Advisory Boards

The Thomas Collage of Business and Economics draws from the insights of two advisory groups that help shape the student experience and strategic direction of the college. The Dean’s Student Advisory Board gives you a voice in the college’s decision-making, allowing you to represent your peers, share feedback and develop leadership skills. The Dean’s Board of Business Advisors brings together business leaders who offer industry insight, mentorship and support for academic programs. Together, these boards connect the college’s leadership with both the professional world and the student body.

Student advisory board

Dean's Student Advisory Board group photo with nine student members and a faculty member.

The Dean’s Student Advisory Board at UNC Pembroke’s Thomas College of Business and Economics gives you the chance to share student perspectives, develop leadership skills and help shape the academic experience. As a board member, you’ll work directly with college leadership to support student success and strengthen the business community.

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Objectives

The Board shall assist the College of Business by accomplishing the following objectives:
  • Develop systems to help the Thomas College of Business and Economics strengthen its sense of community, and create better relationships with each faculty and staff in hopes of being able to better address the issues and concerns of students.
  • Assist in developing a positive image for the college and promoting good relations between the faculty, administration, business community, and students.
  • Provide advice and counsel to the dean on all pertinent matters affecting the college, internal as well as external, so as best to relate the college and its programs to the changing needs of the student body.
  • Establish and maintain a system to inform students of new and existing educational opportunities.
  • Assist in keeping the college and its programs closely attuned to the needs of current and future students, specifically those pursing the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
  • Assist in ensuring the programs and activities of the college are of high quality.

Membership

The Dean’s Student Advisory Board shall normally consist of a minimum of ten members with a maximum number of twenty currently enrolled students. There shall be at least one member from each undergraduate major offered by the Thomas College of Business and Economics.  All decisions regarding membership shall be determined by a majority vote of the active members of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board.

Qualifications & Term of Membership

Qualifications:
  1. Declared major in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5* for students joining the Dean’s Student Advisory Board. 
    1. If an applicant does not meet the GPA requirement, they may submit a 1 – 2 page paper explaining why their GPA is low and they feel this factor should not prevent them from being a board member. Additionally, applicants must have a plan to bring their GPA up to the 2.5 minimum qualification by the end of the semester.
  3. An applicant will receive special consideration if they have a nomination from a faculty or staff member.
*The Board shall revisit the GPA requirement during the last meeting of each academic year. 

Term: The term begins as soon as selected and ends upon graduation, or resignation.

Duties & Responsibilities

  1. Become knowledgeable about the Thomas College of Business and Economics, its functions, procedures, curriculum, management and accreditation.
  2. Promote the image of the college on campus and in the community.
  3. Attend regular, special, and committee meetings, and events of the board.
  4. Inform on current and emerging educational and research needs of various constituencies and  provide feedback on how well the college is meeting those needs through its curricula, programs and other offerings.
  5. Provide feedback on the college’s missions, goals, and strategic plan.
  6. Board members shall attend the college’s Business Speakers Series and/or give presentations to student organizations and classes.
  7. The board will host events in order to promote the college.

Objectives

The Board shall assist the College of Business by accomplishing the following objectives:
  • Develop systems to help the Thomas College of Business and Economics strengthen its sense of community, and create better relationships with each faculty and staff in hopes of being able to better address the issues and concerns of students.
  • Assist in developing a positive image for the college and promoting good relations between the faculty, administration, business community, and students.
  • Provide advice and counsel to the dean on all pertinent matters affecting the college, internal as well as external, so as best to relate the college and its programs to the changing needs of the student body.
  • Establish and maintain a system to inform students of new and existing educational opportunities.
  • Assist in keeping the college and its programs closely attuned to the needs of current and future students, specifically those pursing the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
  • Assist in ensuring the programs and activities of the college are of high quality.

Membership

The Dean’s Student Advisory Board shall normally consist of a minimum of ten members with a maximum number of twenty currently enrolled students. There shall be at least one member from each undergraduate major offered by the Thomas College of Business and Economics.  All decisions regarding membership shall be determined by a majority vote of the active members of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board.

