Board of Trustees

North Carolina State University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina (UNC) system. According to the UNC Code, NC State shall have a board of trustees composed of 15 persons: eight are elected by the UNC Board of Governors; six are appointed by the General Assembly, three upon the recommendation of the president pro tempore of the Senate and three upon the recommendation of the speaker of the House of Representatives; and the president of the student body serves an ex-officio member.

The Board of Trustees shall promote the sound development of its institution within the functions prescribed for it, helping it to serve the people of the state in a way that will complement the activities of the other institutions and aiding it to perform at a high level of excellence in every area of endeavor. Each board of trustees shall serve as an advisor to the Board of Governors on matters pertaining to its institution and shall also serve as advisor to the chancellor concerning the management and development of the institution.

Members:

Marie F. Arcuri, Winston-Salem, N.C. (2023-2027)

Marie F. Arcuri is the Dealer Principal and Owner of Flow Imports, Inc., dba Flow
Lexus of Winston-Salem and Flow Lexus of Greensboro. She received a
Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
from NC State University and is currently a CPA in the State of North Carolina.
Currently, Marie serves on the Senior Services Foundation Board and is the past
President. She has been a member of the Board of Visitors of Brenner Children’s
Hospital, served on the Executive Committee of the Economic Development
Partnership of North Carolina, Kaleideum Museum, Ronald McDonald House,
and Chair of Summit School Board of Trustees. As a leader in the community,
Marie has served as President of the Junior League of Winston-Salem and has
served on numerous other boards over the years including YWCA, Leadership
Winston-Salem, Salvation Army and Arts Council of Winston-Salem.
Marie is a recipient of the Triad Business Journal’s Women in Business Award,
YWCA Woman of Vision Award, and the YWCA Volunteer Leadership Award.
Also, she received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the City of Winston-
Salem and the Katherine Reynolds Johnston Legacy Award. Marie is married to
Guy Arcuri and they have two grown children, Hope and Matthew.

Derick S. Close, Charlotte, N.C. (2023-2027)

Derick Close serves as the Chairman of Springs Digital and Springs Creative, Springsteen Capital, Springsteen Properties, and serves on the board of the Springs Companies, Workhorse Holdings, and the Carolina Creative Products Group. Close serves on the Executive Committee of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CRBA), the Palmetto Business Forum, the SC Chamber of
Commerce, the Charlotte YMCA, The Kappa Alpha Order, and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, (SCMA). He is member of the NC Executive Leadership Group and the Charlotte Sports Foundation. Close currently serves on the Board of Trustees for NC State University, and served on the UNC System Board of Governors. Close is a member of YPO Gold and CEO. He was a former partner in the Carolina Panthers and of the Winston-Salem Dash. He was formerly the Chairman of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). Close earned his BS in Textile Management from NC State University and his MBA from the UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School and recently graduated from Harvard’s CEO Executive Management Program. He and his wife Sallie reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, and have three adult children: Baxter, Claude, Craddock, and 3 grandchildren, Jack Petrone, and Sallie and Reeves Close.

Erik L. Dixon, Wake Forest, N.C. (2021-2029)

Former vice president at Broadcom Limited and CEO of LVL7 Systems. Spent over three decades running businesses and developing end product, semiconductors and software in the networking equipment industry. Currently a strategic advisor for AccessOn Networks, which is helping to provide advanced networking technology to the rural areas of North Carolina. Member of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Hall of Fame, former member of the Board of Visitors, former part-time lecturer in the NC State College of Engineering and former member of the NC State MAE Advisory Board. Holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School (1998) and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from NC State University (1988).

David Dee Herring, Lillington, N.C. (2021-2029)

David Herring is vice president of Hog Slat Inc., a family-owned business engaged in turnkey construction of confinement-type hog units, manufacturing and distribution of hog equipment and production of live hogs. He is a 1981 graduate from the NC State Agriculture Institute with an associate’s degree in livestock management. David is a former president of the National Pork Producers Council and a former president of the North Carolina Pork Producers Council. David and his wife, Lisa, live in Lillington, North Carolina. They have three children: Maggie, Mary Ellen, and Billy and four grandchildren.

James L. “Jim” Holmes, Jr., Raleigh, N.C. (2023-2027)

Jim Holmes founded Sentinel knowing that structured, measurable, and smart processes drive results. With over 20 years of professional experience in positions including Controller, Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Operations, and Chief Operating Officer at companies in the United States and abroad, Jim possesses the industry insight required to help clients protect investments, assets, and businesses. As the managing partner at Sentinel, Jim oversees client and business operations and has led the company’s expansion throughout the Carolinas. Jim’s current client portfolio includes operating companies, professional liability, complex casualty, commercial real estate, income properties, and growth companies.

Timothy L. Humphrey, Raleigh, N.C., Secretary (2021-2029)

Timothy Humphrey is currently IBM’s Chief Analytics Officer. He is also the Senior State Executive for IBM in North Carolina and Senior Location Executive for IBM in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, one of the company’s largest sites. Active in the community, Tim serves as a board member for many local organizations spanning the non-profit, economic development, healthcare, and education sectors. He is an engaged and active mentor to over 30 global professionals, students, and youth. Tim has established endowments and awards in the areas of engineering, integrative sciences, athletics, and equal opportunity. He graduated from NC State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and is a member of the NC State Electrical and Computer Engineering Hall of Fame. Tim is a North Carolina native and currently resides in Raleigh.

Ghazale Johnston, Charlotte, N.C. (2023-2027)

Ghazale Johnston is the founder and principal of Joon Solutions. Previously, she served as chief operating officer for Daymaker, and she also worked for 20 years at Accenture as a partner and managing director in the financial services practice. Johnston received her B.S. in textile and apparel management and a B.A. in multidisciplinary studies with a minor in Spanish from NC State. Prior to her appointment to the University’s Board of Trustees, Ghazale served as Chair of the NC State University Foundation Board and was on the Leadership Council for Wolfpack Women in Philanthropy. In 2024, Ghazale and her husband, Andy created The Ghazale and Andy Johnston Impact Scholars Endowment to provide sustained resources to the College of Humanities and Social Science’s Impact Scholars program. At the university level, she created the Johnston Family Caldwell Fellows Endowment and helped endow the Student Emergency Fund. Ghazale’s involvement in the Charlotte community includes volunteering as a weekly HEART math tutor and serving on the Novant Health Foundation Board.

Wendell Murphy, Rose Hill, N.C. (2023-2027)

Wendell Murphy is the Chairman and CEO Emeritus Murphy Family Farms, Inc.  He has served in both the North Carolina Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives.  Murphy is the former chair of the NC State University Board of Trustees and former Chair of the university’s Endowment Fund Board.  He has been a member of the Centennial Authority since its inception in 1995 and is a 1999 recipient of the Watauga Medal.  Murphy obtained a B.S. in Education in 1960 from NC State University.

George “Robin” Perkins III, Sanford, N.C. (2025-2029)

Robin Perkins founded Spinners Capital, a real estate developer of industrial, multi-family, and self-storage properties. He is the former Senior Vice President of Gildan, Inc. Perkins was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Yarns, now Gildan, Inc., which grew into one of the largest producers of cotton & cotton blend yarns in the world. At Frontier, he was responsible for operations, strategy, vision, marketing, and company culture. Perkins has been a business leader in the textile industry for over 30 years and has served on the board of the National Cotton Council as an Executive Committee Member. He is a founder of Dogwood State Bank, based in Raleigh, NC, where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2019. Additionally, Perkins serves on the board of NC FREE and the Sanford Area Growth Alliance. Perkins received a B.A. in Textile and Apparel Management from the NC State University Wilson College of Textiles. He has served on the Textile Foundation at the College for over ten years and was Chairman of Membership and Governance.

