Alumni and Donors

Dr. Amber Booker

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2009, 2011, 2022
• School of HHS Department: KIN
• Current/Recent Employer: Assistant Professor in Kinesiology at Greensboro College

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I have a passion for fitness and healthy advocacy.

Jaren Doby

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2007, 2012
• School of HHS Department: SWK
• Location: Charlotte, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: Novant Health; Outpatient Mental Health Therapist

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Jaren “JD” Doby is the 2023 recipient of UNCG’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Jaren is a psychotherapist currently credentialed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. Jaren currently practices as an Outpatient Mental Health Therapist in the state of North Carolina.

Jaren is credentialed to provide clinical supervision to both LCSW-Associate’s and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate’s that are seeking full licensure in the state of North Carolina. In addition, Jaren acts as a mental health consultant for various universities and professional organizations both locally and abroad. Jaren earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), and earned his master’s degree from the Joint Master of Social Work program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and UNCG.

Jaren is a passionate public speaker who also serves as a mental health correspondent for various news/media outlets in North Carolina. Jaren has appeared on news outlets/publications that include but are not limited to:ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW, Spectrum News, Charlotte Magazine, The Charlotte Observer, The Charlotte Post, QCity Metro, Ashe Post & Times, The Mint Hill Times, Tri-W News, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News and Record, in addition to various respected professional podcasts. Jaren has also appeared as a guest expert at the regional and national conventions for the National Association of Black Journalists.

Jaren is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Jaren is currently a member of the Alumni Leadership Council for the Department of Health and Human Services at UNCG. Jaren is the founder of the Brandon Dwight Blue Memorial Scholarship, where he provides aid to high school seniors at his alma mater James B. Dudley High School (Greensboro, NC) that are pursuing a college education. Jaren is also the co-founder of Transcend Resource Solutions, LLC, an organization driven to spread awareness surrounding mental health and educational disparities within the community. Jaren is one of the newest board member additions to Empower All, Inc., a non-profit organization whose vision is to aid in liberating all to be fully human through a holistic approach including, but not limited to: Cultural Affirmation + Belonging, STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math), Mental Health Wellness + SEL (Social-Emotional Learning), and Entrepreneurship.

Monique Floyd

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2011, 2013
• School of HHS Department: CTR
• Location: Greensboro, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: City of Greensboro, Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department – Athletics Superintendent

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I am an avid women’s sports fan, I was a four year letter winner for UNCG on an athletic scholarship and work to provide quality of life opportunities to youth and adults through sports programs and facilities.

Coaches name Monique Floyd All-SoCon

Dr. Wayne Foster

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2001
• School of HHS Department: HDFS
• Location: Greensboro, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: I retired from the public schools in North Carolina and currently work (part time) with Cheshire Center of Greensboro. This is a private, pediatric speech and language clinic. I do hearing testing for children aged 1 to about 6 years of age. Periodically, I do some specialized speech and language evaluations.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I completed a Ph.D. in 2001 with a specialization in child development in the UNCG department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). As a licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist, I really wanted to know more about the factors that impact children’s readiness for the school environment. HDFS was the perfect fit for me. My research endeavors have been in the area of school readiness especially in the areas of language and literacy. I have been a runner since 1968 and feel very lucky to still be able to run after more than 50 years. I think that “runner” is largely how I think about myself. I believe that it was the dedication to running that gave me the tools to everything else.

Working with young children continues to be great fun for me, and that is why I still work. After retiring from the public schools, I really wanted to be fully clinical and continue to do some writing. In other words, I no longer have any desire to be administrative! I am working on another book related to revitalizing elementary school to truly reach children who are not quite academically and developmentally ready for the academic environment. My hobbies include playing music (guitar and clarinet), running and cycling, and traveling. I have enjoyed having students “tag along” with me while I do hearing testing on children and I invite interested students to contact me if they are interested in learning more about audiology, speech-language pathology, and child development.

DR. Lisa Fox-Thomas

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1998
• School of HHS Department: CSD
• Current/Recent Employer: UNC-Greensboro

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Lisa Fox-Thomas is a AP professor of Audiology in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UNC Greensboro where she has worked since 2003. She serves at the Assistant Director of the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center and a clinical audiologist who specializes in auditory processing, tinnitus, and sound sensitivity disorders. Dr. Fox-Thomas teaches undergraduate and graduate students at UNC Greensboro and is a preceptor for doctor of Audiology students from other universities who complete their clinical externships at the Speech and Hearing Center.

