Kirk Boone Retires After Three Decades in Property Tax Education

Kirk Boone, associate teaching professor of public finance and government and property assessment expert, retired from the UNC School of Government in August 2026. 

UNC MPA: Continuing the Legacy of Intentional Admissions

The School of Government's Master of Public Administration program is proud to be ranked among the top 20 programs nationally for public affairs, 9th in public management, and 2nd in local government by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is built upon a deeper purpose: preparing public service leaders whose work transforms organizations, communities, and lives across North Carolina and beyond.

After Nearly Four Decades of Service, Rob Shepherd Retires from the NC City & County Management Association and the UNC School of Government

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

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.

The Legislative Reporting Service: An Invaluable State Resource

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.

Building the Workforce Local Governments Need: A.R. El-Khattabi on Teaching the Next Generation of Urban Planners at UNC-Chapel Hill

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.

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