Student Services Leadership Team
The student services staff is here to support students in the Carolina MPA end-to-end student experience—from matriculation through graduation.
There are variety of resources and services available and a number of staff to help support and guide students through this transformative experience.
MPA Program Staff Availability:
Students can always request a meeting with program office staff either through email, bookings links, or in-person. Contact information is provided below each staff member. Most staff are available in-person on Mondays and then have two additional days they work-in person during the week.
_____________________________________________________________________
Student Success Team:
Academic Advising:
Elizabeth Langefeld, Director of Academic Advising & Student Life
919.843.7330 | Book a time to meet with Elizabeth
Contact Elizabeth if you have questions on:
- Advising and Registration Questions Related to:
- Academic Planning and MPA Course Planner
- Course Registration/Enrollment Issues
- Late Add/Dropping Courses
- Campus Holds on Accounts
- Leaves of Absence
- Transfer Credits
- Tuition Verification
- Financial Aid/Fellowships
- Canvas Questions
- American Government pre-requisite eligibility
- Student Engagement Questions Related to:
- Student Advocacy
- Accessibility Resources
- Student Crisis
- Off-Campus Student Life
- Student Leadership Councils
- Social Committee
- MPA Programs and Events Calendars
- Annual Programming
- Orientation and Onboarding
- The Service to Service Initiative
Career Services:
In addition to the contact information below, Career Services can be reached collectively at mpa_career@sog.unc.edu.
Allison Binkley, Director of Career, Alumni & Employer Engagement
919.843.5029 | Book a Time to Meet with Allison
Contact Allison if you have questions on:
- Career support, resources, and services to include but not limited to:
- Personalized career coaching
- Professional Development Plan conversations
- Networking with alumni and Employers
- Navigating job application process including job offer negotiation
- Professional Work Experience
- Career Programming
- Employer strategy & engagement
- Alumni engagement
- Thesis Substitute & Oral Exam
Shauna Hines-Farmer, Assistant Director for Career, Alumni, Employer Engagement
919.843.8410 | Book a time to meet with Shauna
Contact Shauna if you have questions on:
- Career support, resources, and services to include but not limited to:
- Personalized career coaching
- Professional Development Plan conversations
- Professional documents (resume and cover letter reviews)
- Interview Preparation
- Networking with alumni and Employers
- Navigating job search strategy, job application process including job offer negotiation
- Support in the Professional Work Experience search
- Career Programming
- Employer engagement
- Alumni engagement
- Student Engagement
- Student Organizations
- Student Alumni Board Representatives
- Graduate and Professional Student Government
- NASPAA Student Simulation
- Mentor Program
Operations:
Susan Lynch, MPA Operations Manager
919.962.0425
Contact Susan if you have questions on:
- Student programming including Graduation and Immersion
- Management of student awards (RA/GA, scholarships, etc)
- Course Evaluations
- On-campus student onboarding and orientation
- Residency
- Student Recruitment
- Class Visits
- Referring a prospective MPA student
- Participating in recruiting efforts
- Anything admissions related
_____________________________________________________________________
MPA Program Leadership:
Dr. Willow Jacobson, UNC-Chapel Hill MPA Program Director & Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
919.966.4760
- leadership of MPA Program
- Strategic Decision Making
- Vision Setting
Heather Duhart, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies
919.843.1727
- Day-to-day MPA Operations
- Budget
- Staff Supervision
Contact Heather if you have questions regarding:
- The overall End-to-End Student Experience
Dr. Amy Wade, Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of the Faculty Network
- Hiring, Onboarding, continuous development of adjunct faculty bench
- Course section scheduling
- Faculty liaison for course updates and development
Contact Amy for questions regarding:
- Online section offerings
______________________________________________________________________
Additional MPA Program Partner:
Brandon Foster, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations
919.962.0426
Contact Brandon for questions regarding:
- Happy Hour Hubs
- MPA Development Initiatives