Carolina Women's Leadership Council
The Carolina Women’s Leadership Council is a network of UNC alumnae from all over the country committed to supporting the University and students’ educational experiences. Formed at the beginning of the Carolina First Campaign, the council was critical to reengaging alumnae and building key support for Carolina First.
The council’s major achievements include helping to inspire a huge surge in first-time female donors—there were more than 24,000 over the last five years of the campaign. Other highlights include endowing the Faculty Mentoring Award, a $5,000 award that recognizes two faculty annually for outstanding mentoring to students and colleagues, and placing more than 100 women in leadership positions on advisory boards that serve UNC entities such as the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of education and pharmacy, as well as the entire campus via the Board of Visitors. The council also hosted more than 50 women’s events throughout the country for 6,000 women and puts out an e-newsletter with a circulation of 40,000.
Led by a 22-member Executive Committee, the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council has 186 members and continues to work to strengthen Carolina through women’s contributions of support, time and expertise. Council members gave a total of $58 million to Carolina First; gifts from women totaled $500 million.
Executive Committee
Mary Anne Dickson, Co-Chair
Julia S. Grumbles, Co-Chair
Barbara Hyde, Co-Chair
Renee Dobbins Anderson
Ellen deRosset Bassett
Mary Mills Folger Borden
Sarah Smith Carey
Rebecca Cobey
Druscilla French
Molly Dewar Froelich
Susan E. Gravely
Pam Heavner
Virginia Commander Knott
Donna Curtis McClatchey
Sallie Armfield McMillion
Aurelia Stafford Monk
Paula Davis Noell
Barbara M. O’Herron
Marjorie Moses Schwab
Marree Shore Townsend
Margaret Ullrich
Mary Helen Dunn Wade
Q&A - Women's Leadership
Mary Anne Dickson • Julia Grumbles • Barbara Hyde
Mary Anne Dickson
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| Mary Anne Dickson Co-Chair, Carolina Women’s Leadership Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
Being on such a beautiful campus really stands out for me, and I also remember how extremely friendly and helpful other students and faculty were.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
I served on the Carolina First Planning Committee that examined the needs of UNC’s departments and schools, as well as the physical plant. Barbara Hyde and I were asked to lead an effort to reengage women in the life of the University and leverage their many talents and resources to help meet those needs. Julia Sprunt Grumbles joined us later to help, and the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council took shape from there.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
Volunteering to rediscover women with a Carolina bond was in many ways analogous to being an archeologist, unearthing many female gems who hadn’t been connected to the University in many years. The incredibly talented and innovative alumni whom I have gotten to know greatly inspire me. Carolina women are manifesting their leadership talents in a multitude of ways in their communities, schools, businesses and places of worship. I’m proud of the friendships I made—there’s an instant bond with people who went to Chapel Hill. I’m proud of our talents, our ideas and our awards for excellence, such as the Faculty Mentoring Award (a monetary award funded by the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council that recognizes UNC faculty for outstanding mentoring of students and colleagues). And I’m exceedingly proud of the response in resources that women made to the campaign.
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
To continue to reengage more women and all alumni. UNC is an incredible, worldwide family, and the members of our Carolina family love being re-connected.
Mary Anne Dickson lives in Charlotte, N.C. Her career has included positions serving as assistant to the chairman and CEO of Hardee’s Food Systems and working in corporate marketing and public relations for Imasco USA after it acquired Hardee’s. Mary Anne graduated from UNC in 1963 with a B.A. in political science and later earned a B.A. in business administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College. She was a member of the UNC Board of Visitors from 1996 to 2000 and served as its chair from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, Mary Anne received UNC’s William R. Davie Award. She also has been honored with the Distinguished Service Medal from the UNC General Alumni Association.
Julia Grumbles
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| Julia Grumbles Co-Chair, Carolina Women’s Leadership Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
This question is impossible for me to answer. Walking down Franklin Street at 3 a.m. with friends laughing and stuffing our mouths with hot Krispy Cream doughnuts, food fights at Lenoir Hall ... fall ... spring ... sitting in FRONT of the governor at the one and only basketball game I got tickets to ... road trips to the beach ... I could go on and on.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
The opportunity to give back to UNC, which has given me more than I will ever be able to repay.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
The Carolina Women’s Leadership Council is one of the greatest legacies and contributions back to UNC to come out of the campaign. Seeing UNC’s female graduates engaging not only in financially contributing in unprecedented numbers and dollar amounts but also returning to Carolina to lend their time, expertise and leadership to the University.
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
Considering that UNC is a great public university, my hope is that Carolina students, faculty, staff and alumni will live their lives in a manner that brings pride to the University through their contributions to their communities and to the world.
