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.Read More
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. We caught up with faculty members Colt Jensen, Julie Beasley, and Dylan Russell to hear how they navigated their first year as faculty members and what they learned along the way.Read More
The School of Government Hosts Bipartisan Congressional Chiefs of Staff Retreat
July 6, 2026
Earlier this spring, the United States Congressional House of Representatives Chiefs of Staff traveled to Chapel Hill for a bipartisan retreat focused on strengthening leadership, building relationships, and creating space for reflection.Read More
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. That work is especially important this week as the General Assembly will consider a budget and finish up other pressing matters as the short session winds down.Read More
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.Read More
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).Read More
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.Read More
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.Read More
Tar Heel Bus Tour: Listening, Learning, and Leading Across North Carolina
June 4, 2026
As the sun rose on May 12, 2026, two buses pulled away from UNC-Chapel Hill in opposite directions—one headed east, the other west—launching the annual Tar Heel Bus Tour. Before their departure, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts gathered with nearly 80 faculty and staff to send them off on a three-day journey of listening, learning, and connection across North Carolina.Read More
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."...Read More
Remembering Faculty Member Joe Hunt
April 29, 2026
We are saddened to share that former School of Government faculty member Joseph E. “Joe” Hunt passed away on March 30.Read More
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. Levine Legacy Award by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), one of the state’s most distinguished recognitions in the field of public health. The award acknowledges individuals who have made sustained, significant contributions to public health systems, services, and partnerships.Read More
