John P. Preyer (John)

Chair
Elected 2019; term ends 2027
Chapel Hill, NC
jppreyer@unc.edu

John Preyer is the Co-Founder and President of Restoration Systems, an environmental company specializing in wetland, stream, nutrient, and habitat mitigation, headquartered in Raleigh. The company has over 80 mitigation projects in twelve states, including the first water quality bank to reduce nutrient loading ever approved in the country.

He has been a member of the UNC Institute of the Environment Board Visitors since 2011 and previously served on the University Board of Visitors from 2012 to 2016.

Before founding Restoration Systems in 1998, Preyer worked in the United States Senate on environmental and defense issues as Legislative Director for Senator Lauch Faircloth of North Carolina.  From 2002-2006, Preyer served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a non-profit environmental group advocating for coastal rivers, creeks, and wetlands. He worked closely on the formation of the North River Wetland Preserve, the largest saltwater marsh restoration project in North Carolina.

Preyer graduated from UNC in 1990 with a B.A. in political science. He is married to Joanie Lacy Preyer from Winston Salem, UNC 92’ Journalism. They have lived in Chapel Hill with their two children for the past fifteen years. Preyer embraces the motto Facta, Non Verba.

Malcolm K. Turner (Malcolm)

Vice Chair
Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Henderson, NV
malcolm@unc.edu

Malcolm K. Turner currently serves as head of strategy and corporate development for DraftKings. He previously served as vice chancellor and athletics director at Vanderbilt University. Turner also was president of the NBA G League, managing director at the Wasserman Media Group, and senior vice president and a member of the leadership team of OnSport, a North Carolina–based sports and entertainment consulting firm. A UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, Turner also earned joint JD and MBA degrees from Harvard University. While a student at Carolina, he was a Rhodes Scholar finalist, Morehead-Cain Scholar, and recipient of the Ernest L. Mackie Chancellor’s Award for character, scholarship and leadership. Turner served on the advisory boards for Teach for America, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, and the board of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund.

Ramsey R. White (Ramsey)

Secretary
Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Washington, DC
ramseywhite@unc.edu

Ramsey White is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. White worked in the development departments at the Morehead-Cain Foundation and at the University of North Carolina. She is now an active volunteer focused specifically on children’s causes, both with her children’s schools and her community broadly. She has co-chaired the chief fundraising event at Landon School, Durham Academy and University Presbyterian Preschool, two times each in the last decade. Currently, she is an active volunteer at Landon School and Holton-Arms School in various roles.

Additionally, she and her children served as an Area Coordinator with the inaugural chapter of Familes4Families, pairing local volunteer families with carefully vetted nonprofit partners to deliver groceries and other essential items monthly to families. She and her husband, also a graduate of the University, live in Washington, DC with their two children.

Patrick Ballantine (Patrick)

Elected 2023; term ends 2027
Wilmington, NC
Patrick.Ballantine@unc.edu

Patrick Ballantine is a former North Carolina State Senator where he served from 1994-2004. Ballantine is an attorney licensed to practice in state court, federal court, and the United States Supreme Court. He founded Ballantine Company, Inc., a public affairs firm specializing in government relations.

Ballantine has been active in Rotary, Jaycees, United Way, Special Olympics, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, and other local organizations in his home of Wilmington.

Ballantine graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in political science, and he received his law degree from the University of Dayton.

James Blaine II (Jim)

Elected 2023; term ends 2027
Raleigh, NC
jim.blaine@unc.edu

Jim Blaine is a third generation Tar Heel.  He has over 20 years of experience working in state government, the North Carolina General Assembly, and the political and policy space in North Carolina.

The state’s press has called him one of the “top political minds” in the state. Today, Jim is a partner at the strategic and public affairs firm The Differentiators.  He lives in Raleigh with his wife and four daughters.

David L. Boliek Jr. (Dave)

Elected 2019; term ends 2027
Fayetteville, NC
david.boliek@unc.edu

Boliek is an attorney and partner with Williford, Crenshaw, Boliek and Frangakis LLP in Fayetteville. His practice focuses on litigation and consults on healthcare issues, specifically those in the allied health field. Previously, he spent several years as an award-winning journalist, political consultant and public relations professional. Boliek also previously served as CEO of a government contracting firm and as a prosecutor in Cumberland County. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill and J.D. with honors and MBA from Campbell University. His community leadership roles have included serving on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, Boy Scouts of America and youth sports. He currently serves as chair of the Southeast Regional Area Health Education Center and as an elder at Highland Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.

Bradford B. Briner (Brad)

Elected 2023; term ends 2027
Chapel Hill, NC
bbbriner@unc.edu

Brad Briner joined Willett Advisors in 2012 and is the Co-Chief Investment Officer, where he is responsible for real assets and public markets investments, as well as the operations of the business. Willett manages the philanthropic and personal investment assets for Mike Bloomberg.

Before Willett, Mr. Briner held positions at Morgan Creek Capital, the UNC Management Company, ArcLight Capital and Goldman Sachs.

Mr. Briner graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar with a degree in economics with distinction. Mr. Briner also received an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.

He currently serves on the board of trustees for Phillips Exeter Academy, the board of directors of the Boston Omaha Corporation (NYSE: BOC) and the debt affordability advisory committee for the State of North Carolina.

Mr. Briner and his wife reside in Chapel Hill, NC with their four children.

Robert P. Bryan III (Rob)

Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Charlotte, NC
rob.bryan@unc.edu

Rob Bryan received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with honors from the Duke University School of Law. Bryan has extensive legal, government, development, and real estate experience. For over a decade he represented real estate developer clients across the Southeast as a partner at Womble Carlyle before leaving in 2016 to serve as Chief Development Officer at Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions.

Bryan recently started Break Bread Ventures, a franchisee of Slim Chickens, with two partners where he serves as the Executive Vice President for Development, Legal, People.  He served as Chief Legal Officer at a healthcare management company helping the state with COVID testing and vaccine administration. In addition, Bryan served as a member of the North Carolina Senate (2019-2020) and served two prior terms as a representative in the North Carolina House (2012-2016).

Bryan has served on numerous boards including the University of North Carolina Board of Governors (2017-2019) and the UNC Board of Visitors (2013-2017).

Jennifer Halsey Evans (Jennifer)

Elected 2023; term ends 2027
Chapel Hill, NC
jenevans@unc.edu

Jennifer Halsey Evans has served high-growth medical technology companies for 25 years as an investor, advisor and senior executive in strategy and finance. She served as Chair of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund, Chair of UNC’s Board of Visitors, and Co-Chair of UNC’s $5 billion Campaign for Carolina.  She also served as Professor of the Practice in UNC’s Department of Economics, leading an undergraduate honors seminar on entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley.

Ms. Evans began her career in healthcare investment banking at Goldman Sachs after graduating from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Highest Honors and Distinction as a Morehead Scholar.

She co-founded and led Asante Partners — a strategic advisory firm focused on medical technology mergers — for sixteen years. She then served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for NYSE-listed Varian Medical Systems, the $16 billion global leader in cancer therapy.

Perrin W. Jones, MD (Perrin)

Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Charlotte, NC
perrin.jones@unc.edu

Dr. Perrin W. Jones is an anesthesiologist with Providence Anesthesia Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jones received his bachelor of arts degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and his doctor of medicine degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. His residency in anesthesiology was at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in 2003. Perrin’s professional associations include serving as a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA); and President of the North Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (NCSA) in 2015; and North Carolina Institute of Medicine since 2018; and a founding committee member of the Toward Accountable Care Consortium, North Carolina Medical Society. Perrin’s Carolina activities include service on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, the Student Recruitment Committee, and Legislative Liaison Committee. He is a member of the Gerard Legacy Society and the General Alumni Association.

He and his wife live in Charlotte and are the proud parents of three children.

Vimal P. Kolappa (Vimal)

Elected 2023; term ends 2027
Chocowinity, NC
vkolappa@unc.edu

Vimal Kolappa is the founder and CEO of East Coast Hospitality, a hotel group with over 25 properties throughout North Carolina and Virginia. He serves on the board for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and previously served on the board of trustees for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.  

He is the founder of the North Carolina Association of Indian Americans, an organization that addresses community issues meaningful to Indian Americans as well as the Triangle at large. Kolappa received an MBA from the University of Chicago. 

W. M. “Marty” Kotis III (Marty)

Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Greensboro, NC
mkotis@unc.edu

Marty Kotis is the CEO and owner of Kick Ass Concepts, a commercial real estate developer, managing properties in North and South Carolina in addition to multiple hospitality businesses. Kotis earned a bachelor of science degree in business from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 1991 and an MBA from UNC-Greensboro in 1995. Kotis served previous terms on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

Ralph W. Meekins Sr. (Ralph)

Elected 2019; term ends 2027
Shelby, NC
rmeekins@unc.edu

Meekins, Sr. is an attorney with Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, PLLC in Shelby, NC and he has practiced for over 33 years, primarily in the area of personal injury and workers compensation. He is board certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is also a board certified mediator. Meekins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UNC in 1983 and his J.D., with distinction from Campbell University School of Law in 1986.

He was a basketball manager for the Carolina men’s basketball team that won a national championship in 1982 and he served as head basketball manager for the Tar Heels in 1983. He has served on the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Bar Association, a State Bar Councilor for the North Carolina State Bar, and he presently serves as a trustee for the North Carolina Bar Association’s Health Board Trust. He has also served as a chair for the Cleveland County YMCA, the Dover Foundation YMCA, and for the Cleveland County Community Foundation. He recently served four years on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors.

Vinay B. Patel (Vinay)

Elected 2021; term ends 2025
Charlotte, NC
vin.patel@unc.edu

Vinay B. Patel received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently serves as a Principal for SREE Hotels, LLC. Prior to that he was appointed President and CEO for SREE Hotels, LLC in June 2012. In these roles, he was responsible for day-to-day operations, sales and marketing for the 25 hotels that are owned and operated by SRE Hotels and franchised with Hilton, Marriott and Intercontinental Hotel Group.

Prior to joining SREE, Patel worked in brand marketing for Microtel Inn & Suites and in marketing, sales and advertising for Knights Franchise Systems. Patel currently serves on the board of directors for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association. He is also a franchisee elected member of the TRIA (Residence Inn by Marriott) FAC and a member of the Aloft FAC.

A native of the Fiji Islands, Patel resides in Charlotte with his wife and their two children.

Jaleah Taylor (Jaleah)

Ex-Officio Member 2024-2025
Student Body President
SBP@unc.edu

 

 

 

 

Assistant Secretary
Christopher D. McClure (Chris)

UNC-Chapel Hill
Office of the Chancellor
103 South Building – CB #9150
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9150

University Program Specialist
Paulette J. Stroman (Paulette)

UNC-Chapel Hill
Office of the Chancellor
CB #9150
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9150