We asked some recent graduates of our online format about their most important memories of the MPA program and how this journey has impacted them. 

Jack Peterson currently serves as the Director of the Member Experience for the National Association of Counties.  Prior to joining NACo, Jack was a government relations associate for Urban Swirski & Associates and worked in multiple offices on Capitol Hill. Jack holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College, just north of Charlotte, and completed the UNC MPA online format in December of 2023.  Jack currently lives in Chicago, IL. 

Tina Bice resides in Winston-Salem and currently works as project manager for the Human Resources Division of Wake Forest University.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and finished the online format of the MPA program at UNC in 2023.   

Stephen Thompson is executive assistant to the President and CEO of the North Carolina Symphony.  He lives in Raleigh and finished the online format of the MPA program at UNC in 2023.  He has a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. 

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Q: Looking back on who you were at the start of the program to who you are now, how have you changed?  

A: “I’ve become a more thoughtful and strategic, forward-thinking person. The MPA program helped me move outside of my linear thinking patterns and consider the systems that create embedded problems and approaches we can take to change systems at the source to lead to better outcomes.” – Tina Bice, UNC MPA Alumna, Class of 2023 

A: “This program really shaped my professional vision. I started this program with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. I didn’t know about many of the arts and culture programing performed by State and local governments in North Carolina and after my first year I switched to a concentration in Local Government with the goal of working for the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. My MPA Alumni mentor opened my eyes to the possibilities of local and state government arts program positions and after completing my PWE at the Cary Arts Center, with the Arts and Culture division of Cary Parks and Recreation Department I knew State/Local Cultural Resources was where I wanted to be. Additionally, the focus on real-world organizations and project presentations in the courses helped to give me confidence in my professional life.” – Stephen Thompson, UNC MPA Alum, Class of 2023 

A: “Two aspects really stand out: first, the program really helped me build my management skills. Some of this was through the organizational theory and HRM courses, digging into discussions on organization structure and bias. These courses also gave me more tools to understand what colleagues and team members might be bringing to the table and how their work styles might differ from mine.  Second, I feel much more connected to many experts in the field of public administration on whom I can rely for recommendations, advice, and guidance. This surprised me (since I work for an organization where I get to interact with public administrators daily), but the breadth and depth of leaders (both on faculty and in the student body) at UNC has really helped expand my knowledge and capacity.” – Jackson Peterson, UNC MPA Alum, Class of 2023 

Q: What is one class, one project, one faculty member, one experience, one discussion, or some other aspect of our program that had an impact on you and proved to be meaningful in your professional life?  

A: “My Applied Research Project (this is the final project or thesis substitute of the program) experience was incredibly valuable. I researched work characteristics among hybrid and remote staff members at U.S. colleges and universities that promoted organizational commitment (ultimately, information sharing across distances and clear, equitable performance management). I was able to apply my findings directly to the development of an institution-wide flexible work program at my place of work. We will be tracking the results of our program over the next few years to see its effects on retention and recruitment. UNC gave me the guidance I needed to engage in this research and the language to bring my findings to HR and university leaders.” – Tina Bice, UNC MPA Alumna, Class of 2023 

A: “Public Service Leadership was a life changing course. I was skeptical going in, because I had held the fallacy that leadership is a trait, not a skill, however the focus on leadership skills which can help “non leaders” to learn how and “born leaders” to improve really spoke to me. I use concepts from that class weekly. In particular, my book club selection was Leading In Place, which is a professional development book I recommend everyone read, no matter your position in your organization. Mary Hemphill was my professor and her enthusiasm and genuine presence showed me what a leader looks and acts like.” –Stephen Thompson, UNC MPA Alum, Class of 2023 

A: “The immersion courses – especially for online students – I could not recommend more highly. The topics may not always be exactly what you are interested in, but the chance to connect with your classmates and faculty in-person is very worth the time and financial investment the course requires. Plus, it is fun to be on campus for a couple of days, especially if you’re not based in NC!” – Jackson Peterson, UNC MPA Alum, Class of 2023 

The UNC Master of Public Administration program aims to help mold the next generation of public service talent—for North Carolina and beyond—that can address the multifaceted issues public officials are expected to contend with in the coming years. 

As UNC MPA graduates continue to navigate the changing challenges of public service, three recent UNC MPA graduates share below how their degrees helped them overcome obstacles and discover creative solutions to issues that inundate the public sector. 

