UNCG MPA Alumni Magazine 2022

Alumni Magazine

Board Members

MPA

Tina Akers Brown, Executive Director, Greensboro Housing Authority

Marty Lawing County Manager, Guilford County

John Ogburn ‘90 City Manager, City of Asheboro

Martha Paige ‘06 Town Manager, Town of Morrisville

David Parrish Manager, City of Greensboro

Matthew Reece ‘96 Assistant Director, Piedmont Triad Regional Council

Hardin Watkins City Manager, City of Burlington

Community and Economic Development

Deborah Hooper ‘13 Chief Operations Officer, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

Mark Kirstner Director of Planning, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation

Mike McNair Director, Community Development and Housing, City of High Point

Derwick Paige ‘89 Retired Assistant City Manager

Sue Schwartz Planning and Community Development, City of Greensboro

Mac Sims, President East Market Street Development Corporation

Penny Whiteheart Senior Vice President, Piedmont Triad Partnership

Stan Wilson Director, Neighborhood and Community Development, City of Greensboro

Marshall Yandle ‘08 Vice President, Economic Development Corporation, City of High Point

Nonprofit Management

Tom Campbell

President & Chief Executive Officer, Family Services of the Piedmont

Lee Covington ‘96 Executive Director, Senior Services Inc.

Chip Cromartie ‘05 Executive Director, Well Spring Solutions

Steve Hayes ‘04 Executive Director, Guilford Nonprofit Consortium

Cathy Powers ‘17 Executive Director, ADTS of Rockingham County

Shanna Reece ‘96 Executive Director, The Servant Center

Antonia Monk Richburg ‘00 Vice President & Chief Programs Officer, Cone Health Foundation

Susan Swartz Executive Director, The Cemala Foundation

Board Member Spotlight: Marshall yandle

Marshall Yandle currently serves as the Economic Development Manager for the city of Greensboro and has been instrumental in fostering economic growth for the communities he has served. With a serious interest in how cities were constructed, Marshall initially thought about becoming a city planner. He majored in Geography with a concentration in urban planning as an undergrad at UNCG. As Marshall began connecting with working professionals and conducting informational interviews, he realized obtaining his MPA was the way to go. Marshall understood that earning an MPA would give him the skills and knowledge to pursue a variety of interests, allowing him to conduct meaningful work and make a difference in the community where he resides.

Marshall decided to continue his education at UNCG and believes that the MPA’s program framework aided his maturation, and he learned a lot from his classmates, many of whom were working professionals at the time. Taking advantage of that dynamic he formed strong connections and applied some of the experiences his classmates shared within their field to the literature they were discussing in class and found that to be extremely fruitful. Learning to write in a concise manner has also served him well throughout his career; it is a valuable skill to be able to condense material in such a way that you hit all the key points while still demonstrating relevancy to the reader and the MPA program ensures their students are efficient in that area.

While covid may have put things on hold for a while, Marshall is really looking forward to being more active on the Advisory board as his way of giving back to something where he gained so much . He wants to make sure that our program is well known in the community, that students have possibilities for internships and networking opportunities, and that professors have access to members of the community

“It's a gratifying thing to be able to work on projects that not only bring investment to the community, but also provide jobs that allow residents to achieve upward mobility and sustainability within their households.” Having worked in both the public and private sectors and in a range of positions has provided him transferable skills that have helped him progress professionally. A few of his highlights include but are not limited to coordinating with Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) and more than 20 local furniture companies while at High Point Economic Development Corp. to organize and create the Furniture Academy at GTCC's High Point campus to teach furniture sewing and upholstery. As well as his contributions in rural communities with the NC Rural Community Assistance Project where he worked on initiatives to provide residents access to healthy drinking water and sanitary systems.

Marshall's advice to current students and leaders who want to become more involved in their communities is to not be afraid to show up. If there's an issue or a cause you're passionate about, check into the types of work people in that field are doing, conduct tabletop research on various groups, and show up. See how you can stand out by making a simple cold call and setting up meetings. You have skills and assets, so think about how you can use them to help an organization.

2021

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Cemala Foundation Fellowship Scholar: Logan Weaver isafirst year MPA student in the Nonprofit Management Concentration. Logan earned her Bachelor of Science in Corporate Accounting & Financial Analysis from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to enrolling in the MPA program. She has been able to study several aspects of the nonprofit sector as a result of the CemalaFellowship,andhasdevelopedapassionfor philanthropy and fundraising. Logan currently is a DevelopmentInternatNCCJofthePiedmontTriad in addition to being a Graduate Assistant in the PoliticalScienceDepartment.

