Board Members
Mitch Babb
Mitch Babb
Chair, Finance Committee
Mitch Babb is an accomplished healthcare leader with a rich history of experiences spanning over three decades. As a seasoned professional in the healthcare industry, Mitch has consistently demonstrated a balance of humility, compassion, and strategic acumen, driving positive improvements within the organizations he has served.
Throughout his career, Mitch has held pivotal leadership roles that involved strategic, clinical, and operational projects. Currently, Mitch is a Senior Nurse leader in the Novant Health network where he leads the Patient Throughput and Logistics Center.
Prior to his tenure at Novant Health, Mitch served as Chief Operating Officer at Duke Regional Hospital, a prestigious institution within Duke University Health System. In this capacity, he oversaw the multifaceted operations of a 388-bed urban community hospital, leading it toward excellence in quality patient care and organizational performance. Mitch’s leadership was evident in his strategic initiatives, including spearheading a $100 million Behavioral Health addition and Emergency Department renovation, and his instrumental role in Duke Health’s COVID-19 response efforts, which saw the administration of over 50,000 vaccines in underserved communities.
Mitch’s commitment to excellence extends beyond his professional endeavors, as evidenced by his past and current involvement in community activities and charitable initiatives. During his career, he has served on various boards, including the Duke LifePoint Haywood Regional Medical Center Board of Directors and the Durham YMCA Advisory Board, and has led international mission trips aimed at providing medical aid to underserved communities. Currently, he serves on the Research Triangle High School (RTHS) Board of Directors and is the chair of the RTHS finance committee. He is also actively seeking future opportunities to serve those in need across the international community.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Mitch cherishes quality time with his family, including his wife, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and their two children. An avid traveler and fitness enthusiast, he finds joy in exploring new destinations and maintaining an active lifestyle.
With a strong dedication to advancing healthcare excellence and a deep-rooted commitment to serving others, Mitch continues to leave a mark on the healthcare landscape, embodying the qualities of a true leader and humanitarian.
Carolyn Coia
Carolyn Coia
Chair, Governance Committee
Former Board Chair
Carolyn Coia is the Vice President of Real Estate for the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (managing entity of Research Triangle Park) and leads the real estate development activities of the Foundation (RTP proper, Frontier, Boxyard, and Hub RTP – the future downtown of RTP).
Carolyn’s experience also includes work with a group of companies owned by private equity, where she was heavily involved in acquisition pro forma work, budgeting/forecasting (P&L, BS, CF) and miscellaneous financial modeling.
A Pennsylvania native, Carolyn holds a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Jeni Corn
Jeni Corn
Chair, Academic Excellence Committee
Jeni Corn is the Director of Research and Evaluation at the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). At NCDPI she leads a small team of experts in the areas of educational research, evaluation, and policy to develop a robust research and evaluation agenda; coordinate state- and local-level research and evaluation studies; and build research and evaluation capacity for NCDPI and local leaders.
Elizabeth Kolb Cunningham
Elizabeth Kolb Cunningham
Board Chair
Elizabeth Kolb Cunningham is an education policy leader with academic, policy, and legal expertise, dedicated to influencing policy, implementing innovative programs, and building strategic partnerships in PK-12, higher education, and community organizations. Elizabeth collaborates with policymakers, non-profit organizations, and K-16 educational organizations across North Carolina and the nation.
Elizabeth previously served as the Assistant Vice President for the Division of Academic and University Programs at the University of North Carolina with responsibility for the University’s partnerships with P-12 schools and initiatives addressing teacher and school leader preparation and quality.
Elizabeth earned a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and JD from Wake Forest University School of Law. Elizabeth returned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study Curriculum and Instruction at the School of Education and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Leadership in Learning Organizations.
Professionally, Elizabeth is proud of her work in drafting North Carolina’s Comprehensive Remedial Plan (Leandro Plan), creating the NC New Teacher Support Program, and developing the UNC laboratory schools. But Elizabeth is most proud of her family – her daughter Caroline, son Will, and dogs Venable and Brunswick.
