This past June, the UNC School of Government successfully hosted the 2019 Public Management Research Conference (PMRC). It is the leading public management and administration research conference and the keystone event of the Public Management Research Association (PMRA). PMRC brings together scholars from across the country and around the world to learn from each other and make professional connections.
Hosting PMRC is a significant opportunity for any institution to showcase their academic impact on this field of study. This year’s event showcased the School of Government to its professional peers from a faculty scholarship and research perspective and from a venue and campus perspective. Dean Mike Smith said, “It is a brilliant example of how our work depends on the talent and hard work of so many different people—faculty and an exceptionally talented and committed professional staff. In other words, we are successful because we operate as ‘One School.’”
The Path to Hosting
Becoming the host institution for PMRC 2019 was not easy. The School submitted its first proposal in 2014 to host the event in 2017. The case had to be made that the Knapp-Sanders Building could support more than 400 outside guests and that the UNC-Chapel Hill campus—and the Research Triangle in general—would be an attractive place for visitors to come from all over the world. A second proposal in 2017, led by faculty members Leisha DeHart-Davis, Whitney Afonso, Willow Jacobson, Rick Morse, and Bill Rivenbark, secured the 2019 sponsorship.
The Largest Event at the School
Although the School hosts numerous courses, programs, and events throughout North Carolina and beyond, PMRC was the largest multi-day program held at the School itself. About 450 conference participants, representing more than 140 institutions and 19 countries came to the School for four days of academic sessions, workshops, meals, and receptions. The Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art, the UNC School of Law, and the Carolina Inn also provided space to accommodate the crowds.
An Academic Slam Dunk
The School of Government faculty prepared an extraordinary line-up of speakers and a rich platform for this multidisciplinary exchange. Many of them appeared on panels to present their own work and as gracious moderators and hosts throughout the four days. The receptions and entertainment—including a bluegrass band, an improv comedy performance, and of course, barbecue—also did not disappoint. During the conference, DeHart-Davis was elected vice president of PMRA; she will ultimately become president. This conference touched each staff division at the School and many people were involved in making it a success. Outgoing PMRA President and University of Kansas Professor Rosemary O’Leary said the conference was “superb, excellent, first class, intellectually-stimulating, and fun… It was a complete ‘slam dunk’ in every way. You have set the bar high for those who follow.”
The UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration program is ranked among “America’s Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. The program improved two positions since the 2020 rankings, ranking 19th overall in the public affairs category and maintaining its ranking as second in the nation in the local government specialty area.
The program also retained its status as 15th best in the public management field. The 2021 list marks the third consecutive improvement for the program’s overall ranking in the public affairs category.
In addition to ranking master’s degree programs in public affairs, this year U.S. News & World Report ranked master’s degree programs in social work, public health, health care management, physician assistant and rehabilitation counseling, and doctorate degrees in veterinary medicine.
Find all of the U.S. News & World Report rankings online and learn more about other graduate programs at UNC-Chapel Hill and their rankings.
Justin Stirewalt’s grandfather, retired First Sergeant Robert C. Lawson, served in the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for nearly 30 years, from 1973 to 2001. During his first year on the job, Lawson came to the then Institute of Government to train at the 54th North Carolina State Highway Patrol Basic School.
More than 40 years later, Stirewalt is studying under the same roof, of sorts, as his grandfather once did, as an MPA@UNC student. “I’ve got a picture of his class of graduates from the Patrol School program standing in front of Knapp-Sanders, and it’s really humbling to think that I’m now following in his footsteps,” said Stirewalt.
In addition to continuing his family’s legacy of education at the School, Stirewalt has built a career that mirrors his grandfather’s dedication to public service. Following his graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2007, he went to work for the Surry County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff. During nearly a decade of service, he’s worked his way up through the ranks to become a detective.
The spectrum of crimes Stirewalt investigates is wide-ranging, covering everything from mailbox tampering to homicide. Regardless of the type of case, however, Stirewalt said that his responsibility remains the same. “It’s my duty to help protect this community,” he said. “And I would never want to do anything to betray the trust of the people I serve—the citizens of Surry County.”
In service of this mission, Stirewalt has often turned to the School’s publications for guidance. “Working in law enforcement really shows you the value of the School,” said Stirewalt. “From North Carolina Crimes to legislative updates, the School of Government has practically been a daily resource for me.”
But Stirewalt felt that the School’s potential to serve and enhance his career could extend beyond its publications. He applied and was accepted into the MPA program, proudly embracing the opportunity to return not only to his alma mater, but also to the institution where his grandfather trained four decades ago.
