As the 2026–2027 academic year approaches, the Sanford School of Public Policy’s programs will continue under the leadership of six faculty members whose work spans finance, development, politics, national security and social policy. Together, they help shape the academic experience for students across Sanford’s master’s, PhD and undergraduate programs.

Vicki Bogan

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Vicki Bogan serves as director of graduate studies for Sanford’s Master of Public Policy program. A professor at Sanford, Bogan’s research focuses on household finance, inequality and applied microeconomics, with particular attention to financial vulnerability and economic mobility.

Before joining Duke, Bogan spent nearly two decades on the faculty at Cornell University, where she also held several leadership roles focused on graduate education and student mentorship. At Sanford, she oversees the academic direction of the MPP program while working closely with students as they prepare for careers in public service, policy analysis and leadership.

Bogan frequently connects classroom learning to real-world policy challenges through both her teaching and public engagement. Her research and commentary have appeared in national media outlets, and she regularly contributes expertise on economic policy and personal finance.

Robyn Meeks

Master of International Development Policy (MIDP)

Robyn Meeks will begin her appointment as director of graduate studies for the Master of International Development Policy program on July 1, 2026. An economist whose work sits at the intersection of environmental and development economics, Meeks studies how households, businesses and communities respond to changes in water and energy infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries.

At Duke, Meeks is affiliated with the Duke Center for International Development, the Duke University Energy Initiative and several global research collaborations. Her work has examined topics including electricity reliability, climate resilience and access to clean water and energy.

As MIDP director, Meeks will help guide a program that brings together early- and mid-career professionals from around the world to study international development policy and practice.

Asher Hildebrand

Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

Asher Hildebrand is the inaugural director of Sanford’s Master of Public Affairs program, a hybrid executive degree designed for working professionals in public service and leadership roles. An associate professor of the practice at Sanford, Hildebrand brings more than 15 years of experience in politics and public affairs to the role.

Before joining Duke in 2019, Hildebrand served in senior leadership positions including congressional chief of staff and policy director for a presidential campaign. At Sanford, he teaches graduate courses on policy analysis, lobbying and advocacy, American politics and democracy reform.

Hildebrand has played a leading role in shaping the MPA program’s emphasis on practical leadership training, flexible learning and public impact for professionals balancing graduate education with careers in government, nonprofits and the private sector.

Simon Miles

Master of National Security Policy (MNSP)

Simon Miles serves as director of graduate studies for Sanford’s Master of National Security Policy program. A historian of U.S. foreign relations and international security, Miles specializes in Cold War history, diplomacy and grand strategy.

At Sanford, Miles teaches courses on national security, international history and foreign policy. His scholarship has focused on the late Cold War and the relationship between political leadership and international conflict. As director of the MNSP program, he works with students pursuing careers in intelligence, defense, diplomacy and global security.

Miles also helps connect students with practitioners and policymakers across the national security field, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on applied policy experience alongside academic study.

Lisa Gennetian

Sanford PhD Programs

Lisa Gennetian serves as director of graduate studies for Sanford’s PhD programs. An expert in poverty, economic mobility and child and family policy, Gennetian’s research examines how public policies and economic conditions shape the well-being of children and families.

Before joining Duke, Gennetian held research and leadership roles at several major policy research institutions, including MDRC and the Brookings Institution. Her work often combines behavioral science and social policy research to better understand how families navigate financial stress and opportunity.

At Sanford, Gennetian oversees doctoral training and mentorship across the school’s PhD programs, helping students develop as researchers, teachers and policy scholars. She also continues to lead nationally recognized research on economic inequality, child development and family policy