Public policy is a discipline that recognizes that people want and need different things, and different policy processes can lead to dramatically different outcomes. Yet, despite these apparent differences, competing worldviews are still working towards a common goal of making the world better. It is just that the better world might look different depending on where you view it from. At a time when Americans are increasingly concerned about the tone of our political discourse, the Sanford...

On Wednesday evening, members of the Duke community joined POLIS for a discussion exploring the question: "Why Public Service?" The conversation, moderated by Sanford Professor of the Practice Jenni Owen, featured POLIS Distinguished Fellows Dr. John Hillen, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and decorated combat veteran; Michael Regan, former EPA Administrator; and Danny Werfel, former IRS...

Established and emerging environmental leaders came together Thursday for a celebration of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability’s 20th anniversary, where University stakeholders reflected on a legacy of innovation and looked to carry the torch forward in a collective “quest for yes.” First established in 2005, the Institute has served for two decades as a hub for research, education and policy design. Since its merger with the Duke University Energy Initiative in...

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.