UNC MPA student Melissa Cordell has recently launched the Women in NC Government, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Each month features a new profile of a remarkable woman in government making a positive impact on their community. Be sure to check it out! The first episode is with UNC MPA alumna, Cecily Hamilton who serves as the Strategic Initiatives Analyst for the City of Durham, NC!
Melissa started this project as good government is a passion of hers. She hopes this can lead to more innovations in government work, serve as an inspiration for professionals, and recognize amazing women in a wide range of public service roles in our state.
Melissa received her undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill in Women’s and Gender Studies and is a current UNC MPA student in the online format. She just started a new role with the Congressional & Public Affairs Staff in the Office of Public Affairs & Consumer Education for USDA-FSIS.
This event is for anyone interested in learning more about the Masters of Public Administration program. The event will be facilitated by our Director of Admissions, Cara Robinson along with participation from a member(s) of our community. This session is for anyone exploring the MPA, and we will talk about both of our format options – online and on-campus.
Topic areas that will be discussed include:
– What is a MPA, and who is it for?
– MPA vs. other degrees
– Why UNC MPA?
– The student experience oncampus and our curriculum
– Program Outcomes and Career Services
– Application Process and Financial Aid
The UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration Class of 2023 gathered with faculty, family, friends, and staff on May 13 to celebrate their graduation from the program. The ceremony, held at the William and Ida Friday Center, honored 64 graduates, both in-person and online students.
Honoring graduates
UNC MPA Director Willow S. Jacobson and School of Government Dean Aimee N. Wall welcomed and congratulated graduates for their achievements.
Carl W. Stenberg, James E. Holshouser Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government, presented the Wright Research Paper Award, honoring the legacy of its namesake—former faculty member and public administration visionary Deil S. Wright.
Stenberg presented the 2023 honor to Ben Lasley for his applied research project on Exploring Criteria for Assessing Collaborative Practices and Performance. Following graduation, Lasley will continue his career as an Environmental Protection Specialist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Exploring what is meaningful
Peggy Merriss ’82, Executive Director for the Georgia City-County Management Association, served as keynote speaker and discussed the importance of graduates exploring what work will be purposeful and fulfilling to them.
“Think about what meaningful work is to you and why you want to do it so that you have a guiding principle and true north—because while there are plenty of days ahead of you, there will be some that are extremely challenging,” she remarked.
Merriss encouraged graduates to think beyond the basic and simple, to search for what is meaningful, and to commit to creating positive change.
She closed remarks by urging the public service leaders sitting before her to contribute to making this positive change for all community members they serve.
“It is incumbent [of them] to do it not just for some people, but for the most people in the most equitable, engaging, way.”
Student takeaways
Following the ceremony, graduates Danielle Badaki, Sherese Bonner, and Ben Lasley expressed what they will take away from the MPA program.
“This program has taught me the power of relationships, the ability to work across boundaries, and a passion for helping others,” said Lasley. “I’m incredibly thankful that I found a wonderful support system in our cohort—lifelong friends.”
Bonner, a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Commerce, shared her gratitude for the program laying the groundwork to build a successful public service career.
“This program taught me how to translate my passions into purpose. As a result of the exposure I received in public administration through my jobs, professional work experience, and coursework, I now have a more defined career path that will set me up for success in the future.”
Badaki, a client specialist for Fountainworks, reflected upon the strength of community within the program.
“The MPA program allowed me to cultivate relationships and build critical skills to become a public servant. Through this program, I was able to build a community that supported me short-term, in my education, and long-term, through my career.”
The School of Government and UNC MPA program extend their congratulations and warm wishes to all graduates of the Class of 2023.
When North Carolina native Sherese Bonner graduated with an undergraduate degree in public policy from the University of Virginia, she came to two conclusions: she wanted to learn how public policy was implemented, and she was ready to come back to North Carolina. Those conclusions led her to the UNC Master of Public Administration program.
“I wanted to learn how we bring programs and policies to life through implementation,” Bonner said. “I am also from North Carolina and grew up right outside of Charlotte. I knew I wanted to come back eventually, and a great way to do that was to complete my graduate studies here.”
Bonner is one of 37 UNC MPA graduates who will receive their degrees this weekend in Chapel Hill. She has used her rich and varied experiences—including a Professional Work Experience (PWE) with the Federal Reserve Board, a John M. Belk Impact Fellowship, serving on the program’s Diversity Committee, and serving as a Research Assistant for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative (LGWI)—to secure a finalist position with the U.S. Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program. The inaugural Flo Miller Diversity in Public Service Scholarship recipient, Bonner has found many ways to apply her experiences in the MPA classroom to practical, real-world work.