North Carolina City and County Management Association (NCCMA) Scholarship:

That Htoo is a first year MPA student in the Community and Economic Development Concentration. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with minors in Political Science and History from UNCG in May 2021 and enrolled in the MPAprogramthatFall.Thatispresentlyworkingas a Graduate Research Assistant, aiding Dr. Holian with Presidential election results and Dr. Bacot with demographic data on North Carolina municipalities. He attributes his NCMMA scholarship to helping him to concentrate on his studies while also broadening his expertise as he pursues a career in localgovernment.

Scholarship beneficiaries for the year 2021

were awarded to the

Adjunct Feature:

NancyHunter has worked in the Department of Political Science for over ten years. Professor Hunter had established a combination of hybrid accessibility in her courses long before the pandemic uprooted our normal and transported us all to cyberspace. One of the most satisfying aspects of her job is hearing from students who say that the grant proposal writing skills they learned in her class have helped them acquire funds to help nonprofit organizations carry out their missions. As Professor Hunter prepares for retirement from UNCG she plans to work as a consultant for charity and governmental organizations and spend more time with her grandchildren. Professor Hunter considers herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach and be a part of the UNCG family.

BobSaunders has a collective of 35 years of law experience in which 27 of those he represented nonprofit organizations. During this tenure he founded, disbanded, merged and restructured various nonprofit organizations. When asked how he got to where he his today, Bob recalled, like most lawyers, his career path was hardly planned. One of Bob's fondest recollections is of his infamous "Mr. Money Bags" class in which the students collaborate to resource a challenged nonprofit board of directors. Bob has also enjoyed being able to observe his students' professions progress during the 15 years he has been teaching his classes. Bob enjoys going to movie and music festivals, as well as UNC basketball and football games, when he is not teaching or practicing law.

Faculty Feature: Greg McAvoy

While looking at his framed coffee poster in his office, Dr. Greg McAvoy expressed how his favorite coffee is a pour over made from Ethiopian beans. His life experiences have been nothing short of diverse. "Does Mexico and Canada count?" he said teasingly, after reminiscing about how many countries he has visited. Dr. McAvoy has lived on both sides of the U.S and has visited roughly ten different countries, his favorite being Italy. Though well traveled his initial journey began on the West Coast.

As we talked about culture and our shared love for the Golden State, Dr. McAvoy explained how Californians typically born up North attend school in Southern California, and vice versa. Growing up in Northern California around the Bay Area, he did just that by attending Pomona College in Claremont, California for his undergraduate studies. Initially he studied Economics and interned at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.

During his internship he developed a strong interest in politics, so strong in fact to where he changed his major to Government. He then went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. When asked why he became interested in politics, he answered “because political decision making is an expression of people’s value as a whole, differences in values get resolved and processed through political systems.”

Before becoming a professor at UNCG in 1996, he lectured as a visiting professor at Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill. After leaving warm sunny California and the chilling cold of Minnesota, Dr. McAvoy and his wife found their way to a state where they would experience all four seasons on the same day. Dr. McAvoy has taught courses in American politics, interest groups, public policy, research methods, and program evaluation. He is also the author of two books: Controlling Technocracy: Citizen Rationality and the NIMBY Syndrome and Collective Political Rationality: Partisan Thinking and Why It Isn't All Bad. He was named Department Head of the Political Science Department in 2018.

During the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, he worked to keep the department operational while working with a budget shortfall, something he considers as one of his greatest accomplishments. His passions outside of academia include traveling, golfing, exercising, and of course, coffee. Dr. McAvoy keeps up with the new tools and trends of political science research and encourages students to learn new things. When asked what advice he would give to MPA students that aspire to work in public service, he responded “recognize that the workplace is a changing environment and see those changes as opportunities, not barriers.”

Graduate Certificate in Urban and Economic Development

Dr. Allison Bramwell is the Coordinator of the Certificate program in Urban and Economic Development. She is an associate professor in the Political Science department and received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2010. Dr. Bramwell teaches courses in urban political systems, public administration, and community andeconomicdevelopment.Her current research focuses on collaborative urban governance and the political environmentregardingeconomictransformation.

What does the Urban and Economic Development Certificate program entail?

