ALB Leadership Team
Candace Martin ’10
President
Candace Martin ’10 is the current President of UNCG’s Alumni Leadership Board and serves as Operations and Communications Manager at Action Greensboro, where she has been a driving force since joining the organization in 2014. She leads the Made in Greensboro campaign, oversees office operations, manages digital programming and social media, and supports key projects and events that strengthen the city’s economic and civic landscape. Known for her sharp eye and strategic mindset, Candace also plays a key role behind the scenes at Boomerang Greensboro, managing advertising, content creation, photography, and videography to spotlight the people and stories shaping the city’s future.
Deeply invested in her community, Candace serves on various local boards and committees. She is also active with synerG Young Professionals, Greensboro Beautiful, and is a graduate of the 2020 Leadership Greensboro class. Her leadership and impact were recognized with her selection to the Triad Business Journal’s 2023 40 Under 40. In addition to her B.S. from UNCG, Candace also holds a master’s degree in strategic communication with a concentration in public relations from High Point University. She brings a strategic, people-centered approach to her work, with a clear focus on building strong connections, elevating local talent, and shaping a thriving Greensboro.
Dean Castaldo ’12
Vice President
Dean Castaldo ’12 is the current Vice President of UNCG’s Alumni leadership Board. He is the Managing Regional Director of Development for the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, where he leads a team responsible for securing 6- and 7-figure gifts from individual donors in support of the Brigade of Midshipmen. Previously, Dean held various roles within the University Advancement Division at UNCG, culminating as the Associate Director of Alumni Engagement. During his tenure, he established the UNCG Military and Veteran Alumni Network. In addition to his civilian career, Dean served eight years as an enlisted Marine before commissioning into the Navy reserves in 2016. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from UNCG, a J.D. with honors from Charlotte Law, and a diploma from the Naval War College.
Whitney Hill ’09
Immediate Past President
Whitney Hill ’09 is the Immediate Past President of UNCG’s Alumni Leadership Board. She is a public school educator currently serving at Hunter Huss High School as the Dean of Students. She previously served as a school social worker in Gaston County Schools. She is the current vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Zeta Mu Omega Chapter in Gastonia, NC and she serves as chairman of the Gaston County Health and Human Services Board. She loves being a part of the Alumni Leadership Board because she feels it is the perfect way to continue serving the UNCG community.
Rachel Kelly ’07 ’09 MPA
Secretary
Rachel Kelly ’07 ’09 MPA is the Secretary of UNCG’s Alumni Leadership Board. She is a native of rural northeastern NC who relocated to the Triad after attending UNCG, where she received a BA in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Affairs. As both a first-generation college student and a scholarship recipient, she is passionate about the life-changing power of a UNCG education. She currently works as an Assistant City Manager for the City of Burlington.
April Albritton ’05
April Albritton ’05 currently resides in Greensboro. She works for the City of Greensboro as the Chief of Staff to the organization. Previous to working at the city, April was the Director of the Spartan Club and a supporter of Spartan Athletics. When she is not at work, she enjoys trying new restaurants, taking in a musical, and walking on the Greenway with her sweet fur-baby, Lucille.
Benjamin Ballou ’04
Benjamin Ballou is from Mount Airy, NC and now lives in Greensboro. He graduated from UNCG in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in political science and history. Ben returned to UNCG and graduated in 2011 with a Master of Public Affairs degree, with a concentration in local government management. He currently works at the Lowes Foods Corporate Office in Winston-Salem in the Asset Protection Department. Outside of work, Ben enjoys reading, writing, listening to podcasts, road trips, and being a lifelong learner.
Avery Brown ’18 MS
Avery Brown ‘18 graduated from UNCG with a Master of Science in Kinesiology. While at UNCG, his research focus was studying the response of blood plasma oxytocin changes to physical stress. Avery is currently a full time Lecturer of Kinesiology at North Carolina A&T State University. HIs current role within the Alumni Leadership Board and Lecturer position grants me great fulfillment in supporting students and alumni by assisting them in finding their passions in life. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis and baking bread.
Andrew Clyne ’11
Andrew Clyne ’11 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. During his time at UNCG, he was also a member of the Cross Country and Track team. He’s worked in the financial services industry since 2012 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2016 as a financial advisor. He and his wife Bridgette (also a UNCG alum!) live in Greensboro with their three boys, Camden and twins Callum and Crosby.
Jacqueline DeBrew ’91, ’96 MS, ’08 PhD
Jacqueline DeBrew, ’91, ’96, ’08, is an experienced nursing educator with a career spanning over two decades. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Higher Education, an MSN in Gerontological Nursing, and a BSN, all from UNCG. Currently serving as a Clinical Professor at UNCG, Dr. DeBrew previously held academic positions at Elon University and Walden University, as well as serving as the Director of the RN-BSN Program at UNC Greensboro. Dr. DeBrew’s dedication to nursing education has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina (2018), UNCG School of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award (2018), and selection to the Southern Conference Faculty All-Conference Team (2018). She is the immediate past chair of the UNCG Spartan Club Executive Committee, having served on the executive committee since 2012, and continues to support UNCG and athletics as a Spartan Club member. She is actively engaged in the Greensboro Community, with a particular focus on working with people who are experiencing homelessness.
