Anita R. Brown-Graham | Director
Anita R. Brown-Graham joined the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) as director in January 2007. Anita worked at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s Institute of Government since 1994. Prior to that, she served as law clerk to the Honorable William B. Shubb in the eastern district of California and as business litigation counsel in a Sacramento, California, law firm. Anita has provided significant training and written books and articles focused on developing the economic base of distressed communities. She also currently serves on the boards of several development organizations and foundations. Anita earned an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and, after attending graduate school at LSU, she earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Email Anita at arbrowng@ncsu.edu
Adam Brueggemann | Program Manager
Adam Brueggemann is responsible for IEI’s involvement as a managing partner of the Rural People, Rural Policy Program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He works closely with IEI’s Policy Managers for Healthcare, Education, Economy, and Infrastructure and Environment to interconnect rural policy research and initiatives into each issue area. Prior to joining IEI, Adam worked as a capital budget analyst for the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management and as a land use planner for Kent County, Maryland and Chesterfield County, Virginia. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of City Planning from the University of Virginia.
Email Adam at adam_brueggemann@ncsu.edu
Wendy Burkland | Manager of Special Initiatives
Wendy Burkland is responsible for managing the resources for two special projects at IEI. These projects include architectural coordination of IEI’s new office space in the future James B. Hunt, Jr. Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus and IEI’s gallery and policy lab located in the lobby of the new library. Prior to joining IEI, Wendy served for 10 years as Human Resources Director at Fetzer Institute, a private operating foundation with conference facilities specializing in deliberation and dialogue on global health and healing.
Burkland holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a B.B.A in Administrative Systems from Western Michigan University.
Email Wendy at wendy_burkland@ncsu.edu
Diane Cherry | Environments Policy Manager
Diane Cherry oversees core activities of IEI’s policy process, assisting in the identification of emerging public policy issues and developing these issues into programs of work. Prior to joining IEI, she worked as a budget and management analyst for the City of Raleigh, overseeing the development of the city’s operating and capital budgets. Diane has also worked as an environmental policy analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In addition to her government experience, she spent time in Washington D.C. at a think tank and as a government consultant.
She holds a graduate degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Virginia.
Email Diane at diane_cherry@ncsu.edu.
Simone Collman | Office Manager
Simone Collman is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office, HR related inquiries and managing the Institute’s calendar. Prior to joining IEI, Simone worked as Office Manager for a Title Agency in New York City. In addition to her work at the Institute, Collman is also a published poet and semi-professional caterer.
Collman is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from NC State University.
Email Simone at simone_collman@ncsu.edu
Maura Conyngham | Campaign Manager
Maura Conyngham is responsible for managing the fund-raising campaign for the IEI Gallery and Policy Lab at the future James B. Hunt, Jr. Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus. In addition, Maura seeks to secure the future of IEI’s programs by raising funds for an endowment. Prior to joining IEI, Conyngham served as Annual Fund Manager at Hospice of Wake County and was Director of Development Services at All Kinds of Minds, an educationally focused non-profit in Chapel Hill.
She holds a B.A in American Political Science from Catholic University of America.
Email Maura at maura_conyngham@ncsu.edu
Patrick Cronin | Assistant Director for Policy & Programs
Patrick Cronin is responsible for overseeing IEI’s GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellowship Program and other outreach efforts linking North Carolina’s faculty with IEI’s programs of work. He also assists in the conceptualization, communication, and evaluation of IEI’s programs of work.
Prior to joining IEI, Patrick spent ten years on the faculty at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona. His research interests centered on economic competitiveness issues at the global, national, regional, and firm levels. He taught in Thunderbird’s distance learning program for Latin American managers for eight years. Cronin received a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Email Patrick at patrick_cronin@ncsu.edu
Michelle Goryn | Institute Fellow
Michelle Goryn is responsible for moving forward the research and policy agenda of the Institute for Emerging Issues. She manages multiple aspects of a given program of work including, but not limited to, establishing a broad visionary framework for key elements of the program and managing key activities as the program develops, both strategically and practically.
Prior to joining IEI, Michelle worked in the Governmental Affairs Office of the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Science in Languages from Georgetown University and a Masters of Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Email Michelle at michelle_goryn@ncsu.edu.
Sarah Marie Langer | Health Policy Manager
Sarah Langer oversees core activities of IEI’s policy process focusing on health. Prior to joining IEI, she worked on physical activity and nutrition policy with the N.C. Division of Public Health, evaluating multi-level childhood obesity prevention programs and developing a worksite wellness collaborative. Sarah also work at the Department of Public Instruction as an advocate for coordinated school health programs and collected data on student risk behaviors to illustrate that healthy students learn better.
