Duke in DC and in Durham: Engaging in Policy
From campus to Capitol Hill, Duke faculty, staff, and students spent the first quarter of the year engaging with policymakers, bringing their perspectives into conversations shaping policy and practice.
February | Duke in DC Students Tour the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Scott Peters
Students from the Sanford School of Public Policy’s Duke in DC program received a tour of the Capitol from Congressman Scott Peters (D‑CA), a Duke alumnus. The tour offered students a rare perspective on behind-the-scenes workings of Congress and highlighted the enduring connections between Duke alumni and public service. For students studying policy in Washington this semester, the experience brought coursework to life inside the institution itself.
North Carolina Engineering Deans Meet with the Congressional Delegation
Engineering deans from across North Carolina, including the Pratt School of Engineering’s Jerry Lynch, met with North Carolina delegation members and staffers on the Hill to discuss the importance of federal investment in research and workforce development. North Carolina is a national leader in innovation, and the meetings highlighted the critical role research universities across the state play in advancing economic competitiveness, technology, and workforce development.
Rep. Valerie Foushee Visits Duke’s Space Initiative Event
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-NC) attended a Duke Space Initiative event on campus to spotlight how university‑based research drives innovation and supports national priorities. Her visit reinforced the importance of sustained federal–university partnerships and gave students and faculty the opportunity to showcase how interdisciplinary research translates into real‑world impact. Foushee met with the faculty board of the SPACE Initiative as well as student leaders.
March | Duke School of Nursing and Duke Health Leadership Engages Policymakers in Washington
Duke School of Nursing Dean Michael Relf and Duke Health Chief Nursing Executive Terry McDonnell met with lawmakers and staffers on the Hill, discussing challenges and sharing how Duke is collaborating across the region to support nursing education, expand faculty capacity, and ensure access to high-quality care, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett at Duke Law
In March, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett visited Duke Law for a discussion on decision‑making in the Supreme Court. Her appearance provided students with a rare opportunity to hear directly from a sitting justice about judicial reasoning, institutional responsibility, and the complexities of the Court’s work, deepening classroom learning through firsthand perspective.
Senators Ted Budd and Richard Burr Engage Duke Students in Washington
As part of the Sanford School’s America 250 course, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and former Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) joined Duke students in Washington, D.C., for a fireside conversation on their time in public service, policymaking and the enduring questions facing American democracy. The course connects history, law and policy through guest lectures from leaders such as Polis Distinguished Fellows John Hillen and Danny Werfel, helping students trace how foundational principles continue to shape modern governance.
Duke in DC’s NC in DC Events
This quarter, the Duke in DC office convened industry, academia and policy stakeholders for two NC in DC events, one to examine the state’s position within the nation’s critical mineral ecosystem in partnership with the newly- established Critical Minerals Hub, in partnership with the North Carolina Critical Technologies Alliance. The day after NC in DC, Hub leadership spent the day on the Hill to introduce the Hub and share expertise with key congressional offices and committees.
The other, in partnership with the Duke School of Nursing and Duke Health Leadership, on the state of nursing in North Carolina. The panel consisted of high-level discussion on the future of the nursing profession, reinforcing Duke’s leadership in addressing one of the most urgent workforce challenges facing North Carolina and the nation.
