UNC-CH
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

School of Government

Lead for North Carolina

Apply
Skip to content

Payton Blaney

Cohort 5

Jurisdiction: Bladen County

University: Appalachian State

Hometown: Reidsville, NC

Before LFNC

Payton Blaney is serving her fellowship in Bladen County. She graduated summa cum laude from Appalachian State University with bachelor’s degrees in German language, literature, and culture, and in political science with a focus in international and comparative politics. Blaney was also a Fulbright recipient for an English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.

News

October 6, 2026
Columbus welcomes UNC fellow to strengthen town services, outreach

COLUMBUS— The Town of Columbus is welcoming a new team member this summer through a statewide program designed to bring fresh talent into local government. Isa Gandy, a graduate of…

News

September 6, 2026
Lumbee Tribe welcomes Lead for NC Fellow Ashton Locklear

 This July, the eighth cohort of Lead for North Carolina Fellows arrived at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to begin their journey into public sector careers. After…

News

August 24, 2026
Meet the Western Carolina University Grads Leading North Carolina

This July four Western Carolina University graduates were chosen to serve communities across the state as Lead for North Carolina fellows. Lead for NC is a government fellowship program started…

Join a New Generation of Public Service Leaders

North Carolina communities are ready for you.

Get started
AmeriCorps

Knapp-Sanders Building
Campus Box 3330
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330

© 2024 Lead for North Carolina. All rights reserved.

Join a New Generation of Public Service Leaders

North Carolina communities are ready for you.

Get started