Board

Deanna Ballard is a native of North Carolina who has built a career based on dedicated service to others and a firm foundation in conservative values. She currently serves as Director, Public Policy for Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization headquartered in Boone. She advises and assists senior leadership and other stakeholders in determining effective communication and public policy strategies to move the organization forward in accordance with their core missions. Prior to that she served as Director of the Office of the President/CEO, Franklin Graham, and served as one of the youngest commissioned officers and Directors in the Executive Office of the President under George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush.

As a former member of the North Carolina State Senate, Deanna has worked diligently to represent her constituents while serving as a Co-Chair of the Committees on Education/Higher Education Appropriations & Education/Higher Education, and as a member of the Committees on Appropriations/Base Budget, Health Care, Nominations, Rules, and Transportation.

Kathryn Black recently retired from Bank of America as the Strategic Initiatives Executive, where she led several large-scale initiatives and public-private partnerships across the U.S. and globally. These included the Bank of America Alumni Network, a platform of digital and programmatic assets to engage former bank teammates; Leader On Loan, a cohort of bank leaders loaned to critical non-profit partners to advance strategic priorities; and Enterprise Jobs, a national, employer-led approach to building pathways into livable wage, high demand jobs for underserved communities.

Since 2018, Black has worked with the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council (CELC), a group of CEOs and college presidents, to advocate for solutions that improve Charlotte’s economic vitality and quality of life. She currently co-chairs the CELC workforce development working team.

With over 28 years of financial services experience, Black has held a variety of roles at financial institutions, including product and portfolio management, brand strategy, sales, data and analytics.

Black received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens University of Charlotte, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kenan- Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Black resides in Charlotte, N.C. with her husband and is mother to three sons. She currently serves on the boards of Communities in Schools, Road To Hire, myFutureNC and the Board of Advisors for the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC Chapel Hill. Prior board service includes the Arts and Science Council, Safe Alliance and Queens University of Charlotte board of trustees, on which she served for nineteen years.

Marshall Cherry has been with Roanoke Cooperative for over three decades, serving as CEO since 2021 following his tenure as COO beginning in 2014. His background includes many layers of cooperative operations, member engagement, and regional economic development.

Under Marshall’s leadership, Roanoke Cooperative has completed the build-out of a fiber network that now reaches over 80% of its membership—closing the digital divide for rural northeastern North Carolina and transforming the region into a true Digital Empowerment Zone. This connectivity is enabling telehealth, remote learning, small business growth, and a new level of member engagement.

Looking ahead, Marshall is championing Connect 2030, a bold vision that builds on these accomplishments by creating a smarter electric system that helps automate and prevent outages, manages wholesale power costs, integrates solar and battery storage, and keeps the grid resilient and member-ready. With fiber now widely available, Connect 2030 also positions the region for growth—ensuring every home has access to fast, reliable internet that enables telehealth, online learning, and remote work right from where people live.

Marshall currently serves on the boards of Pioneer Utility Resources, myFutureNC, and the Catapult Employer’s Association.

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Livingstone College and completed leadership programs through the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center and Leadership North Carolina. An honorably discharged U.S. Army Reservist, Marshall served for eight years. He and his wife, Cheryl, live in Winterville, NC, and have five children.

Davis holds a bachelor of science degree with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He is currently a professional engineer in North Carolina. He was previously a combat engineer officer and an Airborne Ranger in the US Army. Davis has served as chair of the City of Charlotte Privatization/ Competition Advisory Committee, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Bond Oversight Committee and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. In addition, he has served on numerous boards such as the US Green Building Advisory Council Charlotte Chapter and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent’s Standards Review Committee. Davis is a Charlotte native who attended Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He is married to wife, Adrienne, and has two daughters.

Kindl Detar is a senior policy advisor to Governor Josh Stein. She previously served as a Special Deputy Attorney General and the Director of the Public Protection Section at the North Carolina Department of Justice. Prior to her state government service, she worked at Foundation For The Carolinas and Robinson Bradshaw. Kindl is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Morehead-Cain Scholar, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. A native of Concord, she resides in Charlotte with her husband and three children.

