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).

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.

Each fall, local government leaders from across North Carolina assemble at the UNC School of Government for the Civic Fellows program—two transformative weeks of personal growth and leadership development. Designed to sharpen skills and build connections, the program offers more than just classes; it creates a network of support that participants carry with them for the rest of their careers.

Lead for North Carolina is an innovative full-time fellowship program that connects future public service leaders with local governments across the state. Every summer, Fellows gather at the UNC School of Government for an intensive summer academy, during which they are introduced to community revitalization by Tyler Mulligan and Marcia Machado Perritt, leaders of the Development Finance Initiative (DFI).

The School of Government is pleased to announce an updated North Carolina Local Government Finance Policy Manual. This new version of the manual, now available fully online, is a revamped resource for North Carolina local governments and public authorities, helping them navigate budgeting, financial management, contracting, accounting, reporting, and auditing regulations.