UNC MPA Student Digest | October 20, 2023

UNC MPA News and Events

School of Government Faculty & Staff ready to march into the 2023 University Day Celebration. MPA representatives included Professor Maureen Berner (far left) and Managing Director Heather Duhart (far right).

Alyssa Pacheco

Charlotte, NC

Stephen Wright

Carrboro, NC

Congratulations to on-campus MPA students Allysa Pacheco and Stephen Wright for being elected to the on-campus Student Leadership Council as representatives for the Class of 2025.



The Student Leadership Councils (SLC) for each format are councils of students who serve as the student's voice to program administrators. The overview and purpose of the on-campus SLC can be found on the MPA Intranet.

The School of Government is pleased to announce that Willow S. Jacobson has been selected by the National Academy of Public Administration for inclusion in its 2023 Class of Academy Fellows, in recognition of her years of public administration service and expertise. Read more about her selection on the SOG website.

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UNC events and beyond

The North Carolina Local Government Budget Association is happy to announce two different scholarship opportunities:

NLCGBA Conference Scholarship

The Conference Scholarship provides registration and accommodations for the upcoming Winter Conference to be held in Asheville, December 6-8, 2023. Eligible applicants include first-time professional attendees or student attendees. Interested individuals should submit their application via e-mail to scholarship@nclgba.org with the subject line “#NCLGBA Scholarship Program”. Applications for the conference scholarship are due no later than Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:59pm EST. Scholarship recipient(s) will receive registration and lodging accommodations for the 2023 Winter Conference. The scholarship application can be found here.

Judy Ikerd Endowed Scholarship

The second opportunity is through the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association, in partnership with Civic Federal Credit Union. This partnership has opened applications for the second annual Ikerd Scholarship. The Scholarship is available to full-time Master of Public Administration students. The scholarship provides $1,000 for tuition assistance and covers attendance and lodging at the Winter 2023 NCLGBA Conference in Asheville, NC. Interested individuals should submit their application via e-mail to ikerdscholar@nclgba.org with the subject line “Ikerd Scholar 2023”. Applications for the Ikerd Scholarship are due no later than Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:59pm EST. The scholarship application can be found here.

If you would like to be considered for both scholarships, you must complete both applications.

You will not be considered for both scholarships after completing one application. 

Additional information on the conference can be found here: Winter Conference.

Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to ikerdscholar@nclgba.org or scholarship@nclgba.org.

Body and Social Behavior Study 

The Social Neuroscience & Health Lab at UNC is looking for participants for a study examining biological changes related to immune system activation.   

This study is broken down into three components. Participants will first complete an online consent session via Zoom and schedule all study sessions. Participants will then go to the CTRC (located on the UNC Medical Campus) to complete online questionnaires, a blood draw, and to receive either the FDA-approved influenza vaccine or the sham injection (~60 minutes). Twenty-four hours after receiving the influenza or sham vaccine, participants will come to Howell Hall (located on UNC’s campus) for a second blood draw and to complete more surveys and online and behavioral tasks (~110 min). The session will conclude with a debriefing (~10 min). 

Participants will receive $25 for completing the first session and going to the CTRC for the blood draw and vaccine injection (random assignment), and $50 for completing the 2-hour post-vaccine session in Howell Hall. Participants who complete all study components will receive a total of $75.  

If you: are a UNC-CH student, have not already received the annual influenza vaccine, have not already had influenza this season, do not use tobacco or nicotine products, do not use immune-altering medications, are not allergic to eggs, do not report any major medical condition (e.g., diabetes, asthma), do not have Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), are not allergic to the influenza vaccine or ingredients present in the vaccine, do not report exposure to Covid-19 or upper respiratory symptoms in the days leading up to your session, have not had an adverse reaction to blood or needles, then you may be eligible to participate. You will also need to identify that they have a same-gender friend who is willing to accompany you to the post-vaccine study session to complete part of the study procedures. Additionally, the study involves tasks that will be audio and video recorded. You should not participate in this study if you are not okay with being audio and video-recorded. 

If you are interested in participating, please complete the following online screening questionnaire. If you are interested in learning more, please email us at bsbstudy@unc.edu.    

PI: Dr. Keely Muscatell 

IRB UNC: #22-1024

Applicants Needed For Orange County 

Volunteer Boards and Commissions 

Contact: Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board (919) 245-2125

ORANGE COUNTY, NC – (October 11, 2023) One of the ways residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the following boards and commissions:

Advisory Board on Aging – The Advisory Board on Aging is charged with promoting needed services, programs, and funding that impact older adults in Orange County, and makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and the Department on Aging. This board typically meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm. There is currently one (1) at-large vacancy. 

Agricultural Preservation Board – The Agricultural Preservation Board is charged with promoting the economic and cultural importance of agriculture in the county and encouraging voluntary preservation and protection of farmland for future production. This board typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. There is currently one (1) at-large vacancy and one (1) vacancy for a participating farm owner in the Schley/Eno Voluntary Agricultural District. 

Animal Services Advisory Board – This board is charged with advising the Board of County Commissioners on matters of concern regarding animal issues and animal services in Orange County. The Animal Services Advisory Board works with the Animal Services Director to ensure quality animal services and maintains contact with the stakeholder groups from which its members are appointed. The board also provides a venue in which stakeholder concerns about animals, animal policies and issues, and animal services programming may be voiced, considered, and referred as appropriate. The Animal Services Advisory Board typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. There is currently one (1) at-large vacancy.

Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool – The charge of the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool is to hear appeals concerning violations of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4 (“Animal Control Ordinance”), as provided in the Orange County Code of Ordinances, Section 4-53 Appeals and also potentially dangerous dog appeals as prescribed by N.C. Gen. Stat. §67-4.1(c). It is the responsibility of pool members to conduct fair and impartial hearings for these appeals and they will receive training in both law and proper procedure prior to participating in a hearing. Pool members are sought from the Towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro as well as the part of Orange County that is unincorporated. Appeals panels will be convened on an as-needed basis for hearings. The Board of County Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants to fill one (1) seat for a resident living in the Town of Carrboro, one (1) seat for a resident living in the Town of Chapel Hill, two (2) at-large seats, one (1) seat for a resident living within an unincorporated area of the county, one (1) seat for a representative of the Public Safety Field, and one (1) seat for a representative of the Public Health Field. 

Board of Equalization and Review – The Board of Equalization and Review hears appeals from residents 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. This board meets up to three days per week, for approximately three to four hours per meeting, for up to three consecutive months (typically April-June). Additional meetings may occur as needed during the year. Members will be compensated for all meetings attended. Orange County residents with knowledge of real estate are specifically encouraged to apply, however, others will also be given consideration. The Board of County Commissions is currently recruiting applicants for three (3) alternate positions, who will participate in hearings when regular board members are unavailable.

Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment – The Town of Chapel Hill’s Board of Adjustment is authorized to hear variance cases regarding the provisions of the Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance and appeal cases regarding decisions made by Town staff. The Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm, at Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, in the Council Chamber on the first floor. There is currently one (1) vacancy for a resident of the Chapel Hill Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) and one (1) vacancy for a resident of the ETJ or Joint Planning Area (JPA) to serve as an alternate. Please review the map at the following link to see the boundaries of the Chapel Hill ETJ and JPA areas: http://orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16597/Chapel-Hill-and-Carrboro-Boundaries-Map. You may also confirm the zoning information of your address by visiting: http://aries.orangecountync.gov/Aries/ZoningInformation.aspx. 

Commission for the Environment – This commission advises the Board of Commissioners on matters affecting the environment with particular emphasis on protection. It educates public and local officials on environmental issues and performs special studies and projects. It also recommends environmental initiatives and studies changes in environmental science and local and federal regulations. The Commission for the Environment typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. There is currently one (1) vacancy for an applicant with expertise in water resources and one (1) vacancy for an applicant with expertise in air quality. 

Hillsborough Board of Adjustment – This board hears and decides on applications for special use permits and variances, as well as appeals from decisions and determinations of Planning and Economic Development Division staff. The Hillsborough Board of Adjustment typically meets on the second Wednesday of each month, as needed, at 6:00 pm. There is currently a vacancy for an applicant residing in the Hillsborough Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) to serve as an alternate. Please review the map at the following link to see the boundaries of the Hillsborough ETJ: http://orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16598/Hillsborough-Boundaries-Map. You may also confirm the zoning information of your address by visiting: http://aries.orangecountync.gov/Aries/ZoningInformation.aspx.

Hillsborough Planning Board – This board acquires and maintains information in order to understand past trends, prepare and amend the comprehensive plan for the development of the area, and prepare and recommend ordinances promoting orderly development. The Hillsborough Planning Board typically meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. There are currently two (2) open positions for applicants residing in the Hillsborough Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Please review the map at the following link to see the boundaries of the Hillsborough ETJ: http://orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16598/Hillsborough-Boundaries-Map. You may also confirm the zoning information of your address by visiting: http://aries.orangecountync.gov/Aries/ZoningInformation.aspx.

Human Relations Commission – The Human Relations Commission studies and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners concerning problems in the field of human relationships. This commission seeks solutions to community issues that may create animosity and unrest, makes recommendations designed to promote goodwill and harmony among groups in the county, and addresses and attempts to remedy the violence, tensions, polarization, and other harm created through discrimination, bias, hatred, and inequity. The Human Relations Commission typically meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm. There is currently one (1) vacancy for a resident of the Town of Carrboro, one (1) vacancy for a resident of the Town of Hillsborough, and two (2) at-large vacancies.

Orange County Parks and Recreation Council – This council consults with and advises the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, and the Board of County Commissioners on matters affecting parks planning, development, and operation; recreation facilities, policies and programs; and public trails and open space. The Parks and Recreation Council typically meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Residents of Little River Township and Cedar Grove Township are encouraged to apply. Please review the Township map at the following link: https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2290/Township-Map-PDF. You may also confirm the zoning information of your address by visiting: http://aries.orangecountync.gov/Aries/ZoningInformation.aspx.  

If interested in any of the above positions, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County strives for diverse representation on volunteer boards and commissions. Residents of all demographic backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County unless applying for the Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have the opportunity to directly influence local decisions, policies, and priorities.

For additional information contact Tara May at 919-245-2125 or tmay@orangecountync.gov.

Links and resources

• UNC MPA website
• Student intranet
• School of Government website