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. 

Scott Powell (’24) 

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 (’24) 

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-Monteagudo Mora (’24) 

 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.

Read more on the story here.

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.

Find all of the U.S. News & World Report rankings online.

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.

UNC MPA Students from left: Angel Padilla, Allie Omens, Lorenzo Pedro, Ben King

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.” 

Angel Padilla, another participant in the simulation, summed it up succinctly.  

“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.”   

by Stephen Wright

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.

Whitney Afonso, Professor of Public Administration and Government

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

Executive committee member | Association for Budgeting & Financial Management

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

Founding board member | Consortium of Race, Gender, and Equity Researchers

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

Jonathan Q. Morgan, Professor of Public Administration and Government

Board of directors | International Economic Development Council

Kimberly L. Nelson, Professor of Public Administration and Government

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

Co-editor | State and Local Government Review

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

William C. Rivenbark, Professor of Public Administration and Government

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

John B. Stephens, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Government

Steering committee member | University Network for Collaborative Governance

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.

Read the full interview written by UNC Research here.  

The School of Government is pleased to announce that Willow S. Jacobson has been selected by the National Academy of Public Administration for inclusion in its 2023 Class of Academy Fellows, in recognition of her years of public administration service and expertise.

Jacobson is a distinguished professor of public administration and government at the School, where she also serves as associate dean for graduate studies and director of the UNC Master of Public Administration program. She is an expert on human resource management, leadership development, and organizational theory and behavior. Jacobson’s research has appeared in publications including Public Administration Review and Public Personnel Management.

Previously, she directed the LGFCU Fellows program, which she helped create in 2011 to develop local government leaders in North Carolina. She earned a Ph.D. from Syracuse University and joined the School’s faculty in 2003.

She joins fellow faculty members Leisha DeHart-Davis, Kimberly L. Nelson, Carl W. Stenberg, and  David N. Ammons (ret.) as current Academy Fellows.

“I am very pleased to welcome Willow Jacobson to the Academy’s 2023 class of Fellows,” said Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the Academy. “Our distinguished Academy Fellows are nationally recognized and respected for their expertise in the field of public administration and Willow is no exception. We proudly welcome this outstanding new class of Fellows that will help advance the Academy vision – a just, fair, and inclusive government that strengthens communities and protects democracy.”

Selection of the Academy’s new Fellows follows a rigorous review of the individual’s contributions to the field of public administration and policy. A Fellows Nominating Committee makes its recommendations to the full Fellowship, which then votes on those individuals to be elected. The 2023 class joins nearly 1,000 Academy Fellows—including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors and state legislators, as well as prominent scholars, business executives, and public administrators.

Induction of the new Fellows will occur during the annual Academy Fall Meeting, which will take place in-person November 1-3 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., with a focus on “The Grand Challenges in Public Administration.”