Faculty and Staff

View a list of faculty and staff by areas of expertise.

View a list of retired and emeriti faculty.

Below you will find an index of our faculty and staff. Use the filters to make your search more specific.
Results: 234
Profile
Whitney Afonso
Professor of Public Administration and Government
Whitney Afonso
Professor of Public Administration and Government

Whitney Afonso is a professor of public administration and government at the School of Government. Her research focuses on state and local public finance with an emphasis on local sales taxes. Afonso won the Burkhead Award for best manuscript published in Public Budgeting and Finance in 2015 and the Curro Award for best student paper in 2010. She also has served on the executive committee of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management since 2018.

In addition to her...
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Frank Alford
Director of Library Services
Frank Alford
Director of Library Services
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Aida Ali Akreyi
Adjunct Instructor
Aida Ali Akreyi
Adjunct Instructor

Aida Ali Akreyi serves as an adjunct instructor in the UNC MPA program, teaching Public Administration Analysis and Evaluation. 

Ali Akreyi is the Statistician and Operations Lead for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) program at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Prior to joining NCES, she worked as a contractor for the American Institutes for Research (AIR),...
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Monica R. Allen
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Monica R. Allen
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Monica R. Allen joined the School of Government in 2014 as an adjunct instructor in the MPA program. She is also Director of Strategic Planning and Evaluation for Mecklenburg County, where she focuses on leading, developing, and executing the county’s corporate performance management, strategic planning, and program evaluation initiatives. Allen is also the proprietor of Insight Performance Management Group LLC, a consulting firm specializing in change management, strategy...
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Gregory S. Allison
Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Teaching Professor; Secretary, School of Government Foundation Board of Directors
Gregory S. Allison
Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Teaching Professor; Secretary, School of Government Foundation Board of Directors

Gregory S. Allison is the Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Teaching Professor at the School of Government. He is an expert in, lectures on, and provides technical support in the field of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Allison is the director of the School’s Municipal and County Administration course. 

He joined the School in 1997. Previously, he was assistant director with the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada in...
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Naser Alzawahreh
Fulfillment Coordinator
Naser Alzawahreh
Fulfillment Coordinator

As fulfillment coordinator, Naser Alzawahreh manages shipping and mailing services and completes other facilities duties for the School of Government. He previously owned a limousine services business.
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Leslie Anderson
Adjunct Instructor
Leslie Anderson
Adjunct Instructor

Leslie Anderson joined the School of Government in 1998 with the task of developing a presence for the School in civic education and engagement. She helped to develop the North Carolina Civic Education Consortium and has also contributed to the School's work in community economic development. Leslie worked for the City of Asheville for more than 20 years, and in 1986 was named the first director of the City of Asheville Downtown Development Office. In 1995, Leslie started a consulting...
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Rebecca Badgett
Teaching Assistant Professor
Rebecca Badgett
Teaching Assistant Professor

Rebecca Badgett is an expert on grants management. In her role as teaching assistant professor, she provides provides training, consulting, and publications for local governments. Her courses largely focus on internal control and compliance with the federal Uniform Guidance and state law. Badgett also plays a key role in the facilitation of the Lead for North Carolina program, where she teaches and advises the fellows throughout the program and manages the training and curriculum for the...
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Maggie Bailey
Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Innovation Lab
Maggie Bailey
Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Innovation Lab

As assistant director of the Criminal Justice Innovation Lab, Maggie Bailey manages the Lab’s internal operations and supports engaged research projects to promote a more effective criminal justice system.

