Leisha DeHart-Davis is a professor of public administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the director of the Local Government Workplaces Initiative at the School of Government. LGWI is a research program that investigates workplace climate and employee engagement. This information aids local government agencies in creating great work environments. DeHart-Davis also researches organizational behavior within the public sector, organizational structure, and workplace incivility. She is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration which is a nonprofit organization that provides expertise on public policy and governance issues. DeHart-Davis is also a two-time published author of Creating Effective Rules in Public Sector Organizations and Understanding Gender Imbalance in Public Sector Leadership. Her research articles have also been published in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, International Public Management Journal, Administration and Society, and Review of Public Personnel Administration. The article is an interview with Leisha DeHart-Davis about her service through research to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It discusses her career path and her passion for local government. It also highlights her overall dedication to the School of Government and the Carolina community.
Read the full interview written by UNC Research here.
The School of Government is pleased to announce that Willow S. Jacobson has been selected by the National Academy of Public Administration for inclusion in its 2023 Class of Academy Fellows, in recognition of her years of public administration service and expertise.
Jacobson is a distinguished professor of public administration and government at the School, where she also serves as associate dean for graduate studies and director of the UNC Master of Public Administration program. She is an expert on human resource management, leadership development, and organizational theory and behavior. Jacobson’s research has appeared in publications including Public Administration Review and Public Personnel Management.
Previously, she directed the LGFCU Fellows program, which she helped create in 2011 to develop local government leaders in North Carolina. She earned a Ph.D. from Syracuse University and joined the School’s faculty in 2003.
She joins fellow faculty members Leisha DeHart-Davis, Kimberly L. Nelson, Carl W. Stenberg, and David N. Ammons (ret.) as current Academy Fellows.
“I am very pleased to welcome Willow Jacobson to the Academy’s 2023 class of Fellows,” said Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the Academy. “Our distinguished Academy Fellows are nationally recognized and respected for their expertise in the field of public administration and Willow is no exception. We proudly welcome this outstanding new class of Fellows that will help advance the Academy vision – a just, fair, and inclusive government that strengthens communities and protects democracy.”
Selection of the Academy’s new Fellows follows a rigorous review of the individual’s contributions to the field of public administration and policy. A Fellows Nominating Committee makes its recommendations to the full Fellowship, which then votes on those individuals to be elected. The 2023 class joins nearly 1,000 Academy Fellows—including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, and public administrators.
Induction of the new Fellows will occur during the annual Academy Fall Meeting, which will take place in-person November 1-3 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., with a focus on “The Grand Challenges in Public Administration.”
As the University prepares to welcome back faculty, staff, and students to campus, the School of Government recently checked in with many of its own faculty to find out how they continued reading, listening, and learning during the slower, warmer months of the year.
Hear below from our faculty about what books, publications, and podcasts caught their attention this summer.
Melanie Crenshaw, Teaching Assistant Professor
“This summer, I have been reading The Jurisprudence of Sport: Sports and Games as Legal Systems by Mitchell N. Berman and Richard D. Friedman. The book explores the intersection of sports and the law to learn about and teach legal systems. “Formalized sports systems at every level are institutions designed to facilitate and regulate complex behaviors, principally by means of formal rules promulgated in advance by rulemaking bodies and enforced by independent adjudicators.” (Berman, Friedman) I became interested in the idea of using sports to teach the law because I teach rules of civil procedure to magistrates who are primarily not lawyers. The rules of sports and games give them context to which they can anchor their new knowledge of legal rules of procedure.
“To improve my teaching, I often listen to the podcast ‘The Cult of Pedagogy‘ by Jennifer Gonzalez. The podcast was recommended to me by a friend who is himself an excellent instructor with the NC Department of Public Instruction. The episodes explore topics such as how to improve teaching with PowerPoint and how to keep students engaged. I have applied what I have learned from the podcast when designing my courses.”
Kirsten Leloudis, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government
“This summer, I’ve been listening to episodes of ‘This Podcast Will Kill You’ when I go on my evening walks. It’s a woman-led podcast that delivers highly detailed and heavily researched episodes on disease ecology. The podcast team has also recently branched out to include episodes on the history and science of certain medications. As someone who would’ve loved to have been an epidemiologist in another life, I’m obsessed! My favorite episodes thus far are the ones on rabies (season 2) and on Tylenol (season 6).
“I’ve also recently been re-reading Infections and Inequalities: The Modern Plagues by Paul Farmer, which focuses on inequitable access to treatment for tuberculosis and HIV for those living in poverty around the world. I first read this book in high school and it’s what sparked my interest in public health. Although Farmer’s book is over two decades old, his analysis of the systems that inform who gets access to health care and who does not is still relevant and on point.”
