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Page 3 of 6 Elizabeth (Beth)
<br />Human Relations Commission
<br />Background, education and experience relevant to this board:
<br />I am a licensed clinical psychologist by training, having worked in research and practice at Duke
<br />for 7 years and having earned a doctoral degree there in 2000. Since then, I have spent my
<br />career working in learning and development, adult education, leadership development,
<br />organizational consulting psychology and human resources, both internally and as an external
<br />consultant. Volunteer experiences include currently serving as the Graduate School Alumni
<br />representative on the Duke University Regional Alumni Board; formerly serving as President of
<br />the Triangle Organizational Development Network board; and recently having served on the
<br />board of Youth INC in New York, a venture philanthropy organization with a portfolio of 80 non-
<br />profits focused on improving the lives of youth through a range of services from academic to arts
<br />to sports. The confluence of my own academic and business experience with areas of focus
<br />generally related to human resources; diversity, equity and inclusion; organization development;
<br />adult learning and development; and career development gives me an excellent foundation to
<br />contribute to the Human Relations Commission.
<br />Reasons for wanting to serve on this board:
<br />I have always been passionate about human development and thriving and the improvement of
<br />our systems to promote a good life for each individual, family, and social group. My initial
<br />interest in psychology related to the human potential movement and positive, strengths based
<br />psychology and I applied this over time to my work in organizational consulting psychology and
<br />human resources. In addition, my background in health psychology/behavioral medicine and
<br />work in several health-related companies, has given me an important lens on social
<br />determinants of health and well-being and the interconnectedness of social stressors, social
<br />supports, individual mental and physical well-being, economic opportunity, community harmony,
<br />and so many other factors that fall under the umbrella of human relations and the work of this
<br />committee. Although this has long been a priority for me, the current social consciousness
<br />raising around systemic racism and the moral imperative for more inclusive and equitable
<br />institutions and policies has heightened my focus on this work in my current organization and my
<br />desire to act more broadly in my community to improve the lives of all members. For many
<br />years until recently I worked for companies outside the Triangle and traveled extensively for
<br />work so had limited capacity to commit beyond work and family. With my kids now 18 and 22
<br />and having settled into my current role as Chief People Officer at Well on Franklin Street in
<br />Chapel Hill, I am available to spend more time on the issues I care about and the needs of my
<br />local and regional community.
<br />Contribution to the diversity of viewpoints on this board:
<br />As noted previously, I've got an interesting combination of experiences that have broadened me
<br />substantially and I have tried to seek out continued learning and diverse experiences myself:
<br />being a scientist/psychologist with a very rigorous academic/research background, having
<br />pivoted into the business world in a range of organizations (Lash Group/AmerisourceBergen,
<br />The Center for Creative Leadership, AlixPartners Management Consultants, Contemporary
<br />Leadership Advisors and the Institute for Contemporary Leadership, and now Well, an early
<br />stage, high growth potential company in the healthcare space). I've had both internal work
<br />experiences, e.g., developing strategy and implementing programs, creating corporate university
<br />structures and resources, leading through matrix organizations, having to influence for change,
<br />etc. as Senior Director of Learning and Development at Lash, Coaching Practice Leader at CCL,
<br />and Chief People Officer at Well and, on the other hand, through consultant roles, having to sell
<br />and build business, learn quickly and develop content, effectively coach other leaders, and
<br />quickly assess organizations and teams from the outside and make actionable
<br />recommendations to improve, scale, reduce risk, remediate problems, transform, etc. I created
<br />the first Leaders of Color program within AmerisourceBergen in the early 2000 s and was then
<br />tapped to help start a corporate-wide Diversity & Inclusion Program. I ve mentored and
<br />informally foster parented young men of color, who have mentored me back, as a white female.
<br />And I've spearheaded a Social & Racial Equity initiative at Well that has further supported my
<br />learning about self and others, my own biases and privilege, and opened dialogues that have
<br />enriched my perspectives. On a somewhat different note, I have been stretched and challenged
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