The Graduate Certificate in Urban and Economic Development (UED) is a post baccalaureate degree programthatisjointlyofferedbythePoliticalScience

and Geography Departments at UNCG. Since it is an inter disciplinaryprogram,itcanbuildonknowledge from any undergraduate degree. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for professional practice and covers a wide variety of topics, practice areas, and professional skill sets. Program requirements include 18 credit hours that can be completed at your own pace over 3 semesters. This includes 4 required graduate level courses drawn equally from Political Science and Geography. Shorter 1 hour courses are offered to build more applied skills such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), strategic planning, grant writing, and program evaluation. We offer a combination of evening and online classes so students can continue to work full time while pursuing their Certificates. Classes are designed to support students to build a knowledge base in the general areas of community and economic development, as well as to develop more focused expertise in areas of personal interest. Assignments and projects are intended not just to improve the research, writing, and communication skillsessentialto professional life,butalso to expose students to applied, ‘real world’ urban development policychallengesinthePiedmontTriadregion. Who would be a good candidate for the UED certificate?

TheUEDCertificateisagreatwayforthosewhohave aninterest incommunityandeconomicdevelopment

to build their knowledge and credentials required to getstartedinthefield.Manypeoplegraduatewithan undergraduate degree but are not sure what field they want to work in afterwards or may not yet have the required courses or skill sets. Others who are great candidates for the UED Certificate include those who have already have professional experience and may even be working full time, but want to augment their existing skills and knowledge base in order to advance their careers or position themselves for new employment opportunities. On this point, whether you are a recent graduate wanting to build a new knowledge base or an ‘in service’ professional, the UED Certificate program can also provide a pathwayintotheMPAprogramatUNCG.

What are some career opportunities for students that are obtaining this certificate?

There are so many exciting and rewarding careers in urban planning and community and economic development that it is hard to characterize them all. Generally speaking, the UED Certificate prepares students to develop and manage programs in multiple practice areas such as workforce development, and entrepreneurial development. This couldinvolveworkingforcityorcountygovernment, a regional development organization, or a community based nonprofit focused on some aspect ofurbandevelopmentorplanning.

As the head of the UED Certificate program, what are some of your overall goals for the program?

My main goal is to promote the program to a wider spectrum of people who may not know about what great opportunities exist at UNCG and in the field. Downtheroad,Iplanonworkingwithmycolleagues to expand course offerings from other departments across campus and to improve accessibility by offeringdifferentcourseformats.

Feel free to contact me at: afbramwe@uncg.edu

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management

Dr. Tamaki Onishi is the Coordinator of the Certificate program in Nonprofit Management. Dr. Onishi is an associate professor in the MPA program. and received her Ph.D. from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in 2013. Dr. Onishi teaches courses in Nonprofit Management and Leadership as well as Philanthropy and Resource Development. Her current research involves entrepreneurial and institutional theories on social entrepreneurshipandinvestment.

Forincomingstudents,canyoutellmealittle about the Nonprofit Management certificate program?

Our NPM certificate program requires 15 credit hours of core courses (PSC540, PSC645, and PSC650) and elective courses, as well as the portfolio submitted at the end of the program. The program offers flexible curriculum, in person and online classes, which makes it more convenient for students to complete the requirements. We work with seasoned professionals in law, grant writing, fundraising, and marketing as our adjunct faculty members and as guest speakers. For example, Philanthropy and Resource Development (PSC 650) follows curriculum developed for professional fundraisers and invites over 10 fundraisers and consultants to help students learn about specialized fundraising and grantmaking skills, including prospect research, fundraising campaigns, and planned giving. With this approach, I have witnessed an increasing number of certificate students get jobs and promotions in the nonprofit sector. Our NPM certificate program trains students to develop their research and critical thinking skills through various assignments. Some students choose to start at the NPM certificate program before they apply formal master or doctoral programs, including our MPA program.

Who makes a good candidate for this certificateprogram?

Demonstrating a clear career goal and high motivation is one of the most important

qualifications for candidates’ success. This is a very diverse group of students, including those who have experience not only in the nonprofit sector, but also in the government or business sectors; it is also for individuals who are interested in nonprofit management as their second career or serving on a nonprofit board. An increasing numberof certificate students come from different programs within UNCG’s Graduate School (e.g., MBA, Public Health, Museum Studies, Communication Studies, and Community & Therapeutic Recreation). I would say that any person who is passionate about nonprofit managementshouldconsidergettingthecertificate.

What are some career opportunities for studentsobtainingthiscertificate?

The Certificate in Nonprofit Management allows peopletogetjobsinresourcedevelopment, volunteer management, program administration, and so many other areas within nonprofits. People who have completed our NPM Certificate have gone on to join nonprofit organizations such as March of Dimes, YWCA, andtheBetterBusiness Bureau’sWiseGiving Alliance. Others were promoted to CEO, Executive Director, or other senior management positions withintheirorganizations.

