Organization and job title: Dr. Pooneh Lari is a faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development and is the Program Coordinator for Masters in Training and Development.

Tie to training & development: I have 15 years of higher education experience as a faculty member. My prior professional background includes program evaluator, instructional designer, training and change management consultant. 

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I want to work with the board to make the Training and Development program the best it can be!

Organization and job title: North Carolina State University, Assistant Professor of Adult and Lifelong Education/Training and Development

 
Tie to training & development: All my professional roles have focused on supporting adults learn and develop their careers, both in formal and non-formal education spaces. Relatedly, my research examines how adults develop and construct their professional identities in changing and increasingly diverse workplaces. I am particularly interested in connecting research and practice to help organizations design meaningful learning and professional development experiences for their employees.

 
The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to help maintain strong connections between NC State’s T&D program and the organizations and professionals who employ our graduates. I am committed to fostering opportunities for students to gain practical experience through organizational projects, mentorship, and industry partnerships, while staying responsive to emerging workforce and learning trends.

Organization and job title: CEO of Dr. Holly Speaks, PhD, LLC. My company provides keynote speaking, corporate training, and leadership development services.  I do everything from needs assessment to training development to design to delivery to evaluation. I’m a one-stop shop.  I’m also an adjunct professor for the T&D program.

Tie to training & development: I’ve done corporate training and academic instruction throughout my adult life, holding just about every job possible in those arenas.  I’ve been the leader of 5 different corporate and technology training centers.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I’d love to help the T&D program become just a little bit more relevant every semester.

Organization and job title: Duke Health, Administrative Director

Tie to training & development: Graduated from the Training and Development Master’s Degree Program.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I’m thrilled to collaborate with the board to advance mentorship, engagement, and career development opportunities that strengthen outcomes for students and alumni.

Organization and job title: Dentsply Sirona / Director, Talent Development

Tie to training & development: I have over 15 years of experience in learning and development, employee experience, and sales training at multiple organizations. 

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I want to give back to the program and future students because it was such an amazing experience for me and valuable to my career growth, I would also love the opportunity to develop and mentor others.

Organization and job title: Bank of America, HR Analytics & Service Delivery Consultant

Tie to training & development: As a proud alumna of the T&D M.Ed. program, I’ve built my career in financial services as an internal subject matter expert. My specialty lies in translating and communicating complex concepts into accessible information for diverse audiences. This often involves contributing to trainings, reference materials, and change management initiatives for programs and processes that I also manage and execute.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I’m committed to collaborating with our students, faculty, and advisory board to ensure T&D graduates are equipped with a diverse skillset, enabling them to adapt with confidence and pursue new and challenging opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

Organization and job title: Sr. Director of Customized Training at Wake Technical Community College

Tie to training & development: I work to ensure that corporations in Wake County are able to both train and reskill their teams, so that they are viable and contributing to the overall economy of North Carolina.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to help build bridges between the community college system the university system, public sector organizations and private organizations.

Organization and job title: Manager, Talent Programs at Human Interest

Tie to training & development: As a graduate of NC State’s Master’s in Training and Development program, I’ve built my career designing and leading talent and learning programs in corporate environments. My work spans leadership development, performance management, onboarding, facilitation, and creating scalable learning experiences that help people grow and succeed.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to bring a current industry perspective to the program and help strengthen the connection between students’ academic experiences and the skills and capabilities organizations need today. 

Organization and Job Title: Jay Anders is Vice President of Talent Management & Development at Molson Coors Beverage Company, where he leads efforts to develop leaders, strengthen organizational capability and build talent strategies that support business success.

Tie to Training & Development: I have spent my career helping individuals, teams, and organizations grow through leadership development, talent management, organizational development, coaching, and change leadership. My work focuses on building learning cultures, developing future leaders, and ensuring organizations have the talent and capabilities needed to succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

The Contribution I Hope to Make While on the Board: I am passionate about helping people reach their full potential. Through my service on the board, I hope to support the continued evolution of the Training and Development program, contribute practical industry insights, and help create meaningful learning experiences that prepare students to make an immediate impact in their organizations and communities.

Organization and job title: Truist, former Director of Learning Solutions

Tie to training & development: I bring more than 20 years of experience in learning and development, with work spanning organizational development, enterprise learning strategy, instructional design, and performance consultation. Most recently, I served as Director of Learning Solutions at Truist. I earned my M.Ed. in Training and Development from NC State University and am a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD). 

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I am passionate about helping develop the next generation of learning and development leaders and contributing practical, industry-informed perspective to the program.

