Jessica Smith retired from the School of Government faculty in April 2025 after 25 years of service to the University and the State of North Carolina.

Smith served most recently as the founder and director of the School’s Criminal Justice Innovation Lab. She has been responsible for some of the School’s flagship publications, like North Carolina Crimes and the digital bench book for Superior Court judges. Her opinion has been sought and valued by public officials in all three branches of state government.

In the early 2000s, the growing town of Morrisville, North Carolina, first began envisioning the value a town center could bring for their burgeoning population. They wanted an area that would have multiple uses: residential space, retail shops, and parks, all within a walkable area. “The town center is meant to activate the area and to create a destination that is distinctly Morrisville. The way we grew, we never developed a natural downtown for people to come to,” said Brandon Zuidema, current town manager of Morrisville.

The UNC School of Government is pleased to welcome Taylor Morris to its faculty ranks. Morris joined the School in March 2025 as a nominated assistant professor, working specifically to teach, research, and advise in emergency management and code enforcement law.

In his new faculty position, Morris looks forward to trailblazing and finding innovative ways to serve the public officials who rely on him for instruction and advice.

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).

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's unprecedented devastation in September 2024, western North Carolina faced challenges that tested the resilience and expertise of its communities. Among those deeply invested in the region's recovery was Teaching Associate Professor of Public Finance and Government Kirk Boone.  

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.

The UNC School of Government proudly shares the sustained success of its Master of Public Administration program. In its 28^th year at the School, the UNC-Chapel Hill MPA improved its ranking among the top 25 public affairs programs—as measured by U.S. News & World Report in their “Best Graduate Schools” list.

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.

Attendees gathered on March 4, 2025, at the School of Government to hear from a panel of women in government leadership roles. Sponsored by the School, Carolina Veterans Alumni Network, and Carolina Women’s Center, the panel featured four accomplished leaders who have made significant contributions to public service.

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).