As the head of the certificate program, what are some of your overall goals for the program?

My overall goals include developing a variety of practical skills with students, including critical thinking and analytical skills. As such, I believe that our NPM certificate program is beneficial to future MPA students, especially those who aspire to find jobsoradvancetheircareersinthenonprofitsector.I am happy to speak with anyone about the program and whether the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Managementisrightforthem.

Please contact me at t_onishi@uncg.edu

Alumni Spotlight

Lamar Lee ‘17, who currently serves as the PlaygroundandSafetyManagerfor the National Parks and Recreational Association, exemplifies what it takes to be a great public servant and leader. In the spring of 2015, Lamar enrolled as a part time student in the MPA Program with a Local Government Concentration. Lamar recounts juggling a full time job, the birth of his two children, and the MPA program's work throughout his tenure as a graduate student. Lamar’s commitment to showing up and engaging in his classes can be an inspirationforallMPAstudents.

A Greensboro native, Lamar received the Watson Scholarship at Elon University, where he obtained his Bachelor's in Sports and Event Management. Originally, he wanted to be a collegiate sports director, but after interning as a Special Events Assistant for Burlington Parks and Recreation, he discovered his passion. There he remained a part time employee at the Burlington Parks andRecreationDepartmentuntilgraduation.

He then accepted a position as an Instructional Sports Coach and Community Facility Leader with Howard County Recreation and Parks in Maryland. Lamar returned to North Carolina in 2013 to work as a Marina Operator for the City of High Point and was eventually promoted to Parks Supervisor at Oak Hollow Park. Whether it’s managing a facility, staff, or a budget, Lamar attributes his success to his ability to apply what he's learned in class to the career opportunities he's had. His advice to any professionals who are considering pursuing theirmaster'sdegree istojustgoforit!

Patrice Toney ‘10,

has a dynamic and progressive public service career in local government spanning 24 years. She started her career in 1997 with the Winston Salem Police Department (WSPD) and is now theAssistant CityManager (ACM), overseeing the WSPD and other departments. She served 17 years with Forsyth County Government, working in departments such as the Library, Public Health, and the Budget and Management Office after a brief tenure with the WSPD. During her stay with the Public Health Department, she understood that while programs are vital for those who participate in them, policy has the greatest impact on people's lives. She decided to pursue an MPA degree at UNCG, commuting after work until she graduated, a predicament that many MPA students may empathizewith.

Patrice recalls being able to immediately apply what she learned in the classroom to her workplace as both a full time employee in County Government and a student in the MPA program, which expanded her perception on how agendas are created, and policy is shaped. She accepted a job in the County's Budget and Management office after finishingherMPAin2010,wheresheworkedforfiveyears as a budget and management analyst, then as a senior analyst. Patrice emphasizes that her MPA budget coursework and the labs with Dr. Ken Klase prepared her fortheinterviewandtheresponsibilitiesofthat position.

Patrice became the City of Winston Salem's Budget and Evaluation Director in 2016, where she successfully compiled, presented, and managed a $530 million operating budget and construction plan. She was promoted to Assistant City Manager after nearly 5 years in the position, where she oversees the Winston Salem Police Department, Winston Salem Fire Department, Emergency Management, Human Relations, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and Community Development departments. Despite being in the middle of her career, Toney believes obtaining her MPA is one of the best decisions she had made in terms of career progression. It allowed her to gain a comprehensive understanding of public administration and local government, which aided in the development of skills needed to successfully navigatebothcityandcountygovernmentpositions.

2021 Graduates

MPA

2021

Destiny Alston Sara Butner

Cashwell

King Clark Matt Grusznis Taylor Strassburg Hutchins

Salwa Majeed

Mangili

Mebane Thomas Mierisch

Polanco

Pratt

Raby

Saine

Szarka

Tearry Michala Westbrook Forrest White

Summer 2021

Grace Craig Bradley Wallace Fall 2021 Leia Gearhart Paige Sprinkle Taylor Zimmerman

