Meet Our Team

Dr. Mac-Jane Crayton is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Appalachian State University. With a strong dedication to student-centered learning, she emphasizes hands-on experiences that bridge theory with real-world impact. Dr. Crayton's passion lies in empowering students to become active agents of change through experiential learning opportunities.

Kate Starr is an MPA candidate specializing in town, city, and county management. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill last May with a Bachelor of Arts in public policy and political science. After completing her MPA, she plans on pursuing a career in local government administration. Kate is excited to enter the world of public service and looks forward to working in a municipality centered around community. She has had past internship experiences with the City of Hickory and Catawba County and will be working for the City of Lenoir this summer. As an individual who aspires to travel more, she wants to travel to Greece and Italy to see historical sites and eat good food.