Ricardo S. Morse, Professor of Public Administration and Government; Director, LGFCU Fellows Program
“I’ve been listening to a lot of episodes from the ‘Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders’ podcast, hosted by Scott Allen, a management professor at John Carroll University. It is easily my top-recommended leadership podcast and features interviews with the best leadership scholars from around the world. It’s great to hear conversations with the authors of the research I read and use in the classroom, and those conversations often spark ideas for how I can improve what I’m doing on the leadership development front here at the School.
“As far as my summer fun reading, I recently finished Bono’s memoir Surrender, and found it to be so much more than expected. Sure, I grew up with U2 and have been a fan since the early 80s, so I was bound to like it. But I didn’t expect the great writing with many laugh-out-loud moments, interspersed with some truly deep and poignant wisdom. It was a great read. One of the best books I’ve read in quite some time.”
Kristi A. Nickodem, Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Distinguished Term Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government
“This summer I’ve been reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Demon Copperhead. It is a coming-of-age story set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, where the young hero faces poverty, domestic violence, involvement with the foster care system, and addiction. Kingsolver paints a vivid portrait of a childhood profoundly shaped by the opioid crisis, which has disproportionately impacted the Appalachia region.
“As someone who grew up in the Appalachian mountains, I particularly appreciate how Kingsolver interrogates the economic exploitation of the region and challenges reductive stereotypes about the people who live there. Though the novel is punctuated by tragedy, it is also a compelling tale of resilience, humor, and imagination in the face of overwhelming adversity.”
Aimee N. Wall, Dean
“I have a stack of leadership and team-building books on my bedside table these days and they all have helpful insights. My favorite so far is Radical Candor by Kim Scott.
“I was drawn to it initially because of the focus on honesty, communication, and trust. But the core message is also deeply connected to our humanity: how we show up for ourselves and how we show up for others. While this book is included on many leadership book lists for women, the messages are truly universal.”
UNC School of Government faculty member Margaret Henderson retired from her full-time position in September 2023 after more than 20 years of service to the University and the State of North Carolina.
“Margaret is a symbol of what the School of Government can and should be,” said Aimee Wall, dean of the School. “The caring, depth, honesty, and integrity she possesses are what we all strive to embody in our work. She is a true public servant, and it is difficult to imagine the School without her.”
Henderson’s career embodies the public service mission of the School and the University. Before she arrived at Carolina, she spent 20 years in human services, including work in state and local government and the nonprofit sector. These experiences included service as the executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.
An expert in facilitation and human services, Henderson leveraged her scholarship to work as a leading actor in the fight to protect vulnerable North Carolinians. In recent years, her workfocused onassisting local governments in their efforts toaddress and stem human trafficking and elder abuse. She lent herexpertise to countless organizations dedicated to this work, including the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission, NC Stop Human Trafficking, the University’s Project No Rest, and the School of Government’s Adult Protection Network.
In April 2023, her dedication to service was recognized by the University community as she received the Office of the Provost Engaged Scholarship Award for engaged research.
“I have spent 24 years collaborating with Margaret on projects and with clients,” said Lydian Altman, teaching assistant professor at the School. “In her quiet manner, she drops pearls of wisdom into almost every conversation. She offers the opportunity to see things differently and more holistically—how to appreciate and seek out the differences that enrich our work and add meaning to our lives.”
Henderson possesses a unique depth of knowledge on the practical challenges and opportunities of cross-organizational collaborations. She directed the Public Intersection Project, researching and communicating strategies to strengthen these relationships. Her scholarship, teaching, and facilitation helped governments, community programs, and nonprofit organizations bridge divides and generate more effective solutions to public problems.
A UNC MPA graduate, Henderson later taught in the program for more than 20 years. She has co-authored articles that appeared in Popular Government, ICMA’s IQ Report and PM Magazine, American Review of Public Administration, PA Times, and the FBI Law Enforcement Journal. Beyond published scholarly works, Henderson provided foundational resources for local governments. Most recently, these include sheets with basic facts about sex and labor trafficking, blog posts about recognizing trafficking indicators, and discussion guides for trafficking prevention strategies.
Henderson’s background in collaboration allowed her to identify new connections and pathways for local government cooperation in the fight against human trafficking. One such example is a bulletin generated by Henderson and colleague Kirk Boone, “Property Tax Officials Can Help Recognize Human Trafficking Indicators.”
