Carolina MPA Student Digest 2/19/21:
Featured in this Digest:
  • Upcoming Calendar Dates
  • MPA News & Resource Highlights
  • Campus & Beyond Events
  • Professional Development & Volunteer Opportunities
Carolina MPA Calendar

  • February 28, 11:55 PM EST: Spring Portfolios Due
  • March 11-12: Regional ICMA Virtual Conference
  • April 8: Deil S. Wright Lecture, 3:30 pm EDT - Details below
  • May 15-16: Tentative Commencement Ceremonies
NOTE: The Registrar's Office has now announced the 2021-2022 on-campus Academic Calendar. Upcoming Online format dates are always on the MPA Intranet.
MPA News
Jack Peterson Joins Alumni Council
Online format student Jack Peterson of Chicago, Illinois, was recently selected to join the Carolina MPA Alumni Council as an Ex-Officio member representing the online students. MPA Alumni President Corey Petersohn is already getting Jack started on committee work at the start of Jack's two-year term. As the Alumni Council Rep, Jack will also serve on the Online Student Leadership Council.

You can read about Jack and all SLC members on the MPA Intranet.
ICMA to Host Virtual Regional Conferences
The ICMA Regional Conferences are coming up! Each region’s conference is two days in March/April:
This year, ICMA is opening up ALL of the regional conferences to students! If you sign up for one, you have access to all six. Conferences will include student programming, student chapter happy hours, and speed coaching. Registration is free for students HERE. If you have any questions, please see our Student ICMA Chapter President, Molly Gaskin.

Wednesday, February 24,
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
How do we improve health outcomes and increase access to care for the people of North Carolina and beyond? Join Anita Brown-Graham, MPA faculty member and host of PBS North Carolina's ncIMPACT public affairs program, for a timely conversation about health equity with Executive Director for Health Equity Dr. Crystal Cené and Program Manager Randi Towns of UNC Health. Learn how UNC Health is addressing health care disparities while developing interventions and evidence-based strategies to help change the structures, policies and practices that impede health equity in our state.
Presented in partnership with the Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity and the UNC Board of Visitors.
MPA Resources
Each Digest this term, we will highlight the various resources available to you as a Carolina student.
The Carolina MPA Staff is working hard to keep the MPA Intranet up-to-date and useful to all of our students. Recent updates include:
  • Updated Career Services Database
  • NEW academic calendar dates
  • Archived back issues of the Digest
  • updated SLC membership pages
The Carolina MPA alumni community is a valuable resource. You can find professional and personal enrichment through a network that exists in practically every corner of North Carolina and in communities across the country; in local, state, and federal government; nonprofit organizations; and private industry. Students are encouraged to get involved in Alumni networking events, where they are always welcome. If you have any questions, please see Kristin Pawlowski.
School of Government Blogs
Did you know that faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues? These can be a great resource for any student looking for an accessible way to learn more on a topic or a faculty member's work both in and out of the MPA Program. Links to each are below:
New Faculty Publications
Congratulations to Leisha Dehart-Davis on her forthcoming article, “Formal Hierarchies and Informal Networks: How Organizational Structure Shapes Information Search in Local Government”. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Coauthors are Travis Whetsell and A. A Kroll.

Congratulations also to Willow Jacobson. Her article "What she said, what he said: local elected officials' views of effective leadership behaviors" is now available in the International Journal of Public Leadership. Coauthors are Lauren Dula, Maja Husar Holmes, Willow S. Jacobson, Kristina T. Lambright 
University & Beyond Events
  • Virtual Opportunities to Connect
  • Institute of Politics Policy Challenge
  • February 20: "Cultivating Community Connections and Collaborations
  • February 24: Queer Under Dictatorship: Gender Policing in Contemporary Latin American Literature and Film
  • Graduate Opportunities from UNC Writing & Learning Centers: Apply to be a Coach, or join a writing workshop!
  • Volunteer & Professional Development Opportunities
  • March 26: National Journal Conference
  • American Water Works Association Scholarships Available
  • Applicants Needed for the Orange County Board of Equalization & Review
POLICY CHALLENGE
The Institute of Politics Civic Engagement Action Coalition (CEAC) is excited to launch our newest initiative, the Institute of Politics Policy Challenge! We're excited to capitalize on the momentum of the 2020 General Election and help ambitious students like you get involved in state-level politics! We're partnering with NC State Senators and Representatives such as Verla Insko and Natalie Murdock to get policy initiatives written by YOU heard in the North Carolina General Assembly! We're excited to help you work with REAL LEGISLATORS in the NCGA to get bills drafted and turned into laws that will have real effects on you and everyone else in North Carolina! We want to work with students of ALL experience levels - whether you've personally drafted legislature before or are looking to get involved for the first time, if you have an idea you want to be heard by the NCGA, we're excited to work with you! Visit tinyurl.com/iop-policychallenge for more info.
Feb. 24, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM via Zoom. Register to receive the link.
“Queer under Dictatorship: Gender Policing in Contemporary Latin American Literature and Film”

This presentation examines the legacies of gender policing on trans* and gender variant folks resulting from the military dictatorships in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Using recent literature and documentary film as cases of cultural memory, this presentation introduces the audience to pertinent topics in the region and argues that queering dictatorship studies disrupts political and historical temporalities. 

