Shannon McGovern (MPA ‘21) Recognized for Outstanding Civic Leadership

The Department of Public Administration has awarded the 2021 William J. Block Award to Shannon McGovern for her outstanding contributions in leadership and citizenship. Given annually to a graduate student who has shown exceptional dedication to public service, the award honors former Professor William J. Block who helped create the NC State’s MPA program.

“Shannon’s commitment to the department and the community is an exemplar of the civic leadership and the citizenship of Professor Block,” said Associate Professor Jeffrey Diebold, chair of the Department of Public Administration, as he presented the award. “In addition to her continued work as a TROSA volunteer, the committee made special note of Shannon’s commitment to the Graduate Association of Public Administration (GAPA), through which she builds networks for new and continuing students to connect them to each other and to Raleigh, and for the mentorship she provides to students throughout the department.”

“I love this department and the community that the students and faculty have worked so hard to create, ” Shannon responded. “We are a community that supports each other while allowing each one of us to grow, both as people and academics, within the program. I believe it is important to foster this collaborative community however possible and to make it even better for the next cohort of eager students.”

Shannon will complete her master’s degree in August 2021 and will continue her studies in public administration’s Ph.D. program. She received her bachelors’ degree in psychology and communication studies (interpersonal and organizational) from UNC Chapel Hill.