Six trends that state and local governments will face in 2026
What big-picture issues and topics should we be monitoring this year? UNC School of Government faculty are looking ahead to the key issues local governments need to tackle this year—and the solutions they are working to create to solve them. Read about six trends that state and local governments will face in 2026.
The School of Government is proud to share that faculty member Whitney Afonso was elected as vice chair for the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). She assumed the role in January 2026.
Maria Cuenca-Romero is driven by a genuine desire to give back, turning her passion for public service into meaningful change for the communities she serves. After attaining a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies, Cuenca-Romero served in the Peace Corps in Peru before signing up for Lead for North Carolina.
North Carolina’s burgeoning hemp industry could face obstacles to its continued growth with the recent passage of federal legislation, set to take effect in November 2026.
Alyssa Blair Zimmerman is married to a U.S. Army veteran and comes from a family ingrained in public service.
Her dad served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 13 years and as a police officer for five. Her mom, her “biggest role model,” works for a Veterans Affairs hospice center.
Many parents support their children’s academic goals at Carolina, but few join them on the journey.
Nicole Graysmith ’94 ’99 (JD) is doing just that, pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from the UNC School of Government alongside her son, Atticus.
What began as an offhand suggestion turned into a full-fledged family affair.
Every fall, the School of Government hosts the Public Law for the Public’s Lawyers (PLPL) program to provide a high-level overview of a range of issues and legal developments relevant to attorneys who work in or with North Carolina state government. In 2025, the class was double last year’s size—with a record-breaking attendance of 161 attorneys participating in the live, synchronous course via Zoom.
Born in Greece, Erin Mathis moved with his military family to the United States when he was 2, living on various U.S. Air Force bases until his father retired and the family settled for a while in Selma, North Carolina.
“My whole life, I considered North Carolina to be home,” Mathis said.
He fell in love with Chapel Hill as a teenager during a birthday trip to the Dean E. Smith Center for a men’s basketball game.
Today, November 11, 2025, the School of Government is proud to celebrate Veterans Day by honoring all who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Amanda Stratton joined the UNC School of Government as western North Carolina recovery navigator in October 2025. The role is a key component of the School’s broader support for western North Carolina. In her role, Stratton helps local governments identify and pursue recovery funding, connect with state and federal partners, and troubleshoot capacity and compliance challenges.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of the UNC Master of Public Administration program gathered Friday, October 10, 2025, to participate in the annual Deil S. Wright Public Service Forum. This year’s topic was “Successful Emergency Management: Collaboration Across Government Agencies.” The event was moderated by Norma Houston, former School of Government faculty member and chief of staff to UNC President Peter Hans.
As North Carolina marked the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene making landfall in the western region of the state, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu visited the School of Government to share a few words on leadership in times of crisis. The event, hosted on October 1, 2025, in connection with the Office of UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts, was free and open to the public.