Henderson’s influence can be seen across the state and in the halls of the Knapp-Sanders Building. A devoted colleague and friend, her collaboration and leadership fostered new connections and made the School a better place to work. Most recently, she served as a co-chair of the School’s Committee for an Inclusive Workplace.
The School of Government thanks Henderson for her dedicated service to clients, students, and the State of North Carolina and wishes her the best in retirement.
Join MPA alumni, faculty, staff, friends of the program and their families at the School of Government to welcome the newest cohort to the program and kick off the academic year at the annual UNC MPA Alumni Kick-Off Picnic! This is a family friendly event with tasty food and great conversation!
Meet alumna and instructor Katie Loovis and hear her thoughts on a public service career, leadership, and the MPA program. Along with her work with the UNC MPA program, Professor Katie Loovis was recently named as Executive Director for the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.
What do you teach in the MPA program, and how long have you been affiliated with the program?
I have the pleasure of teaching Nonprofit Management (PUBA 756) to UNC-Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration (MPA) students and many other master’s students who join the course from other disciplines, including business, public policy, and law; as well as some exceptional undergraduate students who want to challenge themselves with a masters-level course. I taught this course in the fall semester of 2021 and will do so again this Fall 2023.
I’m a 2002 graduate of the UNC MPA program and have enjoyed staying in touch with several MPA classmates and UNC School of Government (SOG) faculty members and administrators over the last twenty years. Also, I previously served on the MPA Alumni Association Board of Directors and now serve on the SOG Foundation Board of Directors. As you can imagine, I feel a kindred spirit with those in the MPA program and so appreciate and respect everyone at the SOG for continuing to hold dear the values of being non-partisan, policy-neutral, and responsive.
What’s your education background?
I earned a BA in communication studies with honors in 1999 and an MPA in 2002 from UNC-Chapel Hill, and am currently earning an EdD from NC State in Community College Leadership. I expect to complete my doctorate in 2024. At the same time, I earned a 100-hour graduate level teaching certificate from NC State, which has helped inform my teaching philosophy and practice in the classroom at UNC.
I love been looking at careers like yours – ones that take a lot of pivots. You’ve been in government, business, non-profit. You’ve focused in workforce development and now education. You’ve gone from nationally focused work to more locally focused work and now state focused work. What is the common thread in your career?
I am really grateful to have had such an interesting and meaningful career journey that has allowed me the opportunities to serve in the public (White House), private (GSK), and nonprofit (Achieving the Dream) sectors, as well as with the US Chamber and a local chamber of commerce.
Public service has been a common thread throughout my career. Looking back, I’ve been drawn to the place where the sectors intersect for the good of communities and individuals. I have found that big, thorny issues like closing achievement gaps, increasing access to medicines, or improving the talent pipeline requires leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sectors to work together. No one sector can do it alone! I really enjoy being at that point of intersection where the sectors come together with shared vision, programming, and accountability, and, together, make a measurable and lasting impact in the lives of others.
Most recently, I’ve had the honor of being a part of a collective impact initiative, called the Summer Careers Academy, which was selected into the UNC SOG’s ncIMPACT “Carolina Across 100,” “Our State, Our Work” initiative. The SOG is a true think tank/do tank when it comes to sector intersection and accelerating positive results for our state. Anita Brown-Graham and her team at the SOG deserve a lot of credit, recognition, and support for their groundbreaking work in partnering for the public good!
Talk about something specific you try to teach your students that you have found as necessary and an important part of all your roles (can be a skill, attribute, concept, etc.)
There is a wonderful Chinese proverb that says, “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”
I have found many UNC students to be intelligent, dutiful, high achievers. While these are virtuous attributes, they can be limiting factors when students are trying to make sense of the best career pathway for them, especially if they want their career to be an extension of their life purpose. The path of public service, especially with local non-profit organizations, while tremendously meaningful, requires a great deal from its executive directors. I try to give my students a realistic perspective of the many responsibilities of a non-profit executive (as well as the joys!) and also give them the opportunity to reflect on their own personal and professional skills and aspirations.
“Throughout the semester, I invite students to pause and engage in reflection activities to consider who they are, how they are built, and what career pathway(s) are most aligned and will make their heart sing.”
My hope is that, whether they choose to become a paid non-profit professional or a volunteer serving on a non-profit board of directors, they will be well-equipped to add a lot of value and make a positive and lasting difference. (Here is a transcript of a keynote speech I delivered to the Chapel Hill Magazine Women of Achievement 2019 event, which brings this theme of purpose and leadership together.)
