What’s your current title, and tell us a little about what you do? I am the Director of the Division of Land and Water Stewardship in the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. My division houses the Natural Heritage Program, which is the state agency responsible for gathering and sharing information about rare species and natural communities, and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, an agency makes grants to protect and restore North Carolina’s natural and cultural treasures. Through our work identifying and conserving these places, we have contributed to the protection of 50 Game Lands, 43 State Parks and Natural Areas, local parks and land trust preserves too numerous to count, miles upon miles of trout streams, drinking water supplies, rare plants and animals, and historic areas, such as the one that may hold clues to the fate of the Lost Colony.

You were a seasoned professional when you came into the program.  Why did you decide to pursue the MPA?

I now have over 16 years of service in this organization, during which time I have progressed through many roles with increasing administrative and leadership responsibilities. Despite that extensive on-the-job experience, I felt compelled to hone my skillset to better meet the challenges of managing a program of this size and importance. When I was appointed Director in 2022, I immediately began researching programs that were well-respected and capable of meeting my needs as a working student. I was thrilled to find that the best online MPA program in the country was right next door.

Looking back on who you were at the start of the program to who you are now, how have you changed? What I learned is that org charts, processes, meetings, division of labor, workflow, etc. are not things that naturally optimize themselves organically. The MPA program made me aware that administration was a science, complete with data, researchers, and publications, and instructed me how to effectively make use of it. I am now more self-aware as a leader and therefore more intentional in my actions.

What is one class, one project, one faculty member, one experience, one discussion, or some other aspect of our program that had an impact on you and proved to be meaningful in your professional life? I truly cannot single out a single event or experience more useful than another. I would say it was extremely rare that a week went by without learning something that I could immediately use in my professional life.

Q: What was the path you took to get to where you are now? 

A: I took a position with the Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC after graduate school thinking I would enjoy working in Washington and also to work in environmental policy.  While I learned a lot and met a lot of good people, the Federal government was not the right fit for me and I left to pursue a position at the University of South Carolina, thinking I may be interested in obtaining a PhD at some point.  The 2009 Housing Recession derailed some plans, but also I determined that academia was not a long term goal.  I took a job at the North Carolina General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division and worked for eight years in a variety of subject areas.  I then moved to the Office of State Budget and Management.  

Q: How did the MPA program specifically prepare you for future work experiences or inform what you do now?

A: The MPA program helped me develop a foundation to enter into the realm of public budgeting and finance so that I could obtain more experience and knowledge in the working world.  The program also introduced me to practitioners that have been good resources and colleagues to work to further my career. 

Q: Have you been able to fulfill goals formulated while in the MPA program? If so, how?

A: My goals upon entering the MPA program in 2002 were to work in government and public service.  Due to the Tech Bubble Recession, graduate school was a better option than available employment (and going back to school after a few years).  At the time, my goal was to work in environmental related policy.  But, through the process I found my footing in budgeting and finance.  Having a broader degree in government and being open about career opportunities helped me get where I am now. 

Q: Anything else you want to share for those in the MPA program or thinking about an MPA? 

Don’t be too picky about your first job after your MPA.  It’s easier to get a job while you have a job. Continue to learn and seek knowledge.  What I thought I wanted to do and be in 2002 is different than what I am now and that’s a good thing.  Being flexible allowed me to advance in my career. 

Dylan Russell is the executive director of Lead for North Carolina at the UNC School of Government and a co-founder of Lead for America. Lead for North Carolina places students in high-impact fellowships in local government across the state. He has secured over $6 million in private support to advance Lead for North Carolina’s mission and has placed 110 young people in local government fellowships across the state. Dylan also launched the NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps with the Office of Strategic Partnerships and placed 300 student interns in local governments and nonprofits across North Carolina. Prior to serving as executive director, Dylan was a development officer at the School of Government, a policy analyst at the NC Department of Public Instruction, a fifth-grade public school teacher, a White House intern, and a member of the Board of Trustees at Appalachian State University. Dylan served as president of the Graduate Student Body at UNC and president of the Student Body at Appalachian. Dylan was awarded the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award from the UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor and the Plemmons Leadership Medallion by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

Russell is an instructor in the UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration program. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, an MPA from UNC-Chapel Hill, and is pursuing his Ph.D. at North Carolina State University.

The UNC MPA Program gave Dylan the tools, network, and skills he needed to launch Lead for North Carolina and co-create Lead for America. The UNC MPA Program was where he first studied the silver tsunami and human capital pipeline concerns in public management. The School’s commitment to bridging scholarship to practitioners inspired Dylan to create a similar model to connect future talent with high impact positions in local government. The faculty’s mentorship, guidance, and support were and continue to be critical in Lead for NC’s operations.