Staff

Cory is an experienced education nonprofit leader, an attorney, and a public policy advocacy specialist who has spent the better part of two decades advancing the interests of students and their families as well as the educators who serve them. He has a proven record of working closely with policymakers to develop student-focused education policies as well as engaging and giving voice to the people whose lives are affected by those policies.

Cory specializes in analyzing and assessing issues, crafting innovative policy improvements, and implementing change at both the state and local levels. His approach centers on effective collaboration built through trust and recognition that lasting success comes through partnership.

Prior to moving to North Carolina, Cory held various leadership roles in the nonprofit and public sectors in Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He has been recognized for his contributions throughout his career and has given back to his community through service on more than a dozen boards and commissions.

Cory is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and holds a law degree from the Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as well as a Master’s in Public Service from the University of Arkansas’s William J. Clinton School of Public Service. Cory and his wife, Carrie, reside in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with their young son.

Toni Blount, Regional Impact Manager for myFutureNC, works with communities in the Southeast region of North Carolina to increase educational attainment by awareness, data and strategy discussions. Toni earned her BS and M.A.Ed. from East Carolina University and holds a Community College Educational Leadership Certificate from UNC Wilmington. She earned the National College Attainment Network Advising Certificate, and is trained in the Civic Lab Stakeholder Engagement process.

Prior to myFutureNC, Toni served three North Carolina school districts and 2 community colleges in the area of College Access and Scholarships.

Toni serves on the NC ACT Council and the National College Attainment Network’s Post-Secondary Task Force and North Carolina’s Career Development Planning Taskforce. Toni is deeply involved in the statewide and national conversations on college admissions and financial aid, career development planning and workforce readiness.

Personally, Toni resides in New Bern, NC with her husband, Stuart Blount. They are deeply engaged in volunteer, work and community service.

Brett Brenton serves as Regional Impact Manager at myFutureNC, serving the North Central regions of the state. Brett started his career as a high school social studies teacher near Baltimore, MD, where he taught ten classes over seven years there, including AP US History and AP Government. After relocating to North Carolina in 2007, he spent six years with Wake County Schools, four as a middle school teacher and administrator, and two as an assistant principal at an elementary school.

Brett then joined the Research Triangle Foundation as the founding director of the STEM in the Park (now STEM RTP) program in 2014, which aimed to diversify the STEM fields through mentoring, outreach, and events. The program engaged students and teachers in the Triangle area and beyond in experiences with area companies to better inform participants about the benefits of STEM learning and expose them to STEM career paths. Brett then applied the programmatic elements of this work to the emerging Frontier coworking space, leading programming and partnerships for the Foundation and supporting entrepreneurs who helped activate the space.

In 2018, Brett joined the Durham-based national nonprofit Forward Cities, where he worked with over 30 communities across the country in support of their efforts to grow entrepreneurial ecosystems with an equity lens. He led a number of community engagements there and helped to develop the organization’s national learning network through a webinar series and various communities of practice.

Brett earned a BA in History from the University of Arizona and a Masters in School Administration from NC State University. He calls Wake Forest home where he lives with his wife Alison and two daughters Olivia (14) and Sienna (11). He enjoys travel and can be found on the many mountain bike trails across the Triangle on most days.

Kim Case serves as a Regional Impact Manager for myFutureNC, focusing on counties in NC’s Northwest Prosperity Zone. Kim’s extensive career in public education began at the classroom level where she taught for 19 years. As a teacher, she gained practical experience in engaging students – particularly young adolescents – in learning, life, and leadership. Kim’s desire to improve student outcomes has been the driving force in her career pathway.

Within the larger educational system, Kim has worked with students and educators ranging from age 3 through the postsecondary level. Her roles have included school principal; assistant principal; instructional facilitator; curriculum and professional development coordinator; teacher mentor; academically-intellectually gifted, and reading specialist. In 2019, she was named Coordinator of Innovation and Online Education for Caldwell County Schools. In this capacity, Kim focused on outreach to business, higher education, and home school partners to identify and design creative, collaborative solutions to increase student engagement, improve workforce preparedness, and encourage learning for life.

