LFNC Welcomes Sixth Cohort of Future Leaders

In July 2024, the Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) program welcomed 38 new Fellows to the School of Government to attend the summer training academy and launch their careers in public service. This year's cohort marks the sixth year of the program and the largest cohort of Fellows to date.  

LFNC matches young people interested in public service careers with impactful fellowships in local government offices across the state to strengthen public institutions, support local communities, and grow the next generation of public service leaders. 

Last year, the program successfully piloted a finance-focused track for Fellows, which returns for a second year. Forty percent of Fellows in Cohort Six are participating in the finance track, and their fellowships will assist local governments facing capacity constraints in their finance departments with everything from accounts payable to internal controls.  

Strong partnerships with other organizations have been essential to the program’s success, and the support of the SECU Foundation has been particularly instrumental. This year, the SECU Foundation renewed its support of LFNC with a gift supporting up to 150 Fellows over the next five years. This funding allows the program to grow and prioritize placements in rural and under-resourced communities, where local governments may most need additional assistance.  

“If it weren't for their foundational investment in LFNC in 2019, this program would neither exist nor have flourished as it has over the years,” said Jennifer Willis, associate dean for advancement and partnerships. “They had the bold vision to invest in this initiative, resulting in transformational changes in communities across the state. Additionally, they have inspired a new generation to explore the possibilities of a career in public service.”  

The sixth cohort of LFNC Fellows with check from SECU Foundation. 

Other vital funders include Anonymous Trust, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, AmeriCorps, State Farm, and First Bank. The North Carolina League of Municipalities, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and North Carolina City and County Management Association are also key partners in promoting the program and selecting communities to host Fellows.  

The sixth cohort of Fellows will join 38 hostsites. A complete list of Fellows and host sites is below:  

Rachel Beth Acker – Town of Tarboro 

Brody Andrews – Town of Topsail Beach 

Emma Bach – Lee County 

Shay Baggett – Town of Williamston 

Reed Ballus – City of Kings Mountain 

Rhasha Barnes – Rockingham County 

Marco Barrientos – Town of Magnolia 

Alex Beddick – Hyde County 

Jake Brown – Pamlico County 

Alyvia Cooke – Montgomery County 

Hannah Dove – City of Bessemer City 

Ona Elkins – Town of Murphy 

Jackson Erfani – Mecklenburg County 

Paloma Garcia-Serrano – Foothills Regional Commission 

Ariella Gerrig – Town of Morehead City  

Abby Gillespie – City of Marion 

Moriah Griffin – Town of Marshville 

Elias Henderson – Town of Forest City 

Carla Huggins – City of High Point 

Madison Johns – Town of Fairmont 

Hannah Jones – Warren County 

Anna Lloyd – Land of Sky Regional Council 

Anizet Lopez-Flores – Town of Southport 

Anu Mishra – Town of Morrisville 

Debra Mullis – Town of Jamestown 

Kristy Nguyen – Town of Apex 

Danny Nickel – Cape Fear Council of Governments 

Betsy Norwood – Jackson County 

Anna Rahilly – Town of Roseboro 

Paola Rivero – Town of Zebulon 

Jade Simpson – Robeson County 

Nora Sjue – Henderson County 

Mykalia Steele – Town of Sims 

Elijah Turner-Dobson – Columbus County 

John Waterman – Washington County 

Emarryah Wilson – Town of Troy 

Halley Zhang -Mid-East Commission 

Turner Zsambeky–UNC School of Government