When she was eight, Eva wanted to be a marine biologist, but today she’s a macro-level Social Work practitioner with a knack for data organization and management. As Communications & Development Assistant, she keeps track of the thousands of child advocates around the state who make up NC Child’s powerful network. Eva has an MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BS in psychology from Duke. She loves water polo and writes all her correspondence by hand in beautiful calligraphy.
Eva’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Getting to work with an organization that does meaningful work for children with a genuine effort to consider and combat racial inequities.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2019
Pets: 2 dogs and 1 cat. One of the dogs can sort-of talk.
When Vikki was eight, she wanted to be a grocer. Today Vikki leads NC Child’s environmental health program to ensure that children have the opportunity to grow up healthy and meet developmental milestones in an environment free of toxicants. She also manages the North Carolina KIDS COUNT data program, providing advocates and decision-makers with reliable data to better understand child well-being. Born in Chicago, she moved to western NC with her family at age 5. Vikki holds an MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. As NC Child’s in-house Cruise Director, Vikki is COO of both the Fun Team and the Yarn Club.
Vikki’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Working with a team of dedicated advocates who make me laugh on a daily basis.”
Joined NC Child staff: 2019
Pets: Two cats, Penny and Olive
When she was 8, Morgan wanted to be a teacher. Today, Morgan is NC Child’s emotional wellness cheerleader, bringing together leaders from across sectors to ensure the mental and emotional health of North Carolina’s infants and toddlers. She grew up in Northern Kentucky and now calls Raleigh, N.C. home. She has an MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill, and as a crocheter is the newest member of NC Child’s Yarn Club.
Morgan’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “I have two favorite things: the people and the work, so basically it’s like nirvana.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2019
Pets: Nova, a ten year-old shelter pup
When Hannah was 8, she wanted to be a spy and work for the CIA. Today she’s a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, double majoring in Psychology and Public Policy. As NC Child’s Research & Data intern, she’s uncovering the critical data points that will help us create the 2021 Child Health Report Card. Post-graduation, Hannah is interested in pursuing a career in public policy.
Joined NC Child staff: 2020
Pets: Two dogs, a Chihuahua named Tucker and a Labradoodle named Scout
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
When she was eight, Michelle wanted to be a teacher. Today as NC Child’s Executive Director, Michelle oversees the staff, finances, and strategic direction of the organization. Additionally, Michelle serves as NC Child’s primary point of contact to external allies, including policymakers, the media, and private allies. Michelle has worked in the field of children’s advocacy for almost 20 years in North Carolina. She holds Master’s degrees in English and Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill. She loves to cook, and is constantly cooking up new ideas as NC Child’s most prolific Idea Generator.
Michelle’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Getting to work alongside smart, committed, strategic advocates for children and learning from them every day.”
Joined NC Child staff: 2014
Pets: Max the dog and Boots the cat
When Jada was 8, she wanted to be a doctor. Today she’s a Public Policy and Political Science double major at UNC Chapel Hill committed to public service and social justice. As NC Child’s Child Welfare Intern, Jada is researching a variety of child welfare approaches, including ombudsman programs and individual advocacy, that could be applicable in North Carolina.
Joined NC Child staff: 2020
Pets: Two dogs, Jack and Hammer
At age eight, Fawn wanted to be a large animal veterinarian. As Senior Campaign Director at NC Child, she boils down complex policy issues to what’s really at stake for kids so North Carolinians can engage in critical public policy issues. She collaborates with all the members of our advocacy team to advance policies that create opportunity for more children in North Carolina to thrive. She has an MA and a Certificate in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill. She also serves as NC Child’s in-house craft beer sommelier, Fun Team secretary, and third vice-chair of the Yarn Club.
Fawn’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “The wonderful co-workers”
When La-Mine was eight, she wanted to be a chef. Today she still loves to cook, and she coordinates NC Child’s outreach and story collection work, leading both our Youth Advocacy Council and Parent Advisory Council. La-Mine received her BSW at NC State University, She recently received her MSW from NC State while also working full-time and raising a family. Believe it or not, she also finds time to read.
La-Mine’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Being a part of a team that’s striving to use both data and the lived experiences of people to inform our work.”
Joined the NC Child Staff: 2017
Pets: Blackie the dog
When she was eight, Ileana wanted to be a writer. Today she’s the chief talent recruiter for the Voices for Children Choir. She works closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to create and oversee NC Child’s fundraising efforts, with a focus on individual and major giving. Ileana received degrees in Music and Art History from UNC Greensboro. She serves as vice president of NC Child’s Fun Team and Yarn Club. She lives in Raleigh with her partner Jared, three sewing machines, nine bicycles, at least ten unfinished knitting projects, dozens of cookbooks, and way, way, way too many records to count.
