Skip to main content
IEI Invites Applications for 2025-26 Hunt Internship

NC State University

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with Pappas Real Estate Development Program Director Chuck Flink; text reads “The Connector, The Pappas Effect: Building Resilient Communities, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Jun 17, 2025

The Pappas Effect: Building Resilient Communities

How is North Carolina preparing for its housing and real estate future? IEI Director Sarah Hall and Director of NC State’s Peter A. Pappas Real Estate Development Program Chuck Flink discuss the Pappas program’s mission to foster resilient communities and sustainable land use, revealing its impact and future plans for addressing the state’s growth-driven challenges. 
Close-up shot of a black and clear plasma ball with a yellow "Future Forward Energy" logo sticker on the front.

Jun 12, 2025

Thought Leaders Convene at Emerging Issues Forum to Explore the Future of Energy

IEI held the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy on May 28 in Raleigh. Nearly 500 attendees representing a range of key sectors and regions gathered to examine the demands on North Carolina's evolving energy infrastructure. 
Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with UWNC President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher; text reads “The Connector, The ALICE Report: Unpacking Financial Need in North Carolina, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Jun 2, 2025

The ALICE Report: Unpacking Financial Need in North Carolina

Many families across North Carolina are just one emergency away from a financial crisis. United Way of North Carolina President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher joins IEI Director Sarah Hall to unpack the state's financial need and the newly released ALICE Report. 
Group photo of the 2025 SWLI graduates

May 9, 2025

IEI Celebrates 2025 Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative Graduates

IEI is excited to announce the graduation of the 2025 class of the Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative (SWLI), a professional development program for leaders in workforce and economic development. 
Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with Samantha Cole, Mary Scott and Dr. Shannon White; text reads “The Connector, NC Tri-Share: Accessible Childcare for Working Families, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

May 5, 2025

NC Tri-Share: Accessible Childcare for Working Families

What’s being done to enhance childcare accessibility for North Carolina’s working families? Join IEI Director Sarah Hall and experts from the NC Department of Commerce and NC Partnership for Children as they dive into two key solutions: the new Child Care Business Liaison role and the NC Tri-Share pilot program. 
Close-up of IEI's Community Initiatives Program Specialist Madeline Kujabi.

Apr 21, 2025

Madeline Kujabi Joins IEI as Community Initiatives Program Specialist

IEI is excited to welcome Madeline Kujabi as its new Community Initiatives Program Specialist on the Faith and Community Initiatives team. Meet Madeline! 
Headshots of IEI Community Initiatives Director Samantha Graham and City of Raleigh Sustainability Director Megan Anderson; text reads “The Connector, Building Raleigh's Sustainable Future, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Apr 21, 2025

Building Raleigh’s Sustainable Future

North Carolina's growing population demands a look at our infrastructure needs. As part of IEI's Future Forward series on energy, water and housing, this episode features IEI Community Initiatives Director Samantha Graham and City of Raleigh Sustainability Director Megan Anderson discussing Raleigh's sustainable infrastructure journey and how North Carolinians can get involved. 
Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and myFutureNC President and CEO Cecilia Holden; text reads “The Connector, Closing the Gap: Educational Attainment in North Carolina, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Apr 7, 2025

Closing the Gap: Educational Attainment in North Carolina

How is North Carolina tackling its educational attainment gap? What's the story behind the "2 million by 2030" goal? In this episode of The Connector, IEI Director Sarah Hall and myFutureNC President and CEO Cecilia Holden break it down. They explore the latest insights from the 2025 State of Educational Attainment Report and outline next steps to achieve this goal. 
Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and Forbes Field Associates Principal Ron Painter; text reads “The Connector, Preparing North Carolina's Workforce Leaders, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Mar 27, 2025

Preparing North Carolina’s Workforce Leaders

In this episode of The Connector, IEI Director Sarah Hall is joined by Forbes Field Associates Principal Ron Painter to talk about workforce development in North Carolina and the importance of bolstering today's workforce leaders while building the leaders of tomorrow. 

Mar 6, 2025

IEI Invites Applications for 2025-26 Hunt Internship

The Governor and Mrs. James B. Hunt Internship Program is a program for NC State undergraduates who are interested in a career in public service and/or public policy.