When Erica Palmer Smith was eight years old, her dream was to be an author. She later decided that she would rather help write a better future by influencing policy to support children and families. As Executive Director of NC Child, she leads a team that does just that.
Before joining NC Child, Erica was the Executive Director of Care4Carolina, a statewide coalition of more than 150 organizations dedicated to closing the state’s health insurance coverage gap. Prior to that role, Erica served as Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Kentucky.
A native of rural North Carolina, Erica grew up in Sampson and Alexander Counties. She received her B.S. and M.A in political science from Appalachian State University. Erica resides in Fuquay-Varina with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Alice.
Joined NC Child Staff: 2022
When Michael was growing up in the foothills of North Carolina, he wanted to be a sportswriter. As Senior Director of Advocacy, he leads the development and implementation of NC Child’s campaign strategy. Before coming to NC Child, he practiced law, worked for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and served as a Government Affairs Director for the NC Association of Realtors®. Michael is a Community Advisor for Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute and was a 2020 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a fellowship hosted by the George W. Bush Center, the Clinton Center, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, and the LBJ Foundation. He was also appointed, by the Governor, to the statewide Youth Advocacy Council. The Council provides support and guidance to the Secretary of the Department of Administration to further state and local youth councils in North Carolina. When he’s not working, Michael enjoys reading, hiking, college basketball, and traveling across the state.
Favorite thing about working at NC Child: Working to give every kid a chance in life.
Pets: A dog named Mojo.
When Brad was eight, he wanted to be a rock star. Since then, he’s learned to play and build guitars and has managed athletic equipment for teams at NC State, Wake Forest University, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, often earning the name of “team dad.” As NC Child’s senior director of development and operations, Brad works closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to oversee all of the agency’s fundraising efforts, with an emphasis on individual and corporate giving. He has a BA in Religion from Wake Forest University and is a staunch Demon Deacons fan.
Brad’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Being able to support people who are passionate about improving the lives of children in North Carolina.”
Joined the NC Child staff: 2022
As NC Child’s Research Director, Neil is committed to supporting NC Child’s policy priorities with high-quality research, data, and analysis. He is passionate about using data and research to illustrate the experiences of North Carolina children and families and identify areas in which state policy can improve opportunities for all children to succeed. Prior to NC Child, Neil worked for the Labor & Economic Analysis Division at the NC Department of Commerce and a research and public relations consulting firm in Jackson, Mississippi, producing political, issues-based, and corporate research for a wide range of clients. He sits on the board of SwingPals, a non-profit organization teaching social-emotional regulation skills to under-resourced kids in Durham Public Schools through golf.
Neil holds a BA in political science from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He lives in Durham with his wife, dog (Burr), and Bengal cat (Seymour Spots). In his free time, Neil enjoys reading, playing golf, traveling, and cooking.
Kelvin Stallings is an outreach and policy professional with almost a decade of experience navigating the intricacies of state government and public advocacy. Kelvin most recently served as the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Children’s Home Society of North Carolina where he led sustainability efforts around multiple agency programs and helped coordinate the overall advocacy and engagement strategy at the North Carolina General Assembly on behalf of the agency. Prior to Children’s Home Society, Kelvin served as a Legislative Assistant to State Representative Abraham Jones of Wake County for two years in the North Carolina House of Representatives.Kelvin’s experiences over the years equipped him with a profound understanding of the legislative process and the importance of stakeholder engagement, leading him to various impactful roles in political activism. A proud graduate of Elizabeth City State University and East Carolina University, Kelvin currently lives in Southwest Raleigh with his wife, Allysa, and their dog, Olive.
Kim has always wanted to be an accountant, even as a little girl, when she dreamed of growing up to work with her Dad – an accountant. As NC Child’s Director of Finance & Administration, Kim manages the organization’s finance and human resource functions. Kim received her BS in – surprise! – accounting from Binghamton University. Outside of work, Kim spends most of her time watching her six kids in action in their wrestling matches, football, soccer, volleyball, and basketball games.
Kim’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Knowing I have a small part in making kids’ lives better in NC – not many accountants can say that!”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2017
Pets: 2 dogs, Koda and Bailey
As Communications Director, Emily leads a multi-channel communications strategy that uplifts our collective opportunities to make a lasting, positive impact on North Carolina’s children.