What Ileana likes best about working at NC Child: “Receiving Tom V’s interoffice memos.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2019
Pets: Dignan the dog and Applejack the cat
When J’vanete was eight years old, she wanted to be a lawyer and a cheerleader. Though an unusual combination of vocations to aspire to, she has always recognized her desire to inform, advocate for, and encourage others. As the Voter Engagement Specialist for NC Child, J’vanete works with our Child Advocacy Network hubs to engage their constituencies through non-partisan voter education and encourage people to vote in the best interest of children and their families. Her favorite thing about working for NC Child is the inspiring and unwavering devotion each member of the team has for making the lives of North Carolina’s children and families better. She has a BA in Communication Studies from UNC Wilmington and is a Certified Community Resiliency Model Trainer. J’vanete lives near the beach with her husband and two children.
Joined NC Child Staff: 2020
Pets: Two cheeky grand-birds named Rio and Billy Bob Joe; an aloof grand-hamster named Pumpkin Spice
When Adam was eight, he wanted to be a professional soccer player. Born in West Virginia, Adam moved to Salisbury, NC (the home of Cheerwine) at age 12, where he lived out his dreams of soccer stardom. As NC Child’s Statewide Cat Herder, Adam leads our grassroots advocacy efforts to promote economic opportunity and improve children’s health and well-being. Adam also leads the Child Advocacy Network. Adam received his BSW from Appalachian State University and MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. He lives in Durham with his wife and three children. He enjoys reading the newspaper the old-fashioned way.
Adam’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “Advocating for kids!”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2015
Pets: none
When Whitney was eight, she wanted to be a pop star. She has come close in her role as NC Child’s point person for lawmakers and media. As Acting Policy Director, Whitney leads the agency’s legislative advocacy efforts and uses data and research to analyze how public policy can better support children and families. She collaborates on strategy with our advocacy team and external partners, and also manages the North Carolina KIDS COUNT data program. Whitney has an MPH from the University of South Carolina and a BA in public policy from Vanderbilt University. She serves as captain of the NC Child Fun Team and lead restaurant critic.
Whitney’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “I laugh every day.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2017
Pets: An unusually handsome cat named Seven
When she was eight, Sarah wanted to be a waitress, and pursuing that dream got her through college. Today she serves up collaborative efforts to build effective oral health systems for kids in North Carolina. As Apprentice Utility Infielder, Sarah often jumps in to help advance all our health policy goals. Originally from Kansas, Sarah attended New York University and graduated with a degree in early childhood/elementary education. She is also the founder and CEO of the NC Child Yarn Club.
Sarah’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “The mission and fabulous staff.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2015
Pets: One cat, a crazy greyhound, and an ancient terrier
As a child, Debra dreamed of becoming an artist when she grew up, and this love led her to a bachelor’s in art history. She still loves the arts, and at NC Child she brings a creative flair to supporting our team. Debra’s thorough, efficient style keeps everyone’s work flowing more smoothly. When she’s not making spreadsheets, Debra loves reading, cross-stitching, ballet, visiting museums, and finding the next delicious thing to eat. She’s also the newest member of the NC Child Yarn Club.
Pets: none
Dr. Johnson received her B.A. in psychology from Duke University, and completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980. Her clinical, teaching and research activities have all focused on infant mental health and on high-need children and families, particularly preterm infants, as well as children with medical conditions, developmental disabilities, or experiences of abuse and neglect.
From 1986 until her retirement in 2016, she was employed at WakeMed Health and Hospitals as a pediatric psychologist and coordinator of the Developmental Team of the Pediatric and Neonatology services. She is certified in the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and the Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior, and is a Senior Trainer in the NIDCAP© and is certified as an NNACP site reviewer. She is past president of the North Carolina Infant Mental Health Association, is a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Partnership for children, and is active in a number of statewide early childhood and family advocacy organizations and projects.
As a young boy growing up in New York City, Tom dreamed of becoming a firefighter. He has spent the last four decades fighting for the health and safety of North Carolina’s children. As NC Child’s Utility Infielder, Tom is one of the state’s leading voices for maternal and child health. Tom received his MPH from Columbia University. He is passionate about the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, and Giants, and has more awards named after him than anyone else in the office.
Tom’s favorite thing about working at NC Child: “The warm staff camaraderie.”
Joined NC Child Staff: 2000
Pets: Tom is a cat lover with no cats