In thinking about the course of your career, where do you give credit to its success? In every role that you’ve considered or passed up or taken, what has helped you in navigating the course?
I have benefited in my career from the help of so many people along the way, especially those who coached me through UNC Athletics, taught me at UNC and now at NC State, and those colleagues who gave me great career advice and championed me behind closed doors when employment decisions were made.
One great piece of advice I received from a former White House colleague was: “say yes.” I took this to heart and despite having demanding jobs, I said yes to opportunities to meet with many people I would not have met otherwise. Through these new connections and acquaintences, I also experienced exciting doors open for me, so I encourage all of my students to ‘say yes’.
What do you learn from your students?
My default mode of operating is to be very focused on getting things done. There is not much I love more than checking things off a to-do list. However, being an educator is helping me shift my focus more to other people and their long-term success. Students have really stirred in me a deep sense of compassion for where they are and the challenges they are navigating. As an educator, I see myself as a facilitator of my students’ learning journey. Facilitation is more than simply lecturing, it is helping students connect their personal and professional interests and goals to the course objectives and outcomes, and then encouraging them to explore new ideas and concepts, guiding them through the learning process, and motivating them to apply new knowledge and skills.
Leadership is an important part of the MPA program, and leadership is an important aspect of your new role as Executive Director. This isn’t an interview, but what do you want to say to us about leadership?
Leadership is one of my favorite topics to study. In fact, through my dissertation, I have found that leadership and management are two distinct concepts that are often muddled together. My favorite way to distinguish the two is what Bennis and Nanus (2007) said: “Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do the right thing.” This purposeful distinction is so important. Public servants must be good at both. Sometimes these two things can be diametrically opposed – managers can be working to maintain the very systems leaders are trying to change – and therein lies the tension. The School of Government does an extraordinary job at helping public servants understand these leadership/management pain points, make sense of their options, and equip them for the path ahead.
I have enjoyed learning about the School of Government’s Center for Public Leadership and Governance and the work that Peg Carlson and her team are doing to build up teams of public servants across the state who can successfully navigate leadership and management challenges.
What advice do you have for those considering a public service career or a career change to the public sector or to those who want to impact in some area but are feeling frustrated.
No matter what career pathway you choose, the reality is that we are living in rapidly changing times. I’ve enjoyed following futurist Heather McGowan who talks about how “the future of work is learning.” She says workers today are likely to have 17 different jobs across 5 different industries and, going forward, 25% to nearly 50% of the work we currently do will be replaced with technology in the next ten years (McGowan, 2019). While nearly all careers are changing, the field of public service has dynamic and important job opportunities in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. I encourage students to keep an open mind and heart about the different sectors of service, and to remember that as Picasso said, “Your call is to find your gift, and your purpose is to give it away”.
Now in its 26th year at the School of Government, the UNC-Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration program has once again been named one of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024 rankings.
The program improved its ranking among the top 20 public affairs programs in the nation. It is ranked 19th overall and remains the top-ranked MPA graduate program in North Carolina. This marks the 11th consecutive year UNC MPA has maintained its position among the top 25 public affairs programs in the United States.
In addition, the program retained its prestigious second-ranked position in the local government management specialty area. UNC MPA also improved its ranking in the public finance and budgeting specialty, jumping four spots to rank 22nd in the country.
The program retained its top-20 standing in the public management and leadership field, ranking 13th overall.
This year’s list—released April 25, 2023—saw numerous University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate programs earn high rankings. UNC MPA joins 15 other University programs in increasing their rankings this year, including programs in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Nursing, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and Kenan-Flagler Business School. Rankings for graduate medical and law programs will be released at a later date.
Find all of the U.S. News & World Report rankings online.
UNC School of Government faculty member Carl Stenberg received the Legacy Award in March 2023 at the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference. Given virtually by ASPA’s Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management (SIAM), this award celebrates public officials whose careers have “centered on advancing the study and practice of federalism in multiple roles.”
Legacy Award winners, an exclusive group, are recognized for making significant contributions to the academic literature on federalism, participating in a wide variety of assignments as part of SIAM, and taking active roles in the field—mentoring young public professionals in the infancy of their careers.
Stenberg has a long and established commitment to the Section, having joined in its founding and playing an instrumental role in advancing its mission to study, understand, and improve federal systems and other forms of intergovernmental relations.
His most recent Legacy Award adds to his collection of accolades from the Section—he has also won both of its Donald C. Stone Awards for practitioner and scholar contributions to the field.
