AND HERE'S THE PART I REALLY WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH: WHEN YOU DO THOSE THINGS, IT WON'T BE BECAUSE YOU WERE CHASING GLORY. YOU'LL DO IT BECAUSE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. BECAUSE YOU DECIDED THAT SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE IS WORTH YOUR EFFORT.
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BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR CALLING. THERE'S A LINE FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA THAT I OFTEN RETURN TO: MOST OF YOU DON'T SPEAK SANSKRIT, SO LET ME TRANSLATE: IT REMINDS US THAT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ACTIONS, BUT NOT THE OUTCOMES. WE CAN CHOOSE OUR EFFORT. WE CAN CHOOSE OUR INTEGRITY. WE CAN CHOOSE TO SHOW UP━AGAIN AND AGAIN━EVEN WHEN RESULTS ARE UNCERTAIN. AND THAT IDEA IS INCREDIBLY LIBERATING. BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR PERFECT CONDITIONS TO BEGIN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW THE
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OUTCOME TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WIN EVERY DAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NOTICE THIS SOUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT CHAD SAID, WE DIDN'T COORDINATE. BUT IT IS TRUE. YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP TAKING THE NEXT DELIBERATE STEP. SO IF THERE'S ONE MESSAGE I HOPE YOU CARRY WITH YOU TODAY, IT'S THIS: WHEN THE WORK GETS HARD━AND IT WILL━DON'T CONFUSE DIFFICULTY WITH DEFEAT. DON'T CONFUSE SETBACKS WITH FAILURE. PROGRESS IN PUBLIC POLICY IS OFTEN SLOW, NONLINEAR, AND FRUSTRATING.
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BUT IT IS POSSIBLE. AND IT IS WORTH IT. CLASS OF 2026: YOU HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN YOUR PATH WELL. YOU HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED PERSEVERANCE. AND YOU LEAVE HERE WITH TOOLS, VALUES, AND A COMMUNITY BEHIND YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU! [APPLAUSE]
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ALL RIGHT, SO FACULTY, I INVITE YOU TO RISE AND PREPARE FOR THE RECESSIONAL. RECEPTION AS WELL. FAMILIES, FRIENDS, GUESTS: OUR GRADUATES WILL MAKE THEIR WAY OUT OF THE FRONT OF CAMERON TO K-VILLE FOR PICTURES, CELEBRATION, AND LOCOPOPS. PLEASE EXIT OUT THE WAY YOU ENTERED AND JOIN THEM THERE TO CELEBRATE. THANK YOU AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN CLASS OF 2026!
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