Before coming to NC Child, Emily served as the Marketing & Communications Director for Carolina Small Business Development Fund, a community development financial institution that provides capital, technical assistance, and policy research to support small businesses across North Carolina. She also supported storytelling and communications in her tenures at the NC Rural Center and the North Carolina Community Foundation. Emily is also the founder of Fireside Creative, a communications consultancy that serves nonprofits and philanthropies across Appalachia and the U.S. Southeast.
Emily earned her M.S. in communication at North Carolina State University, where she studied media and social change, organizational communication, and crisis communication. While at NC State, she taught public speaking as an instructor of record in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She received her B.S. in public relations from Appalachian State University and studied abroad at the University of Gdansk in Poland.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys hunting for treasure at vintage markets, bowling and playing bocce with a local community sports league, and making headway on her annual reading goal.
As Grants Director at NC Child, Jeff works collaboratively to support the organization’s mission by exploring new partnerships with funders and managing a wide portfolio of state, federal, and private foundation grants. He has many years of experience in grants management, nonprofit management and strategic planning. Prior to joining NC Child, Jeff worked for The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The National REACH Coalition and The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Department of International Health and Development at Tulane University.
Away from the office, Jeff loves spending time with his family. He can often be found hiking, mountain biking and walking on a greenway.
Nina Turton joined NC Child in 2024 with a genuine commitment to the work we do and shares a passion for our mission; ensuring children and youth have access to the resources they need to live and thrive. With a background in nonprofit Development and leadership, Nina brings extensive experience in all facets of fundraising and stewardship. As the Director of Major Gifts, Nina is committed to ensuring your philanthropic journey with NC Child is meaningful and rewarding. Nina holds a BS in Human Services from Stevenson University in Maryland, and a master’s in organizational leadership from Eastern Washington University. Originally from Maryland, Nina now lives in Wake Forest, NC with her husband, Damien, and two very active sons, Blake and Colin.
Attorney Rocky Cabagnot grew up in Salisbury, North Carolina. He is a proud graduate of the Class of 1992 of Salisbury High School. He furthered his education in the “Southern Part of Heaven” at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his bachelor’s degree. Following a call to become an attorney, Rocky ventured to Gainesville, Florida and obtained a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he served as Senior Research Editor of the Florida Law Review.
After working in Florida in community and economic development with a focus on affordable housing, Rocky returned to North Carolina, where he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Law at an ABA accredited law school in Charlotte. He also previously taught courses in public administration law and nonprofit capacity building at UNC Charlotte’s MPA program. Rocky also served as the executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, where he oversaw a Head Start program that served more than 1,000 children and families in five counties.
As fractional general counsel for NC Child, Rocky serves as legal advisor and provides legal support to the organization.
Aimee is a family support professional with over 20 years of experience working directly with parents and children in a variety of settings such as home, hospital and schools. She is energized in getting to know families from a variety of backgrounds and to support their parenting perspectives. As the Senior Manager Parent and Family Engagement Aimee looks forward to working alongside parent leaders and focus on the topics that is important to them.
She feels that her proudest accomplishments are receiving her master’s degree from University of North Carolina Wilmington in Leadership, Advocacy in Early Childhood, and completing a certificate with University of North Carolina Greensboro in Leadership Infant and Toddler Development.
Aimee moved from Georgia to the beaches of Wilmington in 2013. She has been married for over 30 years and has two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching live theatre, and playing tennis.
When Taylor was a kid, she wanted to be an underwater photographer. She followed that passion and worked as a wildlife photographer and videographer prior to joining NC Child in 2023. As the Senior Marketing Manager, Taylor works to showcase the work NC Child does to make lasting change for North Carolina’s kids and families. She continues her photography work with weddings and college seniors, is an avid Atlanta Braves fan, and is a donut enthusiast. Taylor graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design and left a piece of herself back in the Shenandoah Valley.
When she’s not working, you can find her listening to an audiobook and traveling, both domestically and internationally.
Her favorite thing about working at NC Child is finding ways to creatively and intentionally share the work we do.
