Building leadership capacity that lasts.
The path that shaped the work
My career in the nonprofit sector began where a lot of great careers begin — in direct service. I served with Special Olympics International in Washington, DC, and as Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina, where I created volunteer training systems that are still used nationwide. Those early years gave me a deep appreciation for the people who power mission-driven organizations and the leadership those organizations require to sustain their work.
From there, I moved into higher education advancement, spending a decade in vice president and vice chancellor roles at Queens University of Charlotte and UNC Wilmington — where I became the youngest vice chancellor in the UNC system. Those years sharpened my thinking on leadership, strategy, and what it takes to build advancement cultures that last.
I then founded PMA Nonprofit Leadership, where over more than two decades I partnered with more than 325 organizations, foundations, and institutions to support their leaders at every level. In 2016, I was named Director of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership, where I lead two signature programs — Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy (ELP) and Leadership Gift School (LGS) — now operating within Armstrong McGuire's comprehensive capacity-building model.
Today, as Senior Director of Leadership Initiatives at Armstrong McGuire, I lead and expand the firm's leadership development strategy — designing and delivering cohort-based programs, executive learning experiences, and thought leadership that strengthen nonprofit leaders at every stage of their journey. My work focuses on helping individuals grow their influence while ensuring organizations have the leadership depth needed for long-term sustainability and impact.
Education
- Ed.D. in Organizational Change & Leadership, University of Southern California
- MBA, Queens University of Charlotte
- B.A., UNC Chapel Hill (Morehead Scholar)
- CFRE — Certified Fund Raising Executive
Accolades
- Director, Institute for Philanthropic Leadership
- Founder, Mastermind Leadership Program
- Host, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
- Author, Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership