The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) is a non-partisan

public policy Public policy is an institutionalized proposal or a decided set of elements like laws, regulations, guidelines, and actions to solve or address relevant and real-world problems, guided by a conception and often implemented by programs. Public p ...

organization that exists to enhance North Carolina's long-term prosperity.

History

The Institute's roots reach back to 1986, when Governor

James B. Hunt, Jr. James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and retired attorney who was the 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history. Hunt is t ...

, and NC State Chancellor Bruce Poulton convened the first Emerging Issues Forum. The Forum is an annual, two-day gathering of international, national and statewide thought leaders and stakeholders who discuss challenges and opportunities for North Carolina. A defining feature of the Forum is participants' collaborative effort to build consensus around specific recommendations for further collective action. In 2002,

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universit ...

's trustees established the Institute of Emerging Issues to administer the annual Forum and to conduct a related program of work across North Carolina.

Emerging Issues Forum

The annual Emerging Issues Forum is IEI's signature event, drawing more than 1,000 attendees each year. The first annual Emerging Issues Forum took place on January 8, 1986 at the McKimmon Center in

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the List of North Carolina county seats, seat of Wake County, North Carolina, Wake County in the United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most ...

. The theme was "Innovation and Competition: The Challenge to America." Speakers and participants included Chancellor

Bruce Poulton Bruce Poulton (March 7, 1927 – June 19, 2015) was the tenth chancellor of North Carolina State University from 1982 to 1989. Poulton was born in Yonkers, New York. He was educated at Rutgers University, where he received a Ph.D. in endocrinolog ...

, Governor

Jim Hunt James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and retired attorney who was the List of governors of North Carolina, 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governo ...

, NC State Student Body President Jay Everette,

John A. Young John A. Young (born April 24, 1932) is an American business executive and electrical engineer. He was chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1978 to 1992. He also formerly served as a director of Wells Fargo & Company. Biography Young ...

, and Jim Goodnight, among others.Institute for Emerging Issues Records, 1985-2007 (UA011.006), Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries Past speakers include former Presidents

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

and

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

, former Speaker of the House

Newt Gingrich Newton Leroy Gingrich (; né McPherson; born June 17, 1943) is an American politician and author who served as the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he was the U ...

, ''New York Times'' columnist Tom Friedman, Steve Forbes and others. Recent Forum topics have included "Generation Z," advanced manufacturing and world-class teaching.

Reconnect NC Forum Series

In 2018, the Institute introduced a new model for forums, having two forums per year over three years, all focused on reconnecting North Carolina. Several were hosted outside of Raleigh.

Leadership

The Institute for Emerging Issues reports formally to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. IEI is guided by a National Advisory Board, chaired by Mr. John F.A.V. Cecil, President, Biltmore Farms, LLC. Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr., who served as founding Chair 2002-2014, is Chair Emeritus. Leslie Boney joined IEI in January 2017, serving as the director.

References

{{Reflist

External links

emergingissues.orgThe Emerging Issues Commons
North Carolina State University Political and economic think tanks in the United States