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2 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING <br /> DEAN MIKE SMITH <br /> WHEREAS, Michael R. "Mike" Smith became a faculty member of the University of North Carolina <br /> at Chapel Hill Institute of Government in 1978 and became its director in 1992; and <br /> WHEREAS, when the Institute of Government became known as the School of Government in <br /> 2001, Mike Smith was named Dean and has held that position continually since then, becoming <br /> one of the longest serving deans in University history; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dean Mike Smith facilitated the successful transition of the Master of Public <br /> Administration (MPA) program to the school in 1997, and helped launch the fully online MPA <br /> degree in 2013, quadrupling the number of students served; and <br /> WHEREAS, through Dean Smith's leadership in raising legislative and private funds, the Knapp- <br /> Sanders Building, home of the School of Government, was renovated and expanded in 2004; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dean Smith expanded the School's capacity to serve by offering programs in public <br /> technology, public leadership and governance, environmental finance, development finance, <br /> data-driven policy, and criminal justice; and <br /> WHEREAS, under Dean Smith's leadership, the School of Government has become the largest <br /> and most comprehensive university-based local government training, advisory, and research <br /> organization in the United States; and <br /> WHEREAS, in 2006, Dean Smith was appointed Vice Chancellor for Public Service and <br /> Engagement, leading the response to UNC Tomorrow, an initiative to make the University of North <br /> Carolina System more responsive to the needs of the state; and <br /> WHEREAS, during his tenure, Dean Smith was a force behind some of the University's most <br /> significant public outreach efforts within the state, including the Carolina Center for Public Service, <br /> the Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholars Program, the Carolina Engagement Council, and the Tar <br /> Heel Bus Tour; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dean Smith exemplifies the values of neutrality, nonadvocacy, and responsiveness <br /> of the School of Government in its mission to improve state and local governments for all North <br /> Carolinians; and <br /> WHEREAS, as he steps down as Dean at the end of 2022, Dean Smith leaves a legacy as one <br /> of the University's greatest champions of public service; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the people of <br /> Orange County, does hereby proclaim Wednesday, November 2, 2022 as <br /> DEAN MIKE SMITH DAY <br /> in recognition of his years of exemplary service as Dean of the University of North Carolina at <br /> Chapel Hill School of Government, and in appreciation of his commitment to improving North <br /> Carolina communities through professionalism and leadership in government. <br /> This the 1St day of November, 2022. <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />