Hunt Library under parting clouds and blue skies.

The Institute for Emerging Issues

Connecting North Carolina to ideas and North Carolinians to each other.

Hunt Intern Shevani Mehta and Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. sit together in conversation.

IEI Receives Endowment Gift to Support Hunt Internship

IEI has received a gift from former Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. and his wife Carolyn, establishing an endowment that will continue to fund the institute’s Hunt Internship.

A photo of Brodie Smith with a quote that reads "I am excited to be in a space that allows me to research the why and how of these [emerging] issues, and then look at ways in which we can provide solutions"

Meet Brodie, IEI’s New Undergraduate Policy Intern

NC State University undergraduate student Brodie Smith is joining IEI as a policy intern for the 2022-23 academic year to work on the 2023 Emerging Issues Forum program.

IEI Welcomes New Communications Director Jennifer Heiss

Get to know IEI’s new Communications Director Jennifer Heiss in this brief Q&A!

Save the Date

2023 Emerging Issues Forum
“Talent First Economics”
February 13, 2023

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Bringing North Carolina together

Through our programming and issue focused initiatives, we connect people to resources and resources to the people who need them.

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Community Spotlight: Isothermal Community College improves lives in Rutherford and Polk counties

Isothermal Community College (ICC) doesn’t stop at providing nearly free higher education for students in western North Carolina. Its mission is to improve lives through learning.

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Community Spotlight: Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County connects the dots for student success

Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County understands that to increase postsecondary educational attainment, you have to start working with students as early as elementary school.

One student sits at a computer as an instructor points to the screen. Two other students look on.

Community Spotlight: Wilson Education Partnership builds bridges between students, teachers, and community

Wilson Education Partnership looks for programs and initiatives that will most benefit the students, teachers, and business community in Wilson, NC.

Giving to IEI

With your investment, we will continue to connect, think and do to ensure the economic prosperity of North Carolina.

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First in Future: Conversation with Governor Cooper

In this episode, we talk with North Carolina’s Governor Cooper on his look back at 2021 and forward to 2022.

First in Future: Can Kitty Hawk Take Flight?

In this episode, we focus on a college solution for 1.5 million NC adults.

Connected: Upper Coastal Plain Digital Inclusion Plan

In this episode of the “Connected” podcast series, host Maggie Woods speaks to Robert Hiett; Executive Director and Ben Farmer; Economic Development Planner for the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.