Since enrolling in the fall of 2016, Stirewalt has found not merely a balance between his career and his coursework, but also a connection between the two. “The courses—particularly on public service leadership and organizational theory—have really exposed me to a broader range of leadership styles,” he said. “I’ve learned how to lead in different ways, and appeal to each of my colleague’s strengths and deficiencies.”
Like his grandfather before him, Stirewalt is striving to be the best public servant he can be for his community. With the help of the MPA program, he believes that lofty goal is well within his reach. “Growing up, I always admired how the other officers respected my grandfather not just for the job he did, but also how he did it,” he said.
“We only get one chance to build a reputation in public service, and I’m learning the tools to build one my grandfather can be proud of.”
Justin Stirewalt received the 2017 Megan Cornog Memorial Highway Safety Scholarship from the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. Read more at the Center’s website.
This profile was written by Andy Bradshaw and originally appeared in the winter 2018 issue of IMPACT. To view previous issues of IMPACT, visit the UNC MPA website.
Today, the School of Government and University celebrate Veterans Day by honoring all those who have served in our nation’s armed forces.
The School is proud to recognize our faculty and students in the Master of Public Administration program who are veterans of the U.S. military. The School would also like to take this opportunity to thank those among us who are currently serving as active duty members of the U.S. military.
To the following, thank you for your service:
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Michael Barclift
Hunter Brendel
Steven Bromir
Adam Caldwell
Richard Cloninger
Samuel Croom
Drepannon “Lex” Davis
Aigboje Enahoro
Larry Figgs
Ian Frady
Brandon Garay
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Miranda Leyshon
Gregoire Metellus
Tyler Mulligan
Nicholas Prieto
Carter Stapleton
Justin Stapleton
Charles Szypszak
Matthew Taylor
Matthew Van Epps
Charmetri Wrice-Bulluck
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Stephanie Watkins-Cruz grew up in southeast Charlotte where, she said, “There were families and people of every shade, shape, and size. However, it looks much different now.” Observing these changes and how they impacted people drew her interest in community work early on.
Then in 2012, her family was evicted from their home of nine years for the first time, and in 2016 for the second. They have been living in a hotel since. Watching her hometown change drastically and living through her family’s experiences with housing insecurity sparked Stephanie’s passion for issues of affordable housing and motivated her to pursue a career in public service.
“Housing is more than a roof and four walls,” she said. “It involves your surroundings, the health of your environment, and what you have and don’t have access to. At home is where your identity takes root.”
As an undergraduate at UNC Asheville, Watkins-Cruz found a like-minded community of activists—and her voice. She was involved in campus life as a student orientation leader, president of a student organization, and as a programming supervisor. During her tenure as an MPA student, she has worked as a housing intern in Orange County as well as a collaborative home repair and modification coordinator at the Chatham County Council on Aging. Watkins-Cruz also serves as a member of the board of directors for America’s Promise Alliance, a collaboration between hundreds of national nonprofits, businesses, communities, educators, and citizens dedicated to creating the conditions for success for young people. These experiences have shaped her perspective of the program and brought the MPA classroom curriculum to life.
Watkins-Cruz has been a freelance blogger for Asheville Grit and has published several pieces on Huffington Post. She commented, “I have really gotten into writing pieces about the intersection between housing and education.” She observes that there have been silos between housing and other social policy issues and is determined to be a leader who can help tear down those silos and connect people to the various and sometimes complex resources they need.
She chose Carolina MPA and UNC because of “the enormous sense of community and UNC’s unique role in improving North Carolina.” She is the recipient of a Weiss Urban Livability Fellowship, a Nannette V. Mengel Scholarship, and the Gene Rainey Outstanding Service Award.
Watkins-Cruz said her most rewarding MPA experience has been a combination of her professional work experience at the Orange County Department of Housing, Human Rights, and Community Development and her current work with the Chatham County Council on Aging.
“Public service is a great way to extend the reach of those fighting for their communities, homes, and livelihood,” she said.
This profile was written by Dylan Russell ’17 and originally appeared in the summer 2017 issue of IMPACT. To view previous issues of IMPACT, visit the UNC MPA website.
When I graduated, I had a diploma and a belief that networks make government stronger. Jean Coble, Gordon Whitaker, and David Ammons expected that each class would work to serve and support each other. Because of this, teamwork was baked into every part of the Carolina MPA experience.
I met my husband Kent Wyatt ‘02 while working for Tom Lundy ‘71 on a utility line extension analysis project in Catawba County (always a romance starter….). Fast forward fifteen years, and I’m proud to have co-founded and now serve as the executive director for the Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) network.
