I am a pediatrician at WakeMed and enjoy caring for a very diverse patient population of babies, children, and teens. I see first hand how hard families are working, and know there are way too many in our community struggling to make ends meet. One clear path to reducing family stress and improving outcomes is education. I became interested in the HOST home program because I am passionate about helping students reach their potential. I have so much respect for the hard work my young patients have put into their schooling, and am incredibly proud when they are able to overcome the many obstacles and jump through the many hoops needed to get them into college. I have seen too many times how small things--a needed car repair, an illness, a job change--can derail the delicate balance and force young people to drop out of school. To be so close to obtaining a degree and breaking the cycle of poverty, to have already invested time and money and then have to abandon this goal, is absolutely heartbreaking to me. My family and I want to do what we can to help students through a hard patch so that they can move forward to pursue a productive career. Being a pediatrician is all about prevention, and I’m hopeful that playing a small part in helping a student complete a college degree will go a long way to prevent bad outcomes not only for that student, but for their future children, and even their children’s children. What a great investment in the future of our community!

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Amy is an Education Law attorney at Poyner Spruill. Her practice group represents local school boards, private schools, and charter schools across North Carolina. Amy focuses her practice on special education, including issues arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and North Carolina state policies governing services for students with disabilities. Amy received her law degree from Campbell University School of Law and a doctorate in school psychology from North Carolina State University. While at NC State, Amy participated in program evaluation of an NIH-funded program designed to support minority students in STEM degree programs, as well as program evaluation of community-based programs focused on supporting children and families experiencing homelessness, and on providing on-site parent training and support in a pediatric clinic setting.

Dr. Vonda M. Easterling is a vision-driven and student-centered leader with over 25 years of experience in higher education in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Enrollment Management. She is a collaborative and transformational leader with a steady record of accomplishments and initiatives that focus on fostering environments that promote equity, inclusion, and student success. Although her work is germane to all students and all institutional types, her passion is working with first-generation college students on HBCU campuses. 

Dr. Easterling is the Executive Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC. Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Dean of Student Conduct and Community Standards and Director of Housing and Residence Life at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC.

Sarah currently works at North Carolina State University for the Student Support Services TRIO Program ensuring low-income first-generation college students are competitive applicants for graduate school and career employment upon earning a bachelor’s degree. She also serves the greater campus community as Co-Chair of the campus Steering Committee on Student Food and Housing Security at NC State and Chair of the community Steering Committee on Student Food and Housing Security at NC State. In these roles, I work with housing insecure and homeless students in a myriad of capacities. To meet the mission of her different roles at NC State, she started several new programs. One is a podcast for TRIO students by TRIO students, Beyond The Bell Tower Podcast. Two, a partnership between TRIO and Wake County DHHS was established to increase the number of eligible students applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Before NC State, Sarah worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters Services, as well as the University of Connecticut, the University of Maine, and the University of Massachusetts.

Sarah earned an M.Ed. in Counseling and Psychological Services from Springfield College (Springfield, MA) and a B.S. in Sport Behavior from West Virginia University.

Mary is a professor in the Department of Psychology at NC State. In addition to serving on the HOST Advisory Council, she is a member of the Advisory Council for REACH, a program of Passage Home that serves families experiencing homelessness. Mary also serves as the University/College representative on the new Wake County Affordable Housing Advisory Working Group.

Jessica Gunn has worked for Haven House for 13 years, serving in various capacities including therapist, supervisor of the Multisystemic Therapy program, Trauma informed care trainer, Leader in Diversity Equity & Inclusion, and now Director of Human Resources.  She has a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University and recently obtained her Professional in Human Resource certification. Jessica’s career has allowed her to meet and offer support to youth, families and adults experiencing various types of adversity.  She is excited to bring her experience to the HOST program as a board member and to learn more from the young people being served in the program.

I have worked as a pathologist at UNC-Rex Hospital since 2002. Having three college students of my own, I know how stressful this time can be, even without housing being an issue. When I became aware of the work HOST planned on doing in the Triangle, I was happy to serve on the board and volunteer as a host family for students now that we have extra room with our children out of the house.

Anne E. Lundquist, PhD (she/her), is Director of The Hope Center and Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Health and Population Science in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. At Hope, Anne has the privilege of working alongside researchers, scholars, advocates, policy advisors, and storytellers who envision a world where basic needs insecurity is no longer a barrier to pursuing and completing college. In partnership with hundreds of colleges, agencies, and social change agents, Hope takes a systems-change approach to co-creating a higher ed landscape where educational opportunity is universal and equitable.  Anne has served as the assistant vice president for campus strategy at Anthology, the director of assessment and strategic planning at Western Michigan University, as well as senior student affairs officer at four colleges. She is the co-editor of Reframing Assessment to Center Equity: Theories, Models and Practices (Routledge, 2022). She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University and a BA in Religious Studies from Albion College. She is a 500-hour trained yoga teacher and served in the Peace Corps in Micronesia. She is the mother of Drew and Chelsea (a PhD in Public History student at NC State) and Nana to Rowan, Kit and Mira-Jayne.

I am an NC State alum, graduating in 2017 with a BS in Accounting and a Masters in Accounting in 2018. I am a licensed CPA in North Carolina and an Assurance Manager with FORVIS, LLP in Raleigh. I wanted to get involved in the community and when thinking back on my own experiences I felt compelled to find a way to help college-aged individuals. It’s such a formative time when your decisions and circumstances can impact so much of your future life, both professionally and personally. I am eager and excited to be able to contribute to the HOST mission which gives students in need a foundation and support system that is critical in helping them to complete their education and create a life for themselves.

Tianna Harrison's background is rooted in North Carolina, where she was raised with a strong emphasis on education and service. She attended The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, obtaining a B.S. in Organizational Communication, followed by a Masters in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. Tianna's passion for academics is complemented by her commitment to serving others which was evident from a young age through her volunteer work in various capacities. This blend of academic achievement and community service led her to found VYA Solutions, dedicated to supporting small businesses and individuals with great ideas lacking necessary support for growth. As an unexpected surprise, Tianna was granted an opportunity to work with one of the Triangles leading creative agencies through VYA and has since began serving as the Vice President of Operations.

Tianna's interest in joining the Board of Housing Options For Students Today (HOST) is deeply personal and professional. While at Florida International University (FIU), she founded Housing One Student at a Time (H.O.S.T) in 2017, aligning closely with HOST's mission to address housing insecurity among college students. Despite challenges stemming from insufficient funding, institutional support, and relocation , her commitment remained strong. Witnessing HOST's innovative approach reignited Tianna's passion for this cause, prompting her to seek a role where she can contribute her expertise and learn from fellow board members to advance impactful solutions for students facing housing insecurity. Tianna's blend of educational background, service-oriented ethos, and experience in non-profit leadership make her a dedicated advocate for the mission of HOST and a valuable addition to its board.

Cam is a graduate of NC State in global sustainability, and currently works at the Raleigh Pathways Center as the Youth Services Administrative Technician. She previously worked with the City of Raleigh in the Parks and Recreation department for community outreach initiatives as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and continued her contract with the Wake County NC Extension office as the College Hunger and Housing associate. She assisted in developing projects such as a student resource guide and a collegiate basic needs student coalition, of which she is now a co-consultant. Cam is excited to be a part of a team that prioritizes the success and health of students who are experiencing basic need insecurities.