Organization and job title: City of Raleigh, Senior Learning and Internal Development Analyst

Tie to training & development: I am a 2019 graduate of the Training and Development Program and currently work as the Senior Learning and Internal Development Analyst for the City of Raleigh Planning and Development Department. I am passionate about the T&D program and understand the unique challenges non-traditional students face. I hope my work with this amazing advisory board can help students in this program navigate their learning journey and discover their passion and potential.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to be an effective thought leader and aim to help enhance the voice and presence of the NC State Training and Development Masters Program through strategic marketing, data analysis, intentional networking and thoughtful engagement.

Organization and job title: Founder and Lead Learning Designer, Learning Futures Design

Tie to training & development: I bring more than 20 years of experience in learning and instructional design, including leadership in digital, multimedia, and blended learning. I hold an M.Ed. in Training and Development from NC State.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to bring a learning-design perspective shaped by education, media, and emerging technologies, while helping the T&D Program prepare students for an evolving field and the opportunities ahead.

Organization and job title: North Carolina State University / Graduate Assistant: Training & Development Program. As T&D’s Graduate Assistant, I support the faculty and staff of the Master’s in Training and Development program. I also contribute to developing and facilitating the T&D Mentorship Program while engaging in research and assessment activities to help enhance the program

Tie to training & development: My background and experience are strongly tied to adult education, training, and student development. As an Accessibility Coordinator at North Carolina Central University, I provided professional-level support and services to students with disabilities, including providing academic accommodations, assisting with various assistive technologies, and ensuring compliance with federal mandates. I also have experience facilitating workshops on leadership and success strategies for program participants.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I believe I will make a valuable contribution, drawing upon my expertise in adult education, student support services, and program coordination. Additionally, my leadership experience in roles such as Adult Degree Program Coordinator at Shaw University allow me to provide strategic insights on supporting adult learner’s educational and developmental needs.

Organization and job title: Learning & Development Consultant with a Fortune 100 Company

Tie to training & development: I bring over 12 years of corporate experience in Training and Development, with expertise spanning facilitation, analysis, consulting, talent development, and implementation of training programs within agile environments. 

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to contribute to NC State’s T&D Program by collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to ensure the program stays at the forefront of industry trends while championing its value and ability to empower future leaders in the field.

Organization and job title: HBT: Director of Learning and Development

Tie to training & development: Learning and Development leader with more than 20 years of experience designing, implementing, and scaling learning strategies for large organizations across multiple industries. Experienced in organizational development, leadership development, and capability building by leveraging data-driven learning analytics.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: As a board member, I aim to support initiatives that help T&D professionals strengthen their capabilities, network connections, and apply emerging practices in meaningful ways. I am especially interested in helping create opportunities for members to translate learning theory, data, technology, and business needs into effective learning experiences.

Organization and job title: Senior Manager, Global Sales Force Training and Effectiveness, Envu 

Tie to training & development: I began my training career training people in emergency medicine and eventually moving from sales and marketing into sales training.  I have been a training professional for nearly 18 years, in a corporate sector ranging from pharmaceuticals to software, and now environmental sciences.  I absolutely love what I do, I enjoy helping people the best version of themselves they can be.  My approach to training is that training solves problems, and when done right can increase knowledge and skill for entire organizations.   

  
The contribution I hope to make while on the board: My business perspective on training will be very helpful for people going into training and development and will be a valuable resource to people just getting into T&D or people who are working to improve their skills and competence as a training professional.  I am honored to be able to pass along any knowledge I have about this field to help others in their careers and their training endeavors. 

Organization and job title: Jason LeConte Nelson is the Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer and Chief Learning Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C..

Tie to training & development: I have worked in the public, private, and academic sectors for 32 years as a stand up and online instructor, instructional systems designer, leader in organizational, employee and leadership development, and enterprise learning strategy. I earned a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Adult Learning from North Carolina State University in 1999. 

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I want to help give back to the learning community and students anywhere there is a need. I enjoy mentoring, coaching, and career development and always willing to lend a hand where I can. 

Organization and job title: Founder and Executive Coach, MDW Empowerment Coaching; Former Director of Learning and Development, North County Transit District 

Tie to training & development: Maisha has more than 20 years of experience in training and development, organizational development, leadership development, and workforce development. Her experience includes leading enterprise learning initiatives, designing and facilitating leadership programs, managing learning technologies, developing learning strategies, and partnering with leaders to align employee development with organizational priorities.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to bring a practitioner and coaching perspective to the board while helping strengthen the connection between the T&D program and the evolving needs of today’s workplace. I am especially interested in supporting students through career development and coaching, sharing industry trends and employment opportunities, strengthening connections with industry partners, and helping ensure students are prepared to lead learning, talent, and organizational development initiatives that create meaningful impact.

