NEWS

Master of Public Administration Program to host leadership and technology conference

By KATIE BLIXT
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL -- The Master of Public Administration Alumni Association and the Master of Public Administration Program in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government will host "Innovative Solutions: Using Leadership, Management and Technology to Solve Today’s Problems" at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education Nov. 7-8.

The conference will address issues in the structure and mechanics of today’s economy, the management of information technology investments, innovative leadership development programs, online fundraising and payments, and state and local economic development strategies.

UNC Chancellor James Moeser will discuss leadership challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina today. Keynote speaker Barbara Gunn, a UNC alumna and the senior vice president for operations and government relations at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, will address "Leadership Challenges in a New World."

Other speakers will represent the N.C. General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division, Wake County Human Services, Wildacres Leadership Initiative, the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and Wachovia Securities.

The conference will conclude with a homeland security debate between Gene Nichol, dean of the UNC School of Law, and Capt. Kenneth Woodcock of the U.S. Air Force. Cal Horton, town manager of Chapel Hill, will moderate.

"The conference planning committee has pulled together a ‘dream team’ of state and national speakers who will present real-world experiences and ideas that address today’s pressing challenges in public management," said David Ammons, MPA Program director.

The cost of the conference is $75, which includes dinner on Nov. 7 and lunch on Nov. 8.

Registration by Oct. 28 is encouraged. For more information, click on www.mpa.unc.edu or call (919) 962-0425.

In fall 2001, UNC announced the creation of the School of Government to house the MPA Program and the Institute of Government, which was established in 1931. The mission of the School of Government is to improve the lives of North Carolinians by engaging in practical scholarship that helps public officials and citizens understand and improve state and local government.

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(Blixt is a junior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication from Bermuda Run, N.C.)

MPA contact: Jen Jardine, (919) 962-0425 or jobczar@iogmail.iog.unc.edu