Copying the Cohort
Although the concept seems simple, it was inaccessible when Kent and I needed it most: a generalized local government organization that we could join and learn from when we moved across the country to Oregon while looking for jobs in local government.
I started my local government career in finance and moved into management, while Kent worked in long-range planning and now works in communications. So, we started our own cohort focused on local-level general government service.
We knew we didn’t want the group to be overly focused on job title or function. And we wanted to welcome anyone working in public service to participate. On top of that, we believed that local government leadership was changing. There isn’t just one path to becoming a city manager, elected leader, or department director anymore.
Informed by the Carolina MPA cohort experience, we gathered 16 people in different roles from cities across the Portland region for lunch. Everyone had so much fun that we agreed to meet up the next month, and then the month after that.
Soon we started bringing in guest speakers to share what they were working on and how it affected cities, counties, and districts. Then we added a website and social media to share what we were learning. We called ourselves ELGL—the Engaging Local Government Leaders network.
About ELGL
Today, ELGL has 4,800 members in every state and six countries. Our mission is to engage the brightest minds in local government. We do this with a daily flow of blog posts and weekly GovLove podcast content. We also host exciting events like City Hall Selfie Day, Supper Clubs, and conferences. And all of these focus on increasing diversity and inclusion in local government and finding the joy in public service.
We also spend our time on substantive topics like collecting data for the Diversity Dashboard (DiversityDashboard.org), a first-of-its-kind live database of the demographics of local government leaders nationwide.
We recognize outstanding local government leaders, places, and employers via our awards program. In this spring’s #ELGLKnope recognition of the top parks in local government, Matt Roylance ‘97 shepherded Garner’s parks to the Elite Eight, showcasing this North Carolina town’s leadership and infrastructure investment.
Our work is meaningful and fun. Anyone is welcome to join—our members are students, managers, police officers, librarians, accountants, civic tech startup founders, innovation directors, planners, and everyone in between. Why? Because we know that local government is stronger when we work together and welcome everyone to the ELGL table.
Bringing #ELGL19 to Durham
In May 2019, ELGL brought our annual conference to Durham, North Carolina, the perfect spot for a national local government conference. Not only does the city boast national accolades for programs like Innovate Durham and for improving opportunities for justice involved residents, but it also has a consistent track record of hiring and promoting the brightest minds in local government. Plus, Durham and the Triangle region have deep networks of Carolina MPA students and alumni who are active ELGL members.
ELGL Board Member Ben Kittelson led the organizing effort for #ELGL19. His team included Josh Edwards ‘05, Sarah Hazel ‘14, Caley Patten ‘16, Ellis Johnson ‘18, and Rafael Baptista ‘15. They curated a speaker lineup that included Eric Marsh ‘17 as master of ceremonies and Monica Chaparro ‘05, plus a keynote panel with Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle. The attendee list included a who’s who of Carolina MPA local government leaders from across the country.
#ELGL19 was made even more special thanks to a partnership with the Carolina MPA “Happy Hour Hub” program which brought local alumni to the #ELGL19 social event at Hi-Wire Brewing in Durham.
Continuing Connections
ELGL continues to build our relationship with the Carolina MPA program. And we’re proud of our relationships with 20 students (now 12 alumni and eight rising second year students). Like Kent and I did so many years ago, they are exploring issues of interest in local government in that same first-year consulting class. Students have worked on the Diversity Dashboard, researched paid family leave, studied trends in HR recruitment, and reviewed parks and recreation management.
Without a doubt, we are proud to support the work of Carolina MPA faculty. Recently, we interviewed faculty members Leisha Dehart- Davis and Kim Nelson for GovLove on their “Near the Top” research about women and people of color in local government leadership. We’re also anxiously awaiting publication of David Ammons’ newest performance-measurement publication and hope to host an #ELGLBookClub discussion about it. John Stephens and ELGL share a love and social media following for civic data and open source government and found shared connections at the Code for America Summit in Oakland, California. And the MPA program continues to be an amazing advocate for ELGL, enrolling current students in the organization as part of the School of Government’s “All-In” membership level. If you missed #ELGL19 in Durham, we’ve already booked #ELGL20 scheduled for May 13–15, 2020 in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more at elgl.org/membership.
Listen to the GovLove podcast at elgl.org/govlove.
The School of Government’s Master of Public Administration program is ranked 23rd in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 Best Graduate School Rankings. The program has improved two spots since 2017.