Parker (he/him/his) is a PhD Student in Romance Studies and focuses on contemporary Latin American literature and visual culture. His focused research, spanning Spanish America and Brazil, revolves around memory, dictatorship and gender.  

**Attendees be advised: includes content on violence, sexual violence, and police brutality.
Register for February LGBTQIA+ Speaker Series.
Graduate Coach Application Time!
The Writing and Learning Center seeks enthusiastic, student-centered graduate students to apply for Teaching Assistantships in the 2021-2022 academic year. Applications are due on Monday, March 8. WC application and LC application. 

This week: Research Article Introductions. Check out the full semester schedule on under Grad Workshops. Details on upcoming topics below:

Research Article Introductions– 2/22 & 23
What are the components of a typical research introduction? How do writers in your discipline describe “the gap”? Bring several articles from your field and join us for a guided analysis of the structure and language of effective introductions. (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
 
How to Get & Give Effective Feedback–3/1 & 2
Feedback from peers and senior colleagues is an extremely useful resource that can help you improve your writing. This workshop helps you solicit and provide helpful feedback on writing. (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
 
Responding to Student Writing – 3/8 & 9.
Do you struggle to decide what to comment on? How much to say? How to say it? How much time to spend? This workshop describes general principles and specific strategies for responding to student writing in ways that are helpful for the student and efficient for the instructor. (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
 
Principles of Funding Proposal Writing – 3/15 & 16 @ 2:30-3:20 p.m.
Are you applying for funding to support your research? While every application is different, there are key qualities of a good application. This workshop describes general principles and offers strategies for writing your best proposal. (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
 
Get It Done! Winning Your Battle with Procrastination – 3/22 & 23
Battling procrastination may seem like an insurmountable challenge. Use this chance to get together with fellow procrastinators and learn about tools that have proven to be helpful. Create your own anti-procrastination toolkit! (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
 
Responding to Reviewer Comments –3/29 & 30
Congratulations! You have received an R&R from the journal! Now, what do you do? In this workshop, we will discuss general strategies for responding to reviewers’ comments and share some language for politely disagreeing. (Please use your @email.unc.edu address to register.)
National Journal Conference
Virginia Policy Review is proud to announce its eighth annual National Journal Conference. This year's conference will take place Friday, March 26th, 2021. The conference will feature multiple panels with an array of policy experts from around the nation speaking on confronting a variety of issues that young professionals will face as they enter and grow in the American workforce. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be holding this year's national journal conference on Zoom. Registration will open the first week of March.

Virginia Policy Review at the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is a nonpartisan, student-led, annual journal that strives to publish meaningful insights on policymaking and politics.

Raftelis Financial Consultants Environmental Finance and Management Fund Scholarship – $1,000
  • Student must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree with a concentration in environmental finance, environmental management, or related disciplines, in an accredited institution of higher learning during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Student must have maintained a GPA of greater than 3.0.
  • Student must be a US citizen.
  • The scholarship will be awarded annually to the student through the completion of their undergraduate degree and/or graduate degree as long as he/she continues to meet the qualifications stipulated in the initial award of the scholarship.
 
The NC Safewater Fund Scholarship – $3,000
  • Student must be pursuing a degree in a curriculum that emphasizes the protection of public health by providing healthful drinking water and/or protecting the quality and integrity of the water environment at an institution of higher education located in North Carolina during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Student must maintain a GPA of 3.0.
  • Student must be a United States citizen.
  • Once the scholarship is awarded to a student, they are eligible to receive it annually, for a maximum of four years to complete their undergraduate degree and/or for a maximum of two years to complete their graduate degree as long as they continue to meet the qualifications stipulated in the initial award.
Applicants Needed for Orange County
Board of Equalization and Review

          
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (February 9, 2021) – One major way citizens can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on the various County advisory boards and commissions.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting for the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review. The board hears appeals from citizens concerning various property tax issues, including valuation and exemption appeals. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised and assessed according to the standards required by the North Carolina General Statutes.
The Orange County Board of Equalization and Review will meet up to three days per week, for approximately three to four hours per meeting, for up to three consecutive months (April – June). Additional meetings may occur as needed during the year. Members will be paid for all meetings attended.
Interested Orange County residents with knowledge of real estate are encouraged to apply. Other interested citizens will also be given consideration.
 
If interested, please apply at www.orangecountync.gov/boards.
Orange County strives for diversity on volunteer advisory boards. Minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have an opportunity to influence the way of life in Orange County.
For additional information call Thom Freeman-Stuart 919-245-2125, or email tfreeman@orangecountync.gov.
Carolina MPA | UNC School of Government | carolinampa.sog.unc.edu | Website | Intranet
The Carolina MPA Intranet houses information and resources for students during the program.