Faculty Archives

Former School of Government faculty member David Ammons, Albert Coates Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Government, has authored a new publication. Published in May 2025, Improving Local Government Performance through Benchmarking describes the two types of benchmarking used by local governments—metrics benchmarking and best practice benchmarking—and cites examples and lessons learned across the nation and around the globe, including prominently lessons from the North Carolina Benchmarking Project.

Below, Ammons answers questions about the inspiration behind writing this book, expands on the complex nature of benchmarking for governments, and more.

“I have been engaged in benchmarking projects throughout most of my career, including 25 years as a faculty advisor to the North Carolina Benchmarking Project. From experience and study, I have come to recognize and appreciate an array of considerations that shape the design of a benchmarking project and important issues that can affect its success. Writing this book was my opportunity to share what I have learned from my own research and experience, and from the research of other scholars in this field.”

“Several aspects of benchmarking are not fully understood by many governments, but here I will mention two big ones. First, when done properly, benchmarking focuses on performance, not community or organizational characteristics or policies. A comparative inventory of characteristics or policies is not really benchmarking. Second, metrics benchmarking—the most common type of benchmarking in local government and the one most people think of—is not their only choice. Best practice benchmarking is an excellent choice as well.”

“Many decisions are made, initially, in selecting a benchmarking type and, subsequently, in designing a benchmarking project without full consideration of the ramifications of those choices on the ultimate success of the project. Reading this book will help remove these blind spots.”

What are the two major types of benchmarking used by governments, and does one have advantages over the other?

“Most people are familiar with metrics benchmarking, the most common type in local government. Metrics benchmarking is a superb tool for diagnosing a department or program’s performance strengths and weaknesses. But if a manager or supervisor wants prescriptions for improving their unit’s performance, metrics benchmarking won’t do that. Best practice benchmarking will.”

On a Monday morning in March, School of Government faculty member Kara Millonzi prepares to lead more than 50 public officials in a weekly ritual she calls “Finance Office Hours.” It is a time she and her colleagues set aside each week for the last five years—or sometimes every other week—to pull together the public finance officers working in local and state governments across North Carolina via Zoom.

These are not your average office hours for a university professor. For starters, everyone participating is a professional, most of them have their camera off, and while Millonzi’s tone is upbeat and helpful and her information is designed to be accessible to students, the content is dense and loaded with acronyms, technical language, and slides. And it comes on the heels of North Carolina’s worst and most expensive natural disaster: Hurricane Helene.

County and municipal government employees were on the front lines of this disaster and continue to work the front lines of the recovery effort. A December 2024 report by the Office of State Budget and Management noted that two keys to success in storm recovery are “1) quickly mobilizing significant, flexible capital and (2) proactively investing in local capacity and expertise to support post-disaster efforts.”

It’s the “significant, flexible capital” part that Millonzi has been working on lately after nearly two decades advising North Carolina’s local governments in the areas of public budgeting and finance. In addition to helping them shore up their financial reserves, access state and local disaster recovery funds, and balance their budgets, Millonzi provides a safe place for peer learning and for encouragement during a difficult time in their profession, when local government balance sheets might not look great because of cash flow issues due to Hurricane Helene.

“Kara’s deep expertise, combined with her approachability, made office hours a lifeline that local governments relied upon week after week,” said Lacy Pate, director of disaster recovery and grant assistance with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

Finance office hours took off as a resource for North Carolina’s public officials during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, bringing finance professionals together with School of Government faculty to navigate urgent legal and practical challenges related to the pandemic.

Millonzi was an early adopter of Zoom at the School and used the tool to set up meetings when it was impossible to gather in person. Participants discussed executive orders, such as those that temporarily stopped collections from residential public utility customers, and financial tools like small business revolving loan funds, to help local governments support their communities during a tough time.

By 2022, finance office hours had evolved into a platform for understanding the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), a program authorized by former President Joe Biden and designed to deliver $350 billion to state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments across the country to support recovery from the pandemic.

As with most federal funding, compliance standards were plentiful, and many North Carolina local governments—especially those with few staff members or simply inexperienced in working with federal funding—were in need but intimidated by the challenges they faced in accessing the funds. “Because SLFRF is administered by the U.S. Treasury, which is not a typical grant-making agency, local governments needed expert guidance, as well as peer collaboration and support,” said Pate.

Five years later, Millonzi and her colleagues are still leading weekly virtual office hours to provide up-to-date guidance on complex and shifting federal funding requirements, particularly on those related to disaster relief. The office hours help School faculty and others better understand issues facing different communities, and the information shared on these calls helps Millonzi be responsive to public officials and target the resources she’s creating for local governments.

“Office Hours provides the unique opportunity to overlay the federal guidelines with state statutes and requirements,” said Maria Standfest, a grants/project analyst with New Hanover County’s finance department. “What we learned early on is that just because Treasury says we can use SLFRF funds in certain ways, it doesn’t mean that it’s allowable in the state of North Carolina.”

“It’s hard to believe that we have had access to such a wealth of information at no cost,” added Standfest.

In September 2024, Millonzi and her colleagues quickly adapted office hours to address Helene-related concerns, demonstrating the value of real-time problem-solving and peer support.

“Our region is rural and many of the local governments we serve are small,” said Cory Osborne, director of economic recovery and resilience with High Country Council of Governments, serving Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties, all of which are located within Hurricane Helene’s FEMA-designated disaster areas.

“The calls after Helene have been a great resource for us,” said Osborne. “Most of my department’s work shifted after the storm to helping local governments with the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program. Navigating the PA program is challenging and complex. Alongside complying with FEMA regulations, local governments also must follow procurement requirements and statutory requirements on how they handle funding,” he added.

Osborne noted that the recurring support and knowledge the School offers has helped High Country Council of Governments navigate financial complexities. Knowing experts are easily reachable has been a comfort to employees and the communities they serve.

Finance officers from coastal North Carolina communities—many of whom have previous experience with hurricane recovery—also provided comfort, insights, and tips on these calls for their peers in western communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene and in urgent need of federal funding.

Over time, the focus of finance office hours has broadened to cover general local government law and finance. While each government has its own challenges unique to their circumstances, they face many issues in common—an urgent need for a pipeline of employees trained in public finance, lack of training in navigating federal funding requirements, and not enough staff.

“Within the calls themselves, there’s wonderful information shared between local governments,” said Standfest. “Many times, questions are shared with the group and other units are able to answer them or offer their own experiences. They share obstacles they’ve encountered, solutions they’ve found, and recommendations for others.”

Office hours also foster collaboration between School faculty, local governments, and organizations such as the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, regional Councils of Government, and state agencies. It has been particularly helpful to address hot topics and emerging issues.

“There is always a dedicated group of officials seeking guidance and sharing insights to support one another. It has become a community, where we all learn from each other, share with each other, and sometimes commiserate with each other,” said Millonzi. “I look forward to it every week.”

New UNC School of Government faculty member Dylan Russell was recently recognized with three distinguished honors, which underscore his contributions to public service, higher education, and leadership at UNC-Chapel Hill and across North Carolina.

Founded in 1904, the Order fosters connections among students, faculty, and alumni and selects members based on extraordinary service to the university in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty, and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits. Russell was nominated by Richard Stevens, former state senator, UNC MPA alumnus, and Chair Emeritus of the UNC Board of Trustees.

“I believe deeply in the promise of UNC-CH and what it means for North Carolina,” said Russell.“To be inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece—and to join the ranks of giants from the School of Government like Mike Smith, John Sanders, Albert Coates, and Anita Brown-Graham—is a profound honor. Their commitment to service and leadership has shaped this state, and their example continues to inspire me every day. I’m humbled to carry that legacy forward and grateful to be part of a tradition that recognizes the power of public service to unite, elevate, and transform communities through Carolina’s work.”

Also this year, Russell received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Undergraduate Teaching, which honors outstanding faculty and teaching assistants who demonstrate excellence in instruction and impact on student learning. The Student Undergraduate Teaching Awards were established to recognize outstanding undergraduate instruction by both faculty and teaching assistants. Teaching nominations are reviewed based on demonstrated and consistent teaching excellence, success in positively affecting a broad spectrum of students both in and outside the classroom, and the creation of a dynamic learning environment.

Russell was recognized for his work teaching State and Local Government (PUBA 401), a service-learning course placing undergraduate students in nonprofits and local governments across the state. In the class, students work with community partners to create policy briefs that address issues faced by the community. The course also serves as a gateway to public service careers: six of Russell’s former students have gone on to enroll in the UNC MPA program, and many now serve in local government leadership roles across the state.

