Murphy – The town has welcomed Ona Elkins, a recent graduate and valedictorian of UNC Asheville, as part of the Lead for North Carolina program, an initiative by the UNC School of Government.
Elkins, who will serve the town for the next year, aims to bring fresh perspectives, data analytics skills, and a commitment to community engagement to her new role for 11 months.
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Elkins first learned about the LFNC program from her faculty mentor, Dr. Ashley Moraguez, and was immediately drawn to the opportunity to work in local government in rural North Carolina.
“I knew that I wanted to use my political science degree in a way that helped people in my state, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that,” Elkins said.
Originally from Asheville, Elkins chose Murphy for her fellowship because of her connection to the Appalachian region.
After visiting Murphy before her interview, she felt an immediate connection to the town, which she calls her new home.
During her fellowship, Elkins has set ambitious goals. She hopes to grow both personally and professionally while contributing to the Murphy community. One of her early projects includes collaborating with the police and fire departments on improving emergency response data. Elkins is also eager to get involved in the ongoing Murphy River Walk expansion and other initiatives that engage directly with the community.
Elkins brings a strong educational background to her role, having graduated with a double major in political science and international studies and a minor in Asian studies. Her time at UNC Asheville was marked by leadership roles, international study experiences and original research, all which have prepared her for the challenges ahead.
Despite her enthusiasm, Elkins recognizes the learning curve associated with entering government for the first time.
“Understanding its operations, terminology and networking with new people will take time,” she said.
To address these challenges, she plans to immerse herself in the community, listen actively and leverage the resources available to her.
Elkins has already begun integrating into the local scene, participating in community activities such as playing pickleball and volunteering to coach at Murphy High School. She said showing up and engaging with residents is crucial to her success, and she is committed to attending as many events as possible.
Elkins sees the strong sense of community and the natural beauty of Murphy as key strengths of the town.
“The people of Murphy clearly love this town and want to preserve its small mountain town culture and history,” she said.
As she settles into her role, Elkins plans to use her training in data analytics and community outreach to support Murphy’s growth and development. Whether it’s researching grants, building data sets or conducting outreach, her work will be guided by the town’s needs and long-term vision.
Elkins is focused on ensuring that her contributions are sustainable and will continue to benefit Murphy long after her fellowship ends.
“I aim to see tangible outcomes from my efforts,” she said, highlighting her commitment to making a lasting impact.
For Elkins, local governments play a crucial role in shaping the future of towns like Murphy.
“Public officials craft visions for the towns they serve, and then implement plans that reflect those visions,” she said.
Elkins is eager to contribute to this process alongside Town Manager Chad Simons and Mayor Tim Radford.
Details: Email oelkins@townofmurphync.com.