State Relations

State Relations

The principal role of State Government Relations is to communicate the UNC System and its Board of Governors’ top priorities to state government officials, the NC General Assembly, key legislative and government staff, third party advocates, and other education groups.  State Government Relations strives to improve the relationship between government officials and the University, so that representatives and leaders have a greater understanding of the University’s value and the many ways its activities benefit the state.

State Government Relations works directly with institutions through the 17-member, chancellor-appointed, State Relations Council (SRC). The SRC is active in the development of the University’s non-budget legislative agenda and assists in passing key pieces of legislation.

State Legislative Agenda

The UNC System Office works jointly with each institution to develop a state legislative agenda for the year. The University’s priorities reflect the highest needs of the chancellors and of the president. The Board of Governors approves the state legislative agenda for each year’s legislative session.

State Budget Information

State funds, provided as a part of the UNC System’s basic budget, serve as the University’s financial foundation. These funds are critical to the UNC System’s work to serve its 220,000+ students each year. Adequate state funding is essential to North Carolina’s constitutional mandate to provide access to quality, low-cost education.

Legislative Reports:

2020 Short Session of the North Carolina General Assembly
2019 Long Session of the North Carolina General Assembly

STATE RELATIONS OFFICERS

UNC System Office

Bart Goodson
Senior Vice President of Government Relations
(919) 793-7096

Austen Nowell
Assistant Vice President of State Government Relations
(919) 962-7393

Appalachian State University

Matthew Dockham
Director External Affairs and Community Relations

East Carolina University

Karson Nelson
Director of Strategic Initiatives

Elizabeth City State University

William A. Lewin II
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Deputy Chief of Staff

Fayetteville State University

Ariel Aponte
Associate Vice Chancellor for External Affairs

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Oliver Thomas
Director of External Affairs

North Carolina Central University

Vacant

NC State University

Julie B. Smith
Assistant Vice Chancellor
External Affairs, Partnerships, and Economic Development

University of North Carolina Asheville

Cory Bryson
Director of Government Relations 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Amy McConkey
Director of State Relations

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Anna Helms
Assistant Director for Constituent Relations

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Andrew Cagle
Director of State and External Affairs

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Paul Jolicoeur
Director for External Affairs and Community Relations

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Jim DeCristo
Director of Economic Development and External Affairs

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Marion Warren
Assistant to the Chancellor & Executive Director of Government and External Relations Office of the Chancellor

Western Carolina University

Christy Agner
Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of External Relations

Winston-Salem State University

Richard Davis
Director of External Relations

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Brock Winslow
Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

Mary Shuping
Director of Government and External Affairs

ECU Health

Michelle Brooks
Executive Vice Dean, Brody School of Medicine

UNC Health

Leah Burns
Executive Director of State Government Affairs