ShErrell Gales

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2016
• School of HHS Department: CTR
• Current/Recent Employer: Abound Health – Qualified Professional, Supported Employment Manager, Clinical Leadership Team

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Hi! My name is Sherrell Gales. I am the Supported Employment Manager for Abound Health, a statewide service provider for individuals with I/DD. As an Advocate, I help individuals and families with service understanding, education, advocacy, and policy updates to help with equity across the continuum of care for services and supports needed.

When I am not supporting individuals from the mountains to the coast, I like to volunteer with local organizations to give back to the community. Spending time with my husband and fellow alumnus Brent, family, and friends is how I spend my free time. The joy of my life is my basset hound Rosie Mae!

Ellie Harduk

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2019
• School of HHS Department: KIN
• Current/Recent Employer: Insurance Advisor

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I keep myself busy between personal hobbies like reading and gardening, and being on the board for two non-profits.

Sarah M. Hopkins

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1994, 1996
• School of HHS Department: NTR
• Location: Greensboro, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: Assistant Professor and Clinical Educator in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UNCG

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I earned both my undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders [1994] and my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology [1996] from UNCG. Upon graduation, I completed my Clinical Fellowship Year at Cheshire Center, a private pediatric community-based practice. I remained a part of the Cheshire team for 28 years, primarily serving clients within Guilford County in a variety of settings including schools, daycares, and homes. My work was exciting and rewarding. While working at Cheshire Center, I served as a Visiting Professor teaching undergraduate courses within the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at UNCG. In January 2025, I welcomed a career change and began working fulltime in the CSD department as an Assistant Professor and Clinical Educator. I am nationally certified through the American Speech and Hearing Association and licensed through the NC Board of Examiners. My areas of interest include pragmatic language, speech sound disorders, building expressive communication skills for nonverbal clients, and facilitating language within the natural environment. I am also passionate about equipping parents and caregivers with the skills needed to facilitate speech and language skills across all environments. I am honored to be a part of educating the next generation of speech-language pathologists through teaching and the supervision of graduate clinicians. I live “a stone’s throw” from campus with my husband and have 2 amazing children, a daughter who is pursuing a career as an occupational therapist and a son who plans to work in corporate partnerships within the professional sports industry.

I am passionate about investing academic and communication related resources into underserved communities and enjoy connecting students who are interested in speech-language pathology and/or audiology with shadowing opportunities. My hobbies include gardening, restoring older homes, repurposing architectural salvage, cooking and thrift shopping.

Frances Horna

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1989, 1991
• School of HHS Department: Kinesiology
• Current/Recent Employer: Retired, Self-employed.

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I returned to school after the birth of my three children, two of whom have orthopedic impairments. My personal experiences inspired a deep commitment to understanding the human body, movement, and therapeutic care. While studying kinesiology, I developed a specialized program for children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta in New York, which continues to be used today.

I lived in Uruguay, where I trained and instructed synchronized swimming, and led teams that performed throughout Uruguay and Argentina. I met athletes from Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina who later competed in the Mexico Olympics, and I was fortunate to meet Pelé at the height of his career.

I attended the University of Madrid and spent a year abroad traveling through Spain, France, and parts of Portugal. I later served as one of ten worldwide consultants for an international sports products company, collaborating with and learning from leading figures across multiple athletic disciplines.

Throughout my career, I have remained dedicated to service. I assist families with members who require specialized care or therapy, volunteer with medical organizations in my community, and teach ESL classes to help refugees adjust to life in the United States.

I currently teach Pilates, swimming, and water aerobics classes. Outside of teaching, I enjoy cooking, needlework, swimming and cycling!

Dr. Elizabeth Lackey

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2008
• School of HHS Department: PCS
• Current/Recent Employer: Stanly Community College (FT) Advisor and Success Coach, UNC Greensboro (PT) Lecturer, PCS

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I live in Charlotte. In my 8th year working as a lecturer for PCS. Currently working on earning a graduate certificate in Hospitality Management from ECU.

Mary McGuire

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2014
• School of HHS Department: PHE
• Current/Recent Employer: Health and Wellness Coach with ActiveHealth Management (a CVS company)

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I’ve worked as a Health and Wellness Coach and Educator for the last 10 years in several settings, both in person and virtually. I have a passion for health promotion, disease prevention, and enjoy working with individuals to set and achieve personal goals. In my spare time I love exploring all that Greensboro has to offer (restaurants, bars, coffee shops, sports teams, green spaces, MUSIC!), traveling, cooking, and taking walks with my dog!

Marasia Moss

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2016
• School of HHS Department: CTR
• Current/Recent Employer: Town of Chapel Hill

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Hey y’all! My name is Marasia, and I am a 2016 graduate of the Community and Therapeutic Recreation program! Go Spartans!