Kim is a board member of several organizations dedicated to supporting young people. These include Community in Schools of Caldwell County; the Rotary Club of Lenoir; and the Conflict Resolution Center. She is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa – Omicron Chapter, the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce, and the Caldwell Women’s Forum. At the state level, Kim enjoys partnering with organizations devoted to innovative approaches to learning. She is a member of the Educational Innovation Network NC, a District C certified coach and an Open Way Learning (OWL) ambassador. In collaboration with Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University, Watson College of Education at UNC-Wilmington, and Open Way Learning, Kim created the Educational Innovation Framework (EIF), which identifies the foundations needed to support innovation in our schools.

A believer in life-long learning, Kim holds a Master of Arts as a Curriculum Specialist and a school administrator licensure from Appalachian State University as well as a Doctorate of Educational Leadership with a Superintendent licensure from Gardner-Webb University. In Spring 2023, she will complete her certification in Trauma & Resilience from Florida State University.

Kim and her husband, Phil, reside in Lenoir, NC. They enjoy spending time with their family – oldest son and his wife, Kyle and Lindsey, and their youngest son, Tyler, on Rippetoe Farm.

Heather Fisher is Executive Assistant and Office Manager at myFutureNC. In her role, she supports the leadership team, ensures smooth day-to-day operations, and keeps the office snacks stocked to fuel the work toward North Carolina’s goal of 2 million residents with a high-quality credential or degree by 2030.

Heather has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector, serving as both an operations manager and informal science educator. Her experience includes work with the education team at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. She thrives in behind-the-scenes roles—keeping things organized, tracking details, and bringing all the pieces together.

Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science (Geophysics) from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in Earthquake Seismology from Washington University in St. Louis. A Jersey Girl at heart, she has lived and worked in North Carolina since 2013. Heather, her husband Matt, and their two children call Durham home. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and weaving informal science education into everyday life whenever she can.

Pam Hartley serves as Regional Impact Manager at myFutureNC, serving the western prosperity zone. Pam has spent the last 25 years supporting community partnerships and multi-sector collaboration to support young people and their families. Her career is marked by building robust school-community partnerships and her commitment to enhancing success through collaborative efforts.

As the former Director of School Partnerships at NC Education Corps , Executive Director of Communities in Schools of NC, and Vice President of Marbles Kids Museum, Pam has fostered strategic partnerships and advanced educational initiatives across the state. At myFutureNC, Pam continues to leverage her extensive experience to support regional education attainment goals and workforce development.

Pam is a proud graduate of Andrews High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Having grown up in Andrews, NC, Pam is thrilled to return to her roots and support work throughout the western prosperity zone.

Pam has two children who live in Boulder and Philadelphia. When she’s not visiting her children, she enjoys hiking, camping, and taking her two labradoodles on long walks.

Cecilia Holden serves as the President and CEO for myFutureNC, a statewide initiative focused on the state’s educational attainment goal. Among other public service, she served as the Chief of Staff for the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Director of Government and Community Affairs for the State Board of Education. Her private sector experience includes a career with IBM, as well as a Registered Investment Advisory firm. Holden holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University, a certificate in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina School of Government and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Business from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Angie Jenkins serves as Regional Impact Manager at myFutureNC, serving the Northeast region of the state. Angie has had a rewarding career that has spanned over 21 years both within corporate and educational settings. In fact, it was her experience in Corporate America working for Deloitte, one of the largest professional services firm in the world, that prepared her for her career in education. As a professional educator and workforce development professional, Angie has held several roles within secondary education ranging from business education teacher, instructional coordinator, to Director of Career & Technical Education. She has even served as a NC Pre-K Director. On the collegiate level, she has worked as an adjunct psychology instructor for Shaw University.

After a 15 and ½ year career in education in the spring of 2018, she decided to pivot and began working as a contractor providing workforce and educational support services. This work included a regional initiative to help build a talent pipeline in northeastern NC for the growing industry of advanced manufacturing. In fall of 2020, she launched The Grow You Group which provides educational consulting and coaching services with a focus on high needs districts particularly in Career and Technical Education. She also contracted as a Transformational Coach for The Stetris Group, an educational STEM innovation firm, coaching new Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and CTE teachers in providing quality teaching and learning in their classrooms.