Among her most meaningful experiences was her summer PWE with the Federal Reserve Board, which she continued during the academic year. Bonner began assisting with operations in the Large Institution Supervision Coordinating Committee. While working with human resources, she created a senior leadership onboarding manual, planned a training expo for bank regulators, and planned and hosting team-building activities. When the fall semester began, she transitioned to work with the Corporate Governance and Secretariat Team, where she worked on a policy gap analysis and joined senior leadership meetings.
“It’s been a tremendous and wonderful opportunity,” Bonner said. “I have been able to directly apply what I’ve learned in courses like Organizational Theory and Human Resources Management. It’s one of the best experiences of my graduate school career.”
With ongoing economic instability in the post-COVID era, Bonner also values the opportunity to watch the Federal Reserve response. “There is so much going on in our financial system, and I’ve had a front seat to what top decision-makers are thinking and doing in this really unique time. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Relationships with School of Government faculty, including Kimalee Dickerson and Leisha DeHart-Davis, were a valuable part of Bonner’s experience. She worked with DeHart-Davis in LGWI to carry out workplace climate surveys and advise local governments on best practices to improve workplaces. Her experiences with the initiative provided hands-on experience that directly translated to internships and fellowships.
“Dr. DeHart-Davis really trusts her research assistants to take on important projects, communicate with clients, and assist with deliverables,” Bonner said. “We’re meeting a critical need for local governments and that experience was very impactful. It added so many tools to my toolkit that I can carry forward in my career.”
Bonner also credits Dickerson for impacting her graduate school experience as advisor to the program’s student Diversity Committee. Through Dickerson’s “fantastic advice and support,” the committee put on a multitude of events for MPA students this year that tied diversity and equity to the public administration workplace.
Bonner also served as a John M. Belk Impact Fellow during her time in the MPA program. The fellowship serves as a training ground for future social impact leaders, placing students from graduate schools, four-year institutions, and community colleges in positions to support and advance education initiatives. Working in the Office of Governor Roy Cooper, Bonner assisted with an array of initiatives under the workforce policy advisor.
“I was able to work on projects related to early childhood transportation, youth apprenticeships, HBCU and minority-serving institutions, and prison education programs,” Bonner said. “It was great to apply much of what I studied during my undergraduate career and there were many connections to commerce that I’m hoping to use in my future work.”
The next chapter in Bonner’s journey will take her to Washington D.C. as a Presidential Management Fellow. PMF is the premier leadership development program for individuals launching careers in federal government. After a rigorous testing and interview process, Bonner landed a position in the Department of Commerce, working in the Office of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo. Her work as a program analyst will allow her to apply her MPA and professional experiences to policy implementation within the department’s 13 bureaus.
“Many bureaus need support with financial management, HR, contracts, risk management, and data governance to ensure smooth policy implementation,” Bonner said. “I’ll be working on a cross-cutting team to assist with this work in the Implementation Coordination Office.”
Bonner’s time in the classroom may be complete, but she will take her UNC MPA experiences with her every step of the way.
“I love North Carolina. UNC is a top tier institution and it was my dream school growing up. It felt like a full circle moment to end my time in higher education with a degree from Carolina.”
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.
By Brandon Bieltz, University Communications, Monday, March 20th, 2023
Shayla Douglas launched into a career giving back to North Carolina as the downtown and small business development manager in Garner, North Carolina. Douglas is working to revitalize the downtown area and strengthen the economy of the Wake County town of 31,000.
For Shayla Douglas, success after college meant finding a way to give back to the state she calls home and working toward a better future for North Carolinians.
The double Tar Heel is doing just that as the downtown and small business development manager in Garner, North Carolina. Douglas is working to revitalize the downtown area and strengthen the economy of the Wake County town of 31,000 by supporting small businesses and attracting new ones to establish roots in the community.
Read the full story on UNC.edu.
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.
Leisha DeHart-Davis is the most recent member of the UNC Master of Public Administration faculty to win national recognition for her scholarship. An article she co-authored, “Gender, Race, and Experiences of Workplace Incivility in Public Organizations“, was recently selected as a co-winner of the 2022 Best Article Award for Vol. 41 of the Review of Public Personnel Administration (ROPPA).
In choosing this annual award, ROPPA aims to celebrate research that examines important topics in public administration, advances the knowledge base around it, and raises questions for the field to address moving forward.