Bailey joined the School's Criminal Justice Innovation Lab as a Graduate Research Assistant in 2020 and then served as a Lab Project Manager for bail and policing pilot projects. Previously, she worked in public health and health policy at the...
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Sherrie Baldwin
Senior Grants Manager
Sherrie Baldwin
Senior Grants Manager
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Evans Ballard
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Evans Ballard
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Evans Ballard joined the School of Government as Adjunct Instructor for the MPA Program in 2015. He has more than 30 years of combined experience in the private and public sectors, including over 20 years developing and using performance management systems. He is a certified budget and evaluation officer and is Past President of the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association. He has led large organizations, presented to ICMA and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and served...
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Justin Barbaree
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Justin Barbaree
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Justin Barbaree began teaching in the online MPA program in 2015, where he has taught PUBA 721 Professional Communication. He is also full-time faculty at the University of North Georgia, where he teaches writing and literature courses in the English department. Justin also lived and taught in South Korea for a decade, where he taught academic writing, composition, and presentation courses to undergraduate students. He worked with the Gangwon Provincial Government Office, where he...
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Blossom Barrett
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Blossom Barrett
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Blossom Barrett joined the School of Government in January 2018 as an adjunct professor for the MPA program. For more than 10 years she has worked in the nonprofit arena, primarily in the areas of development, data analysis, and program evaluation. Currently, Blossom is the associate director of data and evaluation for I Know I Can, a nonprofit college access organization in Columbus, Ohio. In her role, she is responsible for data management for three school districts. Additionally, Blossom...
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Alexandra Bartz
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Alexandra Bartz
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Alexandra Bartz is a 2016 graduate of the online UNC MPA program and returned to the program in 2022 as adjunct faculty. Since 2007, Bartz has devoted her career to work in nonprofits, focusing on program design, implementation, innovation, and evaluation. Currently, she serves national director of program implementation at Summer Search, a national youth development nonprofit based in Oakland, California. In her role, Bartz oversees program implementation across the five-region...
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Danielle Bass
Assistant Dean for Human Resources
Danielle Bass
Assistant Dean for Human Resources

As assistant dean for human resources, Danielle Bass provides leadership and management for all human resources functions and issues within the School of Government. She joined the School in 2022.

Previously, Bass served as the Assistant Director for Human Resources at Kenan-Flagler Business School. She managed staff development, employee relations, class and compensation, and all other aspects of employment for permanent SHRA and EHRA non-faculty employees.

Bass earned a...
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Douglas Bean
Adjunct Instructor
Douglas Bean
Adjunct Instructor
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Julie A. Beasley
Adjunct Instructor, UNC MPA Program
Julie A. Beasley
Adjunct Instructor, UNC MPA Program

Julie A. Beasley serves as an adjunct instructor in the UNC Master of Public Administration program. She joined the program in 2024 as a section instructor, teaching public sector human resource management.

Beasley is a project manager with the Observing Civic Engagement Project and a Ph.D. Candidate at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. Her major field is public management with a minor field in organizational behavior and...
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Maureen M. Berner
Professor of Public Administration and Government
Maureen M. Berner
Professor of Public Administration and Government

Maureen Berner is a professor of public administration and government at the School of Government. She is an expert on cross-organizational collaboration, food insecurity and assistance, social services programs, program evaluation, and survey methodology.

At the School, Berner teaches research methods and program evaluation courses to both graduate students and practitioners. She has led in-depth evaluation projects at the local, state, and federal levels. In addition, Berner has...
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Allison Binkley
Director of Career, Alumni, and Employer Engagement, MPA Program
Allison Binkley
Director of Career, Alumni, and Employer Engagement, MPA Program

Allison Binkley joined the School of Government in June 2015. She previously served as a Career Development Counselor at UNC Wilmington and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from North Carolina State University, and she holds a Master of Education in Counselor Education from ...
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Jerri Bland
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Jerri Bland
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Jerri L. Bland joined the School of Government in 2019 as an adjunct instructor with the MPA program. Jerri is the managing director and virtual CIO for Cloud CIO. Bland previously served as the deputy chief information officer for Columbia University and ...
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Paul Bonner
Audio/Video Production Specialist
Paul Bonner
Audio/Video Production Specialist

As audio/video production specialist, Paul Bonner assists in the development of the School of Government's technological resources, including hybrid learning through Zoom and the creation of a video production studio.

He joined the School of Government in 2019. Bonner has more than 25 years of experience in audio and video production, editing, and technical support.

