Kevin Foy, law professor and Durham -Chapel Hill mayor teaches his Thursday night Environmental Law class. (Photo:Mitchell Holiday/Echo Staff Photogtapher)

Professor Kevin Foy has been teaching at N.C. Central University’s School of Law for five years. He is an NCCU Law School alumni, an avid Eagle basketball fan, and the mayor of Chapel Hill.

Foy recently won his third re-election as mayor of Chapel Hill with more than 70 percent of votes.

Throughout his tenure as mayor, Foy has worked to make make Chapel Hill Transit fare-free. He has formed the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and initiated a new land use management ordinance and a new parks and recreation plan — all while teaching environmental law to NCCU law students.

He describes juggling his two jobs as a “manageable experience,” that allows him to find solace from the city office in classroom and vice-versa.

“As mayor, I’m not out all day at ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and my office does a great job of managing the day-to-day tasks,” Foy said.

“If anything, teaching allows me to get away from the office and read about things and talk to students instead of dealing with politics all the time,” he said. “It’s a chance to get away from that office.”

Foy said his jobs are alike in that both involve serving the community, investing in future generations and addressing environmental problems.

Foy said that “a large part of local government is about land management. As mayor, I have to deal with maintaining progress without causing traffic and environmental problems.

“We just have to decide what we want Chapel Hill to be as a city in growth without taking on problems that other cities face, and that becomes a large part of what I teach.”

Urban sprawl is one of many subjects Foy will address during his fourth term as mayor.

Foy plans to focus on decreasing the town’s environmental impact, improving the city’s state-funded healthcare program, addressing Chapel Hill’s homelessness problem, and the development of North Carolina, UNC -Chapel Hill’s planned 8-million-square-foot campus development project.

For now, Foy is committed to leading Chapel Hill and continuing his teaching career at the School of Law, with no immediate plans to pursue a Congressional public office.

“I really have to think about it,” said Foy.

“My responsibility is mainly here, as a teacher.

“Given that the term is just starting out, I can’t say what I will plan to do in the future. I agree with and support Congressman Price, so I won’t say, ‘next year I’ll run for Congress.’

“I’m just focused on the term right now.”

The mayor’s political concentration remains focused on the city of Chapel Hill.

Asked whom he was supporting in the national presidential election, Foy said: “Well I met Barack, and I think he’d really be great.”