UNC experts available to discuss 2025 top trends

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a wide array of experts available to discuss topics anticipated to trend in 2025, including:

Science/health expertsBusiness/Government

AI

"AI is already dominating media conversations and will continue to do so in 2025 as its rapid advancements transform industries, redefine work, and spark ethical debates about its impact on society. From groundbreaking innovations to concerns over bias and regulation, AI will be at the center of a global dialogue about the balance between progress and responsibility." - Stan Ahalt, dean of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Data Science and Society

Geopolitical risks affecting the supply chain/tariffs

"Geopolitical risks - arising from factors like tariffs, sanctions, and armed conflicts - are threatening global supply chains and will demand managerial attention in 2025. My research examines the unique nature of these risks and their impact on supply chains and highlights the need to alter traditional supply chain strategies in response to geopolitical threats." - Vinayak Deshpande, Mann Family Distinguished Professor of Operations, Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Tax policy

"The 2017 tax bill passed by Trump and Republicans expires in 2025, necessitating action to prevent tax increases for individuals and corporations. Expect significant discussions on tax policy as both parties work on revising the tax code." - Jeff Hoopes, Professor and Harold Q. Langenderfer Scholar of Accounting and Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy, Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Economic stability: navigating policy, productivity, and technology

As the global economy faces unprecedented challenges, understanding how government policies, Federal Reserve actions, and technological advancements influence growth and inflation is crucial. Key areas of expertise:

• Policy impact: fiscal and monetary policies drive growth and manage inflation.
• Fed's role: balancing inflation control with economic support.
• Productivity: efficiency boosts economic output and wages.
• Local Economies: regional differences in resilience.
• Tech and Skills: adapting to automation and new job opportunities

Gerald Cohen, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise

Entrepreneurship

"Entrepreneurship will dominate the media in 2025 as a wave of innovation emerges from economic shifts, AI advancements, and the demand for solutions to global challenges. With younger generations prioritizing autonomy and purpose, and industries rapidly evolving, entrepreneurs will become the driving force behind groundbreaking ideas that capture public attention and redefine the future. We at UNC's Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship want to make sure that our students are prepared to meet those 2025 challenges and beyond." - Bernard Bell, executive director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship

Affordable housing

"Affordable housing will be a major media focus in 2025 as rising living costs, urban population growth, constrained supply, burdensome regulation, and the impact of economic inequality intensify the housing crisis. The importance of affordable housing will push policymakers, developers, and communities to prioritize innovative approaches, recognizing housing affordability as a core contributor to economic vitality in our state." - Roberto Quercia, professor of city and regional planning at UNC-Chapel Hill

"Housing will remain unaffordable for many North Carolinians in 2025; home sales and new construction will likely continue to be sluggish, with mortgage rates not expected to fall below 6%. The future of local and state initiatives that rely on federal programs, like CDBG, HOME, and the National Housing Trust Fund, is uncertain as the new administration promises a shift in policy." - Sarah Odio, DFI Associate Director, Housing & Revitalization

Citizenship and deportation

"Mass deportation is being planned for 2025, and its execution will likely require the assistance of state and local officials. How will immigration enforcement affect local communities? What pressures will local officials face to participate in mass deportation? These and other questions concerning the federal government, states, and cities will likely be central to understanding the incoming Trump administration's policies on immigration." - Rick Su, Arch T. Allen Distinguished Professor of Law

Food policy and regulation:

"Ultra-processed foods have been a growing staple component of Americans' diets. The food system is shaped by policies and regulations (or lack thereof) including agricultural subsidies, warning labels, dietary guidelines, school foods rules and more. There is unprecedented bipartisan attention at the federal level to the issue of food and chronic disease; 2025 will be a year to watch if food policies change and how it impacts what gets on our plates." -Lindsey Smith Taillie, PhD, Department of Nutrition Associate Chair of Academics and Associate Professor at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again plan challenges longstanding recommendations provided to parents to ensure the healthy development of their children, such as vaccination and drinking fluoridated water and pasteurized milk. News media routinely cover public-health matters, so 2025 will bring the chance to witness whether and how scientific evidence factors into journalistic discussions of health policy. In addition, social media have long served as gathering sites for families who reject conventional public-health recommendations, so 2025 will be the year to watch for rapid growth in these communities online." - Kris Harrison, Richard Cole Eminent Professor at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media

Climate change and risk management:

"This year, we have seen devastating impacts to our neighbors in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. Recovering and rebuilding will be a major process that will take years to complete. It seems increasingly likely that we'll continue to live in a world experiencing a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat, droughts, and fires. A host of stakeholders from homeowners and local governments, to insurance firms and lenders, will all be increasingly exposed to the resulting financial losses, leading to rapid and continuing growth in the field of risk management in 2025 and beyond." - Greg Characklis, PhD, Director of Institute for Risk Management and Insurance Innovation

Mental health

"Mental health will continue to be a top issue faced by Americans in 2025. Between loneliness, burnout, social media, and a contentious sociopolitical environment, there are many pressures on our society's collective mental health, which require us to make this a priority and ensure there is rapid access to care." - Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Chair of Department of Psychiatry and UNC School of Medicine

Safe drinking water:

"More North Carolinians are dependent on private well water than residents of any other state. While well water can be a low-risk option when wells are appropriately tested and maintained, the combination of a lack of regulation and the existence of inequities in access to well testing and treatment can lead to contaminants in drinking water. Well water will continue to be an important topic for North Carolina communities in 2025." - Kathleen Gray, PhD, MSPH, Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science at the UNC Institute for the Environment

Extreme heat:

"Extreme heat dominated the news cycles the last two summers and that trend will likely continue in 2025 as we grapple with climate change, extreme weather, the inequities extreme heat perpetuates and creates, and how we can create climate resiliency in sustainable ways." - Angel Hsu, PhD, MPhil, Director of the Data-Driven EnviroLab and Associate Professor of Public Policy and Environment, Ecology and Energy

Education

Online learning

"Rising interest in online graduate education in 2025 is driven by its accessibility, flexibility, and alignment with evolving workforce needs. Working professionals are drawn to online programs that allow them to balance education with career and personal commitments while avoiding relocation. Advances in technology, the normalization of online learning post-pandemic, and increasing employer acceptance of online degrees are boosting demand. As institutions expand offerings to stay competitive, online education will attract a broader, more diverse student base." - Tyler Ritter, Chief Operating Officer of Digital & Lifelong Learning