Organization & title: Smart Manager 101 / Speaker, Consultant, Coach

Tie to training & development: I completed this program in May 2021. I have always gravitated toward training opportunities in my career. I am looking forward to seeing how I can contribute to this team.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: To help ensure the program equips graduates with the skills, adaptability, and leadership capabilities needed to drive learning, performance, and organizational change.

Organization and job title: Sr Manager, Learning Innovation and Quality Assurance, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Tie to training & development: In addition to L&D leadership, Lisa has been an L&D Specialist, a Course Designer, a facilitator and a trainer for over twenty years.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: Communication with students and industry partners about the T&D program, projects, employment opportunities, industry trends, research and resources.

Organization and job title: Presentation Coach & Communication Consultant, Abracommunication

Tie to training & development: Katie has been a facilitator, coach, and speaker for 10 years. She earned her Masters of Education in Training & Development from NCSU in 2020.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: Authentic connection with students, alum, and faculty, with a deep enthusiasm for training & development and the work we do to help others.

Organization and job title: Associate Executive Director for the Poe Center for Health Education

Tie to training & development: I have three decades in both formal and informal education training parents, teaches, and youth development professionals nationally.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to connect to resources to support professional development of Training and Development scholars and mentor emerging Training and Development professionals.

Organization and job title: Director of Culture and Organizational Development with Pepsi Bottling Ventures

Tie to training & development: I have been in the T&D field for nearly 25 years.  Time flies when you’re having fun!

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I am excited about helping to spread the word about NC State University’s amazing T&D program.

Organization and job title: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Talent Development Manager

Tie to training & development: As a leader of training and development within a not-for-profit R&D organization, I am responsible for enterprise training efforts to include leadership development, professional development, etc., for over 9,000 employees. I currently lead a team through instructional design efforts, consulting engagements, and event planning and production. In a previous role, I managed national training projects for various government agencies. I love solving problems and one of my favorite things to do is help someone, or a group of people, be more successful in their career(s). I am a graduate of the MEd Training and Development program, and I maintain a PMP, SHRM-SCP, and CMHR. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and throwing pottery.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I’d like to support the alignment and relevance of the program with industry needs in T&D and help program participants connect with organizations for their next career opportunity.

Organization and job title: Founder and CEO of MVS Solutions LLC; Learning and Development Consultant and Transformational Identity and Leadership Coach

Tie to training and development: My connection to training and development spans more than 40 years of military and federal service. Throughout my career, I have served as an instructor, trainer, Instructional Designer, learning and development consultant, coach, and program manager. I hold a Master of Education in Training and Development from NC State, Association of Talent Development (ATD) Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and credentialed ICF ACC Coach.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to help the T&D program remain responsive to the changing needs of learners and the workplace. I want to support efforts that connect students to practical experiences, strengthen the bridge between academic learning and professional practice, and prepare graduates to lead learning and development with confidence, curiosity, and a human-centered perspective.

Organization and Job Title: Duke University, Senior Consultant

Tie to Training and Development: I provide strategic consulting and lead high-impact initiatives that advance innovation in teaching, faculty development, and digital learning. With more than 20 years of experience in Training and Development, I have taught as an Adjunct Professor at NC State and in Duke’s Certificate in College Teaching Program and have developed and led graduate fellowships and online professional development programs at Duke.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: As a dedicated NC State alumna, having earned both my master’s in Training and Development and my doctorate from NC State, I am committed to advancing recruitment, outreach, curricular innovation, and industry engagement, empowering graduates to launch meaningful careers and become engaged NC State alumni.

Organization and job title: Founder and Executive Coach, MDW Empowerment Coaching; Former Director of Learning and Development, North County Transit District 

Tie to training & development: Maisha has more than 20 years of experience in training and development, organizational development, leadership development, and workforce development. Her experience includes leading enterprise learning initiatives, designing and facilitating leadership programs, managing learning technologies, developing learning strategies, and partnering with leaders to align employee development with organizational priorities.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I hope to bring a practitioner and coaching perspective to the board while helping strengthen the connection between the T&D program and the evolving needs of today’s workplace. I am especially interested in supporting students through career development and coaching, sharing industry trends and employment opportunities, strengthening connections with industry partners, and helping ensure students are prepared to lead learning, talent, and organizational development initiatives that create meaningful impact.

Organization and job title: Instructional Design and Learning Specialist, FHI 360 and Habitat for Humanity International.

Tie to training & development: I’ve been facilitating impactful learning solutions since the 90s. My focus is on international programs that foster inclusion, leadership, project management, and social development. I’m also a graduate of the 2009 MEd Training & Development program.

The contribution I hope to make while on the board: I love making connections–with people, ideas, and opportunities. I’m excited to support new students entering the T&D field and influence future T&D programs!