C. Tyler Mulligan

C. Tyler Mulligan is the David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at the University of North Carolina’s School of Government. He specializes in community economic development, affordable housing, public-private partnerships, and urban revitalization. Mulligan joined the School of Government in 2007 and launched the Development Finance Initiative (DFI), which assists local governments in attracting private investment for transformative projects. He served as DFI’s director from 2017 until transitioning to Lead Faculty. Prior to academia, he practiced law at Womble Carlyle, focused on capital markets, and earlier served in the U.S. Navy as a diver and JAG Corps officer. He holds a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from Yale Law School. His research spans local government law, housing policy, and economic development incentives.

• Education: B.A., Duke University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa); J.D., Yale Law School
• Key Roles: Director of DFI (2017–2023), School of Government faculty member, legal practitioner

His work emphasizes legal frameworks for community development, including housing codes, inclusionary zoning, and problem-property solutions. He advises on public-private partnerships, affordable housing strategies, and revitalization projects, having authored numerous publications on these topics. Mulligan’s DFI initiative has facilitated over $1 billion in private investments for distressed areas. His expertise bridges legal, policy, and practical dimensions of economic development, with a focus on equitable urban growth.