Ven Poole, Raleigh, N.C. (2018-2029)

Ven Poole is the former chairman and CEO of Waste Industries USA and now serves on the Board of Directors of GFL Environmental Inc. following their merger. Ven also serves as trustee and past chair of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation, and as a director and nominating and governance committee chair for NCInnovation, Inc. He has served on multiple NC State committees, including the Entrepreneurship Initiative Advisory Board and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board. Poole earned a B.S. in aerospace engineering in 1985 from NC State.

David M. Powers, Raleigh, N.C. (2023-2027)

David Powers is the managing principal of Powers Strategies LLC, a full-service government relations firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has been involved in the political arena and at the highest levels of corporate government affairs. Powers spent over 20 years managing public affairs for Reynolds American, eight of those at the helm of the company’s state government relations efforts. After retiring from Reynolds American in 2015, Powers joined the Winston-Salem law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice as the senior government relations consultant before venturing out to form his own public affairs firm in 2017. He is a member of the United States Business Associates, an organization of committed business and public affairs executives who work to foster stronger ties with European countries through spirited engagement with European business leaders on issues relating to education, commerce and public affairs. In 2011 the North Carolina General Assembly appointed Powers to serve on the UNC System Board of Governors, and he was reappointed to serve in that capacity in 2015 and 2019. During his time on the Board of Governors, he served as chair of the Committee on University Governance and the Committee on Strategic Initiatives. Powers graduated from NC State with a bachelor’s degree in economics and earned an MBA from Campbell University.

Perry R. Safran, Raleigh, N.C. (2020-2027)

Founding partner of Safran Law Offices. Chair of the University Development Coalition political action committee. Appointed vice chair of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. Appointed inaugural and current member of the Lenovo Center Centennial Authority. Former chair of the School of Public and International Affairs Board of Advisors. Former president of the NC State Alumni association. Former Raleigh City Council member. 2019 recipient of the Meritorious Service award from the NC State Alumni Association. Member of the Peele Giving Society and the Pullen Society. B.A. from NC State, MBA from Wake Forest University, and J.D. from Campbell University.

Harry Shaw, Wilmington, N.C. (2025-2029)

Harry Shaw has been in private business for over 35 years and has founded a ready-mix business, a mining company and a concrete pumping company that became a major player within their industries. These businesses were later sold to international players. Now Shaw is focused on private investments which continues to provide numerous jobs with investments in a wide range of real estate projects throughout the southeast. Shaw also has served on numerous boards of directors including President of the Carolinas Ready Mix Concrete Association, The National Ready Mix Concrete Association, National Concrete Pumping Association, Con-tech Manufacturing, Inc Advisory Board and various Bank Boards. Shaw’s greatest accomplishments are his wife, four children, and his beautiful granddaughter. And in his spare time enjoys going to a NC State football game as he has been a fan all his life.

Edwin J. “Ed” Stack III, Morehead City, N.C., Vice Chair (2019-2027)

Ed Stack is vice president of Starflite Companies in Beaufort, NC.  He previously served as the associate executive director of the NC State Student Aid Association, where he worked for 16 years.  Ed has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and during his time as vice president, he served as the board’s representative on both the NC State University Foundation Board and the NC State University Investment Fund Board.   He is currently Vice Chair of the NC State Endowment Fund Board of Trustees and a member of the Carteret Education Foundation Board of Directors.  Ed graduated from NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles with a Bachelor of Science in textile apparel and management in 1992, and he served two terms as student body president from 1990 to 1992.

Isaac Carreno, Goldsboro, N.C. (2025-2026)

Isaac Carreno is a senior studying Political Science and Social Work with a minor in Philosophy. His academic interest is tailored to policy development and its interactions with legal, government, and social systems. Carreno has been involved in Student Government since his freshman year, and currently serves as the Student Body President. In the past, Isaac was a First-Year Student Senator, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Student Body Vice President. Outside of school, Isaac engages in volunteer work in the Raleigh community and has extensive involvement in public service with internships at the NC General Assembly, US House of Representatives, and the White House. Upon graduation, Isaac hopes to pursue a career as an attorney.