Educationally, Angie graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a B.A. in Psychology; M.A. in Organizational Management from Trevecca Nazarene University; post-grad training in Organizational Psychology from Walden University; and currently in her 3^rd year at East Carolina University working towards an Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) in K-12 Educational Leadership with a concentration in the superintendency. All her experiences have led her to doing what she is most passionate about which is helping educators grow, develop, and find their passion in teaching while at the same time inspiring students and preparing them for an unprecedented future.

When Angie is not working to create opportunities for others, she loves to enjoy the arts, nature, movies, and a great meal with friends. Her greatest joys are being the wife and mom.

Steven is an experienced finance and operations leader with more than two decades of service supporting educational institutions at both the K–12 and university levels. Throughout his career, he has been known for his steady leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to helping organizations operate smoothly, responsibly, and in alignment with their broader mission.

Steven most recently served as a Business Manager at North Carolina State University, where he oversaw the department’s day-to-day business operations. In this role, he worked closely with faculty and staff to support financial planning and human resources, as well as supporting research administration and academic support as needed.

Prior to his work in higher education, Steven spent many years as a School Business Administrator and Board Secretary across several New Jersey school districts and charter schools. In these roles, he partnered with superintendents, principals, board members, staff, and community stakeholders to develop and manage budgets, support personnel and facilities operations, and ensure resources were used effectively and transparently.

Steven brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented mindset to his work, along with a strong sense of responsibility and service. He values clear communication, teamwork, and continuous improvement, and is driven by the belief that strong financial stewardship plays a vital role in creating stable, successful educational environments.

Dr. Robert Locklear serves as Regional Impact Manager at myFutureNC, serving the Sandhills region of the state. His career with the Public Schools of Robeson County (PSRC) span 25 years, first starting as an elementary teacher at Green Grove Elementary School in 2001, but before that he chose to serve his country. As an administrative officer in the United States Navy for more than 10 years, Dr. Locklear served in a variety of high-level positions that taught him leadership and organizational skills, teamwork, attention to detail, working with a diverse population, and being mission- and vision-oriented. During active duty he provided administrative assistance to the superintendent of Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, the chief of Naval Personnel, and the commander of Naval Military Personnel Command in Washington, D.C., where he maintained logistic aspects related to Congressional Delegations, Foreign Ministries and Attaches, Fleet Commanders, and Chief of Naval Operations.

Following a four-year stint at Green Grove Elementary, Dr. Locklear was promoted to assistant principal at Pembroke Elementary School, 2001-2004. From 2004 to 2016, he served as principal at Southside-Ashpole, Magnolia and St. Pauls elementary schools before making the move to PSRC central office as the assistant superintendent.

Dr. Locklear’s time spent with the Public Schools of Robeson County was the most rewarding and fulfilling career one could ever imagine. From a classroom teacher to assistant superintendent, he thoroughly enjoyed serving and supporting teachers, instructional support staff, principals, assistant principals, parents, students, and most of all, collaborating with communities and stakeholders to increase academic achievement for all students.

Dr. Locklear earned a BS and MA in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He received his MSA from East Carolina and Educational Specialist and Doctorate from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He currently lives in Fairmont with his family. He enjoys basketball, football and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Deanne Meadows has proudly served as an educator for 34 years in public education. She began her career as a high school math teacher focused on meeting the individual needs of her students. As she reflected on how she could have the most impact on students, she knew that the role of the teacher was most important. Supporting and developing effective teachers has been her priority for the past 25 years as she moved into administrative positions. She most recently served students and teachers as a Superintendent with Columbus County Schools. Her personal mission as an educator is to provide every student an equitable educational experience so they can reach their fullest potential. Dr. Meadows attended Kellogg Community College to earn her Associate Degree and immediately followed up at the University of Kentucky where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to earn a Master of School Administration and a Doctorate of Education in School Leadership.

Senemeht Olatunji serves as Regional Impact Manager, at myFutureNC, serving the Southwest region of the state. Senemeht has over 21 combined years of instructional, administrative/leadership and social work experience. This includes six years of experience working as a secondary educator and instructional coach and practice experience in mental health treatment, domestic violence and sexual assault, transitional housing and homelessness and child welfare.