I have years of experience in community programming management, where I’ve led impactful initiatives aimed at empowering young people and families, while fostering community engagement. I have a strong passion for mental health and community advocacy and am committed to addressing the needs of underserved populations, supporting equitable access to resources.

In my free time I love hanging with friends, trying new hobbies, going to the movies, and exploring new recipes.

Dr. DeiRdre Moyer

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2004
• School of HHS Department: PHE
• Location: Rockingham County/Triad Area
• Current/Recent Employer: Director of Health Services for Guilford County Schools

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I love public health and helping others achieve their best healthy life as a personal trainer, group fitness teacher, health coach, and bodybuilder as a hobby. I am a major foodie and I love to cook all things. I am enjoying being back in the community to further help students in GCS achieve their healthy lifestyle while learning to go on to be healthy and productive citizens.

I have Non-profit experience, School Nutrition Director Experience, Mental Health, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Group Fitness/ Zumba Instructor, taught public health course online.

Kimmie Nauman

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2019
• School of HHS Department: HDFS
• Current/Recent Employer: Parents As Teachers Manager at the YWCA of High Point

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Kimberleigh Nauman, I go by Kimmie. I was a student at UNCG from the fall of 2013 to the spring of 2019 when I graduated Summa Cum Laude with my Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child, Youth, and Family Development. UNCG helped me find my passion to better the mental health of families in our community. Throughout my time, I fell more and more in love with the university, not only for the professors, fellow students, and academics, but for the ways it made me feel empowered as an individual to be fully and completely myself. When I obtained a job at the YWCA of High Point, it was readily apparent that my education from UNCG prepared me for the tasks I faced working with families who were striving to improve their parenting and well-being. I quickly was promoted from a Parent Educator to a lead then to a manager of a department of nine people. No matter where I go or what I do as the story of my life keeps opening new chapters, I take any opportunity I can to give back to the school I so deeply cherish. Without the time I spent at UNCG, I would not be the person that I am today, thriving both personally and professionally. For that, I am truly grateful.

Dr. Judy Penny

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1970, 1974, 1989
• School of HHS Department: HDFS
• Location: Jamestown, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: Retired Executive Director of Accountability & Research, Guilford County Schools

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I have experience with juvenile delinquency, childbirth education, child development programs (Head Start, Project Uplift), pregnancy prevention program (College Bound Sisters), infant mortality & racial disparity reduction (Every Baby Guilford), NAEP, research on adoption, pre-K, maternal-infant interactions, continuing education for athletic trainers, education pandemic recovery efforts; have taught graduate statistics.

I love doing research, especially analyzing data, musician, gardener, proud Grandma

Burgin Ross

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1974, 2008
• School of HHS Department: NTR, GRO
• Location: Winston Salem, NC
• Current/Recent Employer: Retired Associate Professor in Nutrition at UNCG

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I serve on the board for Creative Aging Network in Greensboro, which provides art related activities to seniors in Guilford County. CAN-NC crosses socio-economic lines in a variety of settings within long term care, but also works in the greater Greensboro Community. I am becoming active with the Crosby Scholars Program in Winston Salem which provides scholarships to young men and women for a range of educational settings. The program was started by Katherine Crosby, the wife of Bing Crosby and involves a golf event each summer.

I am a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, who worked in both acute and long-term care settings, held a private practice for 19 years, and ended my career with the greatest job ever, teaching in the Department of Nutrition at UNCG! I have a particular interest in food science/chemistry and enjoyed teaching two courses there. Now that I am retired, I enjoy golf, tennis, Tai Chi, bridge and a book club! I have served as the Chair for the HHS Alumni Leadership Committee for several years and have enjoyed that immensely.

Killion Webster

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2020 (Undergrad), 2021 (Internship)
• School of HHS Department: NTR

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I was a nutrition major at UNCG from 2016-2020 (what a year to graduate!). I completed my dietetic internship at UNCG in 2021 under Babbi Hawkins. I was a board member for the Food Recovery Network, and volunteered with A Simple Gesture and Recipe for Success. I also serve on the DPD/DI Advisory Board for UNCG.

Dr. Kathy Williams

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 1974
• School of HHS Department: Physical Education (now KIN)
• Current/Recent Employer: Formerly Senior Associate Dean, HHS, Professor Emerita, KIN, Retired

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Coming Soon

Leroy Wilson

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2016
• School of HHS Department: SWK
• Current/Recent Employer: Executive Director of Social Services (Salvation Army Greensboro)

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I have been practicing in the Social Work realm for over 25 years.

Christine Zecca

• UNCG Class(es) Of: 2017, 2019
• School of HHS Department: NTR, GRO
• Current/Recent Employer: Alzheimer’s Association