NPM

2021

Ahmed Abdullah Hayden Grover Elizabeth Kiser Naglaa Rashwan

Summer 2021

Luanne Arrington

Jason Blanton

Sheree Cooper Mary Figel

Lauryn Fowler Joey Graves

Sheala James Rose Kuehr McLaren Hannah Yoo

Fall 2021

Katie Miller Liz Miller

UED

Fall 2019

Leia Gearhart Taylor Jones Curtis

2021 Summer Internships

Abby Salah servedas a Community Engagement intern at Peacehaven Community Farm, where she helped to connect persons with intellectual and developmental impairments to the larger community. Abby was responsible for arranging volunteer efforts, outreach, and aiding with volunteer events throughout her time there. Her experience taught her a lot about community engagement, volunteer management, coordination, and adaptability when it came to teaching and programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently works at the UNCG Speaking Center and teaches a community based program for adults withIDDonMondaynights.

assistance in donor stewardship, communications, board meetings, and key events such as Anytown and STARR. Ma'Kayla appreciates the opportunity to see the operations of a nonprofitorganization,andshefeelspreparedand eager to contribute to the public sector as a result. Shehas a concentrationin Nonprofit Management and has applied her experience from NCCJ to her current role as an Executive Director for GreensboroCerebralPalsy.Association.Shehopes to continue serving in this role for many years due toherpassionfortheorganization.

Jamison Pennix worked as a policy intern at the North Carolina Business Council, where he supported the organization's mission of connecting, empowering, and influencing policymakers and business leaders to create a vibrant economy that protects natural resources, supports local communities, and benefits all North Carolinians. He gained excellent expertise in knowing how to interact in a nonpartisan manner, how the process works from the perspective of a nonprofit organization, and through fundraising. Jaimison is in his final semester of the MPA degree with a concentration in Local Government Management and hopes to work in local government in Greensboro or Guilford County.

Ma’Kayla Hunter worked as a Development intern at NCCJ of the Piedmont Triad, where she worked to liberate communities from bias, bigotry, and racism. As a development intern, she provided

Jordan Wright worked as an intern at the Center for Housing and Community Studies, where he led the Health Impact Team in collecting data on vaccine apprehension. Jordan made excellent relationships with officials of the Health Department, inhabitants of Guilford County, and the importance of data collected during an ongoing pandemic during his internship. Jordan is still employed as a graduate assistant and Program Director for the Tenant Leadership Academy at the Center for Housing and Community Studies. Jordan is interested in pursuing a career in local government or finding a job that is similar to the CenterforHousingandCommunityStudies'work.

2021 Summer Internships

Jaime Sandoval began her internshipintheTown of Carthage as an administrative intern, working under the direction of Town Manager, Tom Robinson. Every monthly board meeting, Jaime organized documentation, site plans, and worked with developments and forecasts for future projects in the municipality, as well as assisting with technical duties in GIS, Microsoft Excel, and PowerPoint. Jamie improved her understanding of local government laws, regulations, and requirementsby participating in decision making for development projects in a fast growing town. She has a concentration in Local Government Management and has applied for a certificate in Urban and Economic Development. Jamie is currently employed by the Town of Carthage and intends to stay there as a Management Analyst, a position createdspecificallyforherandherexpertise. CommunityStudies.

Steven Garfunkel interned with Disability Advocates of Northwest North Carolina. His responsibilities included facilitating the transition of clients to a newattorney,communicatingwithclientstoobtain necessary permissions, correlating and filing paperwork on behalf of clients, communicating withtheUSSocialSecurityAdministrationtoverify information, and managing the organization’ s Facebook page. completing this internship taught him that everything is a process, and that fixing something necessitates first identifying the problem and then devising an actionable strategy on how to effectively tackle it. Steven is a graduate assistant at the UNCG Speaking Center with a Nonprofit Management concentration. He wants to workinthedisabilityadvocacyprofession.

ReemAIRaiisi

As a Development intern at Piedmont Craftsmen, Reem used various thinking processes, mental frameworks, and the implementation of modifications and new ideas. She created a social media campaign and participated in art auctions using the skills she learned in the MPA program. Using a PEST analysis, she addressed the organization's internal and external variables throughout her internship. She changed her concentration from nonprofit administration to community development after taking Dr. s courses. Reem currently works at the Center for Housing and Community Studies as a Mediation Project Research Assistant. She is passionate about advocating for human rights and the roleofcreativeplacemakinginsocialconcerns,andsheintendstopursueajobinwhichshecanput herskillstouse.

Conferences

North Carolina City and County Manager’s Association Conference

This year due to the impact of the pandemic, there have been a limited number of conferences and events held for the MPA program. We were, however, fortunate enough to be able to attend in person the North Carolina City and County Managers Association Conference (NCCMA). In early February, the annual NCCMA conference was held in Winston Salem. Students were able to network with alumni and gain vital advice on how to matriculate effectively in the MPA program and in the professional area at the alumni brunch. A Speed Networking session for MPA students was also held during the conference, in which existing local government managers and administrators met with MPA students to discuss their present roles and offer professional advice. Many speakers spoke about essential administrative themes such as hiring and retaining the best staff to assessing and perfecting inclusive leadership within their organizations.

