Department of State and External Affairs
The Department of State and External Affairs hopes to foster a close connection between UNC and the surrounding Chapel Hill community, as well as on a state, federal, and international level. The office aims to further connections between the student body and policy making institutions holding accessibility and inclusivity in highest regard.
The department’s priorities include:
- Increasing Student Involvement in NCGA Affairs – The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) greatly shapes our education systems. They appoint the members of the UNC-System Board of Governors (BOG), a body that shapes the management of our university. Understanding the political climate in the NCGA serves to inform students better what decisions are impending, what their purpose is, and how they will impact our students in education and other policies. State and External Affairs will monitor and analyze NCGA activities and bring the information necessary to increase transparency, improve student relations with the student government, and help students advocate for themselves.
- Increasing Local Government Engagement – As election season approaches, it’s important to foster attention and relationship-building not only with state and national politics and its leaders but also with local politics, as it affects students’ daily lives swiftly and directly. To do so, we plan to act as the bridge between UNC and neighboring towns to create student participation in local governance through on-campus town hall meetings, for example.
- Engage in Higher Education Discourse – Education policy impacts students. Therefore, students must be equipped to respond and adapt to national conversations. Our department will be tracking education policy and advocating for students on the federal level to empower students.
- Promote Student Participation in Advocacy and Lobbying – As we empower ourselves on-campus with teach-ins and protests, it’s equally important to find ways to learn what our civic rights are. State and External Affairs wants to help students learn how to make their voices heard as constituents. 82 percent of students are from North Carolina; hence, educating the student body on the importance of lobbying and placing pressure as a potential voter in a state representative, congressperson, or senator’s election is vital in advocating for ourselves effectively.
 |
Gowri Abhinanda (she/her)Co-Director of the Department of State and External Affairs || gabhi@unc.eduGowri is a junior studying Political Science and Journalism. A Florida native, she has worked within youth-led non-profit spaces focused on building intersectional solutions, community awareness, and youth power through skills workshops for students. As State and External Affairs Co-Director, she is excited to empower the student body to participate in local and state politics in meaningful ways. |
 |
Emma Horvath (she/her)Co-Director of the Department of State and External Affairs || ehorvath@unc.eduEmma Horvath is a senior from Arlington, Virginia, majoring in English and Comparative Literature and Political Science. This is her third year participating in the Executive Branch of Student Government, and she is passionate about exploring how writing and community outreach play a critical role in public advocacy and promoting the interests of the student body. |