One nomination for the award read, “Russell embodies the highest standards of undergraduate teaching excellence. Through his commitment to experiential learning, mentorship, career preparation, and fostering an inclusive and dynamic classroom, he inspires students to pursue meaningful careers in public service.”

In May, Russell received an award from Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) or top influencers in local government. ELGL is a national organization that celebrates innovation in local government. The award honors public sector professionals making a difference in their communities and who demonstrate joy, creativity, connection, dependability, and equity through their work and public activities. Russell was one of three honorees from UNC, alongside UNC MPA alumnus Pat Madej and PELA graduate Jonathan Russell.

Dylan Russell joined the School as a teaching assistant professor in May 2025. He serves as the faculty co-lead of Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government. Lead for North Carolina facilitates high-impact fellowships for recent graduates in local government throughout the state. Under Dylan’s leadership, Lead for NC has connected over 150 young leaders with fellowships and secured over 10 million in funding to support these initiatives. Dylan’s research explores strategies for workforce development, talent retention, and institutional capacity in government organizations.

The UNC School of Government congratulates Master of Public Administration faculty member and James E. Holshouser Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government Carl W. Stenberg on his recent receipt of the 2025 Elmer B. Staats Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Public Service from the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

Stenberg was presented as this respective year’s winner at the ASPA Annual Conference. As stated by the nominating body’s requirements, candidates for the honor should demonstrate commanding public service careers with significant:

As a longtime scholar on the subject, Stenberg’s publishing career has seen him make several key academic contributions to the field of federalism; he is considered a leading national expert on local government management and structure. Many peers in the field consider his publications to be sources of record on the topic. His co-authored publication, Managing Local Government: An Essential Guide for Municipal and County Managers, is considered a foundational resource for top public office executives seeking a practical introduction to the changing structure, forms, and functions of local governments.

In accepting the honor from ASPA, Stenberg spoke of the meaning behind winning the award as a career-defining achievement in his decades-long commitment to public service.

“This recognition for lifetime contributions is the capstone of my public service career, which spans over 50 years,” he said. “I’ve worked at the federal, state, and local levels and served as chief executive officer of a national non-profit organization. I’ve also spent 35 years in 3 universities. I was really honored to receive this award and am thankful to my School of Government colleagues for nominating me.”

Stenberg’s career accomplishments in public administration are numerous, even separate from his tenure at the School. He served as dean of Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts, the University of Baltimore; director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia; executive director of the Council of State Governments; and assistant director of the United States Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. He has served in editorship capacities for The Regionalist, Public Administration Review, The Journal for Public Managers, and the University of Virginia News Letter.

Willow S. Jacobson, director of the School’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, expressed admiration for her colleague’s public service impact in her nomination for his candidacy.

“His work in intergovernmental relations leaves a lasting legacy to students, the field of public administration, and communities across North Carolina. He also is a true mentor to his students—both academics and public professionals—as they seek to expand their public service footprint. I count myself as extremely lucky to have him on my Master of Public Administration faculty.”

Stenberg spoke during his remarks about the honor behind carrying on the legacy of the award’s namesake, who was a founding member of ASPA and its national president from 1961-1962.

“I’m also honored to receive the lifetime public service award named for Elmer Staats, who was one of my heroes,” he remarked. “Elmer was a proud and passionate supporter of good governance as well as of national organizations that stood up for the public service – the American Society for Public Administration and National Academy of Public Administration.”

At the School, Stenberg embraces the objective of connecting public administration theory with practice and making a meaningful impact on the public management field. In 2004, he led the creation of the School’s top leadership program, the Public Executive Leadership Academy. For two decades, he served as its lead faculty member, working to educate the state’s senior executive leaders in local government. It is a legacy of combining public administration scholarship with tangible, positive outcomes that he spoke of in his acceptance remarks.

“As I reflect on the different platforms from which I’ve been able to engage in public service, I feel confident that my “pracademic” perspective has been of value to those who I’ve served – chief administrative officers, elected officials, colleagues, and students. I’ve found that bridging the worlds of theory and practice to apply knowledge that works to improve governance and service to the public has been truly rewarding.”

“With respect to what I hope to have accomplished during my public service career, my focus has been on helping governments better serve their people through teaching and training public officials. I also hope that I’ve encouraged students to pursue public service careers, shown them how government service can be both transactional and transformative, and enabled them to be effective boundary spanners and respected public servants.”