Julia Grumbles lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. She retired as corporate vice president of human resources, public relations and corporate marketing resources for Turner Broadcasting, Inc (TBS). Before moving to TBS, she was senior vice president, western regional vice president, southeast regional sales manager and national accounts manager for Turner Network Sales. She graduated with a B.A in history from UNC. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the UNC Institute for the Arts and Humanities and the North Carolina Outward Bound Board of Directors. Julia was named Woman of the Year by the Atlanta Chapter of Women in Cable and Television and was given the same honor by the group’s national organization.
Barbara Hyde
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| Barbara Hyde Co-Chair, Carolina Women’s Leadership Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
Classroom memories stand out the most now— great moments with great teachers. I remember a “Great Books” honors course in the English department with Weldon Thornton. There were so many moments when the intellectual light bulb turned on for me. He told us, “This may be the first time you’ll read these books, but if I do my job, it won’t be the last.” He was right. I’ve re-read them since, thanks to his inspiration.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
I cut my teeth raising money for my alma mater, so it made sense for me to be an “asker” for this campaign as well as a giver. Plus, it was an honor to join the ranks of so many volunteers who love Carolina as I do.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
Being a part of the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council was a pleasure—I’d put that at the top of my list. And I’m particularly proud of how women stepped up to play such a meaningful and powerful role in the campaign as leaders and donors. The face of philanthropy at Carolina has become more inclusive and richer as the campus has embraced a diversity of donors.
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
That the University takes its place as the leading public university in the country by rising to the challenge of living out Eve Carson’s message of “excellence with a heart.” I believe that phrase gives us a guiding light to show us how to be the very best, and that the campaign has provided the resources to get us there.
(Editor’s note: Eve Carson, UNC student body president, died in March 2008.)
Barbara Hyde lives in Memphis, Tenn. She is the president of J. R. Hyde III Family Foundation and director of the J.R. Hyde Sr. Foundation. The foundations support public education, civil rights and other worthy endeavors. She began her career in UNC’s development office, serving as executive director of the Arts and Sciences Foundation from 1987 to 1992. A Morehead Scholar, she earned a B.A. in English and religion from Carolina in 1983. Barbara serves on the UNC Board of Trustees and the External Advisory Board of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities at Carolina. In Memphis, she is a board member of KIPP Academy, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the Women’s Foundation and New Leaders for New Schools.
The Carolina First Campaign took the work of multiple constituencies to be a success.
One of the groups leading the way was the Minority Alumni Steering Committee, since renamed the Alumni Committee for Racial and Ethnic Diversity. The committee works to create deeper partnerships between the University and its minority alumni. The goal during Carolina First was to bolster financial support in the present while laying the framework for development in the years to come.
The Minority Alumni Steering Committee was formed during the planning of Carolina First. Four subcommittees— the African American, Asian, Latino/a and Native American—built key coalitions of support that spread the message to other alumni. Their primary mission was to widen the focus to be inclusive of various ethnic groups across the UNC alumni base.
By engaging these important alumni, the Minority Alumni Steering Committee helped to generate new leadership roles and funding opportunities critical to making Carolina First a success and blazing a trail for Carolina’s mission to lead all public universities into the future of true excellence in higher education.
Minority Alumni Steering Committee members gave a total of $5.9 million to Carolina First.
Michael Denard Kennedy, Chair
Barbara Lee, Chair (Asian Subcommittee)
Kevin Maynor, Chair (Native American Subcommittee)
Teresa Carol Artis
Danny Bell
Manuel Campano
Lana Dial
Cesar Elizondo
Hans Huang
Kevin Jones
Alison Lathrop
Karol V. Mason
Ngoc Nguyen
Robert Selden
Sterling Spainhour
Jim Tanner
Q&A
Michael Kennedy
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| Michael Kennedy Chair, Minority Alumni Steering Committee |
Attending my first basketball game at Carmichael Auditorium as a freshman. I lived in Granville Towers, so I knew Phil Ford and Walter Davis. Because of those relationships, it was exciting to see them perform on the court.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
First, I wanted to be able to give back to the University— at the end of the day, we’re all part of the Carolina family. Also, I recognized how important the campaign would be for us to stay competitive as an institution. Our main peer institutions are Virginia, Michigan and Berkeley, all of which receive substantial private support. Therefore, private support is going to make the difference in keeping Carolina at the top echelons of higher education. Since I now live in Georgia, I have been exposed to the SEC universities, and this exposure has made me appreciate Carolina even more due to its commitment to top-notch academics.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
I enjoyed interacting with the University leadership, seeing how the University works and learning about its aspirations, as well as about how I can help it achieve them. I’m most proud of how the Minority Alumni Steering Committee gained traction over time. We were able to re-connect to our alumni— Asian, African American, Native American and Latino/a. As a result, these connections helped to increase the participation levels throughout the campaign. These relationships will lay the groundwork among these groups for the next campaign.
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
That Carolina continues to be one of the country’s leading universities, public or private.
Michael Kennedy lives in Atlanta, Ga. He is a managing director with Korn/ Ferry International and is a member of the firm’s global financial services and diversity practices. In 1979, he received his B.A. in history (summa cum laude) from Carolina, and he also has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Michael has served on UNC’s Board of Visitors and on the UNC General Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He recently served on the Board of Trustees of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., and now serves on the Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia Pension Fund.
Young Alumni Councils are groups of recent graduates dedicated to making an immediate impact at the University they love.
The councils were envisioned as a way to keep alumni engaged in the University and to create awareness of the need of their financial support. Originally defined as undergraduate alumni of the last 15 years, young alumni were reclassified near the end of Carolina First as graduates of the last 10 years. Young Alumni Councils engage these alumni across the country and educate them about the importance of annual support of Carolina. Councils exist in New York; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Charlotte; and Orange, Durham and Wake counties in North Carolina.
In Carolina First, the councils stressed educating alumni about how they can make an impact on the lives of students and faculty on campus. Regional meetings, social get-togethers and educational events proved to be great tools to get and keep UNC’s young alumni in touch with Carolina.
The councils will continue to encourage young alumni to give back to the University, as well as teach the value of giving. With their Carolina First experience, the Young Alumni Councils stand poised to have an ever-increasing impact on the University.
Young alumni gave a total of $51.4 million to Carolina First. Some outstanding examples of Young Alumni Council members who stepped up during the campaign include:
Frederick Earl Hopkins III
Kelly Matthews Hopkins
Katie Renee Loovis
Donna Curtis McClatchey
Thomas Jude Modzelewski
Bharath Parthasarathy
Catherine M. Reuhl
Malaika Marie Underwood
William A. Warren, Jr.
Q&A
Katie Loovis • Malaika Underwood • Bill Warren
Katie Loovis
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| Katie Loovis Co-Chair, Washington, D.C., Young Alumni Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
The blue skies, sweet tea, brick walks, friendly hellos, the sound of the bells. I have so many warm Chapel Hill memories, but I would say my favorite memories revolve around athletics. As a high school athlete, I was drawn to the University by Carolina’s dedication to women’s athletics. I was recruited as part of Carolina’s first-ever women’s lacrosse team, and Coach Jenny Slingluff Levy led us to a top-10 ranking our first year, and to the final four our second year—no small feat and a true Cinderella story for most schools, but no surprise for Carolina, which has a tradition of excellence in women’s athletics. The women’s lacrosse program joined the ranks of other solid record-making programs, such as the UNC women’s teams in field hockey, soccer and basketball. It was inspiring to train alongside such phenomenal female athletes, many of whom were simultaneously training for the Olympics. My sweetest memory is feeling a part of something much larger than just my own team sport—part of a family.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
Carolina alumni contributions enabled me to uncover and advance my life goals, and for that I am thankful, inspired to give back and moved to encourage other alums to contribute as well. During my undergraduate studies in the ’90s, there happened to be a skyrocketing population of homeless panhandlers on Franklin Street and there was significant community debate about the status and role of the local Inter-Faith Council homeless shelter. It was during this time, while volunteering weekly at the shelter, that I became interested in the root causes of poverty and felt compelled to do my part in making a difference. With the help of the Department of Communications Studies, I started a literacy program for Chapel Hill homeless adults and documented this process as my thesis. The University contributed $5,000 in grants to help me purchase adult literacy books, a computer for the shelter and training for the student volunteers. Indeed, alumni contributions got this nonprofit program off the ground and touched the lives of many homeless residents and students. It is with a heart full of gratitude that I can say that this experience helped me realize my desire for public service, which I continued both at the White House and at the U.S. Department of Interior working on President George W. Bush’s compassion agenda. For me, it is an extension of my appreciation that I make annual contributions and volunteer as co-chair of the Young Alumni Council for the Washington, D.C., region.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
There is a tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes from doing one’s part. I don’t have a lot of money to give (yet!), but I give what I can, and certainly give my time as co-chair of my Young Alumni Council. Through my service with the council, I’ve helped coordinate events such as basketball viewing parties and White House Holiday Tours that connect alumni and foster school spirit. As alumni, we have a lot of things in common, including holding degrees from the greatest university in the country. There is a lot to be proud of, and each of us can do our part in making sure this degree continues to hold the same weight for the next generation. n
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
I’m proud to be a Carolina Tar Heel, and I’d like to see Carolina positioned as the No. 1 university in the country for both the number of excelling scholar athletes and the number of students in service to the community. It is extracurricular activities, such as athletics and service-learning, that give students character-building opportunities, connect academic lessons to real-world experiences and put the best face of the University forward.