Qualifications & Term of Membership

Qualifications:
  1. Declared major in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5* for students joining the Dean’s Student Advisory Board. 
    1. If an applicant does not meet the GPA requirement, they may submit a 1 – 2 page paper explaining why their GPA is low and they feel this factor should not prevent them from being a board member. Additionally, applicants must have a plan to bring their GPA up to the 2.5 minimum qualification by the end of the semester.
  3. An applicant will receive special consideration if they have a nomination from a faculty or staff member.
*The Board shall revisit the GPA requirement during the last meeting of each academic year. 

Term: The term begins as soon as selected and ends upon graduation, or resignation.

Duties & Responsibilities

  1. Become knowledgeable about the Thomas College of Business and Economics, its functions, procedures, curriculum, management and accreditation.
  2. Promote the image of the college on campus and in the community.
  3. Attend regular, special, and committee meetings, and events of the board.
  4. Inform on current and emerging educational and research needs of various constituencies and  provide feedback on how well the college is meeting those needs through its curricula, programs and other offerings.
  5. Provide feedback on the college’s missions, goals, and strategic plan.
  6. Board members shall attend the college’s Business Speakers Series and/or give presentations to student organizations and classes.
  7. The board will host events in order to promote the college.

Board of Business Advisors

The Dean's Board of Business Advisors (BBA) brings the Thomas College of Business and Economics and its constituents closer to one another. Board members are business and government leaders who provide the dean of the college with advice on the changing educational needs of business graduates and the role of the college in the community.

The primary purposes of the Board of Business Advisors are to:

  • Advise the Thomas College of Business and Economics on how to make an increasingly greater impact.
  • Promote the college and its centers to its constituents: students, faculty, administration, alumni, area businesses and the community at large.
  • Enhance the working relationship between the college and its constituents by providing feedback and soliciting support, financial resources and partnerships necessary to meet mutual needs.

Business Advisors Board Members

Name Company Title

CHAIR: Darek W. Hunt

Aurora Strategic Advisors, LLC 

Founder/Chief Investment Officer

Thomas Becker

Circle K Proprietary Brands, US

Director

Cyrus Boga

Hamilton Venure Network 

Chief Executive Office

Travis Bryant 

T-Mobile

Account Executive for Public Safety

Tina M. Bowen

Suds of LOVE

Founder

James Chavis 

Holiday Inn Express, Pembroke 

General Manager

Patrick Corso

Business Consulting Corso Partners

CEO

Greg Cummings

Town of Pembroke

Mayor

Chris English

Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director

Mark Epstein

Chariot Payments

CEO/CTO

Alan Fowlkes

COMTECH

Executive Director

Harvey Godwin Jr.

Two Hawk Employment Services, LLC

CEO-Owner

Robert Hayter, PLA 

LKC Engineering, PLLC

Senior Advisor
Edward Hunt  UNCP - KBR Coordinator
Joseph James, PhD Small Business Technology Development Center, Cape Fear Reashion Director
Josh Jackson Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Randall Johnson, MBA

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

 Executive Director - Southeastern Region 

Allen Meadors

 

Former Chancellor of UNCP
Don Metzger UNCP Board of Trustees Former Trustee
Dewey Norwood  Wells Fargo  Senior Lead Diversity & Inclusion Consultant

Pramit Patel 

Best Western in Lumberton 

CEO-Owner

Matthew A. "Mat" Patterson, CPA 

Patterson & Associates, PLLC Certified Public Accountants 

Partner

David Pope

Scotland Health Care System

Chief Executive Office

David Richardson

Lumber River Council of Governments - LRCOG

Executive Director

Aaron Thomas 

Metcon

President & CEO

Tyler Thomas 

Town of Pembroke

Town Manager 

Joe White 

Tuff Digital Marketing 

CEO-Owner

Beth Wilkerson, MBA 

SBTDC 

Executive Director

Rhonda Williamson 

WBTW/Nexstar Digital and Financial Services

Account Executive