Martin, Wright-Greene Named to 2026 Executive Leadership Institute

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Associate Vice Provost for Transformation Initiatives Jonathan Martin, J.D., and Darryl Wright-Greene, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor of Human Resources and chief human resources officer, are among 35 University of North Carolina System representatives selected to participate in its seventh Executive Leadership Institute cohort.

The eight-month institute, established in 2020, is designed to build the next generation of top leadership from within the UNC System. Participants were chosen from among those nominated at their institution or affiliate.

Learning modules are designed to deepen expertise essential for success at the executive level. Six interactive and experiential immersion modules will be delivered via a hybrid of virtual and face-to-face instruction at the UNC System Office and three UNC System partner institutions during the program. Additional team and individual executive coaching components will be provided in partnership with UNC Wilmington.

Graduates will have the opportunity to pay it forward as mentors for future cohorts, ensuring promising talent continues to develop across the UNC System.

Martin is an accomplished higher education leader with more than two decades of experience driving institutional transformation, operational excellence and student success across diverse university settings. At N.C. A&T, he leads university-wide innovation initiatives, including the establishment of the Transformation Initiatives Office and the successful deployment of Robotic Process Automation across multiple divisions to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Earlier in his career, Martin served chief of staff and senior adviser to three chancellors spanning eight years at Winston-Salem State University, where he played a central role in strategic planning, executive communications and cross-functional coordination. His leadership was pivotal in strengthening stakeholder relationships, enhancing governance and advancing initiatives in student retention, STEM education and economic development. Throughout his career, he has consistently bridged academic vision with administrative execution, earning recognition for his ability to mobilize resources, cultivate partnerships and champion innovation.

Martin holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a B.A. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to his academic credentials, he brings a unique global perspective shaped by consulting and travel experiences in more than 25 countries across five continents.

Wright-Greene oversees human resources initiatives at A&T with more than 2,800 permanent and temporary faculty, staff and student personnel and manages a staff of more than 30 human resource professionals and specialists. The Division of Human Resources is housed within the university’s Office of Business and Finance.

Wright-Greene joined A&T from St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he served as chief human resources and talent officer and led all areas of human resources for approximately 2,700 employees. Before then, he held progressive leadership roles including executive director of human resources and deputy Title IX coordinator at Dallas College Richland Campus, and senior director of Human Resources Systems at its central office. His experience spans various roles in human resources.

In addition to multiple executive leadership and professional certificates, Wright-Greene holds bachelor’s degrees in telecommunications and criminal justice from Michigan State University; an MBA from Madonna University; an M.Div. from Ashland University and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Liberty University.