A troubling trend public sector organizations have recently faced is a shortage of workers, particularly in retaining them in governmental positions and losing them to the private labor market. To address this, DeHart-Davis and colleagues from Ohio State University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Massachusetts Boston sought to examine how the public sector can remain competitive in retaining this sector of the workforce. The answer they found? Create an environment where coworkers treat each other well across gender, race, and other assorted demographics.
“Workplace incivility has been on the rise for a while and can hamper a government organization’s ability to retain good workers. Retention is a particularly important goal for government organizations given the worker shortages they face,” DeHart-Davis said. “To be competitive in the labor market, government organizations need to offer great workplaces, which include employees being respectful of one another.”
To arrive at this conclusion, the School’s Local Government Workplaces Initiative—a program led by DeHart-Davis which conducts research that helps cities and counties improve their workplace climates—collected data responses from a survey asking employees about a range of workplace experiences. The data for the paper was based on responses from two cities and two counties.
For DeHart-Davis, the collaborative approach to addressing this issue of increasing public sector retention perfectly illustrates the unique opportunity the School can provide to its scholars, when connected with other institutions of academia, to connect theory with practice and find concrete solutions to pressing public sector challenges. To be recognized by ROPPA was a welcome honor for the research team, fostering a needed dialogue around strategies to improve human resource management within government.
“ROPPA is a great journal, so it’s an honor to be published there,” said DeHart-Davis. “This award reflects the work of a team of talented researchers from all over the country. It also demonstrates how engaged scholarship works: that practitioner-relevant data can translate to academic research on public sector organizational dynamics.”
When it was time for Maggie Bailey ’21 to look for her first post-MPA job, she didn’t have to look far. She found the right fit within the walls of the School of Government, joining the School’s Criminal Justice Innovation Lab as its second project manager. The role was a natural transition for Bailey after serving as a research assistant in the Lab as a student.
“The Lab has afforded me the opportunity to leverage skills I gained in the MPA program,” Bailey said. “The program does a great job bridging theory and practice. The practitioner’s lens is evident in all the work the School of Government does. It’s exciting to work on projects that directly support stakeholders and inspiring to see how those stakeholders make measurable changes.”
The Lab is one of 10 entrepreneurial initiatives at the School. These specialized, public-service oriented units focus on a variety of critical issues, including public service leadership, criminal justice, economic development and community revitalization, and environmental finance. They generate local government fellowships, produce public policy analysis, and educate public defenders. As this work expands and grows, these initiatives are forging deep connections with UNC MPA alumni and students to support their efforts.
Jess Dorrance (’04) returned to the School in 2021, joining the ncIMPACT Initiative as research director after working at the UNC Center for Community Capital. Returning to the School to work on research and evaluation was “such an easy decision” for Dorrance. With ncIMPACT and UNC’s Carolina Across 100 initiative, Dorrance has the chance to continue deploying skills she first learned as an MPA student.
“The curriculum, the things I learned, and the relationships that began with MPA have carried through the years,” Dorrance said. “At its essence, our work at the ncIMPACT Initiative is about collaboration. That was such a big part of MPA: working collaboratively with groups, with cohort members, and directly with organizations or communities to help them solve problems or address issues.”
MPA students engage in the work of entrepreneurial initiatives by serving as research assistants, graduate assistants, or conduct their Professional Work Experiences (PWEs) with initiatives, generating practical scholarship that leads to real-world impacts in North Carolina communities. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that expands the work of initiatives, provides unique, hands-on learning experiences for students, and allows public officials to gain the resources they need.
“Our students move foundational research forward and take on projects that help us be responsive to stakeholder needs,” Bailey said. “Students learn about criminal justice in North Carolina and work on projects directly affecting people’s lives. We’re lucky to have programs like UNC MPA as partners.”
Bailey and Dorrance join other MPA alumni providing leadership to innovative entrepreneurial initiatives at the School. That list includes Dylan Russell ’17, executive director of Lead for North Carolina; Emily Williamson Gangi ’01, policy engagement director for the ncIMPACT Initiative; and Lydian Altman ’84, teaching assistant professor for the Center for Public Leadership and Governance. Each program benefits not only from the expertise of these alumni, but also from the practical skillset of the MPA students supporting them.
“Our team is fairly small, which allows us to be adaptable and responsive,” Dorrance said. “But we are tasked with completing a significant amount of work with limited staff capacity. The MPA students help boost that capacity and bring their enthusiasm, skills, and diverse perspectives to enhance our work.”