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ORANGE COUNTY BOARDCOMMISSIONERS <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 /> ee Price , Chair <br /> range County Board of Commissioners <br /> c art SINS° <br />