Local Government Night 2026 will bring University of North Dakota students together with local government professionals from communities across North Dakota for an evening focused on public-service careers, internships, and the many ways students can build meaningful careers serving their communities. The event will be held Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. The panel discussion will be held in Nistler Room 121 at 7:30 p.m.

UND is home to North Dakota's only accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, making Local Government Night an important opportunity to connect students interested in public service with professionals doing this work throughout the state.

The panel, moderated by Sarah Hellekson, City Administrator for the City of Jamestown and a two-time UND alumna, will feature professionals representing a wide range of local government careers. Panelists include city and county administrators, human resources and auditing professionals, public health and mental health professionals, law enforcement leadership, housing administration, and economic and community leadership. Several panelists also have strong connections to UND, including MPA graduates and a current MPA student.

Students will learn that careers in local government extend well beyond the positions they may traditionally associate with government. The evening will highlight opportunities in management, human resources, finance and administration, public health, law enforcement, housing, economic development, community development, and other areas, as well as internships and pathways into public-service careers. The event is designed to give students direct access to practitioners, allow them to ask questions about different career paths, and introduce the next generation of public servants to the breadth of professional opportunities available in North Dakota communities.