Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University
Public Policy Graduate Program Staff
Director of Graduate Studies, Master of Public Policy Program
Elizabeth Frankenberg is a professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Department of Sociology at Duke University. Her research focuses on three thematic areas: the ways in which the heath and social service environment shape the well-being of individuals, the ways that interactions among family members influence well-being, and how how individuals respond to changes induced by unexpected events such as economic crises and natural disasters. Frankenberg has directed several large-scale longitudinal surveys in Indonesia, including the Indonesia Family Life Survey and the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery. At the Sanford School Elizabeth oversees the MPP program, works with students and staff on curriculum issues and student advising, and teaches Statistics and Data Analysis for Policy Makers. She has an M.P.A from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in demography and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Phone: 919.613.9311 Email: e.frankenberg@duke.edu
Director of Student Services and Program Development
Helene works with current students and the Director of the MPP Program in support of the Master of Public Policy Program.
From matriculation through graduation, Helene interacts with current MPP students to provide support services. She coordinates orientation and graduation events, serves as a liaison between the MPP Program and University agencies to include the bursar and registrar; provides course and academic career advice to students. Helene represents student needs to the program, faculty, Sanford administration, and University officials. Students are encouraged to view her office as a gateway to addressing their concerns.
Prior to relocating to the Triangle in 2001, Helene taught middle and high school English at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, DE. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education/Communications from Temple University in 1991. Before joining the MPP Program, Helene worked in Duke University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program. Providing support to MPP candidates continues Helene’s commitment to enhancing students’ learning experiences.
Phone: 919.613.9207 Email: helene.mcadams@duke.edu
Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, MPP & MIDP
Jessica travels around the country and world to recruit the best students for Sanford's master's programs: the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP).
Prior to joining Duke in 2010, she served as Associate Director of Admissions for Georgetown University's Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS). She also worked for Georgetown University's Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) and the State University of New York at Binghamton's Career Development Center. Jessica holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She earned her M.A. in English from Georgetown University. Prior to moving to North Carolina, she lived in NY, London, and DC.
Phone: 919.613.9205 Email: MPPadmit@duke.edu / midpinfo@duke.edu
Program Coordinator, Data Management and Financial Aid
Sarah performs duties in support of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. She manages information flow regarding admissions, matriculation, student careers, and degree completion. She also assists MPP students with financial aid.
Sarah has been working at the Sanford School since 2005. She holds a degree in History from California State University, Fresno.
Phone: 919.613.9204 Email: sarah.danielson@duke.edu
Director of Graduate Studies, PhD in Public Policy Program
PhD Economics, Harvard University, 1999
Jacob Vigdor is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Duke University, and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He received a B.S. in Policy Analysis from Cornell University in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1999.
His research interests are in the broad areas of education policy, housing policy, and political economy. Within those areas, he has published numerous scholarly articles on the topics of residential segregation, immigration, housing affordability, the consequences of gentrification, the determinants of student achievement in elementary school, the causes and consequences of delinquent behavior among adolescents, teacher turnover, civic participation and voting patterns, and racial inequality in the labor market. These articles have been published in outlets such as The Journal of Political Economy, The Review of Economics and Statistics, The Journal of Public Economics, The Journal of Human Resources, and The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.
Phone: 919.613.9226 Email: jacob.vigdor@duke.edu
Program Coordinator, PhD in Public Policy Program
Phone: 919.613.9214 Email: PPPhD@duke.edu
"What I love most about Durham is that the community has a really authentic desire to address social problems... I think it’s rare that you see such a community-based drive to do better. Also, I love the arts community here. It’s got such a funky, activist vibe."
Emily Grenzke, MPP ’07