UDO Regional
Regional Team
Our regional team establishes and cultivates relationships with alumni, families and friends in support of Carolina. The team represents the breadth of the University’s fundraising priorities and collaborates with UNC schools, academic leaders and Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz to advance the University’s mission and the philanthropic goals of our supporters.
Meet the Team
Lizzie Cozart ’07
Regional Development Officer for WNC and Director of Philanthropy at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
Contact: lizzie.cozart@unc.edu (828) 273-8226 (mobile)
Territories: Western North Carolina
Lizzie McKenna Cozart ’07 is a Certified Fundraising Executive with more than a decade of development experience. Since 2019, she has served in this unique hybrid role representing both UNC-Chapel Hill as the Development Officer for WNC, and Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) as their Director of Philanthropy. Cozart focuses on building philanthropic support for the extraordinary work of both organizations. In her role, Lizzie focuses on the UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC partnership, which aims to leverage shared teaching, research, and service strengths to improve health and wellness for WNC and beyond. Working with generous donors to serve her home state and alma mater brings her tremendous joy and a powerful sense of purpose. Outside of work, she cherishes time with her family. Lizzie lives in Asheville with her husband Ben, and their children, Emma and Benji.
Kevin Kitchens
Senior Regional Development Officer
Contact: kevin.kitchens@unc.edu (919) 962-4385 (office)
Territories: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and the Carolina Angel Network
Kevin Kitchens serves as the Senior Regional Development Officer in the University Development Office focusing on relationships with alumni and friends in the Atlanta, Florida, and Southeast U.S. regions. He also serves as the development liaison to the Carolina Angel Network and served as the volunteer coordinator for the Next Generation Strategy Committee for the Campaign for Carolina. He holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. Prior to joining Carolina in September 2019, he spent 14 years at Georgia Tech in multiple advancing development roles with the athletic development and regional university-wide development teams. Kevin is an avid traveler, sports fan, tennis player, and pimento cheese enthusiast.
Shawne Grabs ’83
Executive Director, Regional Programs
Contact: Shawne_grabs@unc.edu (919) 843-5881 (office)
Territories: Midwest U.S., Northern California, Colorado, and the Carolina Pride Alum Network
Shawne Grabs ’83 is the Executive Director of Regional Programs and covers northern California, Colorado, and the U.S. Northwest. She also coordinates the Carolina Pride Alum Network, an LGBTQIA+ alumni affinity group. Before joining the regional program in 2000, she worked at California State University, Fullerton as Senior Director of Development for 5 years. Previously she was in Atlanta Metro Fundraising Director for the American Heart Association, Executive Director of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, California, and Assistant Director for Athletic Development at California State University, Bakersfield. Shawne graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983 and an MA in Sports Administration at The Ohio State University in 1985.
Jason Moon ’06
Regional Development Officer
Contact: jason_moon@unc.edu (919) 818-0068 (mobile)
Territories: Southern California, Arizona, and Texas
Jason Moon ’06 is Regional Development Officer for southern California, Arizona, and Texas. Prior to joining the UNC Regional Development team, Jason served as Senior Director of Development at UNC Greensboro’s Bryan School of Business as well as Jason served as Senior Director of Development at Kenan-Flagler Business School for more than 10 years. He has also served as Director of Medical Alumni Development at the UNC Health Foundation. Jason is a proud UNC alum, huge Tar Heel sports fan, and resides in Chapel Hill with spouse, Tara and son, Davis.
Katie Ray Pratson ’11
Regional Development Officer
Contact: katieray.pratson@unc.edu (919) 962-9525 (office)
Territories: DC Metro Area, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia
Katie Ray Pratson ’11 is the Regional Development Officer representing Carolina in the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C. and the states of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Previously, Katie Ray was an associate director of development at the UNC Arts and Sciences Foundation. Prior to returning to Carolina, she held positions in development, international advancement and global education at East Carolina University and the George Washington University. Katie Ray holds a B.A. in journalism from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and an M.A. in education and human development from the George Washington University. She has received grants from the Japan-U.S. and Fulbright Commissions to study advancement and higher education trends globally. She enjoys hiking and biking and spending time with her husband, Kody, their son, Lincoln and their pup, Louisa May Labcott.
Lanier Brown May
Senior Regional Development Officer
Contact: lanier_may@unc.edu (919) 843-5883 (office)
Territories: Charlotte Metro Area and the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council
Lanier Brown May is a Senior Regional Development Officer responsible for the Charlotte region and the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council and has been at Carolina for over 20 years. Lanier received the Mary Tuner Lane Award in 2017 recognizing her outstanding contributions to the lives of women on the Carolina campus. She is staff partner and on the selection committee of Phillips Ambassadors, the advisory council for the Will Froelich Fellows program in Honors, a mentor in the FORevHER program at the Rams Club, a staff partner in the Shuford Entrepreneurship Program, a member of the 100 Women at Kenan-Flagler Business School and is involved with the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council Scholarship which the Council named for her in 2015.
Originally from Greensboro, Lanier graduated from Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh and Davidson College; she went on to work at First Union Bank in Charlotte as VP in the Capital Management Group and then at Davidson College as Director of the Annual Fund and Reunion Giving. She hails from a die-hard Carolina family, grew up cheering for the Tar Heels and has six recently graduated Carolina nieces and nephews. She enjoys playing tennis, pickleball, working out and spending time with her husband Jamie and their King Charles Spaniel, Luke May.
Becky Mitchell ’83
Senior Regional Development Officer
Contact: becky.mitchell@unc.edu (919) 962-9080 (office)
Territories: Northeast U.S., New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Charleston, SC.
Becky Mitchell ’83 is a Senior Regional Development Officer covering territories in the northeast U.S., specifically New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the greater Boston area as well as the Charleston area. With over 30 years of experience in advancement, Becky has worked at large, complex research institutions and small, private liberal arts institutions such as UC-Berkeley, UCSF, Cornell, and University of St Andrews in Scotland. Becky’s career in higher education has included work in admissions and alumni relations before transitioning to fundraising. Before joining the regional team in 2017, Becky worked as an Associate Dean of Development at the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University and as the North American Development Manager for the University of St. Andrews. Becky holds a BA in Journalism and Communications from UNC.
Shelby Lamm
Regional Programs Office Manager
Contact: shelby.lamm@unc.edu (919) 843-3316 (office)
Shelby Lamm ’24 is the Regional Programs Office Manager responsible for leading administrative support for the regional team. Before joining UNC in 2018, she worked in Human Resources for the E.P.A. and the Smithsonian Institution. She has also worked in education at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Shelby earned her undergraduate from North Carolina State University, an MS in Sustainable Tourism from the George Washington University, and is working towards completing a Master of Public Administration at UNC in 2024.
Riannon Beddington
Regional Programs Associate
Contact: riannon.beddington@unc.edu (919) 962-2338 (office)
Riannon Beddington is the Regional Programs Associate and newest team member having joined UNC in October 2022. Riannon holds a BS in Psychology from Lincoln State University in Harrogate, TN, and has a background in Early Childhood Education and behavioral rehabilitation. She came to the University Development Office from All Starz Children Academy in Cary, NC (North Carolina).
Donor Resources
Need help making a gift? Reach our Gift Services team by calling 919-537-3818, emailing giving@unc.edu or clicking the Contact Us button below. To view your giving history, make a repeat gift or pledge payment, or print a tax receipt, click My UNC Giving.