Carolina MPA Student Digest 11/5/21:
Carolina MPA Calendar
  • November 14: drop deadline for September term students
  • November 18: drop deadline for on-campus students
  • December 10-12: Fall Graduation Events
  • March 3-5, 2022: MPA Immersion
MPA News
The School of Government & the MPA Program is excited to welcome Dr. Kimalee Dickerson into the faculty ranks.

Professor Dickerson serves as an assistant professor of public leadership. She will advise and instruct on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in public administration.
 
For Dickerson, the study of these issues is rooted in a desire to serve communities that are often underresourced. Her public service career, she says, is largely dedicated to bridging these opportunity gaps.
 
“Throughout my career, I have been drawn to opportunities to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of others, particularly those in historically marginalized communities,” Dickerson said.
 
“Having worked in government and education, I have seen firsthand the importance and impact of public service. I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to influence social change through public service, such as changing how policies and programs are administered to create more equitable conditions.” Read more about her work here.
Student Spotlight: Jennifer Barnhill
Online format student Jennifer Barnhill has already found ways to incorporate her MPA coursework and her profession. As a military spouse, she has long worked to advocate for military families' career and educational needs. As the new COO of Partners in PROMISE, she uses storytelling to share important data. Her MPA Research & Analysis study, then was focused on gathering data of children with special education needs who move frequently with their family's military assignments.

Military children move every 2-3 years, she says, and often change states with differing special education programs. It's possible for them to go their entire educational career without their data being captured. She developed a survey and worked with Prof. Christopher Cody on her findings.

While her 720 class may be over, the work is not! Surveys are ongoing looking at how military lifestyles impact filing for special education claims. Her findings have been published with Partners in PROMISE and were recently cited in a White House paper!

Jennifer says, "I am so thankful that UNC took the time to get to know me and didn't get distracted by my wandering resume. As a military spouse who moves every two-three years we are often overlooked, or dismissed because we'll "only" stick around for a short time. However, when given the chance to rise to the occasion we more often than not do just that." 
 
"Through working with Prof. Cody in PUBA720 I gained the confidence I needed to trust the data, so much so that it has been used to brief Congressional leaders and was cited in a White House paper (p 17). But the best part is that our findings have been used to help military children in special education gain access to the Free and Appropriate Public Education afforded to them by law, allowing their parents to concentrate on serving our country."

Thank you to Jennifer Barnhill for sharing her story. If you have good news, please let us know!
If you missed the recent MPA Fundraising in the Arts after COVID Community Conversation, or want to relive it, the recording is now available!
 
The UNC MPA Alumni Association is building MPA connections through a book exchange program.
 
Participation is easy!
·   Sign up at https://bit.ly/UNCMPABooks.
You'll be matched to someone in the UNC MPA family.
You mail them a new or favorite (or recycled) book.
You will receive a book in exchange for the one you sent.
 
Learn more at https://bit.ly/UNCMPABooks and sign up today!
University & Beyond Events

  • Ongoing: American Indian Heritage Month
  • Nov. 8: Voting Reform - An Agnostic Dialogue
  • Nov. 15: LGBTQ+ Speaker Series: Radical Self Care
  • DUE Nov. 15: Applications & Nominations for 2022 MLK, Jr. Celebration Academic Scholarships & Faculty/Staff/Community Awards
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is celebrating American Indian Heritage Month this November with a series of events hosted by the UNC American Indian Center.
This year’s celebration will include lectures, film viewings, an art gallery in the Carolina Union, social media challenges and cultural activities that share traditions.
“I hope that the Carolina community can take away the realization and celebration of the many different diverse Native identities that we have represented here on campus and around the area and the diversity and excitement of the vibrant living cultural traditions that are still present today,” said Jesalyn Keziah, the community engagement program officer at the UNC American Indian Center.
The annual Michael D. Green Lecture in American Indian Studies will headline the month when Stacy Leeds virtually delivers a keynote lecture titled “The State of Many Nations: Pushing Boundaries and a Post-McGirt Oklahoma” on Nov 9. at 7 p.m. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, the dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas School of Law and a professor of law and leadership at Arizona State University, Leeds is an educator and scholar of Indigenous law and policy.

On November 8th at 8:00 p.m., the UNC Program for Public Discourse (PPD) hosts an online Debating Public Policy Series event: Voting Reform - an Agonistic Dialogue. 

Across the volatile landscape of American politics today, perhaps few issues remain more polarizing than voting reform. As part of #UNCResearchWeek, PPD invites UNC Department of Political Science professor Jason Roberts and Republican strategist and UNC alumnus Douglas Heye '94 to share their competing perspectives on the contentious issue in an agonistic dialogue*.

*An agonistic dialogue centers around competing perspectives but nevertheless remains collaborative in nature.

The event is moderated by Rick Su of the UNC School of Law and will include an audience Q&A. 

The event is free and open to the public and registration is available here. 

A recording will be made available on the PPD YouTube channel.
Dear Carolina Community,
We are excited to announce that the applications and nominations are now open for the Martin Luther King, Jr. UNC Student Scholarship, Harvey Beech UNC Student Scholarship and the Unsung Hero Award.
The MLK Scholarship finalists and award winners will be presented at the 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture and Awards Ceremony.
Martin Luther King, Jr. UNC Student Scholarship
The scholarship is open to all JUNIORS at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Any junior may apply whose public and private community activities demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of life of our community and campus.
The awards are given annually to students who, as judged by the MLK, Jr. Scholarship Committee, best exemplify Dr. King’s commitment to our society. Nominees are judged on the basis of activities and contributions that demonstrate their commitment to civil/human rights and their desire to improve the quality of life of all members of the University community.
Applications are also reviewed to understand their ability to achieve and excel academically. One first-place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and two runner-up candidates will each receive $1,500 scholarships.
The deadline for applications is November 15. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications must be submitted electronically at https://go.unc.edu/MLKScholarship
Unsung Hero Award
The purpose of the Unsung Hero award is to recognize UNC faculty and staff or department or community/corporate entities who have exemplified a commitment to inclusion and through their work – demonstrated collaboration, commitment to equity and building community. Nominees should meet the following criteria: Exemplify steadfast commitment to inclusion; Contributed significantly to furthering social justice initiatives, equity and diversity through their everyday work and advocacy; Made a positive difference in the lives of others at Carolina.
The deadline for submissions is November 15. Awards will be given to up to two recipients.
Nominations must be submitted electronically at https://go.unc.edu/UnsungHero
Harvey Beech UNC Student Scholarship
The scholarship is open to all SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Named for the late Harvey Beech, the first African-American student to graduate from UNC, the Harvey Beech Scholarship is awarded annually to three UNC-Chapel Hill students. Winners are chosen based on academic GPA improvement (semester-based or cumulative) and contributions to campus life. Winners will each receive $1,000 scholarships.
The deadline for applications is November 30. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications must be submitted electronically at https://go.unc.edu/HarveyBeech
For additional information, please visit our webpage at https://diversity.unc.edu/programs/mlk/ or email mlk@unc.edu
We look forward to your participation as we honor those who continue Dr. King’s legacy.
Sincerely,
Leah Cox, PhD
Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
University Office for Diversity & Inclusion
This message is sponsored by: University Office for Diversity and Inclusion
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