Scott Powell (’24) 

After graduating from the UNC MPA program this spring, Powell returned to work for Wake County—where he serves as a budget and management analyst. In his role, Powell manages department budgets in his portfolio and advises the county to make informed financial choices. 

From his time in the program, Powell said he gained the academic and practical knowledge to successfully effect collaborative change for the county. 

“I’m more pragmatic now than I was two years ago,” he said. “With the help of experience—much of which is a direct result of UNC’s MPA program—I find myself to be more curious and willing to figure out how to actually get big things done in a community that reflect shared values.” 

Now that he has graduated from UNC MPA, Powell aims to continue to leverage the knowledge he learned in the program to improve the outcomes of his public service—both at work and at home. 

“I will continue to learn and grow as much as I can with Wake County. I also plan to become more civically engaged in Durham, where I live.” 

Giving advice to prospective and incoming students to the program, Powell reiterated the importance of creating far-reaching and diverse relationships—both in the program and out. He sees the opportunity to build strong bonds across the UNC campus as a unique advantage of the program.  

“Invest in the friendships and community you make during this chapter of life. Some of those will come from the built-in community of your cohort, which can be an awesome experience, but they may also come from somewhere else on campus,” he said. “Among many other things, it’s what sets this program apart.” 

Charles Rocci (’24) 

Charles Rocci currently serves as the planning administrator for the Town of Pine Knoll Shores. In his role, he administers town, state, and federal requirements for land use planning and economic development in the town. He additionally works with community stakeholders to develop long-term strategic plans and comprehensive land use plans to drive the decision-making process for future town policies and programs.   

As Rocci works to secure a bright future for Pine Knoll Shores, he often finds himself relying on the organizational proficiency he gained from his UNC MPA degree to make both immediate and long-term decisions that are in the best interest of its residents. 

“I use my MPA degree to improve processes for the Town to better serve its residents and support its employees,” he said. “In the long term, I would like to use my degree to promote sustainable and equitable development practices in the Coastal North Carolina region, whether that be at the state or local government level.” 

In the program, Rocci said he found a renewed appreciation for public service. One specific discussion in class, he said, helped him discover a shared perspective and admiration for public officials among his academic peers. 

“I recall the personal mission in vision discussion in the Public Service Leadership course as a very impactful moment for me in the MPA program,” he said. “Along with being able to reflect on my life experience and motivations, which brought me down this path, I was also able to see the unique experiences and motivations of my classmates, which created a similar drive in them. I came out of that discussion with a greater appreciation for those who choose a career in public service and an optimistic perspective for the future of the field.”  

Jennifer Taylor-Monteagudo Mora (’24) 

 Jennifer Taylor-Moneagudo Mora began the UNC MPA program in fall 2020, completing coursework virtually while working full time. As she completed her public administration studies, she found a newfound appreciation for public service and decided to make a significant career change—moving from working in education to local government.  

It was a choice that paid off. Taylor-Moneagudo Mora now works as a budget and policy analyst for the City of Richmond, VA. In this position, she works with a team to create the annual fiscal plan for the city. In addition, she analyzes proposed state legislation and determine if and how much said legislation will have a fiscal impact on the city. 

After completing the program this past spring, Taylor-Moneagudo Mora plans to continue in her current role, but to use the skills and theory she learned in at UNC MPA to eventually rise in the local government field into a management position. 

With real world experience working in local government management under her belt, Taylor-Moneagudo Mora knows the problems governments encounter are not simple to solve—but still feels prepared to address them. She credits her UNC MPA degree with preparing her to tackle complex public sector challenges. 

“I have become comfortable with the fact there may not be an easy solution and there is likely someone with deeper knowledge on a topic at hand,” she said. “I have learned to embrace discomfort because it helps me to grow personally and professionally.” 

Professor Kimalee Dickerson uses her reserach on studying women of color in government to bring back the Engaging Women of Color Conference.  Held last June with over 80 participants and a focus on mental health and well-being, Dickerson talks about the importance of her study, on the group of women this conference brought together, and how this work and group helps shape the roles of women in government.  The 2024 conference will be held June 14th.  Registration is open to all public officials, government employees, and nonprofit employees. This conference focuses on the perspectives and experiences of women of color working in public service.

Read more on the story here.

Dr. Maureen Berner, and UNC MPA student and current physician, Dr. Amro Ilaiwy were published in the North Carolina Pharmacist, official journal of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. The Journal is a resource for pharmacists and health professionals in North Carolina, providing drug and practice information from across the state and around the world.