Josh Dobson became president and CEO of the North Carolina Healthcare Association Nov. 12, 2024. The Association unites hospitals, health systems and care providers for healthier communities, advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships to make high quality healthcare equitable and accessible for all.

With over 14 years of experience as a North Carolina elected leader, his career has included serving as a county commissioner, serving in the state House of Representatives, and serving as the state’s Commissioner of Labor, during which he also was a member of the Council of State. During his eight years serving in North Carolina General Assembly, Mr. Dobson represented the 85^th district covering Avery, McDowell and Mitchell counties located in the western part of the state. He also served as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the House Health Committee.

During his time in the state house, Mr. Dobson contributed to shaping healthcare legislation by helping to write and pass a law to protect healthcare worker safety by making violence against hospital employees a felony. He also worked across the aisle to enact changes to the state’s mental health law regarding involuntary commitment (IVC) of individuals in behavioral crises and contributed to landmark legislation expanding Medicaid to provide access to care and coverage for an additional 600,000 North Carolinians.

As president & CEO of the NCHA, he oversees the association’s work to represent its membership of more than 135 hospitals and health systems throughout the state. NCHA’s members include state hospitals, military and governmental treatment facilities, VA, primary care, inpatient and outpatient care, rehabilitative services, behavioral health care, and post-acute care.

His role with the association also includes overseeing the operations and staff of the NCHA Strategic Partners, a subsidiary helping healthcare providers access cost-effective products and services to respond to the changing healthcare landscape, and the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, the charitable, non-profit innovative and programmatic arm of the association.

A North Carolina native, Mr. Dobson received his bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Public Administration from Appalachian State University. He lives in Raleigh and Nebo with his wife Valerie and their daughter Kennedy.

John Fraley is a former home textiles executive and legislator. John is a native of Iredell County and graduated from Statesville City Schools and UNC-Chapel Hill with a BS in Business Administration.

Upon graduation in 1973, he began his business career with Cannon Mills, Inc. in New York City. He ultimately spent 40 plus years in the home textiles field living in New York City and Southern California traveling extensively in the U.S. and around the world. Prior to retiring to run for the N.C. House, John served as CEO of Fraley Global Home and spent 12 years as a director and treasurer of the Sereolipi Nomadic Education Foundation, which provides education to over 1500 students from the Nomadic Samburu tribes in northern Kenya. He served three terms in the House representing Southern Iredell County and chaired multiple education committees. John is married to Adelaide B. Horton of Troutman and Statesville. They now reside in Mooresville and are happy to be back home in North Carolina. He serves on the UNC Board of Governors.

Mrs. Goodnight the Senior Director of Community Relations at SAS. The company has been in the analytics software business for 43 years. Mrs. Goodnight’s work is mainly focused on education, which has been the philanthropic emphasis of SAS for 20+ years. Ann Goodnight is currently serving on the Board of Trustees at North Carolina State University, is a co-founder and Board member of Cary Academy, and a Board member of BEST NC. Other Boards on which she serves are the Board of the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy, the Board of Trustees of the YMCA of the Triangle, the Board of the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation and the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Science Festival.

Maurice “Mo” Green’s vision for North Carolina public schools can be summed up in three words: Achieving Educational Excellence. The son of a special education teacher, Green is a lifelong champion of public education and has seen first-hand its ability to transform both lives and communities.

As North Carolina’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he is committed to ensuring all students in public schools have access to a high-quality education. He strongly champions greater support and resources for public education, striving to create a brighter future for students, educators and communities across the state.

After doing two United States judicial clerkships and working as a lawyer in private practice, Green served as general counsel for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the second-largest school district in North Carolina, starting in 2001. In 2006, he was named its chief operating officer and later moved into the role of deputy superintendent.

