Charlie Perusse , '92

Former Budget DirectorState of North Carolina
"Work truly isn't work if you're passionate about what you're doing. The main reason that each of us gets into public service is to improve people's lives."

Former Budget Director, State of North Carolina

“Work truly isn’t work if you’re passionate about what you’re doing. The main reason that each of us gets into public service is to improve people’s lives.”

Charlie Perusse’s career path started to take shape during an internship with the Wake County, North Carolina, budget office. He saw firsthand that all government services require sufficient financial resources in order to be successful. From fiscal analyst to state budget director to COO of the 17-campus UNC system, he has applied his interest in analytics, as well as his communication and critical thinking skills, to bring complex projects to fruition.

Professional Experience:

  • Budget Director, State of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Chief Operating Officer, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Deputy State Budget Director, State of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • House of Representatives Budget Coordinator, North Carolina
  • General Assembly Fiscal Research Division, Raleigh, North Carolina

Recent Blog Posts

June 24, 2026

This post is written by current student Callie Barnett. Callie Barnett is a student in the...

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  • Professional Work Experience (PWE)
  • Local Government
  • Local Government
  • Students

June 22, 2026

This post is written by current student Desiree DeDolce. Desiree DeDolce is from Winston-Salem,...

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  • Students
  • Professional Work Experience (PWE)
  • Local Government
  • Local Government

May 26, 2026

At the May 2026 commencement, we had the chance to reconnect with four recent graduates of the UNC...

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  • Alumni
  • Students