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Cohort 4

Jurisdiction: Foothills Regional COG

University: UNC-Asheville

Hometown: Nebo, NC

Katelyn Smith served her fellowship with the Foothills Regional Commission, covering Cleveland, McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford Counties. She accomplished several vital tasks, including the completion of four digital inclusion plans covering all the counties in the region. She also played a key role in preparing a farmland preservation plan for Rutherford County, supporting local producers in their efforts to protect their farmland. Additionally, Smith conducted a regional evaluation of progress for a comprehensive economic development strategy update.

Smith graduated magna cum laude from UNC-Asheville and was a member of Active Students for a Healthy Environment (ASHE). Smith also had the opportunity to intern at the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, granting her hands-on experience with nonprofit conservation.

September 22, 2025

In Clayton, numbers show how resources support services and meet residents’ needs. Each figure in the budget provides insight into how departments operate and how programs are funded, creating a…

July 25, 2025

By Andy Bradshaw The School of Government is pleased to share the continued work of Lead for North Carolina Fellows. As the western region of the state continues to respond to the…

June 18, 2025

In August 2024, Paloma Garcia-Serrano stepped into the Foothills Regional Commission for her first day of work as a Lead for North Carolina Fellow. Lead for NC is a leadership development program…

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