Dear friends,
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, we want to reaffirm that diversity and inclusion are central to the values of the Duke Center for International Development, the Sanford School of Public Policy, and Duke University.
Over the years, the university, school and center have benefited immeasurably from the wide variety of ideas and perspectives of its faculty, staff, students and partners from all over the world. We reassure you that we are doing everything in our power to provide support and guidance to those whose lives have been affected.
If you are a current student, faculty or staff member affected by this ban, please know that we stand with you. The university is in constant contact with immigration experts, other universities and national associations to understand the implications of the new policies, parts of which have already been successfully challenged in federal court.
We will be meeting regularly with the faculty and staff to make sure that we are providing the necessary support to members of our community. We have also been exploring the role the school can play in the broader community to shape policy around this issue. Along with many other Sanford faculty, we have signed an open letter expressing opposition to the order.
For our friends abroad who are considering joining us at Duke, we assure you that the United States – and in particular Durham, North Carolina – is still a welcoming and inclusive place. All of us at the Sanford School are committed to doing everything possible to ensure that you can pursue your studies here without fear, and that you will feel safe, welcome and appreciated during your time with us.
Prospective MIDP students from outside the United States who have any questions or concerns should not hesitate to contact us at the following address: MIDPinfo@duke.edu.
Kelly Brownell, PhD, Dean Cory Krupp, PhD, Director of Graduate Studies for MIDP
