Dr. Patricia Mitchell CEcD, is the new President of the UNC School of Government Foundation Board of Directors.   

“I’m excited for this new leadership role with the Foundation Board of Directors,” Mitchell said. “The School does incredible work, and I’m glad to be part of that in partnership with the Dean and the broader Board.”  

The School of Government Foundation was established in 1996 to serve as an external advisory board and to strengthen financial support for the School of Government. Members of the Board represent the School’s diverse stakeholders, including MPA program staff and alumni both from UNC-CH and other schools, state and local government clients, partner organizations, and other major supporters.  

In addition to stewarding the Foundation endowment, the Board is often engaged in the School’s programming through presentations and strategic conversations with School leadership.  

“The Board engages in conversations to support the School; its reputation, its programs, and through fund development. We must be knowledgeable about what the School is doing, so we can be advocates as we have conversations and interactions in our own communities,” Mitchell said. 

Mitchell holds DPA and MPA degrees from the University of Georgia and has a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council. 

Mitchell has been connected with the School in various ways throughout her career—starting with using School publications in classes she taught on local government and budgeting at East Carolina University.  

In 2013, Mitchell began work at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Rural Economic Development Division. It was during this time that she worked with the Development Finance Initiative at the School of Government on a project to transform the campus of the old Broughton psychiatric hospital in Morganton.  

Additionally, Mitchell served as County Manager for Ashe County from 2011-2013 and its Director of Economic Development from 2004-2013.  

Mitchell is also the director of the Master of Public Administration program at Appalachian State University and teaches several courses in the program. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the School of Public and International Affairs at North Carolina State University since 2009. Mitchell frequently references and shares School of Government research and materials for her classes.  

“Every class I teach, I talk about the School of Government and share their resources,” she said. “If I weren’t, I’m leaving off the table a very important resource students need in their future careers in local government."