The NC AAHC is leading NC DNCR in the effort to create a Speakers Bureau centered on sharing North Carolina’s liberation history. The esteemed experts below are willing to present lectures surrounding Juneteenth, African American history, and topics related to freedom-seeking. Additional information will be available on the NC AAHC website as we continue to share rich stories from our state’s Juneteenth history in celebration of this national holiday.
Adrienne Nirdé M.A.
North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Adrienne Nirdé (pronounced "Near-day") was appointed as the Director of the NC African American Heritage Commission in June 2023. Prior to this role, she served as the Commission's Associate Director where her role focused on grant project management, heritage trails, and communications. For over ten years Adrienne has worked in museums and cultural institutions including the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville, NC, and the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC. She holds a master's degree in museum studies and bachelor's degrees in history and anthropology, all from Indiana University. Adrienne is a graduate of the Jekyll Island Management Institute and the Smithsonian's Ethical Interpretation Workshop. Adrienne has always had a primary interest in sharing diverse stories, particularly those that have not yet been told and centering on the communities that hold them. Adrienne lives in Wendell, NC with her husband and their daughter.
Natalie Rodriguez M.A.
North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Natalie Rodriguez is a North Carolina native raised in Durham. Natalie attended the historically Black university, North Carolina Central University, for her undergraduate career and earned her B.A in History.
She attended North Carolina State University's Master program and earned her M.A. in Public History. She has interned with the National Park Service, The Greening Youth Foundation, and North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources with the NC Historic Sites and NCAAHC.
For the last four years, Natalie has been the Tour Coordinator at the North Carolina State Capitol with the division of North Carolina State Historic Sites. Her responsibilities include planning and implementing educational programs for visitors and volunteers. She is a contributing researcher for the Capitol's new website, FROM NAMING TO KNOWING.
Khadija McNair M.A.
North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Khadija McNair has served as the Freedom Park Manager since January 2024. Originally from Durham, NC, Khadija has a strong background in historical research, historical interpretation, and community engagement. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from North Carolina Central University in 2017 and went on to complete her Master of Arts degree in History with a concentration in Public History in 2020. Prior to joining Freedom Park, Khadija worked within NC State Historic Sites, including Historic Stagville State Historic Site, Duke Homestead State Historic Site, and Charlotte Hawkins Brown State Historic Site. Additionally, Khadija has lent her expertise to various public history projects, such as the Orange County NC Slave Deed database and the Durham Black Burial Grounds Collaboratory. By conveying the richness and depth of African American history, Khadija aims to foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the contributions and experiences of those who have improved the spaces we call home.
Shafantae Desinord Ph.D
North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
Dr. Shafantae Desinord is a Haitian-American woman born and raised in Belle Glade, Florida. Her research is linked to her culture and experiences growing up in South Florida with immigrant parents. She is a University of Florida alumna who graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in African-American Studies, minoring in Anthropology. She then joined the AmeriCorps non-profit organization City Year, where she taught Social Studies at Turner Elementary in Washington, D.C. After her year in the corps, she enrolled in graduate school at Howard University, earning her M.A. in history with a concentration in diaspora studies in 2020.