Their piece, “Who Gets What? Drivers of Emergency Room Use and Access to Medication Assistance Programs in North Carolina.”, is an analysis of Prescription Assistance Programs in North Carolina and their effect on healthcare use based on the volume of local emergency room visits.

“Having professors collaborate with students with a wide variety of backgrounds, just getting started on their careers or seeing how to apply their current specialty in a new way via applied research projects is a win-win-win for students, faculty, and communities in North Carolina” said Dr. Berner.

Dr. Ilaiwy was the driving force behind this publication, and Dr. Berner aided in the research process.

“As a physician who provided care to many patients via the Cumberland County Medication Access Program (CCMAP), I saw tremendous value in gaining better understanding of how these programs work and identifying opportunities for improvement. Dr. Berner inspired me to conduct a program evaluation as part of the PUBA720 class in hopes of bridging the knowledge gap both on a local and state level” Dr. Ilaiwy states.

Two major findings came out of this research. The first finding was that residents within rural counties utilize emergency services at a higher volume than residents in urban counties. Dr. Ilaiwy describes this discovery can be attributed to lack of access to urgent care or primary care facilities in rural areas. Moreover, residents of rural counties are less likely to have adequate or health insurance in general. The second finding presented in the publication was there appeared to be no association between increased access to medication assistance programs in rural counties and lower ER visit volumes per capita.

Dr. Ilaiwy warns, “One caveat to note here is higher numbers of MAP sites within a county may simply reflect declining insurance coverage and increased need for prescription assistance.”

This collaboration allowed Dr. Ilaiwy to develop a deeper understanding of program evaluation. He was also able to gain experience working with, collecting, and analyzing data.

“Students like Amro support my love of working with our students as much as (I hope) my working with him has allowed him to advance is passion for helping people live better and longer lives” states Dr. Berner.

The UNC School of Government is proud to share the continued success of its Master of Public Administration program. Now in its 27^th year at the School, the UNC-Chapel Hill MPA has once again been named one of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 rankings.

The program earned a 23^rd overall rank in the public affairs category and remains the top-ranked MPA graduate program in North Carolina. This marks the 12th 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. As part of the public affairs category, U.S. News ranked Carolina programs and specialty areas based in the School of Government and the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of public policy.

The program improved its top standing in the public management and leadership field, improving three spots to rank 10^th in the nation. UNC MPA also improved its position in the public finance and budgeting specialty, ranking among the top 20 programs in the field at 18^th best in the nation.

“The work we do—through research, advising, and instructing—generates award-winning, transformative scholarship that shapes the practice and future of public administration,” said UNC MPA Program Director Willow S. Jacobson. “ We are grateful to our esteemed public affairs counterparts for recognizing our continued impact and achievements.”

“As always, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni are united in ensuring the program enjoys continued success in the coming year and beyond.”

This year’s list—released April 9, 2024—saw numerous University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate programs earn high rankings. Altogether, 23 programs increased their rankings, including multiple programs in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Education, Kenan-Flagler Business School, and UNC School of Law.

Find all of the U.S. News & World Report rankings online.

In early March 2024, the UNC MPA program sponsored four current students to participate in the annual NASPAA Student Simulation Challenge.  The Challenge invites NASPAA-affiliated program students to participate on teams from other NASPAA-accredited schools in a competition with a cash prize to help solve a particular public sector challenge. This year’s topic was on ‘humanitarian aid and refugee asylum programs’.  Paired with other students from Villanova University and Georgia Southern University, UNC MPA students Ben King, Angel Padilla, Lorenzo Pedro, and their teammates won the 2024 NASPAA Simulation Challenge.

UNC MPA Students from left: Angel Padilla, Allie Omens, Lorenzo Pedro, Ben King

Teams were tasked with serving leaders of countries confronted with the sudden arrival of refugees fleeing a war zone. They had to decide which policies to implement to get the best results for their country’s economy, stability, and international reputation. Some policy choices focused on border control, housing, and education, and decisions had to be made while staying within a strict budget. The students also negotiated a regional response, allocated limited resources, and weighed short-terms costs against long-term benefits.  

Competition participant Allie Omens, an online UNC MPA student living in Nashville, TN and working for Metro Nashville Waste Services leading outreach efforts, said the experience left her better equipped to navigate tough decisions as a public administrator.   

“In our post-simulation debrief with Competition staff, one thing we discussed was the idea of ‘selective equity’. At the start of the simulation, most countries embraced generous aid packages and relaxed asylum policies. But as the simulation went on, the necessity to manage our budgets compelled many of us to scale back assistance. This led to the difficult task of deciding which refugees merited our country’s assistance, creating a genuine moral dilemma. As people striving to be equitable public administrators in real life, facing these simulated choices compelled us to face the discomfort of complex humanitarian crises and other wicked problems.”  

As in real-life public sector roles, the students had competing interests and goals as assigned before the competition. The challenge is similar in many other workplaces—how to balance multiple priorities within the group while putting together a collaborative plan to reach a shared goal.   

Lorenzo Pedro, another online UNC MPA student from Morganton, NC works as a Legislative Liaison for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and intends to use the MPA degree to better inform himself on collaboration between governments and nonprofit organizations.   

He found the competition to be stimulating practice and preparation for a real public sector situation. “Each round offered valuable insights into impactful proposals concerning the immigrants we were helping and our citizens. We also recognized the unpredictable nature of policy implementation, stressing the need for adaptability and flexibility in our approach.” 

Each year, the UNC MPA program sponsors students to participate in this theory to practice professional development opportunity.   

Looking back on the experience, participant Ben King reflected that “my biggest takeaway from the event was the ability to connect with other students interested in public service from across the country. Everyone was super nice, and we were able to make some good friends who we will still keep in contact with.” 

Angel Padilla, another participant in the simulation, summed it up succinctly.  

“Through this opportunity, I gained experience making critical decisions under strict time constraints, applied budget management skills through frequently changing costs, and improved my debating skills.”   

by Stephen Wright

This year, an MPA student with a record of service and dedication to the public interest was recognized with the prestigious Harvey Beech Scholarship.

As a child welfare advocate and online student in the Master of Public Administration program here at the School of Government, Angelica Foster feels that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and especially the UNC MPA program, was the only choice she could have made in pursuit of her master’s degree. To her, becoming a 2024 recipient of the UNC Harvey Beech Scholarship solidified that choice and builds upon the legacy of the first African American to graduate from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. 

The Harvey Beech Scholarship is awarded annually to UNC-Chapel Hill students interested in careers in law. Recipients are selected based on academic progression, GPA improvement, and contributions to campus life. Only five Carolina students receive the award per year.

The award is named for Harvey Beech, who was born in Kinston, North Carolina, in 1923. He attended Harris Barber College in Raleigh and later Morehouse College in Atlanta alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1950, Beech was asked to join a court case that would ultimately lead to him and four other African American students being admitted to UNC School of Law in 1951. Beech graduated in 1952 and had a successful career as a criminal defense and personal injury lawyer for more than 35 years, becoming a well-regarded civic leader in his hometown of Kinston. Beech would ultimately pass away in 2005, having paved the way for other African American students to attend and transform UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Foster saw a kinship with Harvey Beech’s advocacy and serves as a child welfare advocate herself. Her belief that no child should go through the pains of abuse and mistreatment, along with deeply personal experience with the issue, informs her desire to one day serve as a family court judge and be avoice for children. For her, public service means becoming a “force for leadership and change,” rising to occasion and paving the way forward. 

For Foster, receiving this scholarship is more than a means of furthering her own public service goals; it is a testament to all that African Americans have done, and must still do to create a place for themselves at Carolina.  

“My ancestors built this university but could not attend it,” said Foster. “They built this university and did not have a choice. Harvey Beech paved the way forward.” She also highlights that as a Black woman, “It’s not about glass ceilings, it’s almost like cement; it’s just that much harder. I do this because my ancestors could not, and to pave the way for my own daughter and others to come.”

We look forward to celebrating all of your accomplishments! The ceremony will start at 10 am in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union Auditorium, with lunch to follow for graduates and their guests in the Knapp-Sanders Dining Room.

Join UNC MPA on April 9th from 5-7:30pm in our nation’s capital to (re)connect with MPA alumni, students, prospective students, faculty, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation for our Happy Hour Hub.  First round and nibbles are on us.

Calico

50 Blagden Alley Northwest

Washington, DC 20001

This event is open to all affiliated or interested in the MPA program at UNC.  Registration is required.

*If you would like to help organize a Happy Hour Hub in your community, contact Brandon Foster at foster@sog.unc.edu or 919.962.0426.