News
After Nearly Four Decades of Service, Rob Shepherd Retires from the NC City & County Management Association and the UNC School of Government
July 17, 2026
Rob Shepherd, a fixture of North Carolina local government for nearly 40 years, retired July 1, 2026, from his post as executive director of the North Carolina City & County Management Association (NCCCMA), closing out a career that touched nearly every city and county manager in the state.
Serving with Purpose: New Faculty Reflect on Their First Year at UNC’s School of Government
July 10, 2026
For many, the first day of work brings jitters paired with anxious thoughts. Those of us in higher education may also ask bigger questions: What kind of impact will I have in this role? How can I make the most of this moment? At the School of Government, a place built on public service and civic education, these questions carry particular weight.
The Legislative Reporting Service: An Invaluable State Resource
June 30, 2026
Founded in 1935 by the UNC School of Government, the Legislative Reporting Service (LRS) gives anyone in the state, including legislators, state and local governments, and individual citizens, access to the information they need to understand what’s happening in the General Assembly in real time.
Building the Workforce Local Governments Need: A.R. El-Khattabi on Teaching the Next Generation of Urban Planners at UNC-Chapel Hill
June 24, 2026
Across North Carolina, local governments are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions about housing, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development—often while facing limited staff capacity and constrained resources. Meeting those challenges requires professionals who can turn data into action and help communities plan for an uncertain future.
As AI Accelerates, Kristi Nickodem Helps Public Officials Weigh its Promise and Peril
June 18, 2026
When Kristi Nickodem has a free moment, you can probably find her reading. The UNC School of Government faculty member might be immersed in a memoir or novel—but more often than not, she's catching up on the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI).
Rooted: Jonathan Q. Morgan
June 9, 2026
Jonathan Q. Morgan joined the UNC School of Government in 2003 and is now a professor of public administration. He teaches, advises public officials, and conducts applied research on economic development.
Faculty member Crista Cuccaro accepts HUB Award for Excellence on behalf of School of Government
June 5, 2026
School of Government faculty member Crista Cuccaro accepted the Public Sector Agency 2026 Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Award for Excellence on behalf of the School of Government at the North Carolina Department of Administration’s 45th Annual State Construction Conference in March 2026.
Always Your Home Team: A Sendoff from the UNC MPA Program
June 1, 2026
On May 9, 2026, the UNC Master of Public Administration (MPA) program graduated 46 newly minted MPAs from both the online and in-person formats. The festivities at the Frank Porter Graham Student Union were marked by peacock blue hoods, smiling family and friends in attendance, and a unifying theme: "home."
Remembering Faculty Member Joe Hunt
April 29, 2026
Faculty Member Jill Moore Receives Prestigious Ron Levine Legacy Award
April 24, 2026
Jill D. Moore, a professor at the UNC School of Government, has been honored with the Ronald H.