In 2008, he became superintendent for Guilford County Schools (GCS), the third largest district in North Carolina. During his more than seven years of leadership, he was widely recognized for his innovative approach to education and impactful reforms. Under his guidance, the district achieved significant improvements in academic performance, increased graduation rates and prioritized character development, earning both state and national acclaim for these successes.

After leaving GCS, Green served as the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, an influential North Carolina foundation that supports various causes including public education, from 2016-2023. During his tenure, he led a strategic assessment and planning process that resulted in All For NC, a framework for grantmaking and learning that centers efforts to strengthen democracy, advance public education, foster a healthy and sustainable environment and promote social and economic justice.

Green has served on numerous boards focused on educational issues including homelessness, athletics, policy, media, arts and community support. He is a double Duke University graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a law degree. Green is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi (the Boulé) fraternities. He is married and has two adult children, both of whom graduated from North Carolina public schools.

Peter Hans became the ninth president of the North Carolina Community College System on May 1, 2018, bringing decades of leadership experience in higher education policy and governance to the position.

Hans has been a leader on North Carolina’s two governing boards for higher education. The N.C. House of Representatives elected him to a six-year term on the State Board of Community Colleges in 1997. He served as vice chair of the board and chair of the Policy Committee.

The N.C. Senate elected Hans to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 2003, 2007 and 2011, and he led that board as chair from 2012-2014.

He was honored by UNC-Wilmington in 2014 for his role in improving collaboration between the community college and university systems.

From 2016-2018, Hans advised UNC System President Margaret Spellings on issues such as technology, health care, strategic planning and K-12 education.

Hans’ career also includes serving as senior policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Lauch Faircloth (1995-1999) and then-U.S. Rep. Richard Burr (1999-2001). He also advised Elizabeth Dole during her successful run for U.S. Senate in 2001-2002.

Later, Hans and former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker built a government relations practice at a series of regional law firms, most recently Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. The team counseled private-sector companies on public affairs, including clients in the health care, technology, retail and manufacturing sectors.

Hans grew up in Southport on the coast and Hendersonville in the mountains. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies from Harvard University.

He is a trustee of Rex Hospital and a member of the International Advisory Board of public relations firm APCO Worldwide. He is a former board member for Urban Ministries of Wake County, where he co-chaired a $5.5 million capital campaign.

Kevin Howell became North Carolina State University’s 15th chancellor in May 2025. He leads the largest university in North Carolina, with about 39,000 students.

Howell previously served as chief of external affairs for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine. In his role, he developed and implemented strategies shaping public policy and legislation for a health care system with 19 hospitals, more than 900 clinics, 3,000 physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

Howell has a long record of service to North Carolina, the UNC System and NC State University. Prior to his time with UNC Health, Howell acted as NC State’s vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development from 2018 to 2023, and as assistant to the chancellor for external affairs from 2006 to 2016. He was also senior vice president for external affairs with the University of North Carolina System.

His work in building and managing relationships and economic partnerships has enhanced both local and global engagement and created new jobs and investments for the state of North Carolina.

A native of Shelby, N.C., Howell received his bachelor’s degree in political science from NC State in 1988 and served as student body president during his senior year. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and later served as a legal clerk on the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Returning to his alma mater, Howell takes the helm of a forward-looking university leading the nation in biotechnology, nanotechnology, proteomics, nonwoven textiles and other fields of study – such as food safety, biomedical research and artificial intelligence – that affect the health and livelihoods of people across the globe.

With deep expertise in driving economic investment and growth, he’ll strengthen NC State’s role as a frontier research university to keep North Carolina competitive in the most important fields of our future.

Donny Lambeth is a native of North Carolina and a life-long resident of Forsyth County. He and his wife, Pam, live and reared their four grown daughters on the family home place in the Hopewell Community. Married 49 years, they are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.