The program’s ranking in the public affairs category also improved in some of its areas of expertise including local government management (3rd, up from 5th), public management and leadership (15th, up from 16th), and environmental policy and management (14th, up from 15th). The program is ranked 20th in the area of public finance and budgeting.
A comprehensive list of all of the rankings in the public affairs category can be found here.
UNC Master of Public Administration faculty member Kimberly Nelson has been selected to edit State and Local Government Review (SLGR), the premier journal of scholarship on state and local governance. Along with co-editor Eric S. Zeemering, the UGA School of Public and International Affairs Master of Public Administration Director, Nelson will curate the journal and develop its distinctive voice in the areas of state and local government politics, policy, and management.
With the help of an expanded and diversified editorial board, Zeemering and Nelson plan to develop a robust article submission process for the journal and increase the population of peer reviewers. They also plan to increase outreach to professional and academic associations.
For Nelson, this is an invaluable opportunity to further serve the journal’s mission by bridging the gap between practice and policy.
“I’m very excited to take on this role, because SLGR fills such an important niche in public administration and government scholarship,” said Nelson. “State and local governments are closest to the people and improving these governments can lead to meaningful differences in the people’s everyday lives. I look forward to helping connect research with practice in a way that’s rarely seen in academia.”
Historically, the pages of the journal illuminate the challenges faced by state and local policy makers and public managers. Now, as scholars think about the policy and management challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the political polarization that strains policymaking at all levels of government, and ongoing pressure for innovation in our federal system, Dr. Zeemering hopes SLGR will be among the first journals they think of as a source for high-quality research.
“Particularly now, scholars need journals to operate efficiently and provide valuable feedback during the process of peer review,” said Zeemering. “We are dedicated to managing a professional and constructive peer review process. We believe authors, reviewers, and readers will be excited about the changes coming to the journal.”
As co-editors, Nelson and Zeemering will work in tandem toward this goal – strengthening a collaborative bond between their respective institutions.
“Eric and I will work as partners, restructuring the journal, promoting it, and determining the content,” she said. “We also see this as an opportunity to develop a partnership between two institutions that are leaders in state and local government education and scholarship.
Founded by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia, State and Local Government Review is the official journal of the Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management (SIAM) of the American Society for Public Administration. Peer-reviewed and published quarterly, the Review welcomes manuscripts that focus on state and local governments and those that explore the intergovernmental dimensions of public sector activity. The journal includes general interest research articles, perspectives essays from leaders in state and local government, field notes (including traditional research notes and examples of innovation from practitioners), and response essays. As they move forward with their planned changes, Nelson and Zeemering will enhance the journal as a venue for dialogue among scholars and public service professionals in state and local government.
State and Local Government Review is published by SAGE Journals.
The School of Government is pleased to welcome Shayla Douglas into its Master of Public Administration program. Prior to joining the program this semester, Douglas was part of the inaugural cohort of Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) Fellows, serving in the community of Pembroke in 2019-20.
As a new student in the program, Douglas has been honored with the J. Edward Kitchen Scholarship. This award honors Kitchen, a graduate of the program who served as president of the Alumni Association as well as the School’s Foundation Board of Directors. Kitchen is a longtime supporter of the program and spent 30 years working for the City of Greensboro, where he eventually served as manager.
Kitchen is an avid supporter of LFNC and played an instrumental role in ensuring the program had a successful first year. It’s only fitting that the recipient of his namesake award not only shares a degree but also a dedication to serving communities across North Carolina.
Now in her first semester of study, Douglas plans to study in the program’s second-ranked local government concentration and specialize in City and Regional Planning. Douglas said her fellowship experience solidified her passion for local government and created a path for her to expand it upon in her postgraduate education.
When Douglas first became aware of the LFNC program, she said she considered herself a “perfect fit” and applied to join its first cohort. Douglas was promptly accepted into the program and matched to work as an LFNC Fellow in Pembroke, where she served as an assistant to the town manager. In this role, she assisted with the implementation of the town’s Americans with Disability Act (ADA) transition plan and worked on behalf of the municipality with the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
“These projects involved multiple citizen input sessions, which showed me the impact and influence that local governments have on citizens,” said Douglas.
In addition to these duties, Douglas independently managed large-scale projects, varying from chairing committees to boosting response rates among the town’s residents to the 2020 U.S. Census.
During her residence in Pembroke, Douglas said the town—both its local government employees and residents—made her feel welcome.
“From my first day they made Pembroke feel like home,” said Douglas. “It was very meaningful for me to have these relationships as a 20-year old out in the world alone for the first time.”
