Attendees gathered on March 4, 2025, at the School of Government to hear from a panel of women in government leadership roles. Sponsored by the School, Carolina Veterans Alumni Network, and Carolina Women’s Center, the panel featured four accomplished leaders who have made significant contributions to public service.

When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, leaving destruction and uncertainty in its wake, Elias Henderson didn’t hesitate to find a way to lend a hand. Henderson is a member of this year’s sixth cohort of Lead for North Carolina (LFNC), a program at the UNC School of Government connecting young leaders with fellowships in local governments across the state.

The School of Government mourns the recent passing of former faculty member and Albert Coates Professor Joseph S. Ferrell. Ferrell is remembered as a dedicated public servant to the School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and wider state. He joined the faculty at the School (then Institute of Government) in 1964 and was responsible for teaching, research, and writing in the areas of property tax, county government, and the North Carolina General Assembly. 

The UNC School of Government is pleased to welcome Joseph Laizure into its faculty ranks. Joining the School’s North Carolina Judicial College in December 2024, he works with court officials, court staff, and attorneys in the areas of civil procedure, the enforcement of judgments and supplemental proceedings, court-ordered attorney fees, order drafting, and the conduct of hearings and trials.

The UNC School of Government is saddened to share the recent passing of adjunct faculty member Leslie Anderson at the age of 74. A long-time friend of the School and an instructor for the School’s Center for Public Leadership and Governance (CPLG), Anderson led several courses for elected officials and facilitated board retreats for local governments across the state.