Faculty member Carl Stenberg testified before a congressional task force on intergovernmental relations on May 17, 2018.
![Faculty Member Carl Stenberg Advises Federal Task Force on Intergovernmental Relations Faculty Member Carl Stenberg Advises Federal Task Force on Intergovernmental Relations](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/_MG_2859.jpg)
Faculty member Willow S. Jacobson analyzes the development of internal human resources policies in her latest publication, The Development of County HR Policies: The Perspectives of Counties in Two States. Alongside Kristina Lambright of Binghamton University, Jacobson conducted interviews with 40 county HR directors from New York and North Carolina.
![Faculty Member Willow Jacobson Publishes Article on HR Policy Development Faculty Member Willow Jacobson Publishes Article on HR Policy Development](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/_MG_0440.jpg)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and the UNC School of Government announce the selection of 10 North Carolina local government teams who will work to address the opioid crisis in their communities through an intensive two-year program.
![Blue Shield NC Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/bcbsnclogo-blk-blu-legal.gif)
Justin Stirewalt’s grandfather, retired First Sergeant Robert C. Lawson, served in the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for nearly 30 years, from 1973 to 2001. During his first year on the job, Lawson came to the then Institute of Government to train at the 54th North Carolina State Highway Patrol Basic School.
![MPA@UNC student Justin Stirewalt MPA@UNC student Justin Stirewalt](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/Justin%20Stirewalt%20Headshot%20cmyk.jpg)
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz grew up in southeast Charlotte where, she said, “There were families and people of every shade, shape, and size. However, it looks much different now.” Observing these changes and how they impacted people drew her interest in community work early on.
![Stephanie Watkins-Cruz Stephanie Watkins-Cruz](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/WatkinsCruz_8084.jpg)
The Master of Public Administration program hosted at the UNC School of Government is ranked among “America’s Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. The program improved two positions since 2017, tying for 23rd in the public affairs category.
![U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/Best%20Grad%20Schools.jpg)
In fall 2017, Professor of Public Administration and Government Maureen Berner traveled to Belgium to conduct research on food insecurity and poverty as a visiting scholar at Ghent University and its Centre for Global Studies. Berner also exchanged homes with University of Antwerp historian Maarten Van Ginderachter, who visited the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to work on his book and collaborate with faculty here in the United States.
![Maureen Berner visits food bank in Belgium Maureen Berner visits food bank in Belgium](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/images/Maureen-at-food-bank_edited.jpg)
The growing opioid epidemic in North Carolina has left local governments wondering how to construct an effective response. In partnership with BlueCross NC, the School of Government is offering a two-year program to ten teams across the state to support their policy efforts in combatting this crisis.
![Classroom at the School of Government Classroom scene](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/_MG_0315_web-med.jpg)
On February 22, 2018, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced a $50 million investment in community health initiatives across the state, including $390,000 to support the School of Government’s work in assisting local governments in addressing the opioid crisis.
![Blue Shield NC Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/bcbsnclogo-blk-blu-legal.gif)
Make a difference in your organization and your career. Join other driven public service professionals and take your interest in public service further by applying for the UNC School of Government’s Master of Public Administration program.
Apply by March 6 to start classes online in May 2018.
![Apply to the UNC Master of Public Administration program Apply to the UNC Master of Public Administration program](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/_MG_1508.jpg)
Alice Rivlin, former director of the Office of Management and Budget and founding director of the Congressional Budget Office, will deliver the 2018 Deil S. Wright Lecture at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, April 6 at the UNC School of Government. An expert in monetary and fiscal policy, Rivlin currently serves as a senior fellow in Economic Studies and the Center for Health Policy at the Brookings Institution and is a visiting professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown.
![Founding Director of the Congressional Budget Office Will Deliver the 2018 Deil Wright Lecture Founding Director of the Congressional Budget Office Will Deliver the 2018 Deil Wright Lecture](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/Rivlin-Sidebar.jpg)
Each year, the UNC Visitors Center hosts a series of special tours related to Carolina’s history and landmarks, including the Black & Blue Tour, which focuses on African-American history of the University. At 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23, teaching assistant professor Robert Porter will lead this Priceless Gem walking tour, stopping by the UNC School of Government to view the SERVICE mural.
![ACRED visits SERVICE mural ACRED visits SERVICE mural](https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/cover_images/_MG_8500_0.jpg)