Donny earned a BS degree in Business Administration from High Point University and a MBA from Wake Forest University. His professional career spanned forty years and was spent at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (North Carolina Baptist Hospital) where he served as Chief Operations Officer for eleven years and was President/CEO for four years. He served as President/CEO of the Lexington/Davie Medical Centers for one year during the merger of the three medical facilities.

Donny’s political career began in 1994 when he was elected to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. He immediately gained the confidence of his fellow Board members and was elected Chair of the Board each of his eighteen years of service. In 2008, he was named to the North Carolina All-State School Board.

In 2012, Donny was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives serving the 75th District of North Carolina. Following his re-election in 2014, he was appointed Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Chair of the Health Committee. At the beginning of the 2019 Session, Donny was named Senior Chair of Appropriations Committee. During the interim, Donny chairs three Joint Legislative Oversight Committees focused on hearth: Access to Healthcare/Medicaid Expansion; Medicaid/Health Choice, and Health and Human Services. Donny serves in additional key positions of leadership as a member of the Committees on Education K-12, Education Universities, Insurance and Pensions & Retirement.

Throughout his career, Donny has served North Carolina citizens through membership on various State and community Boards. He is currently a member of three vital Boards: myFUTURENC; Affordable Care Act Study Committee; and, Mental Health Committee. Membership on past boards include: Child Fatality Task Force, Trellis, State Health Coordinating Council and the March of Dimes.

As a healthcare executive, Donny’s outstanding leadership and knowledge base gained him recognition from both the business and private sectors of the State – NC Health Care Hero Award (2008); Who’s Who Among Health Care Executives (2012 – sixth consecutive year); Alumnus of the Year – High Point University (2012); and, Regions Most Influential Leader – Triad Business Journal (2013 – seventh consecutive year).

Since his first term in office, Donny has been the recipient of the NC Baptist Heritage Award (2014); and March of Dimes Advocacy Award (2014); Legislator of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors (2016); Advocate State Award for Excellence, American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2016); State Champion Award, North Carolina Association of Registered Nurse Anesthetists (2016); Legislator of the Year, North Carolina Nurses Association (2016); Champion for Health, North Carolina Alliance for Health (2017); Legislator of the Year, North Carolina Community Health Center Association (2017); Legislator of the Year, BAYADA Home Health Care (2017); North Carolina Governor’s School Foundation Champion Award (2018) and, Legislator of the Year, North Carolina Community Health Center Association (2022).

Representative Lambeth was the author and primary sponsor of HB662: Carolina Cares, during the 2017 Session and HB655: NC Healthcare for Working Families during the 2019 Session. Both of these bills were presented with the intent of closing the healthcare coverage gap in North Carolina. With the focus of these bills on quality, access, patient satisfaction, and budget predictability, Donny believes that North Carolina immediately jumps to the forefront in the nation as a model of care.

“We have a great State and we must take advantage of the many opportunities available to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens. Thank you for the privilege you have given me to be a part of such an incredible journey.”

Brad Overcash serves as the North Carolina State Senator representing Gaston County, having first been elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. In the General Assembly, he holds several key leadership roles, including Chairman of the Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education, Chair of the Senate Committee on Elections, and serves as a member of the Judiciary, Finance, and Commerce & Insurance committees.

A partner at Parker Poe, Overcash focuses his legal practice on litigation, healthcare law, insurance defense, and economic development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi.

Overcash has a long-standing commitment to public service and civic leadership. Prior to his time in the Senate, he served as Vice Chair of the Gaston County Republican Party, Chair of the 10th Congressional District GOP, and Treasurer of the North Carolina Republican Party. He also chaired the Gaston College Board of Trustees and was a member of the Gaston County Family Advisory Board.

He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Gaston County and are the proud parents of two children, Anna Katherine and Will.

MC Belk Pilon is President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk Endowment, where she and her team are committed to increasing education in order to give all North Carolinians the chance at long-term, family-sustaining careers. Prior to this, she spent twelve years in retail management for Belk and five years with The Belk Foundation, a family foundation that focuses on improving early childhood education, teaching, and leadership in public schools. She has participated on several boards that champion education access and success for all children, including Good Friends, Greater Enrichment, and the Fletcher School. MC earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, where she also worked as assistant alumni director after graduation. She was awarded the 2016 Roanoke College Medal, the highest honor for an alumnus to receive, and the 2015 Central Piedmont Community College Distinguished Service Award. She is currently Chair of The John M. Belk Scholarship Advisory Board at Davidson College and active on the boards of The Belk Foundation, College Advising Corps, Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation and Charlotte Country Day School.

With decades of experience and a proven track record representing North Carolina business interests at the N.C. General Assembly, Gary led the NC Chamber’s lobbying, advocacy and political efforts before being named its chief operating officer and acting president in 2018, then president and CEO in 2019. Gary’s leadership in advancing policy at the NC Chamber has helped propel the state to the top of a number of best-in-business rankings.

Prior to joining the NC Chamber in September 2011, Gary worked 19 years at GlaxoSmithKline, the last 10 years serving as GSK’s director of state government affairs. Gary’s advocacy responsibilities spanned a broad range of issues including corporate tax, environmental impact, tort and liability reform, economic development, workforce development, employment and Medicaid.

Gary’s previous work experience includes serving as senior account manager, integrated healthcare markets for GSK and as director of professional and state government affairs for GlaxoWellcome. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the Albany College of Pharmacy in Albany, N.Y. and a master’s degree in pharmacy administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Gary has experience in hospital and community pharmacy practice and completed the American Pharmacists Association Foundation’s Executive Residency in Association Management, which trains individuals for leadership positions within the profession and in national, regional, state, and local professional organizations.

Gary resides in Raleigh, N.C. with his wife of 28 years, Lisa. They are the proud parents of a daughter and son-in-law, both NC State alumni, a son who is an Appalachian State University alumnus, a daughter who is a freshman at NC State University, and a two-year-old dachshund named Hugo.

Machelle Baker Sanders brings a distinguished track record of leadership across the biopharmaceutical industry and state government, marked by strategic acumen and transformative impact. She has deep expertise in Quality, Compliance, Operations, and organizational transformation. She serves as a board member of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals and Fortrea, Inc., and was formerly a board member of Radius Health Inc. and Novan Inc. Her board involvement includes committees such as the Science Committee and Compensation Committee, showcasing her expertise in governance, fiduciary oversight, and organizational success.

Cabinet Secretary, North Carolina Department of Commerce
January 2021 – January 2025
Machelle’s tenure as Cabinet Secretary has been characterized by a robust, inclusive leadership style that propelled North Carolina to the forefront of economic development in the United States. Under her guidance, the state secured consecutive titles of ‘Best Business Climate’ by Business Facilities magazine and was recognized as CNBC’s top place to do business, generating over 70,000 jobs and attracting $45 billion in capital investment. Her strategic initiatives, including the “First in Talent Plan,” catalyzed growth and recovery post- pandemic, establishing a national benchmark in workforce development and economic resilience. Machelle has represented NC on a global stage through advocacy, policy, and partnership on emerging economic trends and collaborations that have shaped North Carolina’s economy.

Cabinet Secretary, North Carolina Department of Administration
January 2017 – January 2021
In this role, Machelle managed state government operations, including facilities, property, construction, and procurement. As Chair of the Andrea Harris Taskforce, she advocated for digital equity, supported growth for small, women, and minority-owned businesses, and developed telemedicine proposals for rural communities. Her leadership streamlined processes, eliminated waste, and enhanced efficiency in state operations.

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Experience
Over her 32-year tenure in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, Machelle held increasing levels of responsibility. At Biogen, she served as Vice President of Multiple Sclerosis Franchise Product Operations and Vice President of Manufacturing and General Manager of the RTP facility.

