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UNC MPA is excited to welcome 64 new students in fall 2024—with 29 joining the on-campus format and 35 enrolling in our online format. These students hail from Washington State to Washington D.C., representing different interests and academic backgrounds and professional goals.

They are unified in their pursuit for an excellent education among like-minded leaders who are committed to impacting communities, governments, and organizations that serve the public for the better. Meet a few of them below!

Undergrad Degree and Alma Mater: BA in Public Health, with a major in Food Systems, Nutrition and Health and University of Washington

Areas of Interest: Food and Environmental Policy, rooted in social and racial justice

Q: Why the MPA? How did you decide it was the right degree for you and your career goals?

Over the past decade, I have been on a path of public service that has continually evolved, from owning a restaurant and serving community members to serving as a food educator with AmeriCorps and teaching kids how to grow and cook the food from the school garden. Next, I would find myself farming, learning regenerative practices, and working to reconnect to the land and my body. This path brought me to the local food bank in Bellingham, WA, where I would serve on the Board of Directors for the past two years, serving the community and trying to discover how we can better meet the needs of the people who use us a resource. All of these steps along the way were driven by relationship building, learning, and hearing one another’s journey. These experiences helped to reconstruct my focus and illuminate a new path forward, focusing on my goal of policy reform and having a seat at the table to imagine how we can deconstruct and reestablish policies that better serve the communities they are trying to impact. Gaining an MPA will help prepare me with the tools necessary to help facilitate, lead, and construct the change I’d like to see and will prepare me to be a public service leader and beyond.

Q: There are lots of places out there to get your MPA. How did you end up at Carolina?

I appreciate that Carolina’s MPA program has a focus on local government. To me, local government is where a lot of policy and programming gets to be practiced and implemented firsthand. Being involved with the public sector on a local level gives you the opportunity to have relationships with the community you serve and allows for more robust interventions and systemic change, identifying gaps and working together to bridge the change that’s needed. UNC’s dedication to the state and local government will give me the required knowledge and help illuminate each sector’s nuances, privileges, and barriers. Carolina will build my confidence around scalability and prepare me to help our systems better reflect the city and the people we serve.

Q: Is there a class or professor or experience you are looking forward to in the program?

I’m looking forward to getting to know our cohort and professors. One thing that stood out about the MPA program was how tight the cohort size was. I’m excited to develop my relationships with everyone, dive into discussions, and learn from one another.

I’m currently reading What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill.

Undergrad Degree and Alma Mater: Bachelors in Economics and Sociology from Elon University

Current job title/Employer: Workforce and Economic Development Administrator at Forsyth County Government

Areas of Interest: Public-private partnerships, strategic planning in local government

Q: Why the MPA? How did you decide it was the right degree for you and your career goals?

In undergrad I studied systemic social and economic disadvantages and often saw the public sector as a solution to those issues through policy revision and assistance programs, but only when led and managed effectively. In my current role, I collaborate with many businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits around helping the private sector find a talented workforce, ensuring jobs in our community are accessible through training programs, and that wrap-around supports are adequately funded and meeting the needs of their target population. I regularly make and see decisions around funding, policy language, and eligibility criteria that can determine a program’s success in helping the community. Earning an MPA will enhance my ability to affect change in my current community, hone my professional interests and talents to learn where I can be the most effective leader, and help me develop the skills and resources necessary to succeed in a variety of settings.

Q: There are lots of places out there to get your MPA. How did you end up at Carolina?

When working with County management on a new project or issue, one of the first questions our leadership asks is “What does the School of Government have to say about that?” I have frequently seen the School of Government serve as the preeminent expert on local government leadership and policy in North Carolina. It is clear this institution and program understands the importance of, continually invests in, and stays committed to public servants. I have been fortunate to find a variety of mentors in my organization and across my community whose perspective and dedication to public service I deeply admire, all of whom have received their MPA from Carolina. From my current director calling a former faculty member to get his advice on legal housing solutions, to classmates of a former County manager attending his retirement celebration, the relationships I am looking forward to building in this program will go beyond graduation and shape my career for years to come.

Q: Is there a class or professor or experience you are looking forward to in the program?

I am most looking forward to the applied research problem! There are many topics in my day-to-day work I want to dive deeper on and can’t wait to have that opportunity with the expertise of scholars and other practitioners.

Recently my music has been a rotation of Lord Huron, Maggie Rogers, and the new Glass Animals album. I just finished reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and am in the middle of Real Americans by Rachel Khong.

Civilian Job Title: Federal Police Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Army Reserves Seargant First Class (SFC)

Areas of Interest: Military Police & Anti-Terrorism/ Force Protection Advisor

Q: Why the MPA? How did you decide it was the right degree for you and your career goals?

My earliest memories are of my parents’ selfless service to others, which sparked a desire in me to serve others from a young age. My experience in the U.S. Army and law enforcement has not only deepened this commitment but also ignited a passion for public service leadership. With an Master’s in Public Administration (MPA), I aim to become a skilled leader prepared to apply policy that effectively addresses complex issues in public service. My ultimate aspiration is to join the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), where I can leverage my unique blend of military, law enforcement, and academic expertise to recommend and implement vital security policies that benefit both the private and public sectors.

Q: There are lots of places out there to get your MPA. How did you end up at Carolina?

Easy question! Carolina has a rich history of public service and reputation of leadership excellence and policy. From the faculty to advisors, and even alumni- I am confident that I am among likeminded driven leaders who are committed to my academic and professional growth. The thought of being apart of a supportive and collaborative community, excites me as I look forward to the fall semester.

