MPA Student Hub Launches!

We’re excited to announce the launch of the MPA Student Hub—a new Canvas space created in response to student feedback and staff observations about the need and interest in stronger peer connection both within and across both formats of our program. 

All students have been added to the Student Hub Canvas course. Please check Canvas to confirm you’ve accepted the invitation so you can start engaging. 

Think of the Hub as your go-to space to connect with fellow MPA students—whether you're online or on-campus. It’s built for students, by students and staff—a place to build community, share experiences, and stay in the loop. 

While the Student Intranet is where you’ll find official program information like policies, deadlines, and academic resources, the Student Hub is all about connection and engagement. 

Here’s what you’ll find there: 

·                    MPA Student Directory: Browse the full list of students who have created a profile and connect directly. Because this is new, we need as many of you as possible to create a profile to make this a useful tool. You will be able search and filter by career interests, location, and more. 

👉 Action item: Take 3 minutes to create your profile in the student directory (Pro tip: You can connect your LinkedIn profile to auto-populate your information.) 

·                    Discussion Boards, Affinity Groups, and Interest Groups: Join conversations and connect with others who have similar backgrounds, experiences or interests as you. 

👉 Action item: We’re still looking for a few student champions to help lead Affinity and Interest Groups! This is a low-commitment way to get involved and spark engagement within a group you care about. Let Elizabeth Langefeld know if you are interested or if you would like to start a new one. 

·                    Student Organizations and Other Leadership Opportunities: Learn about student organizations, leadership roles, and ways to get involved. 

·                    Program Calendar: Stay on top of key dates and events. 

·                    “Where do I go if I have questions?”: Unsure who to contact? This section guides you to the right person. 

·                    Program Platform Quick Links: Unsure where to find something? This page outlines all the key platforms we use, what they’re for, and how to access them—your go-to guide when in doubt. 

📌 Bookmark the Hub and visit regularly—our hope is that it becomes one of the most valuable tools for making the most of your time in the program. 

Thank you to the Student Leadership Councils (SLC’s) for their feedback and work on this effort. 

This space really is for you, so if you have questions or feedback, feel free to reach out. 

Mitch Landrieu: Leadership in Times of Crisis

Wednesday, October 1, 4-5 pm

Room 2603, Knapp=Sanders Building

Reception to Follow 5-5:45 pm

Livestream Available

As western North Carolina marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will provide insights on leadership in times of crisis, delving into the

lessons he learned while rebuilding New Orleans and

leading and overseeing nationwide infrastructure renewal efforts at the presidential level.

Deil Wright Public Service Forum & Reception

Friday, October 10

4-5:30 pm (reception to follow 5:30-7:30 pm)

SOG 2603



Not able to take the Immersion class but still interested in Emergency Management? The Deil S. Wright Public Service Forum is for you! Virtual attendance is available.

The Forum will be a panel discussion moderated by Norma Houston that focuses on relationships and coordination between local, state, and federal governments for successful emergency management. Panelists are:

• Christina Farrell, Commissioner, New York City Emergency Management Department
• Will Ray, Director, North Carolina Emergency Management
• Erik Hooks, Former Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

SOG Faculty: So You're an Expert in What?

Thursday, October 9, 2:15-3 pm

SOG 2601 and virtually

A new MPA tradition is the "So You're an Expert in What?" event before the MPA Immersion. We ask three School of Government faculty to share their expertise, and they only have seven minutes to do it! 

o  Moderator:

•  Jeff Welty, Professor of Public Law and Government; Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

o  Speakers:

• Jacqui Greene, Associate Professor of Public Law and Government
• Christopher Mclaughlin, Professor of Public Law and Government
• Kristi Nickodem, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government

This year's Immersion professor, Kirsten LeLoudis, got students thinking about the Emergency Management topic last year at this event when speaking on Public Health Law. Audio and slides from last year's event are available online.

If you want to know more about what the SOG faculty research, please join us in person or online!

Trial School Helps Defense Attorneys Prepare for Court

by Caroline Daly, University Communications & Marketing

In the UNC School of Government program, public and private defenders practice presenting real cases through mock trial workshops. Find out more on the UNC website.

Dinner & Discourse: A Conversation with Graduate Students

September 25 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Student Union 2422

The Program for Public Discourse and The Graduate School's Student Success Program invite you to participate in a thought-provoking discussion with fellow graduate students.

This facilitated conversation will explore ways to navigate complex topics and provide tools for addressing the impact of global issues. Email Ali Ramirez with questions.

Also, find out about all the upcoming opportunities with the UNC Graduate School in their newsletter, sent to all grad students each month!

Graduate Research Symposium

The inaugural Graduate Research Symposium is an opportunity for graduate students across disciplines to showcase the extraordinary research they are doing at UNC. Taking place as part of University Research Week, the symposium will feature poster and oral presentations by UNC graduate students, prizes for winning presentations, and a reception. The event is sponsored by The Graduate School and is open to the public. Research submissions are due September 25.

Grad Cafe Upcoming Dates

Grad Café is held three times per semester and is an opportunity for graduate students to connect with one another as well as Graduate School leadership plus campus resources while refueling with free food.

• Grad Café – Thursday, October 9, 9:00-11:00am, Bynum Hall fountain
• Grad Café – Monday, November 10, 11:00am-1:00pm, Bynum Hall fountain

We’ll be at the fountain in front of Bynum Hall with free snacks such as bagels, cookies, coffee or cocoa from places like Insomnia Cookies, Brandwein’s Bagels and Gray Squirrel Coffee Company.

Grad Café is an opportunity for you to connect with other graduate and professional students and staff of The Graduate School. Additionally, representatives from CAPS and the Dean of Students will also be present for anyone in need of support. As always, you are welcome to just stop by and grab a treat to go.

Questions? Contact Laura Thorp at lethorp@unc.edu.

Call for Applications: Language Access Planning for Emergencies and Disasters

Building Integrated Communities (BIC) invites applications from NC local governments for the six-month program, “Language Access Planning for Emergencies and Disasters.”

The program has no cost to local governments.

Deadline to apply: October 15, 2025



The course is designed to build capacity in NC local governments to communicate with residents in community languages, particularly in preparation and response to local emergencies and disasters. Participating local governments will create a language access plan.

The program will start in January 2026 and consist of a combination of virtual workshop exchanges, two in-person gatherings, and technical assistance. Meetings will take place on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays between 9:30-10:45am. As part of the course, participants will:

· Learn about promising practices from immigrant and language access leaders and practitioners,

· Conduct internal assessments and collect community data with support from bilingual UNC students,

· Design a language access plan for local government, and

· Initiate implementation of recommendations from that plan.

Informational Webinar on Tuesday, September 9^th at 11am. Register for the webinar here.

More information can be found at our website here. 

Building Integrated Communities Team (bic@isa.unc.edu)