Stenberg has a long service history to the American Society for Public Administration. He was instrumental in the origins of its Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management (SIAM), 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. Like Elmer Staats, he has also served the ASPA organization as its president, at-large member, and president of a regional chapter. Last year, SIAM awarded him the Legacy Award for his advancement of the study and practice of federalism in government. In 2020, the Section recognized his service with the receipt of the Donald C. Stone Distinguished Scholar Award.

For the tenth year, UNC MPA students in PUBA 723: Human Resource Management stepped into the role of public sector leaders during the HR Fire Drills exercise, a high-intensity simulation designed to test their ability to navigate complex personnel challenges. This hands-on experience was judged by Katherine Cathey, Person County Manager; Bob Hornik, Hillsborough Town Attorney; Jen Della Valle, Hillsborough Administrative Services Director and UNC MPA alum; Duane Hampton, Hillsborough Police Chief and UNC MPA alum; and Matt Efird, Hillsborough Assistant Town Manager.

Students were evaluated on their ability to exchange information, operate under pressure, assess various approaches, guard against confirmation bias, and analyze the broader implications of HR decisions on an organization. Each team assumed the role of a management team, making strategic decisions for the scenarios presented.

UNC MPA alum and Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson first introduced the HR Fire Drills through UNC’s ICMA student chapter. Recognizing the value of this exercise, he collaborated with Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis to formally integrate it into the PUBA 723 syllabus. Peterson developed the exercise based on real-world HR challenges he encountered throughout his career, aiming to prepare students for the complexities of public sector personnel management. Dr. Dehart-Davis described the Drills as giving “MPA students a sense of how challenging public sector HR can be.”

The HR Fire Drills challenged student teams to tackle real-world workplace scenarios, including addressing workplace violence, handling discrimination allegations, and determining the next steps for an employee on probation. Each team was required to assess the situation, weigh potential consequences, and present their decisions to a panel of experienced professionals. After presenting their recommendations, students received valuable insights and feedback from the judges, who shared how these situations had played out in real life. This allowed for a dynamic discussion on alternative approaches, best practices, and the complexities of HR decision-making in the public sector.

Current MPA student and HR Fire Drills group winner Rachel Wooster described the experience as “a great opportunity to understand how a manager would handle difficult (but common) HR situations. It was extremely helpful to hear different perspectives on addressing such challenges.” She also highlighted the strong sense of community and alumni connections within the UNC MPA program, which provides invaluable opportunities like this. Wooster, along with teammates Noah Champion, Javier Limon, and Josie Zakrzewski, proudly took home this year’s trophy.

By simulating the high-stakes decision-making process of HR professionals, the HR Fire Drills continue to equip UNC MPA students with critical thinking and leadership skills essential for managing real-world personnel issues in the public sector. The exercise not only reinforces the importance of sound judgment and ethical decision-making but also provides students with firsthand experience in handling complex, high-pressure situations. Through direct engagement with experienced public administrators, students gain deeper insights into the nuances of HR management, preparing them to navigate challenges they will face as future leaders in government and nonprofit organizations. This hands-on approach reflects UNC MPA’s commitment to blending academic rigor with practical experience, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to lead and serve in diverse public administration roles.

As the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill welcomes back faculty, staff, and students to campus, the School of Government’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is busy at work welcoming new and returning students. With summer entering the rearview mirror, the School decided to check in with Dean Aimee Wall and MPA faculty to find out what they listened to and read to keep learning and engaged during the summer—right as they kick into a new academic semester.

Ricardo S. Morse, Professor of Public Administration and Government

“I’ve been really enjoying Simon Sinek’s ‘A Bit of Optimism’ podcast. He is an innovative thinker and great communicator and the conversations on his podcast always leave me with much food for thought.

“A highlight from this summer was a two-episode conversation with Adam Grant and Brené Brown, two scholars who have influenced my own work and for whom I have a lot of respect.”

C. Tyler Mulligan, David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government

“I had some long drives to summer conferences and training programs, so I took the opportunity to discover some new podcasts. Bloomberg’s ‘Odd Lots’ podcast lured me in with an interview about a possible solution to the housing crisis—the recommendation turned out to be a federal guarantee of subordinated construction loans for housing, and I geeked out on details about the secondary debt market.

“Another podcast in the same vein is ‘Capitalisn’t’ with smart interviews conducted by a University of Chicago Business School professor and a business reporter. That podcast hooked me with an in-depth look at globalization.

