UNC Greensboro

Preston Blakely

Preston Blakely

Mayor of Fletcher, NC – Born in Asheville, Preston grew up in Fletcher with deep family roots in Western North Carolina. He earned his B.A. at UNC Greensboro, double majoring in African American & African Diaspora Studies and Political Science. He went on to earn his Master of Public Affairs degree from Western Carolina University, where he was named the Outstanding Public Affairs Student in Public Management. Wanting to serve the community, he ran and was elected as Mayor of Fletcher, NC, and was subsequently appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to the Statewide Taskforce for Racial Equality in Criminal Justice.