Bonner earned a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University.
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Kirk Boone
Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Teaching Associate Professor of Public Finance and Government
Kirk Boone
Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Teaching Associate Professor of Public Finance and Government

Kirk Boone joined the School of Government in 2014. Previously, he was the North Carolina sales and consulting lead for Tax Management Associates, Inc. in Charlotte. Boone began his governmental career in 1992 with the North Carolina Department of Revenue, where he was a property valuation specialist for 18 years. He is designated a Certified North Carolina Appraiser by the North Carolina Association of Assessing Officers ...
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Mark F. Botts
Associate Professor of Public Law and Government
Mark F. Botts
Associate Professor of Public Law and Government
Mark Botts is an associate professor of public law and government in the School of Government at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He specializes in mental health law and provides training, consulting, and publications for mental health professionals ...
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Kayla Bowen
Graphic Designer
Kayla Bowen
Graphic Designer

Kayla is a graphic designer from eastern North Carolina. She earned her BFA in graphic design at East Carolina University. Before starting at the School in November 2019, she spent time in Washington DC completing an internship at World Resources Institute.
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Andy Bradshaw
Strategic Communications Manager
Andy Bradshaw
Strategic Communications Manager
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Todd Brantley
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
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Julie M. Brenman
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Julie M. Brenman
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Julie Brenman joined the School of Government as adjunct instructor in 2008. She has over 15 years of local government executive experience and currently works as a management consultant to governments and nonprofits. Previously, Brenman served as director of strategic initiatives, assistant city manager, and director of budget and management services for the City of Durham. Before moving to North Carolina, she worked for the city and county of San Francisco, California, as director of...
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Chelsea Brock
Program Manager, Management, Administration, and Leadership Group
Chelsea Brock
Program Manager, Management, Administration, and Leadership Group

As program manager at the School of Government, Chelsea Brock is responsible for managing and supporting programs for the...
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Brittany Bromell
Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government
Brittany Bromell
Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government

Brittany Bromell is an expert in criminal law and procedure, with expertise in domestic violence and computer crimes. 

As a faculty member, Bromell teaches and advises courtroom professionals, including judges, magistrates, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement officers.

She joined the School of Government in July 2020. Prior to joining the School, she received a bachelor's degree from Duke University and a J.D. from the North Carolina Central...
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Adrian Brown
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
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Anita R. Brown-Graham
Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government ; Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives; Director, ncIMPACT Initiative
Anita R. Brown-Graham
Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government ; Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives; Director, ncIMPACT Initiative

Anita R. Brown-Graham rejoined the School of Government in September 2016 to lead the public launch of ncIMPACT—a special initiative that seeks to expand the School’s capacity to work with public officials on complex policy issues. Since her arrival, she and her colleagues have devised programs to support communities working on economic mobility, poverty, the expansion of prekindergarten, extending the labor pool, and ...
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Faith Burks
Director of Human Resources
Faith Burks
Director of Human Resources

Faith Burks joined the School of Government in 2020 as director of human resources.

Previously, she served as human resources manager at the UNC School of Nursing. Burks earned a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University.
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Audrea Caesar
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Audrea Caesar
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Audrea Caesar is the inaugural chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer (CDEIO) for the UNC Healthcare system and the UNC School of Medicine. She is working to embed equity into the culture, policies, and practices to achieve a more inclusive organization while decreasing disparities in health. Audrea is a certified health education specialist (CHES) and a senior certified human resources professional (SHRM-SCP) who specializes in Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Diversity,...
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Brooke Cale
Program Manager, Courts Group
Brooke Cale
Program Manager, Courts Group

As program associate for the School of Government, Brooke Cale is responsible for managing programs serving court judges, magistrates, and public defenders.

She joined the School of Government in 2022. Previously, Cale worked in the hospitality industry for nine years as front office manager at The Carolina Inn and housekeeping manager in Arlington, VA. 

She earned a bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.
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Charmain Cale
Team Lead, Law and Finance Group
Charmain Cale
Team Lead, Law and Finance Group

Charmain Cale joined the School of Government in 2019. As program lead for the Law and Finance group, she works with local government officials, including attorneys, registers of deeds, health directors, and zoning officials.

Previously, Cale was a social catering manager at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.
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Erica Carlisle
Program Manager, Courts Group
Erica Carlisle
Program Manager, Courts Group

Erica Carlisle joined the School of Government as program manager in 2023.

Previously, she worked in the Office of Admissions at Barton College in Wilson, NC. There, she managed all recruitment events, as well as communication campaigns and partnerships with other campus offices.