As the nominator for Stenberg’s candidacy, School faculty member Kimberly L. Nelson was pleased to celebrate her colleague’s significant legacy in the field.
“Carl Stenberg has been a guiding force of ASPA’s (SIAM),” she said. “In 2014, he founded the Deil Wright Symposium at ASPA’s Annual Conference. The symposium continues today as the section’s main event, now heading into its 10th year. I can think of no other member who is more deserving of the Legacy Award.”
Willow S. Jacobson, director of the School’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, expressed similar esteem for Stenberg’s scholarship and its sustained positive impact within the public sphere.
“Carl is an example of a true engaged scholar, making a meaningful impact on the study and practice of public management,” she said. “His work in intergovernmental relations leaves a lasting legacy to students, the field of public administration, and communities across North Carolina.”
The James E. Holshouser Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government, Stenberg joined the School’s faculty in 2003. He is past president of ASPA and served as director of the UNC MPA program at the School from 2006 to 2011. He teaches local government courses to public officials, including in the Public Executive Leadership Academy, and instructs MPA students. Stenberg holds a BA from Allegheny College and an MPA and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Albany.
The National Academy of Public Administration announced this week that School of Government faculty member Kimberly L. Nelson has been named to its 2022 Class of Academy Fellows.
The award is one of the most prestigious in the field of public administration. Nelson is one of 35 leaders to earn the honor this year and joins a roster that includes more than 950 Fellows all time. Fellows are former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, nonprofit leaders, and public administrators.
“I am honored to have been elected as a fellow to the National Academy of Public Administration,” Nelson said.“I am proud to be a part of this distinguished organization and I look forward to working with other Fellows, including my School of Government colleagues, David Ammons, Leisha DeHart-Davis, and Carl Stenberg.”
Nelson is a professor of public administration at the School, educating public officials and teaching in the UNC MPA program. Her areas of expertise and research focus on local government management, local government form and structure, and municipal corruption. She is also co-editor of State and Local Government Review, the co-chair of the ICMA Graduation Education Committee, and is a co-author of Managing Local Government Services (2022, International City/County Management Association). Her scholarship has been featured in publications including Public Administration Review, State and Local Government Review, and American Review of Public Administration.
“This recognition for Kim is well-deserved and a great honor,” said Mike R. Smith, dean of the School of Government. “She has made significant contributions in the field of public administration, especially local government management. The Fellows are an impressive and diverse set of people; joining them is a wonderful achievement.”
Selection of the Academy’s new Fellows follows a rigorous review of the individual’s contributions to the field of public administration and policy. A Fellows Nominating Committee, selected by the Academy’s Board Chair, makes its recommendations to the full Fellowship, which then votes on those individuals nominated to be a Fellow.
Nelson will be inducted to the academy during its annual Fall Meeting, which will take place virtually and in-person November 2-4 at three host sites: Academy headquarters in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and the University of Connecticut in Hartford.
The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, nonprofit, non-partisan organization established in 1967 and chartered by Congress in 1984. As outlined in its Congressional charter, the Academy seeks to advance government practices through studies and projects held to the highest standards of efficiency and excellence.
The School of Government is excited to welcome Kimalee Dickerson into its faculty as the newest member of the management, administration, and leadership division.
As an assistant professor of public leadership, Dickerson will primarily work with two constituencies to advise and instruct on issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI): the public officials who serve North Carolina’s communities and the School’s Master of Public Administration students.
Dickerson brings a wealth of applied research experience to her professorship, having published and presented on many aspects of equity in public administration, including organizational climate for diversity, antiracism and equity policies in public schools, and equity in water quality.
For Dickerson, the study of these issues is rooted in a desire to serve communities that are often underresourced. Her public service career, she says, is largely dedicated to bridging these opportunity gaps.
“Throughout my career, I have been drawn to opportunities to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of others, particularly those in historically marginalized communities,” Dickerson said.
“Having worked in government and education, I have seen firsthand the importance and impact of public service. I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to influence social change through public service, such as changing how policies and programs are administered to create more equitable conditions.”
In addition to her expertise in DEI issues, Dickerson specializes in community- engaged and participatory action research and adolescent and adult development.
Dickerson earned an undergraduate degree in psychology & sociology and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Virginia. In addition, she holds a Juris Doctor degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to joining the School, she served as a postdoctoral researcher with the UVA School of Education and Human Development and Equity Center.
With extensive research and experience in law, public policy, social science, and education, Dickerson is hopeful she can use her time at the School to bring awareness to DEI issues, use research and analysis to explore them, support stakeholders interested in changing policies and practices, and promote accountability.