Senemeht Olatunji previously served as the Director of the First Star College of Staten Island (CSI) Academy, in the college’s Division of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement. The First Star CSI Academy provided a four-year, college preparatory program to youth associated with the foster care system from the NY metro area. The Academy improved the lives of foster youth through a partnership with the university, child welfare agencies and school districts to ensure foster youth have the academic, life skills, and adult supports needed to successfully transition to higher education and adulthood.

Senemeht has also worked in a consultative capacity with universities and organizations that are involved in impactful and innovative initiatives such as addressing and eliminating Black youth suicide, community violence prevention and affordable housing initiatives. Additionally, Senemeht served as a social impact consultant for Urban Advisors, an impact investing consulting firm identifying how companies, organizations and funding opportunities have measurable, beneficial social impacts in combination with a financial return.

Senemeht is also an adjunct professor and previously taught at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She currently teaches at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign School of Social Work. Coursework includes: Introduction to Social Work, Social Welfare Policy, Child Welfare Policy and Policy Practice and Advocacy

Senemeht holds a Master of Social Work from Howard University and Bachelor of Arts in English from Marymount Manhattan College, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Brandi brings more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and advancement, with a proven track record of building philanthropic partnerships and securing major investments that support education and innovation.

As Director of Development at myFutureNC, Brandi leads the organization’s fundraising and philanthropic engagement strategy in support of North Carolina’s statewide educational attainment goal. She works closely with foundation, corporate, and individual partners to cultivate investments that expand opportunity, strengthen workforce readiness, and increase economic mobility across the state.

Most recently, Brandi served in a philanthropy leadership role at VentureWell, where she partnered with executive leadership to advance development strategy and secure multi-year funding from national foundations and corporate partners. Throughout her career, she has secured significant philanthropic commitments, built donor pipelines from the ground up, and cultivated long-term partnerships that drive sustained organizational impact.

Her advancement experience spans both higher education and nonprofit organizations, including roles with NC State University, Georgia Tech, and Barton College. Known for her thoughtful, strategic, and relationship-centered approach, Brandi is passionate about connecting philanthropy with meaningful community impact.

A first-generation college graduate raised in rural eastern North Carolina, Brandi is deeply committed to expanding educational opportunity and economic mobility for students and communities across the state.

Brandi lives in Surf City, North Carolina, with her husband and their two Labrador retrievers.

Preston Roseboro is a Regional Impact Manager for myFutureNC serving the Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone.

Preston has nearly a decade of experience in Workforce Development.

He most recently served as Workforce Program and Operations Supervisor with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC)’s Workforce and Economic Development program. In this role he assisted with the oversight of the NCWorks Career Center operations for a 7-county region and served as a liaison between the PTRC Workforce & Economic Development staff and NCWorks career center staff. While with Piedmont Triad Regional Council, he was also a Workforce Business Services Coordinator, creating partnerships and assisting employers across the Piedmont Triad with various workforce needs related to staffing, training and retaining employees. Prior to PTRC, Preston held a Career Advisor position at the NC Department of Commerce: Division of Workforce Solutions.

Preston is passionate about educational access and attainment, especially for historically marginalized communities. His experience in workforce development has allowed him to help numerous individuals reach their educational, career and economic goals – he’s excited to continue to make an impact with myFutureNC.

Preston earned his BA in Business Economics from Wofford College where he also played college football. He has since been involved in local youth athletics as both a coach and referee. Preston enjoys adventuring with his wife, Morgan, and two children: Elijah and Zola. He resides in the Greensboro area.

Melany served public school students, families, and employees for twenty years as an educator and communications leader. She is passionate about family engagement, serving underserved communities, and aligning communication strategies to improve students’ academic outcomes. Melany also worked in higher education administration and communications for five years, during which she championed efforts to expand access for rural and underserved students pursuing two- and four-year degrees and industry-recognized credentials.