Lars Farabee ’11 MA, ’11 PBC
Dr. Lars Farabee is a seasoned sales professional and a leader in higher education enrollment management. Originally from Maine with a stop-over in New Orleans, Lars has called Greensboro home for nearly two decades. He currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Graduate Admissions at High Point University, as well as a consultant with the Small Business Center at Guilford Technical Community College. In his professional life, Lars has worked to inspire teams of professionals to achieve success both in their work and in their personal lives and to help students find the “right fit” for their educational goals. He was recently published for his work in the field of higher education enrollment. A graduate of the UNCG Master of Liberal Arts program in 2011, Lars lives in Greensboro with his wife, Elizabeth (Class of 2009), and their two children, Elliot and Eleanor. He loves cheesy horror movies, cooking, and awful dad jokes.
Amber Fitts ’10, ’18 MEd
Amber Fitts ’10 is a dedicated educator with strong roots in Greensboro. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education in 2010 and her M.Ed. in Teacher Education in 2018, and she is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UNCG. She serves as an Early Literacy Specialist for the state of North Carolina, supporting a district, schools, and teachers in strengthening foundational reading instruction. She is passionate about educational equity and helping every child lead a literate life. She lives in the Triad with her husband and twin sons, and she remains actively involved in the UNCG community.
Beth Trammell Inman ’96
Based in Raleigh, NC, Beth Inman is the Senior Director of Prospect Research at Shriners
Children’s, an innovative health system of hospitals and clinics providing specialized pediatric
care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Before this, Beth was in similar roles at George Washington University, Colby College, Breakthrough T1D, and the University of South Carolina. Prior to her development career, Beth was the associate curator of American and decorative art at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC. Beth is from Charlotte, NC; she earned her B.A. in Art History and her M.A. in Art History from the University of South Carolina. She has a 21-year-old daughter and is passionate about literacy, the arts, and
women’s rights causes.
Andrew Khonje ’11
Shayla Lee ’19
Shayla Lee ’19 is from Greenville, NC. She graduated from UNC Greensboro in 2019 with a B.A. in Political Science before going on to complete a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia. She has dedicated her career to public service and now serves as the Director of Strategic & Government Affairs for the City of Sugar Land, TX.
Sarah McGuire ’14 MPA
Sarah McGuire ’14 is the Director of synerG Young Professionals at Action Greensboro in Greensboro, North Carolina. synerG’s mission is to attract, retain, engage and connect young professionals to Greensboro through robust programming that focuses on personal and professional development, leadership opportunities, and social networking. Sarah is passionate about creating equitable and vibrant communities by using human capital as a strategy for economic development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Outside of work Sarah serves on UNC-Greensboro’s Alumni Leadership Board and the Steering Committee for Future Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
Shaneeka Moore-Brown ’00, ’17 EDd
Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Brown is a 25-year public educator who has served as a teacher, coach, tutor, assistant principal, and principal. Currently, she is the Senior Director of K-12 Academic Enhancement in Wake County Public School System. She is the proud mom of one son, a senior Computer Engineering major at North Carolina A&T State University. Moore-Brown spends a great deal of her time serving as an advocate for youth, families, and community based organizations. She is the state president of NCPTA, a PORCH-Durham board member, a member of Governor Stein’s Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Council, and serves in various capacities in her sorority and church. Moore-Brown is proud to have earned three degrees from UNCG and looks forward to serving in this new role so she can continue to give back to the University that gave her so much to her.
Lynn Schmidt ’91
Lynn (Langowski) Schmidt ’91 is a columnist and Editorial Board member with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lynn also hosts the podcast “What Keeps You Up at Night?” Lynn recently graduated with a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Before switching to political science, Lynn worked as a registered nurse after she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. Lynn currently resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and two daughters.
Mary Lib Slate ’61
Member Emeritus
Jim Wilkie ’91
Jim Wilkie ’91, is a Managing Partner and Founder of Trinity Wealth Management in Greensboro, NC. Trinity Wealth Management provides personal financial planning, investment management, and 401-k consulting services. In addition to serving on UNCG’s Alumni Leadership Board, Mr. Wilkie is an acting Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving on 3 Committees. He has served on Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors as well as Ukirk Ministries, a campus Ministry at UNCG. Jim is married and has a married daughter, both of whom are UNCG graduates.
Ereka Williams ’03 PhD
After earning her PhD from UNCG, Dr Williams went on to become a tenured professor and administrator in the UNC System for more than 18 years before transitioning to her current role as Vice President of Education at Dogwood Health Trust Foundation. Ereka enjoys traveling across her native state of North Carolina and beyond for friends, arts, sports, and music in some combination.
