Staff

Leisha DeHart-Davis, Director of the Local Government Workplaces Initiative, is a professor of public administration and government at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. She holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is an engaged scholar of organizational behavior, workplace dynamics and gender diversity in local government settings.

Clay Fleming is the Assistant Director of the Local Government Workplaces Initiative and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration program. He also earned a bachelor’s in Communication from Appalachian State University. Before joining LGWI, Clay worked with the Town of Cary, NC, Human Resources department. Clay has a passion for understanding organizational behaviors and translating applicable theories into practice that benefit organizations, their teams, and their cultures. His interest in enhancingorganizational work environments precipitated and continually informs his work with the Local Government Workplaces Initiative.

Data Scientists

Haritha Sri Bhatta is a Data Science Intern for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative and a second year graduate student of Biomedical and Health Informatics, MPS, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Haritha earned a degree in Biomedical Engineering from SRM Institute of Science and Technology in India. She is a research assistant for the UNC School of Medicine and previously worked as an Application Development Associate for Accenture. Haritha is passionate about integrating data science in healthcare and is consistently driven to discover novel ways to manipulate data for improvement. She aims for a future where predictive models play a key role in enhancing overall wellbeing.

Shivani Kale is a Data Science Intern for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative and a second year graduate student of the Information Science program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shivani earned a degree in Computer Engineering from Sinhgad Academy of Engineering in India. She been in the computer and information science fields for almost ten years, including both professional and academic endeavors. She always been intrigued by the possibilities that data can bring to the world, and is working toward becoming a successful and ever-curious Data Science Engineer.

Graduate Research Assistants

Matt Sutton is a Research Analyst for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative. He is a second year student of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration program. Matthew earned a dual bachelors degree in English and International Studies from the University of South Dakota. His prior experience includes grant writing for ASCEND NBS, and interning for the Granville County, NC Manager’s Office and the United States Senate. Matthew aspires to contribute to a nonprofit organization in a development role where he can engage with peers and forge new connections daily.

Michael Beauregard is a Research Assistant for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative. He is a second year, dual-degree student of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Master of Public Administration and Master of City and Regional Planning programs. Michael earned a bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His prior experience includes interning with Granville County’s Manager’s Office and with Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh focusing on environmental policy. Michael is interested affordable housing and community revitalization, specifically how to make our communities more sustainable from an economic and housing standpoint.

Emily McNutt is a research assistant for the Local Government Workplaces Initiative. She is a first year, dual degree student in the Master of Public Administration and Social Work programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and went on to work in a shelter environment. She is interested in housing, community development, and nonprofit management.