Last Updated on March 2, 2026 10:59 am
During its February 25, 2026, meeting, the Boone Town Council unanimously approved a contract with Dr. Patricia Mitchell to serve as the lead consultant for the Town of Boone's Town Manager search.
As lead consultant, Dr. Mitchell will conduct the executive search process in coordination with the Town's Human Resources staff. Her responsibilities will include assisting with the development of the job description, advising on recruitment strategy and placement of job postings, leveraging her professional network to attract highly qualified candidates, and identifying, screening, and presenting finalists to the hiring committee.
“I'm very excited to be working alongside Dr. Mitchell as she leads the process in hiring our new Town Manager. Her expertise and experience are known and respected across the State, and I am confident that she will help find the Town Manager that is best suited for Boone and our many residents.” – Dalton George, Mayor of the Town of Boone
Dr. Mitchell brings extensive institutional and community knowledge to the search process. She currently serves as Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Appalachian State University, where she has taught and mentored students since 2017, helping prepare local government leaders across North Carolina and beyond. In lieu of payment, Dr. Mitchell will donate the funds she receives for this consulting role to the MPA program at Appalachian State University to further enhance the education of students admitted to the program.
Prior to joining Appalachian State University, Dr. Mitchell served as Assistant Secretary for the Rural Economic Development Division at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she supported rural communities throughout the state. She also served Ashe County for nine years, first as Director of Economic Development (2004–2011) and then as County Manager until 2013.
Dr. Mitchell has also served in a variety of leadership roles across North Carolina, advocating for the state's economic future. Dr. Mitchell is currently serving as President of the UNC School of Government Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Committee for the UNC School of Government Development Finance Initiative LLC. She served on the board of the North Carolina Economic Development Association from 2009 to 2014 and was elected President in 2019, serving through 2020.
“I've lived in the High Country for twenty years, and through my work as a practitioner and now as an academic teaching public administration, it is clear to me that good town management skills help to build strong communities. Boone is a wonderful place, and I'm excited to work with the town to find their next town manager.” – Dr. Patricia Mitchell, CEcD
Additional information regarding the Town Manager search will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, please contact Boone Town Hall at (828) 268-6200.