“Finally, a little closer to home, I’ve enjoyed listening to interviews of North Carolina economic development professionals on the ‘The New Economic Developers on the Block.’”

Kimberly L. Nelson, Professor of Public Administration and Government

“I love to listen to the podcast ‘Stuff You Should Know’. It focuses on random topics that the hosts research and discuss. It could be history, science, or pop culture topics.

“Another listen was ‘American Scandal’. It is a history podcast that describes events such as government or corporate corruption cases.

“Trust is a Pulitzer Prize-winning fictional work that is difficult to describe. The story is told through four other fictional books about the life of a billionaire and his wife. The novel-within-a-novel concept is different from anything I’ve read before.”

Charles Szypszak, Albert Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government

“I’m currently reading three books, alternating among them. I am studying David Crowley’s Warsaw. Crowley is a professor of visual culture. I just returned from a work visit to Warsaw and was amazed by how much has changed since I was last there several years ago, and especially by how well it is blending modern development with a preserved sense of history.

“I mostly switch back and forth between this book and Yaz: Baseball, the Wall, and Me, an autobiography by Boston Red Sox star Carl Yastrzemski. When I was young, I was not a Red Sox fan, but growing up in a Polish-speaking household I heard of “Yaz” and he is often mentioned as a great player. Yaz grew up on a potato farm on Long Island and is known for the way he intensely practiced and mastered the fine points of fielding and hitting. I am mostly curious to hear how he described his challenges and successes.

“The third book is Richard Brzezinski’s Polish Winged Hussar, about calvary tactics of legendary warriors known for the “wings” worn on their backs, because I continue my interest in military history and tactics.

Aimee N. Wall, Dean

“I recently finished reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. The story’s focus on the friendships shared among women—in this instance, American women who served in Vietnam during the war—was incredibly moving and made me want to celebrate the many women in my life who have lifted me up and made me laugh.

“For podcasts, I really enjoyed ‘The Rest is History’, which offers bite-size history lessons and discussions, all with lovely British accents!”

Join David Yokum, JD, PhD, North Carolina’s Chief Scientist in the Office of State Budget & Management and Professor of the Practice and Director of The Policy Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Data Science & Society, who will lead a panel discussion about AI’s current landscape as it relates to the policies and programs in public service and local government.

Join UNC MPA in Raleigh to (re)connect with MPA alumni, students, prospective students, faculty, and staff for drinks, lite bites, and great conversation for our Happy Hour Hub at Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street. First round and nibbles are on us, register HERE!

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.

Thursday, February 2, 2023
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tate’s Craft Cocktails
279 W. 4th Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

If you’re in town for the NCCCMA Winter Seminar, or if you are simply in town, join us for our first Happy Hour Hub of 2024! There is no charge but PLEASE let us know you’re coming by registering HERE. 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.

UNC Master of Public Administration faculty members contribute their talents through a variety of public administration national leadership and service positions. Reflecting the breadth of expertise of its faculty, UNC MPA faculty provide service as committee members, board members, and editors of some of the nation and world’s leading scholarly public sector organizations.

“Our faculty have been extraordinarily successful connecting the School’s model of engaged scholarship with the broader national academic and professional communities,” said UNC School of Government Dean Aimee N. Wall. “As recognized experts in their fields of public administration, they are making practical and significant contributions that not only advance the field but directly benefit our students and North Carolina’s public officials every day.”

Read more about the variety of public service organizations and positions with which UNC MPA faculty engage.

Editorial board member| Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory; Public Budgeting & Finance

Finance committee member | Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration

Leisha DeHart-Davis, Professor of Public Administration and Government; Director, Local Government Workplaces Initiative

Board member | Center for Organizational Research and Design, Arizona State University

Editorial board member | The American Review of Public Administration; State and Local Government Review

Willow S. Jacobson, Director, UNC MPA Program; Robert W. Bradshaw Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government

Board member | The Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations, American Society for Public Administration

Editorial board member | Public Personnel Management; Review of Public Personnel Administration; Korean Journal of Policy Studies

Board member |The Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management, American Society for Public Administration

Co-chair | Local Government Education Committee, Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration; Graduate Education Committee, International City/County Management Association

Editorial board member| Public Administration Review; The American Review of Public Administration

Editorial board member | International Journal of Public Administration; Public Administration Quarterly; Public Administration Review

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