蘑菇短视频

This July four 蘑菇短视频 graduates were chosen to serve communities across the state as Lead for North Carolina fellows.

Lead for NC is a government fellowship program started in 2019 with a mission 鈥渢o strengthen North Carolina鈥檚 public institutions, support its local communities and create a new generation of transformational public service leaders.鈥�

After going through a competitive application process, chosen candidates receive over 100 hours of additional training on topics like community problem solving and leadership strategies by award-winning faculty at the UNC School of Government.

These recent graduates are then afforded the opportunity to implement change as government employees in paid, service-oriented positions in cities and counties throughout the state.

Dallas Russ graduated earlier this year with dual degrees in social work and criminal justice and criminology. Russ worked with the community care program operated by the Murphy Police Department before becoming an LFC fellow, and she builds on those earlier relationships in a new position beside Murphy鈥檚 town manager.  

鈥淚鈥檝e had a passion for public service since I was in middle school, and I had been struggling with the idea of jumping straight into a graduate program,鈥� Russ said. 鈥淚 knew it would be in my best interest to take at least a year to gain experience in the field I wanted to have a career in, and finding LFNC felt like those plans were falling into place.

鈥淕rowing up, I never really thought I would be able to afford this kind of education without a lot of scholarship help, so I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience that. I have already learned so much, and I am excited to be able to continue my education and growth over the next year of serving this incredible western North Carolina community,鈥� Russ said.

Sara Rusi came to 蘑菇短视频 with a deep love of history and found that her studies in Cullowhee deepened her interests in the needs of the region.

鈥淭he more history, English, and sociology classes I took the more invested I became in my local WNC community. Then in the summer of 2025 I interned at Jackson County Public Library through the State Employees鈥� Credit Union Public Fellows Internship Program,鈥� Rusi said.

鈥淭he opportunity to directly serve my community while also exploring my dream career as a public librarian was eye-opening. My internship left a lasting impression; all I could think about my senior year is how to best serve my community once I am graduated.鈥�

When professor of English Mae Miller Claxton let Rusi and her peers know about the Lead for NC program, she applied and interviewed with Transylvania County, where she works now.

鈥淚 am now serving in Transylvania County working directly with Trisha Hogan, clerk to the Board of Commissioners,鈥� Rusi said. 鈥淚 would have never even considered this as a career option without Lead for NC鈥�

鈥淚 would strongly recommend any 蘑菇短视频student do the summer SECU Public Fellows Internship program and start thinking about if, after graduation, Lead for NC is something they would want to do!鈥� Rusi said.

鈥淚 am grateful to all the 蘑菇短视频faculty, like Dr. Bego and Dr. Macaulay, and staff at CCPD for guiding me through my college and professional experience and helping me become a Lead for NC Fellow. Every Catamount should take full advantage of the incredible resources here at WCU.鈥�

Isa Gandy, a political science and international studies graduate, worked as an undergraduate research scientist and political science writing fellow, served on WCU鈥檚 Student Government Association, and interned at Kanawha County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office and the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security.

She described excitement at finding a new community of peers to navigate her transition and a new opportunity to affect change in her state from the town of Columbus.

鈥淔rom the moment I arrived at Chapel Hill for our Summer Academy, Lead for NC felt like a second family. I immediately clicked with the other fellows. Each fellow brings a unique perspective and story behind their passion for public service, and the enthusiasm is contagious,鈥� Gandy said.  鈥淲e all keep up with each other despite serving all over the state, and I have even connected with fellows from past cohorts who are eager to expand the network.

鈥淎fter a few weeks of working at my host site at the town of Columbus, I鈥檓 already seeing this preparation in action. I am working on a variety of initiatives ranging from community engagement to organizational resiliency, but I feel I have the support and tools to tackle challenges. The staff at the town of Columbus have been very welcoming, and my supervisor has been such a great resource as I integrate into the area and apply what I鈥檝e learned. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

Roman T. Creasy, a December 2024 business administration and finance major and Brinson Honors College graduate, recently earned his MS in finance from Villanova University and is now working with the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer in Raleigh to measure debt across the state and help modernize government systems and applications responsible for collecting fiscal data. 

"My path to this fellowship really started at Western Carolina. The finance program there gave me my foundation in financial concepts, analytical rigor  and professional acumen, and it taught me to take on questions that had no answer key,"  Creasy said.

"Sitting inside the department responsible for the fiscal health of North Carolina's local governments has been the best education in state and local government I could have asked for. As a young professional, what this moment means to me is straightforward: before I pursue my own academic advancement, I wanted to put my skills to work in service of North Carolina. I hope to earn a PhD eventually, and even this early on, the fellowship has convinced me that research is far better when it starts from problems communities are actually facing. I am grateful to Western Carolina for the preparation that made all of it possible."

In their continued commitment to service and community, these Catamounts embody the compassion that 蘑菇短视频aims to cultivate on its campus and beyond.