Program and scholarship donors

Many thanks to everyone who donated to the MPA’s two funds this year. Next Generation Scholarships (now the Ruth DeHoog Scholarship) and student activities depend on your continuing support in 2022. We appreciate your generous gifts!

Ruth DeHoog Scholarship Award

Contributors

Dyan Arkin (MPA ’02)

*Barbara Ann Brown Atwell (’73 BAMath; ’79 MEDMath)

John Bain (MPA ’78)

Ben Ballou (MPA ’11)

*Nancy Borum (’81 BSInteriorDesign)

*Peggy Bunton (’54 BASociology)

*Judy Eaker Clement (’78 BADrama &Speech)

*Katherine Combs (’98 BAMediaStudies)

*Tricia Booth Fish (’66 MEDHistory)

*Barbara Wickholm Galley (’67 BAEnglish)

*Carolyn Henderson (’66 BAEnglish)

Bradley Albert Mansi Johnson (AdjunctFaculty)

Rachel Hawley Kelly (MPA’09)

*Marcia Perry Leonard (’67 BAEnglish)

*Ruth Luck (’63 BAHistory)

*Shirley McGee (’71 BAEnglish)

*Linda Kay Scott Mills (’94 BAHistory)

*Mary Hare Morris (’65 BAHistory)

*Hazel Shelton Puckett (’83 BABiology

Gary Steeley (MPA ’94)

*

MPA Enrichment

John Bain (MPA ’78)

Ben Ballou (MPA ’11)

Seth Houk (MPA ’06)

Derwick Paige (MPA ’89)

Melissa Turner (MPA ’08)

What’s Happening With Our Current MPA’s While They Are In The Program…

Ariana Garcia (Sp’23) is UNCG’s Track Star! Ariana earned Second Team All Conference at the Cross Country Southern Conference Championship, placing 14th. The UNCG Women’s team placed 4th overall.

During indoor track, Ariana was named SoCon Track Athlete of the Week for her performance at the JDL Fast Track in Winston Salem, running a converted time of 5:01.28.

Jamie Sandoval (Sp’22) became engaged to Jay Sacayanan in August 2021. She also accepted a job with the Town of Carthage as a Management Analyst!

Abby Thomas (Sp’22) married Wisam Salah on June 30, 2021, in Raleigh, NC. Abby is working with ICan House in Winston Salem as a Group Facilitator teaching social and communication skills to kids with disabilities.

Darrell Keyes (Sp’23) is the Finance Officer for the Carolina Population Center at UNC Chapel Hill.

What’s Happening With Our Current MPA’s While They Are In The Program…

Ma’Kayla Hunter (Sp’22) is now the Executive Director of the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association

Anika Massey (Sp’22) accepted a job as Corporate Engagement Communications Associate with Earthshare North Carolina.

Alex Shepherd (Fa’23) is a Financial Specialist for the City of High Point.

Sam Logan (Sp’22), Troy Moss (Su’22), Jamison Pennix (Sp’22) and Jamie Sandoval (Sp’22) worked with Downtown Greenway on a special project focusing on Economic Development during fall 2021 semester.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

MPA ALUMNI COUNCIL

The UNCG MPA alumni council is comprised of recent proram graduates for the purpose of supporting public service leaders and the advancement of the MPA program through alumni engagement. This group will strive to collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to be an example to model for other university graduate alumni groups. Our initial activities will consist of supporting faculty and staff with the annual MPA Alumni Reunion. We will explore options to engage recent graduates through ideas such as adding arecent alumniaward,diversifying venture selection,collaboratingwith UNCGhomecoming events tohaveamid weekevent,androtatingeventformats/topics.Currentalumniinvolvedinclude:

• TiffanyAlbright ‘17

• RachaelBurrello ‘15

• DarianCobb ‘18

• SaraHancock ‘16

• GloriaHoover ‘19

•

‘09

• LamarLee ‘17

• SarahMcGuire ‘14

• BlakeMoyer ‘19

• DavidPutnam ‘19

• JohnSainworla ‘19

•

‘19

• JoshuaSherrick ‘15

• MichelleSorrells ‘19

• LeeStaton ‘18

•

•

‘19

Blackwell ‘19

‘18

Alumni News and Notes

Destiny Alston (’21) is the Stability Housing Coordinator for Compass Center for Women & Families in Chapel Hill.

