Governor Josh Stein has announced a series of appointments to various boards and commissions across North Carolina. The selections include professionals from diverse backgrounds in education, healthcare, history, energy, mental health, and public service.
For the North Carolina Historical Commission, Sarah Lee Greene of Orange County was appointed as a Professional Historian. Greene is known for her work on nineteenth-century legal history in North Carolina and serves on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Dr. Lawrence T. Locklear of Robeson County was named Professor of History; he directs Southeast American Indian Studies at UNC Pembroke and researches Lumbee and American Indian history.
Tamika Walker Kelly of Wake County joins the North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Commission as a member with experience in education. Kelly has taught for 13 years in Cumberland County Schools and currently leads the North Carolina Association of Educators.
Jennie A. Jackson from Pender County was appointed to the Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships as an employer representative. She is Senior Vice President at Bank of America for coastal North Carolina.
Dr. Gregory S. McCarty of Henderson County will serve on the North Carolina Medical Board as a licensed physician nominated by the review panel. He is chief medical officer at UNC Health Pardee.
The North Carolina Water Treatment Facility Operators Certification Board will see Dr. Niroj Aryal from Guilford County join as a university faculty member specializing in water supply, while Harold Grier from Mecklenburg County will represent private industry with experience supervising water treatment facilities.
On the Advanced Energy Board of Directors, Dr. James Russell (Watauga County), Sonia Bailey Joyner (Wake County), and Dr. Jonathan Moch (Wake County) were named at-large members, bringing expertise in energy research, housing finance, and climate policy respectively.
Danielle Gray from Wake County was appointed to the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council as an at-large member; she is Executive Vice President at UnitedHealth Group with prior roles in federal government during the Obama administration.
Several appointments were made to historical organizations: Stella Brothers, Cynthia Harding, Bonnie L. Pierce (all Chowan County), and Curtis G. Leonard (Forsyth County) join the Edenton Historical Commission with backgrounds ranging from community leadership to historic preservation advocacy.
Betsy Blackwell of Orange County will represent the 4th Congressional District on the North Carolina Museum of Art Board of Trustees due to her longstanding support for arts organizations.
Appointments to mental health services include Clark Troy Jr., Dr. Hendrée Jones (both Orange County), and Lillian Davis (Wake County) joining the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services with experience ranging from substance abuse recovery to advocacy work with NAMI NC.
Dr. Robert Key from Wake County joins the State Board of Opticians after more than four decades as a licensed optician.
The Private Protective Services Board welcomes Donald L. Miller (Carteret County), a retired police chief and Marine Corps veteran now working as a private investigator, along with Deirdre Y. Hatcher (Union County), who brings experience in investigations and regulatory compliance.
Betty L. Parker from Wake County joins the Capital Facilities Finance Agency Board after retiring from two decades leading real estate services for Wake County Public School System.
Finally, David F. Branch of Robeson County was appointed to the State Bar Review Committee; he has practiced law locally since 1981.