Steven Hunter
Steven Hunter
Board Vice Chair
Dr. Hunter retired as an IBM Fellow and Executive in 2018 after 35 years and has been an NC State University Adjunct Professor for 25 years. He had a career in IBM in the Network, Systems and Research organizations and was the Executive Champion for the NCSU/IBM Pathfinder and the North Carolina STEM Programs during this time.
Steve received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, his master’s degree from NC State University, and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University, all in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Steve is the recipient of several IBM awards, was named an IBM Fellow in 2011, and elected to the IBM Academy of Technology soon after. Steve has been a licensed North Carolina Professional Engineer since 2002 and was named to the NC State University Electrical and Computer Engineering Hall of Fame in 2019.
Steve enjoys the outdoors by biking, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and running. He organizes a Neuse River kayak trip from Raleigh to New Bern (Capital to Capital) every April.
Samina Khaliq
Samina Khaliq
Board Member
Samina Khaliq is thrilled to be joining the board this year. After 15 years as a high school Social Science teacher, she is transitioning into a legal career.
Samina grew up in Southern California, (lived abroad for some of my childhood) and completed her education at UCLA with degrees in Political Science and Arabic Language/Literature. Samina earned a Master’s in Secondary School Social Science Education from the University of South Florida.
Samina’s teaching experience includes AP World History, AP US Government, and AP Psychology. Though she misses the classroom, she is eager to contribute her experience as both a teacher and parent to the Board. Samina’s daughter Leena is a first-year student at RTHS, and she also has two 13-year-olds, Nylah and Ayden, and a 5-year-old, Ilyas.
Dina Requena
Dina Requena
Chair, Development Committee
Dr. Dina Requena is a Research & Development Operations Executive, Entrepreneur, Consultant, and Adjunct Professor with over 25 years of experience managing technology product strategies from conceptualization to full market implementation for multibillion-dollar technology and biotechnology corporations.
Adept at driving business growth and sustainability, identifying and securing business opportunities, supervising global cross-functional teams, streamlining policies and procedures, securing necessary start-up funding, reporting to senior management, and fostering beneficial partnerships, Dina currently works as an Executive in Residence & Professor at Duke University. She is an Active community contributor through her involvement in in numerous organizations that promote STEM education such as education both in the US and globally.
Dina holds a B.S. in Engineering from Universidad Agraria, Peru, an M.S. in Engineering from Louisiana State University, and Ph.D. in Engineering from North Carolina State University, and a master’s certificate from the George Washington University School of Business. During her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her family.
Sondra Rivers-Kobler
Sondra Rivers-Kobler
Board Member
Former Board Chair
Sondra Rivers-Kobler is a Director in the Global Markets Technology Division at Credit Suisse (CS). She began her career with CS in 1987 (NYC), and has held several IT management positions with responsibilities of leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing multi-million dollar global IT programs that delivered technology solutions to business stakeholders in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific regions, as well as across a diverse group of financial products including, but not limited to, Syndicated Lending, Leverage Finance, Foreign Exchange, and Commodities. Sondra has worked in Switzerland, UK, and Singapore, and has traveled extensively to many other countries.
In 2007, Sondra was among the first leaders to relocate to Credit Suisse’s Raleigh, where she established and led the Fixed Income Technology division, which included a diverse team of application developers, business analysts, testers, and support specialists. After a long and distinguished career, Sondra will be retiring from CS at the end of 2018, but remain in the area and continue working in the community promoting STEM education and careers for girls and under-represented populations.
Beyond her “day job,” Sondra leads and fosters a culture of active employee engagement and responsible corporate citizenship at Credit Suisse, and in the greater Triangle region. Some of her extra-curricular responsibilities include CS Black Professionals Network (senior sponsor); CS IT Women’s Council (co-senior sponsor); Triangle Women In STEM (Steering Committee Member and STEM Pipeline Lead); Citizen Schools (senior sponsor); CS RAVE (Recognizing And Valuing Excellence) Peer-to-Peer Global Recognition Program (Program Creator & Former Lead), Research High School Board Member; UNC-Chapel Hill and NC A&T Campus Recruiting Senior Sponsor.
