Meet the 3 co-chairs of the Carolina North Stakeholder Advisory Committee

The Carolina North Stakeholder Committee is composed of 31 members — from students and alumni to faculty, coaches and local community members — who are advising the University on its largest expansion since the 18th century. The committee brings a variety of professional and personal experiences and backgrounds, representing a unique collaboration between the University and surrounding community.

The same is true of the group’s three co-chairs, Anita Brown-Graham ’91 (JD), Aaron Nelson ’97 and Brian Allen.

Brown-Graham, director of the ncIMPACT Initiative and associate dean for strategic initiatives at the UNC School of Government, has a wealth of knowledge on working with public officials and how universities can collaborate with communities.

For 25 years, Nelson, a former student body president, has served as president and CEO of The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, a role that has given him expertise on Orange County, local government and business development.

Allen has served on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees since 2025 and has more than two decades of experience as president of Precision Walls, a Cary, North Carolina-based commercial construction business, bringing knowledge on large-scale projects.

“I think that the perspectives and the skills of the three co-chairs are probably as complementary as they could be, and hopefully that gives the committee more confidence about the process,” said Brown-Graham following the committee’s first meeting on June 8.

At the inaugural meeting, committee members introduced themselves, described why they’re excited about serving on the committee and asked questions during a presentation by Tiffany Lacey, Carolina’s executive director for real estate development.

Read more about the three co-chairs and what they bring to the committee.

Anita Brown-Graham

Brown-Graham speaks at the Carolina North Advisory Committee’s inaugural meeting on June 8 at The Friday Center. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

At the inaugural committee meeting, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts addressed the group, telling them, “We don’t have a more important strategic project at the University” than Carolina North.

Roberts stressed that the group’s work will be heard and considered by University leadership — a sentiment Brown-Graham appreciated.

“I don’t think that means the University can do everything that every person wants, but it means that this is a meaningful process and people’s time will be well spent,” Brown-Graham said. “I think that matters.”

With the ncIMPACT Initiative, Brown-Graham leads work supporting local communities across North Carolina, helping them use data-driven insights and evidence-based strategies to tackle complex issues like workforce development, suicide prevention, educational attainment and the opioid epidemic. One of the initiative’s largest projects has been Carolina Across 100, a five-year program to partner with communities in each of the state’s 100 counties.

Aaron Nelson

Nelson believes that Carolina’s “got the opportunity to do something extraordinary” with Carolina North. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

In addressing the committee, Roberts said “I don’t know of another site” like Carolina North in the southeastern U.S.

“We have to get it right,” said Roberts, noting that the project stands to benefit not only the University but the community at large, driving the local economy and helping with affordable housing.

Nelson’s background and career experience has equipped him with an understanding of how important collaboration between the University and the local community is and how good teamwork can lead to powerful change.

He shares the chancellor’s enthusiasm for Carolina North, noting that he was drawn by the opportunity to serve as a co-chair because he remembers the planning process in the mid-to-late 2000s for the initial attempt at developing Carolina North, which was thwarted by the 2008 financial crisis.

Almost two decades later, he believes “we’ve got the opportunity to do something extraordinary.” “And I believe that we can,” Nelson said.

Brian Allen 

Allen’s construction background will be helpful in planning a project as large and wide-ranging as Carolina North.

During Allen’s leadership, Precision Walls has consistently ranked among the Engineering News-Record’s top 10 wall and ceiling specialty contractors in the nation.

In addition to his business, Allen has also been involved with several ventures across the real estate, construction, manufacturing, software and medical industries.

“He has significant relevant expertise from the construction and real estate industry that will be helpful to the process,” Roberts said of Allen.

Allen said he’s excited to work with committee members on a vital project.

“Carolina North represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the University and our community,” Allen said. “By bringing together diverse perspectives, asking thoughtful questions, and working collaboratively, we have the opportunity to create something truly extraordinary that will serve UNC, our community and future generations for decades to come.”