UNC School of Government Names First-Ever Local Government Law Fellow

Lucas Lawrence has joined the UNC School of Government as the first fellow in a new initiative designed to strengthen the pipeline of attorneys entering local government law across North Carolina. 

Mission Moment: Julie Beasley Helps Connect Older North Carolinians with their Local Governments

In North Carolina, 26.8 percent of older adults live alone, with 1 in 4 globally experiencing isolation, and 1 in 10 dealing with the effects of depression caused by isolation.

Service to Country, Sharpened by Education

Few people can say they’re skilled helicopter pilots. Fewer still can say they’ve carried out high-stakes search-and-rescue missions—or coordinated them. 

Greg Waugh (MPA ’22) can say all of that. And on August 14, 2026, he added another accomplishment: taking command of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Ventura. 

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.

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