Katie Loovis lives in Alexandria, Va. She heads external affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she also serves as the executive director of Take Pride in America. Before taking that post, she was associate director at USA Freedom Corps, an office at the White House created by President George W. Bush to help foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Katie also has served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and at Lipman Hearne, a strategic communications firm for nonprofits. She earned a B.A. in communications studies (1999) and M.P.A. (2002) from UNC, where she captained the varsity women’s lacrosse team. While at Carolina, Katie established a homeless adult literacy and ESL program and wrote “Developing an Effective Literacy Program for the Chapel Hill Homeless,” which earned her highest honors.
Malaika Underwood
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| Malaika Underwood Co-Chair, Atlanta, Ga., Young Alumni Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
It’s tough to narrow it down to one favorite memory. I truly enjoyed my experience at Carolina and would go back and do it all over again in a heartbeat (even the studying). If I had to choose one memory, it would probably be all those spring afternoons I spent “studying” near the Pit or out on the Quad.
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
I owe Carolina a lot. I benefited from my experience as a student-athlete and wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of Coach Sagula, my professors and my mentors.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
I have really enjoyed being involved with the Young Alumni Council as both the director of young alumni giving and, now, as an Atlanta Young Alumni Council co-chair. Keeping young alumni connected to Carolina is an important element in the future of our university. I am proud of the impact we (young alumni) have had on the Carolina First Campaign.
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
Carolina is not the same university it was 50 years ago and it will not be the same 50 years from now, but the common denominator should always be our vision and commitment to greatness.
Malaika Underwood lives in Atlanta, Ga. She is the university services representative at the Collegiate Licensing Company for the Atlantic Coast Conference. She is a former director of young alumni giving at UNC and began her service as a Carolina First Campaign volunteer after leaving that post in December 2006. She graduated from Carolina with a B.A. in international studies in 2003 and an M.A. in sport administration in 2005. She played for the women’s volleyball team at UNC and was a member of the USA Women’s National Baseball Team in 2006. Malaika is a former member of UNC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a former studentathlete representative on the UNC Athletic Council.
Bill Warren
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| Bill Warren Co-Chair, Charlotte, N.C., Young Alumni Council |
What’s your favorite memory of being a UNC student?
While there are countless memories to choose from, my favorite memory of being a UNC student took place during the Carolina/Duke home basketball game during my junior year in 1998. After being one of the first in line during the ticket campout, I received tickets for seats directly behind the bench. My fraternity brothers and I all donned Carolina bowties from Julian’s as we made it to our incredible seats before warm-ups. To our amazement, Carolina essentially beat Duke twice during the same game. Carolina could do no wrong and surged to a 20-point lead in the first half. Duke later cut the lead to four, only to have Carolina end up winning by 24 after Antawn Jamison played a signature game—scoring 35 points in 56 seconds (of ball possession). After the game, we rushed on the floor to celebrate. To my thrill, as I ran onto the court, both Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter converged around me celebrating the victory. To this day, that basketball memory rises to the top!
Why did you become involved in the Carolina First Campaign?
Ever since I graduated from Carolina in ’99, I have experienced a sense of obligation to seek out ways to give back to my alma mater—it just felt like the right thing to do. After my initial introduction to the Young Alumni Council, I quickly learned that North Carolina legislative support only comprises a little more than 20 percent of Carolina’s revenue, making the support of alumni and friends essential for Carolina to maintain our tradition of excellence.
What did you most enjoy about being a campaign volunteer and of what aspects of the campaign are you most proud?
To be honest, serving as a Carolina First Campaign volunteer was an incredible opportunity to not only meet other dedicated Carolina alumni, but to also actively discuss how young alumni truly can make a difference in Carolina’s future. Each time a gift is made to Carolina, it helps preserve the value of each and every one of our degrees. What we accomplished grants me a significant sense of pride knowing that I’m helping the school I love become the best!
What are your hopes for Carolina’s future?
My pride in Carolina has never been stronger, and I hope that we, just as those who came before us, can further lay the groundwork for success. Carolina First was a major step toward making Carolina the leading public university in the nation. Our ability to reach alumni and friends needs to further cultivate interest in remaining connected and involved with Carolina! This involvement will hopefully enable Carolina to become an even brighter “priceless gem” for the generations ahead.
Bill Warren lives in Charlotte, N.C. He is the senior account executive for the Atlantic Corporate Sales Team for Procter & Gamble. He started as an account manager with Procter & Gamble after graduating with distinction from UNC in 1999 with a B.S. in business administration. He is the outgoing president of the UNC General Alumni Association-sponsored Charlotte Carolina Club and has been serving on the Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council for the past two years. In Charlotte, Bill was a member of the Inaugural Steering Committee for Engage Charlotte— The Charlotte Chamber’s Young Professionals and serves as a Guys Read youth program volunteer for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library System.
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