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 28th 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).
When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, leaving destruction and uncertainty in its wake, Elias Henderson didn’t hesitate to find a way to lend a hand. Henderson is a member of this year’s sixth cohort of Lead for North Carolina (LFNC), a program at the UNC School of Government connecting young leaders with fellowships in local governments across the state.
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.
The School of Government mourns the recent passing of former faculty member and Albert Coates Professor Joseph S. Ferrell. Ferrell is remembered as a dedicated public servant to the School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and wider state. He joined the faculty at the School (then Institute of Government) in 1964 and was responsible for teaching, research, and writing in the areas of property tax, county government, and the North Carolina General Assembly.
Dean Aimee N. Wall announced several new awards and professorships for School of Government faculty in January 2025. Marking her first selection of these recipients during her tenure as dean, these honors recognize outstanding “quality, quantity, breadth, and depth of service rendered to the people of the State through the School.”
