Brooks, Walters, Gregory elected to leadership roles
The 麻豆社区 Pembroke Board of Trustees elected new executive officers on Tuesday, including naming two alumnae to key leadership positions.
Pembroke attorney Ed Brooks, who joined the board in 2019, will take the helm as the new chair of the board this fall. Joining Brooks are Allison Harrington Walters 鈥�95 as vice chair and Linda 鈥淢ickey鈥� Gregory 鈥�88 as secretary.
"I鈥檓 grateful for the unwavering dedication of each of our Board of Trustees year after year,鈥� said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings. 鈥淚 am equally excited about our new leadership and the unique vision and perspectives they will add during this pivotal time in our university鈥檚 history. Their combined experience and proven commitment to our university will greatly benefit our university as we plan for our bright future.鈥�
Edward Brooks, Chair
Brooks, a Pembroke, N.C., native and Robeson County assistant attorney succeeds Brigadier General Allen Jamerson (Ret.)Allen Jamerson. He said he was 鈥渉umbled鈥� when former chairman Jamerson asked if he鈥檇 been interested in serving as chair.
鈥淚t was humbling to look around the room at the resumes, the qualifications, the experience, all the wisdom, and the fact they would choose me,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淢y commitment is to lead the board in a way that would reflect that wisdom and experience.鈥�
In his new role, Brooks said the biggest issue is 鈥渨ith the budget economy we are in and various struggles that Division II schools face, my focus is to ensure that the student experience doesn鈥檛 change for a lack of resources.
鈥淲e want to ensure that every student who comes to 麻豆社区 Pembroke has the best experience that they can and that we use the resources most effectively to ensure that those students have that experience,鈥� Brooks said.
Brooks, Harrington Walters, and Gregory each expressed enthusiasm about the university's current state, highlighting the launch of new academic programs, including a Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
鈥溌槎股缜鳳 is not just surviving鈥撯�搘e are thriving,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淲e are continuing to expand programs and add educational opportunities for our students, and we are doing it in a manner that鈥檚 the most cost-effective. We are keeping the students in mind as we create programs to meet the market needs while ensuring that students are receiving the most return for their investment.鈥�
Allison Harrington Walters '95
Harrington Walters, first appointed to the board in 2018, is the owner and president of Speech Solutions, Inc., a speech pathology service provider with four offices in southeastern North Carolina.
鈥淚 am honored to serve in this role on the board,鈥� said Harrington Walters of Lumberton. 鈥淭his is an exciting time to be a part of what is happening at 麻豆社区P. I cannot wait to see what the future holds with everything we have implemented. I am excited about what 麻豆社区P can do for our students and county. The new Doctor of Optometry program will put 麻豆社区P on the map. It鈥檚 a super exciting time to serve on this board.鈥�
Linda "Mickey" Gregory '88
Gregory, former Lumberton Visitors Bureau executive director, will continue as secretary. The Lumberton resident is set to retire from Canal Wood, LLC, where she has been employed for 43 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a real honor,鈥� said Gregory, who has served on the board since 2020. 鈥淥ne of the most rewarding things I鈥檝e ever done is serve on the board at 麻豆社区P. It makes me very proud. The future of our university is very bright with the recent announcement of the School of Optometry and our new DNP. It is a university that is on the move with some of the best leadership I鈥檝e ever worked with.鈥