First alumnus elected chair of board of trustees

Dear UNCSA Community,

I am pleased to announce the new slate of officers for 2022-23 for the UNCSA Board of Trustees, including the first alumnus to chair the board in the school’s history — Dance alumnus Mark Land, of Winston-Salem.

Mark, who served as vice chair last year, was elected chair. He succeeds Ralph Hanes Womble, who had served as chair since 2018. Mark was a student in the School of Dance from 1976-78. He danced pro fessionally with the North Carolina Dance Theatre for two seasons before joining UNCSA as manager of the school’s student employment office, “Applause,” in addition to working on the school’s annual fund. For nearly a decade in the 1990s, Mark served as alumni relations director at UNCSA before beginning a career in Wachovia Bank’s Charitable Services division and, later, serving as managing director for Wells Fargo Bank’s Center for Planned Giving. He was the senior managing director at Foundation Source, the nation’s largest provider of advisory services for private foundations, until his retirement in 2016.

In addition, Peter Juran, also of Winston-Salem, was elected vice chair. Peter is a legal counselor and litigator who has his J.D. from Duke University and previously served on the UNCSA Foundation Board. Alumna Rhoda Griffis (B.F.A. Drama ’83), of Atlanta, Georgia, was elected secretary. Rhoda is a professional working actress with more than 40 years and 250+ credits in film, television, theater, commercials, voice-overs and print. The officers were elected unanimously in a regular meeting held virtually earlier today.

The election of Mark marks a milestone for the board, which now counts four alumni as voting members and one, ex officio. In addition to Mark and Rhoda, voting members include alumni Jeffery Bullock (Dance ’83), head of the Hollins University M.F.A. in Dance Program, and Paul Tazewell (B.F.A. Design and Production ’86), Tony and Emmy award-winning costume designer. Alumna Beth Petty (Dance and B.F.A. Filmmaking ’97), head of the Charlotte Regional Film Commission, is an ex officio member.

Joining the board of trustees this fall as a voting, ex officio member is rising fourth-year student Kayli Kimerer, who was elected student body president in March. From Kansas, she is studying stage management in the School of Design and Production. She also is involved in the UNCSA Student Ambassador Program, is a Student Cohort Leader, and serves on the College Advisory Board of Winston-Salem. Kayli succeeds Jenna Cusack, who graduated in May.

For more information on all the new officers, please see the press release.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor