Jason Saine ’95
Distinguished Alumni Award
A member of the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2011, Jason Saine is a state and national public policy leader in information technology, tax and revenue and funding. He represents District 97 in Lincoln County. His ability to work with colleagues of all political persuasions for the betterment of not only UNC Charlotte, but the entire UNC system, will be his paramount legacy.
Jason is an avid supporter of UNC Charlotte, attending campus and athletic events whenever possible. His greatest contributions to the University are evident in his tireless advocacy for the campus including building legislative support among his colleagues. Jason was instrumental in securing funding for transformative campus projects including the new science building, the University Recreation Center and Levine Hall.
Most recently, his leadership helped secure $9 million dollars in CARES Act funding – the largest state appropriation for research in Charlotte’s history – for UNC Charlotte to conduct cutting-edge pandemic research and wastewater testing, which helped save lives and kept students on campus to the greatest extent possible. Recognizing this University’s role in driving jobs in technology and computational engineering, he ensured that UNC Charlotte was included in the “Engineering NC’s Future” legislative initiative that will expand enrollment by 2,000 students in these high demand fields.
In addition to sitting on a variety of committees, Jason currently serves as senior chairman of the Appropriations Committee and vice-chairman of the Redistricting Committee. He is also co-chair of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology, the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the North Carolina State Lottery.
Jason has been recognized as the most Business-friendly Legislator by the NC Free Enterprise Foundation. He also received the NC Technology Association’s Public Leadership Award for his role in initiatives including creating a cabinet-level Department of Information Technology, protecting student and employee social media privacy, changing State tax law to incentivize IT job creation and encouraging IT innovation at colleges and universities and in State government.
Jason received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He is married to Kathryn Saine, an alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1997 and a Master’s in Health Administration in 2001. Their son, Jackson, is an avid Charlotte 49ers fan.