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Sarah received her Master of Public Health from the University at Albany, School of Public Health in 2001 with a concentration in Health Policy, Management & Behavior. Sarah is past President of NCAAHE and has been a strong advocate for effective health education across the state. She also serves on the Health and Wellness Commission of the state PTA, to include parents in a shared vision of healthier students. She was the recipient of the 2008 NCAAHPERD Edgar W Hooks, Jr. Young Professional Award.
Email Sarah at sarah_langer@ncsu.edu
Joseph Palumbo | Assistant Director for Business & Development
Joseph Palumbo oversees IEI’s operations and development, ensuring IEI has the tools it needs to tackle North Carolina’s biggest challenges. Joe has over 25 years of executive leadership experience in global corporate administrative management, including finance and cost accounting, corporate real estate management, strategic planning, process improvement, supply chain management, and employee services. He has established himself as a thought-leader in the industry and has gained a reputation for bringing innovation and best practices to organizations. He has worked extensively in diverse global sectors including banking, financial services, and technology.
Joe’s prior experiences include management of operations for BearingPoint, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Tiffany & Company.
Joe has his BS degree in Business Administration, and his MA from Duke University.
Email Joe at joseph_palumbo@ncsu.edu
Melinda Reta Walker | Communications Director
Melinda Walker is responsible for planning and managing print and electronic publications for IEI, including the content and design of its website. Prior to joining IEI, Melinda served as communications and new media associate for the National Housing Conference in Washington, DC, where she developed and implemented new media strategies to enrich NHC’s voice in the housing community.
Melinda holds a M.A. in Media and Public Affairs from The George Washington University and a B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Email Melinda at melinda_walker@ncsu.edu
Lane Smith | Program Manager
A former graduate intern, Lane came back to IEI to lead the IEI Fellowship Program and assist with communications outreach surrounding IEI’s programmatic activities. A native North Carolinian, Lane brings five years of professional communications and project management experience to IEI. Prior to joining the IEI staff, Lane was a communications specialist at the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.
She holds a masters degree in public administration and a bachelors degree in communications from North Carolina State University.
Email Lane at lane_smith@ncsu.edu
Roland Stephen | Institute Fellow
Roland Stephen leads the identification and development of issues to be addressed by the work of the Institute, and oversees that work as it is executed through research, publication, public forums and policy implementation. He works closely with partners and stakeholders both inside and outside the University, including business and political leaders, professional staffs, academics, and opinion leaders from across North Carolina and the nation.
An Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, he has a B.A. from Cambridge University in Economics and History and a Ph.D. from UCLA in Political Science. His applied research seeks to identify the policy responses available for economic developers and state leaders given a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive global economy.
Email Roland at roland_stephen@ncsu.edu.
Davina Thrash | Accounting Assistant
Davina Thrash currently serves as the Accounting Assistant for IEI. She is responsible for assisting in the financial planning and bookkeeping as well as financial reporting.
Prior to joining IEI, Davina served as the Executive Director of Visions Institute for Youth in Raleigh, NC. She is a veteran of the U.S. Armed forces has been working in the non-profit sector for 5 years.
Davina holds an A.A. in Business Management from Strayer University.
Email Davina at davina_thrash@ncsu.edu
Kathryn Wright | Events Manager
Kathryn Wright currently serves as the Events Manager for IEI. She manages and coordinates all of IEI’s convenings, as crucial element to our collaborative process. Prior to joining IEI, Kathryn served as the Government Affairs Events Manager for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.
She is a native of Raleigh and attended Peace College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources and Leadership Studies.
Email Kathryn at kathryn_wright@ncsu.edu
John Coggin | Emerging Leaders Fellow
John Coggin coordinates efforts to engage youth and communities across North Carolina in the work of IEI. He recently completed graduate work at Harvard University, where he studied social capital under Robert Putnam and co-authored one of the first studies of the contemporary Tea Party movement. He also has experience in media production, government, and public relations. A native of Sanford, North Carolina, and alumnus of NC State, John is glad to return to his home state and alma mater to work with IEI to bring even more people into the conversation about civic engagement and community development in North Carolina.
John holds a Master’s degree in Religion, Ethics and Politics from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Interdisciplinary Studies from NC State University.
Email John at john_coggin@ncsu.edu