Throughout her career, Melany has demonstrated a strong track record of creative problem-solving across a range of initiatives, including increasing stakeholder engagement, leading strategic planning efforts, building cross-sector partnerships, and advancing organizational mission and impact. She has received several state and national accolades for her community outreach and innovative leadership. In 2012, she was recognized by the National School Boards Association as a Top 20 to Watch, and in 2014, she was selected as one of 25 Emerging Leaders nationwide by ASCD. That same year, her school report card design was named the national Best Summary Winner in the My School Info Challenge sponsored by ExcelinEd and Getting Smart. In 2009, she was honored as the state recipient of the Creating Excellence in Career and Technical Education Award for spearheading a community-based initiative that provided career development guidance to students and families in a neutral, accessible setting.

Melany completed the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association Aspiring Superintendent Program and was selected in 2020 as a National Flamboyan Fellow in recognition of her leadership in family engagement, particularly her outreach to Hispanic families.

A first-generation college graduate, Melany is committed to expanding opportunity and access for learners of all ages, particularly those in rural communities and historically underserved populations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Radford University, a Master’s degree in Administration from the University of Virginia, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Her dissertation focused on strengthening communication and engagement among Hispanic families.

Jessica Bullard Swencki serves as Deputy Director of myFutureNC, where she helps guide the organization’s strategy to increase educational attainment and economic mobility across North Carolina. In this role, she supports organizational leadership, oversees key operational and programmatic functions, and works closely with partners across education, workforce, philanthropy, and government to advance the state’s goal of ensuring that two million North Carolinians hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.

Before joining myFutureNC, Jessica spent more than three decades in public education leadership across North Carolina, serving in roles at the school, district, regional, and state levels. She most recently served as Regional Director for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where she worked closely with superintendents and district leadership teams across the Sandhills region to support policy implementation, system improvement, and cross-sector collaboration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also led statewide communications coordination efforts connecting education leaders across all 100 public school districts.

Earlier in her career, Jessica served as Chief Quality Assurance and Community Engagement Officer for Brunswick County Schools, where she led strategic planning, community engagement initiatives, and communications efforts supporting a successful $152 million school construction bond referendum. She has also served as Lab School Implementation Coordinator for the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Director of Exceptional Children Programs in Pender and Brunswick County Schools, and a special education consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Jessica holds a Master of School Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is also a North Carolina Principal Fellow and Teaching Fellow.

Raised in a rural community and among the first in her family to pursue higher education, Jessica is deeply committed to expanding pathways to opportunity for students and communities across North Carolina.

Nadia Trevizo is a Project Manager at myFutureNC, where she supports cross-sector collaboration to achieve North Carolina’s 2 million educational attainment goal by 2030. She provides project management across organizational initiatives, oversees internal systems, supports grant-funded projects, and coordinates events and convenings that unite partners around shared priorities.

She brings deep expertise in project leadership, operations, digital strategy, and stakeholder engagement across the education, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Most recently, Nadia served as Nonprofit Partnership and Community Impact Manager at United Way of the Greater Triangle, where she supported both nonprofit and corporate partners while leading convenings, training series, workflow improvements, and digital giving campaigns for corporate partners such as First Citizens Bank, NC Biotech, and RTI International. Her experience also includes leading statewide college access efforts at LatinxEd and developing educational initiatives at UNC Wilmington’s Centro Hispano.

Nadia holds a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Originally from Texas, she has lived in North Carolina for almost ten years. When she’s not at work, she enjoys exploring her city, attending concerts, experiencing the arts and food scene, traveling abroad, and visiting family in the Southwest.

Gina Zhang is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at myFutureNC, where she leads data-driven initiatives to achieve North Carolina’s 2 million by 2030 attainment goal. She collaborates internally with cross-functional teams and externally with partners to analyze education and workforce trends, developing actionable insights to tell compelling stories.

Previously, Gina was the Senior Research and Data Analysis Manager at myFutureNC and a data specialist at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), where she developed data tools to support districts and school leaders. Her background spans nonprofits, research, and advocacy, with experience at the Belk Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).

Gina holds a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s in political science from UNC Pembroke. A sports enthusiast, she spends her free time swimming, running, and weightlifting. Originally from Beijing, China, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.