Dyan Arkin (’02) retired from the City of Greensboro January 1, 2021 after 20 years in the Planning Department.

Lalanea Barnes (‘11) is a licensed therapist in both NC and Kansas specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Internal Family Systems. She has a special interest in helping women become empowered to live their best lives and heal from trauma.

Gail Bartunek Vadia (’09) is a Senior Content Strategist for Red Hat.

Rachael Burrello (’17) is the first Director of NC Home Vising & Parenting Education System (HVPE) by NC Partnership for Children (NCPC).

Kellie Cartwright (’98) started a new position in July as Director of Regional Development at United Way of Central Carolinas.

Michael Caviness (’13) is the Fire Director for Rowan Cabarrus Community College. He previously worked 9 years with the Office of the State Fire Marshall (Department of Insurance for North Carolina).

Darian Cobb (’18) has been promoted to Senior Community Development Research Analyst at Local Government Federal Credit Union.

Sean Collen (’20) is a Business Systems Coordinator for the Kennedy Center.

Michelle Collins (’03) started working in October with the North Carolina Biotechnology Center as Director of Grant Process Operations. She previously worked for UNC’s School of Medicine as a Research Program Manager.

Carrie Miller Conley (‘10) will be leaving her

position at North Carolina State University as Director of Development at the end of March. Her husband is being deployed by the Army to Vincenza, Italy for three years. They will be leaving in May.

Kevin Cook (’16) moved to Thailand last year, where he is consulting for NGOs and enjoying a new cultural experience. He was formerly with Cape Fear Group Homes and Vocational Services.

Grace Craig (‘21) married Jack Kuhns on June 27th, 2021 at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC.

Chip Cromartie (’05) is the CEO for Patrick Village, a senior living care facility in Southern Pines. He was previously the Executive Director for Wellspring in Greensboro.

Demetrius Deloatch (’19) currently works in government relations at APCO Worldwide. He also teaches government at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh.

Rebecca Ray Essick (’20) and her husband, John, welcomed a little girl, Lanie Emilia, on November 20, 2021.

Lauren Forbis (’20) and her husband, Sam, welcomed baby girl, Leona Jane, born October 26, 2021. Lauren is now the Assistant Director for Annual Giving, Elon University (her undergraduate alma mater) after serving at the United Way of Greater Greensboro for several years.

Phillip Freeman (’12) married Sarah Atwell (UNCG ’15) at the Inn at Crestwood in Blowing Rock, NC, on April 24, 2021. The couple live in Charlotte. Phillip works for the City of Charlotte’s Community Engagement Division.

Joe Furstenberg (’17) is the Statewide Planning & Program Manager for Integrated Mobility Division for the NCDOT. He was formerly a Transportation Consultant with the NCDOT.

Alumni News and Notes (cont.)

Ritchie Ciceron Glasby (’17) and her husband, Ra’Keem, welcomed a baby boy, Grayson Chase Glasby on December 3, 2021. He joins big sister, Arden, 3. They live in Concord.

Natasha Nimmons Gore (’95) moved to a new job in 2020 as an MBA Prep Coach, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, NC A & T State University.

April H. Harris (‘01) recently joined Common Cause North Carolina as Development Manager. The NC Chapter is one of the largest and most active in the country.

Rachel Hawley Kelly (’09) is the Director of Advancement Communications at UNCG. She previously was the Assistant City Manager for the City of Burlington.

Steven Hawryluk (’07) is the Budget Director for the City of High Point. He previously was the Assistant Budget Director for Winston Salem.

Jo’ann Holder (’20) is a PhD student at North Carolina State University and recently was promoted to Instructor of Record.

Nate Humphrey (‘12) is the Associate Vice President of Workforce and Continuing Education for the North Carolina Community College System.

Taylor Strassburg Hutchins (’21) became the Director of Business Recruitment for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce in October. She previously held the position of Economic Development Analyst for Forsyth County’ s Department of Community & Economic Development.

Matt Jeffreys (’08) is a Budget and Management Analyst for Wake County. He previously worked for the City of Greensboro with Workforce Development. He and his wife are proud parents of two sons.

Melissa Johnson (’08) married Mark Kirstner on April 9, 2022.

Corynn Kolberg Kilar (’20) is the Director of Development Central Major Gifts for North Carolina State University. She was previously the Major Gifts Officer for North Carolina School for the Arts.