As Vice President of Multiple Sclerosis Franchise Product Operations, she provided strategic oversight and led the successful commercialization of MS treatments, including Pelegridy and Tecfidera, significantly improving patient outcomes and franchise revenue. Her expertise in product lifecycle management and regulatory compliance enabled the launch of multiple therapies, and her ability to foster cross-functional collaboration expanded the product portfolio and achieved regulatory milestones.

In her role as Vice President of Manufacturing & General Manager, Machelle oversaw 1,200 employees and directed biologic and small molecule manufacturing operations. She spearheaded the development of a new disposable manufacturing suite and office building, supporting the launch of five new commercial products while diversifying production capabilities.

She also facilitated global regulatory approvals for concurrent manufacturing, enhancing the site’s flexibility and capacity across Biogen’s operations.

Education and Philanthropy
Machelle earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University and a Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University. She has pursued continued executive development through Stanford University’s Directors’ Consortium. In addition to her professional endeavors, Machelle contributes to philanthropy through the Machelle Sanders Science Endowment at NCSU and serves on the boards of MyFuture NC and the UNC-Chapel Hill Health Foundation. She is passionate about STEM education for youth, especially inspiring young girls and minorities to enter the STEM space.

Machelle’s career exemplifies her capability to navigate and lead complex organizations through significant challenges and opportunities, making substantial contributions in both the private and public sectors. She has a proven record of creating high-performing teams and delivering exceptional results. A strong advocate for underserved communities, she champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation, leaving a profound impact across various spheres of influence. Machelle brings unique perspective with business acumen and experience in public and private sectors.

Matthew Scott is the very first American Indian District Attorney in Robeson County and the entirety of North Carolina. Scott was raised in Robeson County and graduated from Purnell Swett High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from North Carolina State University and law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002.

After graduating from law school, Scott joined the Army as a judge advocate and paratrooper stationed at Fort Bragg with the 18th Airborne Corps. He also is a combat veteran who deployed to Iraq and has been awarded the Bronze Star. He currently is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve. In 2010, he became an assistant district attorney with the Robeson County District Attorney’s Office and focused on prosecuting narcotic and violent crimes.

Scott also is a deacon at Berea Baptist Church, member of the Tri-Warriors triathlon group which promotes physical fitness within the community. He was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission. Scott is married and has two sons, Gabriel and Ethan.

Carol Steen joined Biltmore Farms in 2019. Prior to her service with Biltmore Farms, Steen was Director of Human Resources for the Mountain Area Health Education Center, Inc. where she saw the organization succeed through significant workforce growth and expansion of healthcare programs in rural western North Carolina. Steen serves as President-elect of the WNC Human Resources Association, Board Member of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Board Member of Asheville Museum of Science. Steen has also volunteered her time with local board of director positions with the WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition, Young Professionals of Asheville, and World Camp.

Steen received her Bachelor of Arts in Management in Society from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Master of Business Administration with dual-concentrations in Finance and Management Consulting from North Carolina State University’s Jenkins Graduate School of Management, and a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Duke University. She is dual-certified as a human resources professional from the HR Certification Institute and Society for Human Resources Management.

Exemplified leadership and her dedication to the field of human resources contributed to her being featured in the Triangle Business Journal as a 2009 MBA Game Changer. More recently, she was listed on Verve Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 List and Biltmore Beacon’s Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders.

Dr. A. Hope Williams is President of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), the statewide office of the 36 independent (private) colleges and universities in North Carolina. As President, she is the Chief Executive Officer for the NCICU Board of Directors of college and university presidents and for the Independent College Fund of North Carolina board that also includes corporate trustees and raises corporate and foundation funds for student scholarships and programs. She has been president of NCICU since 1992.

Dr. Williams received her undergraduate degree in French and History from Duke University, an MPA degree from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently chairs the board of MCNC and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Institute for Emerging Issues, the National Student Clearinghouse Board of Directors and the Research Board, College Foundation, Incorporated, the NCWorks Commission, Communities in Schools of North Carolina and the North Carolina Aquarium Society