Advisory Council on Alumni Relations

The North Carolina A&T Advisory Council on Alumni Relations is a non-fiduciary, non-governing group that works with the Office of Alumni Relations by providing feedback that enhances programming for alumni engagement.

The council consists of up to 15 members appointed by the chancellor. Each member will serve for four years with term appointments starting Aug. 1 of each cycle. Also, a board of trustees member will be appointed to serve as council chair.

Alumni who serve on the advisory council will act as brand ambassadors representing A&T and will share the mission and goals of the university with other alumni, friends and donors.

Members of the Advisory Council on Alumni Relations are:

• Gatling is a U.S. Registered Patent Attorney and North Carolina Board Certified Trademark Specialist with the firm of Fox Rothschild LLP in Greensboro, where she practices in the areas of patents, trademarks, copyrights, software and related licensing and litigation matters.

• Cozart is retired and owner of FosCo Resources, a strategic business development consulting agency. He is a former board member of the North Carolina A&T Alumni Association Inc. serving as a regional director for the state of North Carolina. Also, he is an active volunteer for Boy Scouts of America, the Old North State Council and United Way of Greater Greensboro.

• Franklin is director of key accounts for Berry Global Inc. in Mason, Ohio. He is also president of the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University.

• Hatch is a corporate accounting manager for Urban One Inc. in Silver Springs, Maryland. She is also the former president of NPR Radio Speakers’ Toastmasters Club and a member of the Washington, D.C., Alumni Chapter ofNorth Carolina A&T State University.

• Hoover is a development engineer for Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, D.C. He has been an active member of the Washington, D.C., Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University for more than 20 years. In 2003, he received the N.C. A&T Alumni Association’s Velma R. Speight Young Alumni Award.

• McKnight is the chief consultant of Next Level Nonprofits LLC. She is an active member of the Queen City Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University and an Aggie Certified Alumni Recruiter.

• Sharma is a process support engineer for Applied Materials in Oregon.

• Smith is associate administrator for the N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension and a lifetime member of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association.

• Towns is regional director of governmental affairs for American Airlines in New York. He is president of the New York City Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University and a former member of the N.C. A&T Board of Visitors. In 2015, he received the N.C. A&T Alumni Association’s Howard C. Barnhill Distinguished Service Award.

• Gaynor-Vessels is an educator for Prince George’s County Public Schools and an active member of the Washington, D.C., Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University.

• Winstead is a supervisor of technical support management for Verizon and former president of the N.C. A&T Alumni Band.

•  Graves is a full-time instructor of business administration at Alamance Community College, where he also serves on the Faculty Affairs/Senate Committee. He previously held the position of assistant professor of leadership studies at North Carolina A&T State University. A U.S. Army veteran, Graves served as an airborne infantry officer with assignments at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and with the 59th Aviation Brigade/1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War.

• Kirkland is the vice president of global logistics at The Clorox Company, where he also serves as an advisor to the company’s Black Employee Resource Group and its Supply Chain Leadership Development Program. He leads logistics operations for a diverse portfolio of brands—including Brita, Burt’s Bees, Clorox, Fresh Step, Glad, Hidden Valley Ranch, Kingsford, Neocell, Pine-Sol, Poett, Rainbow Light, and RenewLife—across 23 countries. Kirkland also serves on the boards of The Aggie Gentz Foundation and the Henry Arthur Callis Education Foundation.

• Kimball is an administrative specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Serving as a liaison between the USDA headquarters and all 100 counties in North Carolina, she oversees key functions including budget management, training and development, purchasing and procurement, contract requisitions, and real property administration. She is an engaged member of the Halifax-Northampton Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University and actively participates in the Durham Alumni Chapter.

• Guinyard serves as a program coordinator for the Klein Independent School District in Klein, Texas, where he leads the development and implementation of the district’s mathematics curriculum. He is also a member of the College of Education Grant Advisory Board at North Carolina A&T State University.

• Watlington is the director of government affairs at the Farm Credit Council in Washington, D.C., where he represents the Farm Credit System—the nation’s largest agricultural credit provider. In this role, he is responsible for analyzing policy issues, managing legislative workgroups, and cultivating strategic relationships with members of Congress and their staff. Prior to joining the Farm Credit Council, he served on the staff of Congresswoman Alma Adams ’68, ’72, Ph.D., where he focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and advocating for increased federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Jasmine Amaniampong ’24 | Charlotte, North Carolina

• Jasmine Amaniampong is a recent North Carolina A&T State University graduate with a B.S. in Economics, driven by a strong passion for community engagement, non-profits, philanthropy, and higher education. During her time at A&T, Jasmine was deeply involved in leadership roles across campus, working with the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, the Student Government Association as the 2023-2024 President,  a member of the A&T Board of Trustees, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., among other service organizations. These experiences inspired Jasmine to pursue a career in University Advancement, where she now contributes to student success and institutional growth at UNC Charlotte. Jasmine manages philanthropic campaigns, donor engagement, and student-led fundraising efforts. In her leisure time, she enjoys community engagement and public speaking. 

Katina Richmond ’96 | Charlotte, North Carolina

• Katina is a seasoned HR executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in human resources, organizational development, training, and process improvement. As Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Carolina Biological Supply Company since 2008, she oversees key HR functions including talent acquisition, performance management, and employee engagement. Known for her strategic vision and commitment to excellence, Katina has led impactful initiatives enhancing organizational effectiveness. She is also an active community leader, having served on multiple nonprofit boards, and has received numerous awards, including the Julia S. Brooks Achievement Award and the Shirley T. Frye YWCA Mentor of the Year Award. 

  Katina holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from North Carolina A&T State University and multiple certifications, including PHR®, SHRM-CP, PMP®, Six Sigma Black Belt, and more. She is a member of the Gate City Alumni Chapter and immediate Past President.  A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she enjoys family life with her husband, Michael, and their daughter Mikala, also an NC A&T alumna. 

Will Saunders ’09 | Brooklyn, New York

• Will, a graduate of the Deese College of Business and Economics, is a College and Career Readiness coordinator and CTE teacher at P-TECH in Brooklyn, NY. With 20 years of education experience, he has served in various roles across North Carolina and New York. 

   An active member of the NYC Alumni Chapter, he serves as vice president and was formerly the chapter treasurer. Will received the 2019 Velma Speight Young Alumnus Award and contributed to the best-selling book The HBCU Experience: The North Carolina A&T State University 3rd Edition. He enjoys traveling, dining, concerts, and spending time with his nephew, a future Aggie, born in 2024.  

  Pamlyn Stubbs ’66 | Charlotte, North Carolina

• Pamlyn is a veteran public servant and political strategist with extensive experience in government and community leadership. She served as District Director for U.S. Congressman Melvin Watt and managed the successful campaign of NC State Senator Gladys A. Robinson. An active member of the NC Democratic Party State Executive Committee and the Guilford Black and Brown Women Initiative, she remains deeply engaged in civic affairs. 

  A proud two-time alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, Pamlyn holds degrees in Professional Biology and Adult Education. She is a member of the Gate City Alumni Chapter and has served the former alumni association at all levels. She also was honored with receiving the Howard Barnhill Award for Distinguished Service in 1998. 

  Pamlyn continues to advocate for equity, education, and community empowerment across the state of North Carolina. 

For any questions about the Advisory Council on Alumni Relations, please email alumni@ncat.edu.