Governor Josh Stein has announced a new round of appointments to various boards and commissions across North Carolina.
Marlene Louise Sanders of Wake County will join the Biotechnology Center Board of Directors as someone involved in biotechnology or life sciences. Sanders is currently the Director of State Government and Policy at Merck & Company.
The Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council will welcome several new active classroom teachers from across the state, including Rachel Maria Ogo Candaso, Dolores Amanda Aguayo, Tayler Duncan Bomar, Emily Morgan Burrus, Bobbie Joe Cavnar, Summer Anne Espinosa, Tamika Jaquetta Farmer, Emma Nicole Geist, Taleah Chanel Jones, Yaronda Ameris Kilgo, Christian Cortez Martin, Anthony Sean Martin, Elyse Cannon McRae, Marisha Darice Merchant, Hannah Parry Moon, Lindsay Combs Phillips, and Lydia Roberts Carson Sale. These educators represent a variety of grade levels and subject areas. Several have received recognition such as regional or statewide Teacher of the Year honors.
Appointments to the Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council include Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson of Granville County and Dr. Jovita Lee of Wake County. Dr. Johnson serves as Co-Director at the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network and is an adjunct professor at NC State University. Dr. Lee works with the NC Black Alliance and Advance Carolina.
Dr. Sylvester Ejeh of Cumberland County was named to the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force as a practicing family physician.
Johnathan Edward Mallette of Onslow County joins the Marine Fisheries Commission representing commercial dealers or processors from coastal regions.
The North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board adds Dr. Crystal Noelle Cliff from Mecklenburg County as a licensed acupuncturist.
Kim Heffney from Chatham County was appointed to serve on the North Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board as a public member.
Dr. Jerome Lynch from Durham County was named to the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation representing Duke University.
David R. Buchanan will join the North Carolina Cemetery Commission after being nominated by the state’s Cemetery Association.
Lisa E. Phillips from Guilford County will represent superintendents on the Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs.
Shiquita Hyman was appointed to serve on the Psychology Board as a psychological associate nominated by her peers in Alamance County.
Cynthia Wallace becomes part of the Rural Electrification Authority in an at-large seat; she is Executive Director at New Rural Project in Charlotte.
Phillip Feagan (Polk), Commissioner Ronald Dean Wesson (Bertie), and Brady Cody (Graham) were selected for seats on the Rural Infrastructure Authority as representatives from Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties—areas that often face greater economic challenges than other parts of North Carolina (https://www.nccommerce.com/grants-incentives/county-distress-rankings-tiers).
Robin W. Smith (Orange), Brian North (Wake), and Joshua Lee Heitman were appointed to roles on the Sedimentation Control Commission covering legal expertise in environmental management and soil science representation for NC State University (https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/people/jlheitma/).
James T. Ahler joins Certified Public Accountant Examiners’ board after years leading professional accounting organizations both within North Carolina and Kentucky.
Dr. Gary Liao has been added to Podiatry Examiners’ board; he teaches clinical podiatry at Duke Orthopedics.
Diamond Staton-Williams (Cabarrus), Dr. Emily Collins (Forsyth), and Christopher Nathan Roberts (Gaston) are now part of Public Health’s state commission representing nursing, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy respectively.
Kevin Anderson comes onto General Contractors’ licensing board with decades working for consumer protection within state government agencies.
Alyssa Hampton (Alexander) and Brittny Jean Zenere (Wake) were named to Independent Living Council positions reflecting personal experience with disabilities along with advocacy roles within disability organizations throughout North Carolina (https://adisabilityalliance.org/about/our-team/).
Michael J. Burns III brings military service experience—as well as involvement with veteran support organizations—to his role representing New Hanover County on Veterans Affairs Commission (https://bouldercrest.org/team/michael-j-burns-iii/).
Jill Austin takes up her appointment for Social Services Commission serving Yancey County based on longstanding local leadership in business ownership and community service work there (https://www.yanceycountync.gov/yancey-county-board-of-commissioners.html).
David Walton Hutson joins Well Contractors Certification Commission bringing experience both as contractor—and leadership roles—in industry associations like NC Groundwater Association (https://ncgwa.org/page-1075366).
“Today Governor Josh Stein announced appointments to boards and commissions.”
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