Phoebe Thermitus
Phoebe Thermitus
Board Member
Phoebe Thermitus is currently the Vice President, Digital Solutions Chapter Leader at Fidelity Investments. For over 20 years, Phoebe has worked in the technology industry, leading teams to effectively work together to deliver results and has worked across several areas, including product development, product operations, marketing, and digital transformation.
Phoebe is passionate about leadership and helping others to appreciate their unique value. She does this through coaching, training, mentoring, and even in her volunteering. Phoebe is originally from New Jersey and has called North Carolina home for over 16 years.
Phoebe holds a B.S in Math & Computer Science from Rutgers University, a M.S in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. Her daughter, Alexis, is a Sophomore at RTHS and she is excited to serve on the RTHS board.
Aliette Tobian
Aliette Tobian
Board Secretary
Ailette Tobien is the Regulatory Affairs Project Manager at GlaxoSmithKline.
Ailette Tobien moved to North Carolina for graduate school and was also enticed by employment opportunities in the Research Triangle Park and the 4-season weather.
Immediately after graduating, Ailette gained employment locally in the pharmaceutical industry and has remained interested in this field for the past 25 years. She started as an analytical chemist and evolved to a regulatory affairs project manager for global products while working at commercial manufacturing sites, as well as in Research & Development.
Ailette was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States as a child. She holds a Master’s in Analytical Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Maria Walden
Maria Walden
Board Member
Maria Walden is an accomplished engineer with over 25 years within the computer industry focused on Hardware and Software Development, Supply Chain and Business Operations. Currently, she serves as a WW Alliances Manager for the Lenovo Corporation. She is responsible for the key strategic corporate alliances across several Lenovo Business Units (DataCenter, ThinkStation, and Commercial). This work consists of working with the Business Units and the partners on defining/closing joint innovations, strategies, and execution in a means to create a win/win solution.
Prior to moving to Lenovo, Maria spent 16 + years within the IBM corporation. Maria possesses a broad engineering background which encompasses project engineering, process engineering, test evaluation, design/development, and people management. She has worked in a variety of different organizations providing both direct and matrix management support across multiple functional areas.
Maria is very ambitious, highly respected by her employees, peers, and upper management, and is someone who strives for excellence. She works well under pressure and with others on all levels, is extremely motivated, has superb leadership and communication skills, and is very structured and organized. Maria received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia State University in Electronic Engineering Technology and her Master of Science Degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Electrical Engineering, graduating magnum cum laude and summa cum laude, respectively. At IBM, Maria received her Master’s Certificate in Project Management and has attended/led various leadership/enrichment courses to continue to enhance her skills.
Outside of her professional career, Maria has spent time as an adjunct professor at North Carolina A&T State University where she taught a first-year C programming class for approximately 4 years. Although her primary goal was to teach students mastery of the C programming language, she also utilized that opportunity to help enhance their professional marketability outside the classroom. This consisted of exposing the students to valuable resume and interviewing techniques, the importance of co-op/internship opportunities, as well as an array of real-life corporate activities such as giving oral presentations before their superiors. Maria also mentors and provides career tips to several people today.
While at IBM, she was involved in several organizations consisting of the Women of Technology International, Black Diversity Network Group and Women’s Leadership BRI (Building relationships and influence). In Lenovo, Maria served as the chair for the US WILL (Women in Lenovo Leadership) employee resource group for three years. While under her leadership, she grew the organization across the US along with incorporating a board of Women leaders to help continue the efforts. “WILL” provides a platform where women can enhance their leadership skills and continue to grow their network.
Maria has also served on several boards focused on community and Women leadership and equality consisting of the YMCA, Board of Directors for the YWCA in Greensboro and she is currently a board member with Triangle Women in STEM focused on career development from K-12 to retirement. On the personal side, Maria enjoys traveling, working out and spending quality time with her family and friends.