Executive Director (2023-2024)

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Major: Public Policy and Classical Archaeology

Minor: Business Administration

Executive Director (2024-2025)

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Major: Business Administration

Minor: Conflict Management

Director of Marketing & Alumni Relations

Hometown: Lexington, NC

Major: Business Administration

Minor: Entrepreneurship

Director of Scholar Engagement

Hometown: Johns Creek, GA

Major: Business Administration

Minor: Statistics and Analytics

Emmy is a current junior from Wake Forest, NC studying Journalism and Information Science. She is the first junior to serve as editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel in over 3 decades. Some of her accomplishments include directing the newspaper’s coverage of the fatal shooting in 2023 on UNC’s campus and managing more than 350 student journalists across the financially independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a $600k annual operating budget.

Emmy was later invited to the White House to attend President Joe Biden’s announcement of the first federal office of gun violence prevention because of her work. She was interviewed by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, NBC News, PBS NewsHour, and other news organizations and was invited to speak at several conferences about leading the newsroom through the traumatic event. Emmy is also proud to have interned at The Dallas Morning News in the summer of 2023 and she serves as the marketing chair of Phi Alpha Delta (UNC’s co-ed pre-law professional fraternity). Her academic achievements led to her membership in Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society, an American college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism, and Honors Carolina. Emmy has been recognized on the Dean’s list each semester at Carolina.

Joann is a current junior from Douglasville, GA studying Public Policy and Social & Economic Justice on the pre-law track. She will be the first member of her family to pursue a law degree. Hailing from a Nigerian background, her parents instilled in her a strong sense of community and resilience. Joann has made impactful contributions as a key staff member for the Carolina Board of Director for the Carolina Union, a Chancellor's Commission member “History, Race, and A Way Forward, a mentor for first-year women of color in the Student Life and Leadership Spark program, and a co-founder of the inaugural Black Pre-Law Association.

Her most remarkable achievements include being elected as the 56th Black Student Movement President, where she was recognized as the 2023 Most Active Member. Joann is also a member of the Theta Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Justin is a current junior from Chapel Hill, NC studying Biostatistics and Chemistry. He plays a pivotal role in the Student Health Action Coalition and serves as an Outreach Coordinator for the Get Covered Carolina (GCC) Initiative. Justin’s dedication earned him the prestigious Bryan Fellowship from the Carolina Center for Public Service for his work on SPROUT Nutrition, a nutrition-focused public health initiative inspired by his experiences as a food pantry volunteer.

Beyond his involvement with the GCC, Justin is a student researcher at the UNC Institute for Environmental Health Solutions. His research focuses on environmental determinants of health. In his senior honors thesis, he plans to delve into epigenetic biomarkers and their impact on health outcomes.

Justin also contributes to the executive planning committee of the Minority Health Conference, where he co-chairs the Posters Committee. This conference aims to raise awareness about racial health disparities and social determinants of health. His outstanding academic achievements have earned him membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Honors Carolina.

Noor is a current Junior from Lewisville, North Carolina studying Economics, Public Policy, and Data Science. She is studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden for the Spring 2024 semester Noor was 1 of 20 Muslim students selected nationwide to be a fellow of the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Congressional Leadership Development Program in D.C, where she helped write the final draft of the Eid Day Act. She also aided in the coordination of ‘Muslim Hill Day,’ a two-day event bringing together 500 Muslim advocates from around the country to advocate for Muslim rights legislation.

Noor interned during the fall 2023 semester as a Criminal Justice Reform Intern for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Her 1-year research project with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund on the barriers experienced by female small business owners in North Carolina was published last semester. Noor serves on the board of The Policy Network as Professional Development Chair and is also Communications Chair for UNC Pakistan Society.

Olivia is a current junior from Cary, NC studying Biology and English & Comparative Literature with a concentration in Science, Medicine, and Literature, in addition to Chemistry. On campus, Olivia serves as the President of Recreational Women’s Lacrosse and Vice President of UNC Club Tennis. Olivia volunteers in the Pediatric Playroom of the UNC Children’s hospital and with Special Olympics Tennis. As a student, Olivia is a member of Honors Carolina, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and has been recognized on the Dean’s list each semester at Carolina. Olivia aspires to become a physician scientist and works as a student researcher in Dr. Misty Good’s lab studying necrotizing enterocolitis, an inflammatory disease in premature infants.

Olivia is also currently working on an accessible campus project in her disability studies class to increase physical classroom accessibility on campus. Olivia ran Eve Carson’s memorial 5K her freshman year and became inspired by Eve’s work at Carolina. Olivia’s favorite quote by Eve that drives her work on campus is “we seek to be great, but always remember to be good.” In her free time, Olivia loves to cheer on the heels at sporting events across campus.

Sanath is a current junior from Cary, NC and is studying Nutrition Science & Research, Medical & Biological Physics, and Chemistry. He is an Honors Carolina student and undergraduate researcher at the UNC School of Medicine, investigating the cGAS protein's role in triggering cell death in specific viruses, with the potential to use this understanding for developing vaccines. He is on track to be published on two research papers.

As a Richard Epps Emerging Leadership Scholar, Sanath gained vital skills for UNC's campus leadership and later joined the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in UNC's executive branch. There he addressed food insecurity, particularly in areas like South Campus by expanding food options at places like Ram's Head Market and advocated housing concerns for diverse students with UNC housing. Sanath, is also an executive member of UNC's Food Recovery Network club, where he helped establish a recurring donation program with the campus dining hall, collecting unsold items weekly to deliver to a community kitchen in Carrboro. Outside of UNC, Sanath works with Anuraag Foundation, leading discussions on mental health and fundraising for mentally challenged children in India.

Zach is a current junior from Cleveland, OH studying Environmental Health Science. He is a nationally certified EMT and is the Vice President of the UNC Club Hockey Team. As VP,  he overseas all operations of the team, including managing the team’s $150,000 budget, fundraising, ice time reservations, travel logistics, hiring a new coach, and working closely with the team’s booster club. When not on the ice, Zach is also active in research. He is the first author of two projects, Development and Evaluation of Low-Cost Incubator for Testing Microbial Contamination of Water and Trauma Support Network and Risk Factors; the first of which will be submitted to the PLOS Water Journal. He is also engaged in a new research project, An Analysis of Baby Food and Formula for Heavy Metals and other Emerging Contaminants, that will become his senior honor thesis.

Zach is also an Honors Carolina student and an Orthopedic and Trauma Nursing Unit Volunteer, acting as a liaison to nurses by communicating medical requests while rounding on patients and providing them with anything that will make their hospital stay better to ensure the highest possible standard of care.