Board Members
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.
Allison Saviello
Allison Saviello
Board Member
Allison Saviello is an experienced school counselor, admissions consultant, and higher education professional with more than 15 years of expertise guiding students and families through the college admissions process. She currently serves as an Admissions Consultant with Solomon Admissions Consulting, where she helps students craft competitive applications, develop strategic academic and extracurricular pathways, and prepare compelling personal essays for highly selective colleges and universities.
Previously, Allison worked as an Application Reader for New York University, evaluating applications from across the Southern U.S. and San Diego region, and as a school counselor at Enloe Magnet High School and Cleveland High School in North Carolina. In these roles, Allison supported thousands of students with academic planning, college and career readiness, scholarship applications, and crisis intervention, while managing large caseloads and leading innovative programming such as College Readiness Nights, on-site admissions events, and ACT preparation initiatives.
Allison began her career in undergraduate admissions at High Point University, where she advanced to Assistant Director of Admissions and designed programs still in use today. She later worked as an Account Manager at USA TODAY before returning to education, where she has combined her business acumen with a passion for student success.
An active member of the counseling and admissions community, Allison has served on the Executive Committee for the Raleigh National College Fair, as an Application Reader for The Gates Scholarship, and as a member of East Carolina University’s Counselor Advisory Board.
Allison holds an M.Ed. in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.B.A. in General Management from High Point University, and a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in German, also from High Point University.
Carolyn Coia
Carolyn Coia
Treasurer and Chair, Finance Committee
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.
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.
Elizabeth Kolb Cunningham
Elizabeth Kolb Cunningham
Chair, Governance Committee
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.
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.
Julian Berla
Julian Berla
Julian Berla is excited to join the Board and to serve the RTHS school community. A 2018 graduate of RTHS, Julian will provide a unique perspective on how the school can best achieve its mission and vision of increasing access to STEM education in the Research Triangle and beyond.
In 2023, Julian earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from NC State University.
Julian currently works as a Controls Engineer and Developer for Brock Solutions, a leading provider of airport automation technology, where he designs, programs, and commissions state-of-the-art baggage handling systems for some of the largest airports in the US.
He also volunteers his time as a business mentor for RTHS’s nationally recognized robotics program.
Michael Dwomoh
Michael Dwomoh
Vice Chair
Michael Dwomoh is a PhD-qualified Mechanical Engineer with experience in financial services. Since 1999, he has worked across three continents with two global banks. Dr. Dwomoh focuses on risk management and process improvement across the First and Third Lines of Defense.
Dr. Dwomoh is versed in business continuity and resilience practices, data analysis, strategy development, and internal auditing.
His specialties include Business Continuity Planning, Client Relationships, Team Building, CBCP, Disaster Recovery, Crisis Management, Risk Management, Risk Assessment, Operational Risk, Enterprise Risk Management, Data Analysis, and Strategy Development.
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.
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.
Steven Hunter
Steven Hunter
Board 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.