Q: Is there a class or professor or experience you are looking forward to in the program?

Absolutely, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to attend Leadership Courses under Dr. Morse, an expert in Public Administration and Leadership and to be a part of the MPA Immersion experience. The immersion experience will provide a valuable opportunity to network and learn from seasoned professionals, who currently work in the government sector.

Currently, I’m reading The Serving Leader Jennings and Stahl-Wert (2016), which has been a really impactful book for me. I’ve only made it to the fourth chapter so far, but I’m already seeing a lot of relevance to my own leadership style and goals.

Undergrad Degree and Alma Mater: Bachelor of Arts in History, North Carolina State University

Current job title/Employer: Procurement Intern with the North Carolina Department of
Administration

Q: Why the MPA? How did you decide it was the right degree for you and your career
goals?

Throughout undergrad, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in public service and find
a way to better my community but I tossed around how. Following an internship with the City of Gastonia, I fell in love with local government work and discovered the MPA. After extensive research, I realized how versatile the degree is and how I could make a real impact on my community and others. Along with that, the degree itself will allow me to pursue a career where I feel fulfilled in the work that I am doing.

Q: There are lots of places out there to get your MPA. How did you end up at Carolina?

After discovering that I wanted to pursue a career in government I began to research MPA
programs. When I saw that Carolina was ranked #2 in local government management it was the obvious choice. However, what sealed the deal for me was the community that I not only read about on student blogs and reviews of the program but also what I experienced at the MPA Open House. During this event, I was able to hear about the cohort community along with interacting with prospective students, professors, and some alumni. These interactions proved to me how engaged the community is at Carolina and how I wanted to be a part of it.

Q: Is there a class or professor or experience you are looking forward to in the program?

From the outside looking in I am extremely excited about jumping into coursework while also getting to know the 2025 & 2026 cohorts. With my coursework, I am looking forward to taking some electives in economic development and potentially making it my concentration. One course I’m especially excited about eventually taking is Community Development and Revitalization Techniques with Professor Mulligan. This topic interests me especially because my county’s economic growth has been tepid for as long as I can remember and I would like to explore ways to potentially remedy that problem. Along with coursework, I am looking forward to the MPA Immersion and seeing how AI is going to potentially revolutionize public sector work.

This summer, I have slowly been reading “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn. I picked the book up both out of genuine curiosity and because it focuses on wiring a history from below, an area of historical writing that I find fascinating. Along with reading, I have been listening to both Elton John’s album “Madman Across the Water” and Rod Stewart’s album Every Picture Tells a Story on repeat.

The Fall 2024 MPA Immersion course will be led by Professor John Stephens. The topic will be ‘Exploration of Artificial Intelligence and Public Administration’. Immersions are weekend intensive learning opportunities for UNC MPA online and on-campus students which count for credit and require registration. All programming takes place at the School of Government, Knapp-Sanders building. Registration is through Connect Carolina. Contact Elizabeth Langefeld to get registered.

View this short video message about the course from Professor John Stephens.

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.

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 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-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 research 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.

The UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration Class of 2024 gathered with faculty, family, friends, and staff on May 11 to celebrate their graduation from the program. The ceremony, held at the Frank Porter Graham Student Union, honored 52 on-campus and online graduates—who completed the program in Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024, respectively.

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 annual Wright Research Paper Award, honoring the legacy of its namesake—former faculty member and public administration visionary Deil S. Wright.

Stenberg presented the 2024 honor to Jonathan Douglas Hill for his paper on Evaluating the Organizational Location of Keep America Beautiful Affiliates.

In his address, commencement speaker Dean Emeritus Michael R. Smith remarked upon the challenges that the future public service leaders of UNC MPA will face in their roles— challenges in the public sphere that are increasingly multifaceted and complex on multiple organizational and sectoral levels—and necessary to aim to solve.

“For complicated decisions, you are never going to have enough information because— wait for it—you cannot predict the future,” he advised the graduates before him. “You have to find ways to be comfortable and get other people comfortable with recommendations and decisions based on the information you have at the time.”

“We need you to take bold action as public service leaders. There are lots of headwinds today that make it harder than ever to take bold action, but we need public service leaders who will push through those headwinds.”

Before the hooding and pinning ceremony of the graduates, Director Jacobson wished her former students and future public service leaders well in their careers—and urged them to harness the values they learned in the program as they effect positive change.

“As you take on leadership positions, it will take courage to face challenges, uncertainty, and hard choices,” she said. “At those moments, I hope you will draw on your public service values and your ethics as you approach them and know that you can do remarkable things. Your commitment and courage will continue to have a lasting impact on the world around you and the issues you care about.”

The School of Government and UNC MPA program extend their congratulations and warm wishes to all graduates of the Class of 2024.

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.

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.

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.”

“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.”

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.”

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

Leisha DeHart-Davis is a professor of public administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the director of the Local Government Workplaces Initiative at the School of Government. LGWI is a research program that investigates workplace climate and employee engagement. This information aids local government agencies in creating great work environments. DeHart-Davis also researches organizational behavior within the public sector, organizational structure, and workplace incivility. She is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration which is a nonprofit organization that provides expertise on public policy and governance issues. DeHart-Davis is also a two-time published author of Creating Effective Rules in Public Sector Organizations and Understanding Gender Imbalance in Public Sector Leadership. Her research articles have also been published in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, International Public Management Journal, Administration and Society, and Review of Public Personnel Administration. The article is an interview with Leisha DeHart-Davis about her service through research to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It discusses her career path and her passion for local government. It also highlights her overall dedication to the School of Government and the Carolina community.

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