Matt Rhoten ’15
Named Alumni of the Year 2024
Matt Rhoten is from Kingsport, TN and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a degree in political science. A lifetime learner, Matt earned an MS in Economics and Community Development after he finished his MPA! Matt has always had an interested in public budgeting and finance, and rose rapidly in Gaston County government, starting as an intern in 2014 and ascending to the Assistant County Manager by 2023, Matt sees himself as a problem solver for the county, working with departments to understand their needs in the context of resource constraints. He particularly enjoys working with the commissioners, the county manager, and across departments to accomplish large-scale projects in creative ways. As a manager, he wants his staff to learn and grow in their careers by learning from experience and sharing perspectives and knowledge with each other. Although he is the boss, he always benefits from the ideas of his staff. Matt has found the MPA program invaluable to his career success. The program made him stretch by understanding how to analyze data and issues from the thought process of a manager. The use of cases and examples from real life prepared him for the working world, and the program provided him with the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts from class material to his experiences at work. In short, the MPA program provided a wonderful foundation for his career. Matt’s advice to current students is to embrace whatever role you have and see how it connects to the larger mission of the organization. Seek opportunities to take on tasks that are out of your comfort zone, and attend meetings and events that may not be required but will provide exposure and important insights if you listen. Above all be patient; good work will be noticed and will lead to advancement.
About Us
The mission of the Master of Public Administration Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is to provide education and training for the public and nonprofit sectors, conduct scholarly and applied research to advance the field of public administration, and serve the community.
Contact Us
Master of Public Administration
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Fax: 704-687-1400
Director
Prof. Suzanne Leland
Phone: 704-687-5937
smleland@uncc.edu
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 704-687-5974