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WHAT WE’VE HEARD AROUND TOWN … Compiled by Renee Ambroso
ON THE MOVE On Aug. 3, UNC assistant dean of students and adjunct professor Dawna Jones was named the director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University. At UNC, Dawna also served as the outgoing chair of the Carolina Black Caucus, founder of the Financial Literacy Consortium and a member of the University Commission on History, Race and a Way Forward. Dawna, who is also the president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, holds a master’s degree in social work from West Chester University and is pursuing a doctorate in transformative leadership for civic and community engagement at North Carolina A&T State University. She began her new role at Duke on Aug. 11, taking over from interim director Quinton Smith. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
announced on Aug. 12 that the Board of Education approved Alisa Zapata to start on Sept. 7 as the chief academic officer for the district. Alisa most recently worked as the assistant superintendent in the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, and has also worked in schools in Iowa in various leadership roles. She is working toward a doctoral degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce and was selected from a pool of 55 candidates. Meg Pomerantz retired from her role as
executive director on July 30 after 13 years at Girls on the Run of the Triangle, which included stints on the board of directors and various committees. “As I reflect on my service to GOTR16
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along with her husband, has owned restaurants and currently operates Coon Rock Farm and the North Carolina Venture Capital Fund.
TRI, I am thankful for the connections I’ve made with girls and their families, community leaders, coaches and donors,” she says. During her tenure, Meg (pictured above with Katie Todd) successfully created and implemented a three-year strategic plan, served on GOTR International’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Commission, and oversaw new program models in response to the pandemic. GOTRTRI, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, fosters confidence and positive health and fitness experiences for girls in central North Carolina communities. Jamie DeMent Holcomb, at right,
stepped in as interim executive director of Kidzu Children’s Museum after
executive director Lisa Van Deman, below right, resigned in September following six years at the helm. Jamie served as chair of the board for the museum and previously worked as the director of special projects for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Jamie graduated from UNC as a Morehead-Cain scholar, and
Novemeber 2021
The Town of Carrboro announced on July 13 that Richard J. White III is the next town manager. Richard has more than 24 years of experience with municipal government leadership, most recently as the assistant town manager and interim equity and inclusion director for the City of Asheville. Richard returns to his former home of Carrboro, where he previously served as the assistant to the town manager from 2000 to 2006. Mollie Thomas
was promoted to executive director of the Hillsborough Arts Council in August and is responsible for leading its programs, messaging and strategic plan. Mollie earned a degree in arts administration from Butler University before working for nonprofits, most recently as the HAC’s gallery and gift shop manager, helping to increase revenue through longer store hours and streamlining communications with local artists and partners. Ivana Beveridge was
promoted to marketing director and acting program coordinator for the Hillsborough Arts Council in August. Ivana oversees all marketing and public relations