Africa to Carolina Exhibit Acknowledgements

Members of the Africa to Carolina Advisory Board Current

Dr. Anna Agbe-Davies

Associate Professor, Anthropology Department, University of North Carolina

Ayla Amon

Curator of Social and Political History, North Carolina Museum of History

Ramona Bartos

Director, Division of Historical Resources, N.C. Office of Archives and History

Dr. Joseph Beatty

Research Supervisor, N.C. Office of Archives and History

Tracey H. Burns

Deputy Secretary for Diversity, Accessibility, Equity, and Cultural Inclusion, N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

Sharon Bryant

African American Outreach Coordinator, Tryon Palace

Ann Chinn

Founder and Executive Director, Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Marker Project

Jaki Shelton Green

North Carolina Poet Laureate

Dr. Lynn Harris

Associate Professor, Department of History, Maritime Studies Program, East Carolina University

Karen Hayes

Site Manager, Somerset Place State Historic Site

Bob Hopkins

Site Manager, Edenton State Historic Site

Earl Ijames

Curator of African American History, North Carolina Museum of History

Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson

Chair, North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, Dean, School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, Shaw University

Michelle Lanier

Director, Division of State Historic Sites and Properties

Charles “Chuck” LeCount

Deputy Director, Division of State Historic Sites and Properties

Dr. Sarah Mead Leonard

Research Historian, Division of State Historic Sites and Properties

Jim McKee

Site Manager, Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site

John Mintz

State Archaeologist, N.C. Office of State Archaeology

Dr. Nora Reber

Associate Professor, Anthropology Department, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Laura Rogers

Site Manager, Bath State Historic Site

Dr. Melissa Stuckey

Assistant Professor, History Program, Elizabeth City State University

Dr. Darin Waters

Deputy Secretary, N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

Katherine White

Deputy Director, North Carolina Museum of Art

Former Advisory Board Members

Kawan Allen 

Dr. Kevin Cherry 

Members of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission  

Institutional Partners


•    Eastern Carolina Foundation for Equity and Equality, Inc.
•    Facilitate Movement, LLC
•    Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Marker Project
•    North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort 
•    North Carolina Museum of Art
•    North Carolina Office of Archives & History 
•    North Carolina Office of State Archaeology 
•    North Carolina State Historic Sites
•    Tryon Palace

Community of Practice


•    Richard Barton
•    Phil Bicking
•    Janeen Bryant
•    Melody Hunter-Pillion
•    Kyun Hur
•    Kimberly Kandros
•    Kyma Lassiter
•    Adrienne Nirdé
•    Amber Pelham
•    Matt Provancha 
•    LeRae Umfleet
•    Angela Thorpe
•    Tamara Watkins

Community of Care & Inspiration 


•    Ann Chinn
•    Jaki Shelton Green
•    John Whit Franklin 
•    Michelle Lanier?
•    Sarah Mead Leonard?
•    Jim McKee
•    Dorothy “Dot” Redford
•    Participants in Africa to Carolina Community Meetings (2019)