Pets: Remy (dog), Pepper (cat), and Mozzie (cat)
Before joining NC Child, Emily was a Policy Analyst at The Hunt Institute, where she facilitated state-level and national convenings for senior-level legislators to hear from resource experts in higher education and provided policymakers with information on best practices, trends, and current research in higher education. Prior to this, she was a graduate research assistant at the Education Policy Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill.
Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She continued her studies at UNC, earning her Master of Public Policy degree in the inaugural cohort of the program.
As an analyst, Emily is committed to the use of data and research to promote equitable outcomes for North Carolina children.
In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, going to concerts, and playing the flute!
A lifelong North Carolinian, Leanna’s first job as a child care floater was supposed to be just a summer gig—but it sparked a passion that continues to drive her work today. No matter the role, she has always found herself immersed in efforts to improve outcomes for children and families. As a former high school teacher and nonprofit analyst, she focused on making data and policy accessible, believing that common ground exists for everyone. Most recently, at UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked with Operational Excellence and the Adams School of Dentistry to streamline processes for faculty and learners, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients and families. Now, as an Early Childhood Education Policy Analyst at NC Child, she is excited to contribute to meaningful, lasting change for children and families in the state she proudly calls home.
Leanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in Holistic Child Development from Lee University. She is currently pursuing a PhD Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development with a concentration in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University, where her dissertation focuses on the North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grant.
When she’s not working or deep in dissertation research, she enjoys exercising, spending time with her partner, and spoiling her three-year-old cat, Moira Jolene.
Hannah Robinson Michael is a public health professional with a deep commitment to improving community health and well-being, particularly in rural areas. Hannah most recently served as the Healthy Lifestyles Program Manager at Partners Aligned Toward Health (PATH), where she coordinated community-based programs focused on health promotion, supported coalitions, and led community engagement efforts to drive impactful health initiatives across Mitchell and Yancey counties. Before joining PATH, Hannah worked with Girls on the Run in both Asheville and Durham, where she oversaw outreach, volunteer engagement, and large-scale event planning to promote physical activity and youth development.
Hannah is a proud Tar Heel and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Policy from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Hannah lives in Yancey County with her husband and their Alaskan husky, River. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and paddleboarding, as well as traveling, reading, and experimenting with plant-based cooking.
Growing up in a close-knit town in North Carolina, Kaitlyn approaches life with a warm, welcoming spirit – treating everyone she meets as a friend. She has dedicated her career to advancing policies that improve the lives of children and families. She most recently served as the Government Affairs Liaison at South Carolina First Steps where she led the agency’s legislative initiatives and coordinated the work of the SC Early Childhood Advisory Council.
Kaitlyn received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017 and furthered her education at Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate in 2021.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Kaitlyn enjoys traveling with her partner, getting lost in a good book, and attending live concerts.
Ariana is a graduate from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a concentration in Family and Child Studies. As NC Child’s administrative assistant, she makes sure the office runs smoothly and helps facilitate logistics for meetings and events, both internal and external.
She has experience in early childhood education as well as nonprofits. She is passionate about child advocacy and hopes to work towards helping to make education accessible and affordable to all children.
In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants and thrifting.
Addison Tate is a junior at North Carolina State University studying Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and minors in Business Administration and Dance.
Addison serves as both the head of the Sexual Assault Task Force and as the Assistant Treasurer for Public Relations in the NC State Student Government. She also travels and competes with her hip-hop dance crew, Fusion. In her free time, Addison can either be found behind a camera or singing along at a concert.
Ava Meigs is a rising senior at Duke University, where she majors in Public Policy and minors in Medical Sociology. At Duke, Ava is a Baldwin Scholar for the class of 2026, a fellow with the Patman Political Engagement Project, and a Duke Presidential Ambassador. She also plays viola in the Duke Symphony Orchestra and serves as co-president of the symphony’s executive committee. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in health law. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Triangle area, attending Duke basketball games, and spending time with friends, family, and three dogs.
Rachel Rowan is joining the team as a Policy Intern. She previously worked as a Pre-K teacher for over a decade and is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy at NC State University, where she focuses on early childhood education systems and school readiness.