Her experience working in local government ultimately inspired her to apply to the UNC MPA program. When recounting the inspiration LFNC brought to her, Douglas said it was invaluable in illustrating the importance of centering young people around the mission of good governance.
“To me, it showed that young people do have a passion for local government and will be the change that local governments need to see,” said Douglas.
Prior to her time in Pembroke, Shayla interned for Democracy Matters and presided over a local chapter of the organization at UNC-Chapel Hill while an undergraduate student. She later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University in political science and history.
After completion of the MPA program, Douglas plans to work as a city or county manager. She expressed a dedication to keeping an open mind that the local government field may ultimately lead her down a different path, and is also considering working in the parks and recreation or clerkship. Regardless, her dedication to serving local government will persist.
“I plan to continue a career in local government and bring positive change to my community,” said Douglas.
The School is excited to welcome Shayla Douglas into its family and looks forward to equipping her with the tools needed to have a lasting impact on local governments across the state.
This story was written by Kathryn Paquet and appeared in the Summer 2020 edition of the iMPAct Alumni Newsletter
Enrolling in a graduate program is a leap of faith. But that’s nothing new for MPA@UNC student Jeana Taylor, who spends her evenings with a troupe of jumping and soaring acrobats in Cirque du Soleil’s “KÀ” production.
Born in Alton, Illinois, Taylor and her family moved to northern California when she was in third grade. She received an undergraduate degree in theater from UCLA and went on to work in film and television, taking a particular liking to comedic acting. In 2008, she received a call from a casting director who had seen her work online. He was interested in booking her an audition for a new Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show.
“It was so suspicious that I actually contacted my agent and said, ‘Hey, can you find out if this is legit?’” Taylor recalled. “It never occurred to me that they would reach out in such a way.”
While she didn’t get cast in that production, Taylor was added to their casting database. Less than a year later, she received a call that they were looking to replace an actor in “KÀ,” their wildly popular show at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel. This time, she got the part.
She has now been in the role for nearly 11 years. “We have people come who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. I’ve seen a bride and groom in the front row of the theater. We’ve gotten notes from audience members who brought their kids who were struggling with cancer, and this was their night of escapism.
For some people, it’s just an hour and a half, and they walk away, and that’s it. But for others, it’s the mostbeautiful, astonishing thing they’ve ever seen. To be a part of that, this imaginative piece of work, is exciting.”
In the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, Taylor felt shaken by what she saw unfolding around her.
“I saw the election as something that really tore at the bonds of community,” she said. “I had this feeling that I was not doing enough— that I could do more.”
In 2017, she founded the group Everyday People Taking Action, a Las Vegas-based organization that aims to inform citizens and promote participation in the political process.
The organization’s work initially focused on tracking and providing information on the bills the Nevada Legislature introduced during the 2017 session. In the lead-up to the 2018 midterms, the group expanded upon that idea by hosting issue-based political house parties.
“It became, ‘Okay, you want to hear about gun safety. Here’s a legislator talking about what they want todo with it at the legislative level,’” Taylor explained. “‘Here’s the person from Moms Demand Action who is talking about what they’re doing at the advocacy level. If this is an issue that interests you, here’s how to get involved, and here are the people who are working on it.’”
Taylor soon realized she’d found a passion that gripped her just as much as acting. Rather than leaving advocacy to her free time, she decided to make it part of her career. After researching MPA programs, she landed on UNC’s online MPA program. With two kids and a hectic work schedule, the online format was exactly what she was looking for.
“I’ve gotten online in full-face makeup, my hair in pin curls for class, and then I’ll go and get changed and do the show,” she said.
Taylor’s experience as a performer allows her to bring a unique perspective to the virtual classroom. She can thrive in a fast-paced, ever- changing environment—a skill many public managers are striving to learn as populations grow more diverse and policy problems more complex.
“Theater is unique in that it’s a microcosm of collaboration,” she said. While many of her classmates are used to working in organizations with formal hierarchies and strictly defined roles, Taylor is accustomed to a more dynamic environment, where thinking on the fly is the law of the land.
“The structure they bring is helpful to me, and I think my ability to be flexible adds something for them,” she said. “I’m more comfortable living in a chaotic world.”
After earning her degree, Taylor plans to explore nonprofit arts management. She sees herself running a children’s arts program or moving into a management role at Cirque du Soleil.
“Public administration is a newer direction for me, and I had to really think, ‘Well, I made art and theater my career because that was my passion, and that’s what I love to do, and that’s what I could do hours of without feeling like I had done hours of it,’” she said. “Why abandon it? I can bring it to the table.”