Jae Kim (’12) is the Assistant Village manager for Bald Head Island. He was previously the Town Manager of Spring Hope, NC.

Maggie Robertson Larkins (’15) and her husband, Kelly, welcomed a baby daughter, Tabitha Elaine, born July 7, 2021. Tabitha joins her big brother, Nathaniel, 2.

Lamar Lee (‘17) is the Playground Safety Manager for the National Parks and Recreation Association. Lamar will be managing the development and delivery of the Playground Maintenance Course (PMC) and the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course/ certification examination. He was formerly with High Point Parks & Recreation.

Tim Leisman (’19) is the Program Specialist in the Accountability, Research & Evaluation Department at Guilford County Schools.

Brent Lucas (’08) works for the North Carolina General Assembly as a Fiscal Analyst. He previously worked as a Program Evaluator. Salwa Majeed (’21) is an Accountability Specialist for GuilfordWorks.

Haley Mills Matthews (’20) and her husband, Taylor, welcomed a son, August Miller born on August 21, 2021. She is currently now working as the Senior Budget Analyst for Guilford County. Haley previously worked in the School of Education at UNC Greensboro as a Grants Specialist.

Crystal Meade (’19) is a Cosmetologist for Cuts 109 in Jamestown.

Thomas Mierisch (’21) is promoted to Planner II for the City of Sanford Municipal Government.

Blake Moyer (’19) married Courtney Powell on February 12th .

Justin Nichols (’10) is the Director of Patron Engagement for Greensboro’s Triad Stage, Inc. He was previously the Director of Development.

Jordan Paige (’21) is a Budget and Evaluation Analyst for the City of Winston Salem.

Sara Pilling Kellogg (’16) is a Strategic Initiative Coordinator at Guilford County. She was previously the Operations Manager for the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNC Greensboro.

Elena Polanco (’21) is the Supervising Fund Raising Coordinator and Special Events Planner

for Reginald Center for Turnaround. This is a nonprofit that works to rehabilitate young folks and serve as a safe space for youth who may struggle with violence or substance abuse.

Antonio Powell (’21) works as a Sales Support Administrator for Sherpa LLC. Sherpa is a staffing company based out of Charlotte who specializes in staffing, recruiting, and consulting services, working exclusively in Accounting & Finance, Human Resources & Executive Support, Marketing, and Project Management.

Jessica Raby (’21) is the Workforce Program Manager for the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC). She was also selected in 2021 as a member of 40 under 40.

Bruce Rich (’20) is the Project Director for UNCG’s Center for Housing and Community Studies.

Antonia Monk Richburg (‘00) received the Holderness/Weaver Award to acknowledge her service as a community leader and volunteer in Greensboro. She is also a Hull Fellow (a philanthropic leadership development program of the Southeastern Council of Foundations).

Brie Salamone Collins (’16) married Sean Collins on October 31, 2021, Owl’s Nest Resort, Thornton, New Hampshire. Brie is a Residential Real Estate Agent for Berkshire Hathaway in New Hampshire.

Michelle Sorrells (’19) is an Impact Officer with the John M. Belk Foundation in Charlotte. She was previously at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro as a Program Associate and Youth Philanthropy Coordinator.

Lee Staton (’18) is the Deputy Executive Director for the Housing Authority in Winston Salem. He was previously the Public Housing Directory for the City of Albemarle.

Jenny Stokes Thomas (’02) is a Sales Concierge at Beacon Street Development Company in Raleigh.

Lindsay Swing Hines (’20) is a Grantwriter for Telamon Corporation in Raleigh.

Melissa Tearry (’21) is the Director for Learning Together Family Literacy Program and Coordinator for TEACH Scholarship Program for Guilford Child Development.

Patrice Toney (’10) is the new Assistant City Manager for Winston Salem. She is also a graduate of the 2021 Public Executive Leadership Academy.

Bradley Wallace (’21) is the Grants Manager for The Servant Center.

Mitra Wilkenfeld (’15) and her husband, David, welcomed Wyatt Cia on April 10, 2021, weighing 9 lbs. 12.8 oz. He joins big sister, Kira, 4. Mitra and her family live in Pennsylvania.

Justin Williams Blackwell (’19) is an Inclusion and Talent Project Manager for Cisco Systems, Inc.

Marshall Yandle (’08) serves as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Greensboro. He had previously worked in Economic Development for the City of High Point.

In Memory

Mary Turner (’81) passed away in Kernersville, NC on May 4, 2021.

forging new directions in public administration