Carlisle earned a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University, where she was also a member of the Honors College.
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K. Lee Carter Jr.
Member, School of Government Foundation Board of Directors, Adjunct Instructor; Vice President, NC Capital Management Trust
K. Lee Carter Jr.
Member, School of Government Foundation Board of Directors, Adjunct Instructor; Vice President, NC Capital Management Trust
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Chris Cody
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
Chris Cody
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program

Christopher A. Cody is a Principal Researcher at American Institutes for Research, where he serves as the project director for their postsecondary administrative data division and longitudinal studies work with the National Center for Education Statistics. Prior to joining American Institutes for Research, Cody was the director of research and public policy at The Public School Forum of North Carolina. While there, he was also a fellow with the education policy fellowship program sponsored...
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Yadira Conyers
Assistant Director of Library Services
Yadira Conyers
Assistant Director of Library Services
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Emma Copenhaver
Project Analyst, Environmental Finance Center
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Vanessa Coppens
Business Manager
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Alexander Cowell
Research Director, Criminal Justice Innovation Lab
Alexander Cowell
Research Director, Criminal Justice Innovation Lab

Alex Cowell joined the Criminal Justice Innovation Lab in 2022 as research director.

Cowell earned a Ph.D. in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill. He spent several years at RTI International—a private, nonprofit research organization based in North Carolina—building a career in evaluating policies and programs in criminal justice and behavioral health. After briefly serving at a state Medicaid organization, Cowell joined the Criminal Justice Innovation Lab to lead its...
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Melanie Crenshaw
Teaching Assistant Professor
Melanie Crenshaw
Teaching Assistant Professor
Melanie Crenshaw joined the School of Government in August 2022, working with magistrates in the area of civil law. Prior to joining the School, she worked as a magistrate in Cumberland County. Before serving as a magistrate, Crenshaw was in private practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she represented clients in a variety of matters related to family law. While in private practice, she also worked as an adjunct professor at the Elon University School of Law in the areas of family law...
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John Crumpton
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
John Crumpton
Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program
John Crumpton is the current county manager in Lee County, North Carolina, and has served in this capacity since July 2007. He is also an adjunct professor with the MPA program here at the School of Government where he teaches Introduction to City and County Government. Dr. Crumpton has over 18 years’ experience in Municipal and County Government and 13 years of experience ...
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Cassie Crutchfield
Program Services Coordinator
Cassie Crutchfield
Program Services Coordinator
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Crista Cuccaro
Teaching Assistant Professor
Crista Cuccaro
Teaching Assistant Professor

Crista Cuccaro joined the School of Government's law and finance division in June 2022. She teaches and advises on procurement, contracting, property disposal, and ethics and conflicts of interest related to contracting. Cuccaro is the liaison for the North Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing and the North Carolina Minority/Women Business Enterprise Coordinators’ Network. 

In 2019, she became a Local Government Fellow and was one of the first municipal attorneys in North...
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Miranda Day
Program Manager, Management, Administration, and Leadership Group
Miranda Day
Program Manager, Management, Administration, and Leadership Group

Miranda Day serves as program manager at the School of Government. She joined the School in 2024.

Prior to joining the School, Day worked in project management, weddings and special events, sales, and marketing.

She earned a bachelor's degree from NC State University. 

 

 

 
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Tonja Dean
Human Resources Specialist
Tonja Dean
Human Resources Specialist
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Adrienne Decker
Program Associate
Adrienne Decker
Program Associate
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Leisha DeHart-Davis
Professor of Public Administration and Government; Director, Local Government Workplaces Initiative
Leisha DeHart-Davis
Professor of Public Administration and Government; Director, Local Government Workplaces Initiative

Leisha DeHart-Davis is a professor of public administration and government at the School of Government. Her applied research focuses on workplace climate in local government organizations. DeHart-Davis's academic research addresses public sector organizational behavior, most recently, employee voice, organizational structure, and citizen and workplace incivility. 

She is a faculty member in the School's Master of Public Administration program and directs the Local Government Workplaces...
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Shea Riggsbee Denning
Professor of Public Law and Government; Director, North Carolina Judicial College
Shea Riggsbee Denning
Professor of Public Law and Government; Director, North Carolina Judicial College

Shea Riggsbee Denning is an expert on motor vehicle law and criminal law and procedure. As a faculty member at the School of Government, she teaches and advises judges, magistrates, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement officers. 

She currently serves as director of the North Carolina Judicial College, where she works to plan, administer, and deliver courses to meet the needs of judicial officials. Denning has written extensively about North Carolina’s motor vehicle laws...