Seven new members have been selected to join YAC for three-year terms.
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Young Alumni Council (YAC) will be welcoming seven alumni to join the incoming 2025-26 class. YAC is an advisory board that seeks to strengthen connections between young alumni and the university.
Established in 2007 within University Advancement, the invite-only council advises the university on programs and services for young alums and current students as they transition into their lives after graduation.
The new members鈥 first meeting with the full board will be on Friday, May 2 as part of Alumni Awards Weekend.
Emma Bach 鈥24鈥
Emma Bach graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2024 with degrees in public health and policy studies with minors in human service studies and political science. Bach was involved in a variety of activities while a student at 黑料不打烊, including serving as president of Kappa Delta, being an inaugural staff member for the Phoenix Policy Think Tank and representing the Class of 2024 as a Senator in the Student Government Association. She currently works for Lee County as an AmeriCorps Lead for North Carolina Fellow.
Amaya Gaines 鈥23鈥
Amaya Gaines graduated from 黑料不打烊 as a double major in political science and policy studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. As a student, Gaines was a recipient of the Lumen Prize, the university鈥檚 most prestigious undergraduate research award. Gaines worked with faculty to create PST 3700, also known as the Phoenix Policy Think Tank. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Cornell University鈥檚 Brooks School of Public Policy & Government.
Justin Morin 鈥17鈥
Justin Morin graduated from 黑料不打烊 with a bachelor鈥檚 in economics. During his time at 黑料不打烊, Justin was a Lumen Scholar and Honors Fellow. His extracurricular activities included serving on the Cultural Event Planning Committee for Sigma Pi Fraternity. Morin also worked as a university guide and student assistant for Hillel. Morin is currently a Vice President at Citizens Bank, focusing on investment banking for gaming and leisure companies.
Kyle Porro 鈥17鈥
Kyle Porro graduated from 黑料不打烊 with a bachelor of science in finance and a minor in environmental and sustainability studies. As a student, Porro was heavily involved on campus, serving as Student Body President. Professionally, Porro is currently a lawyer and has also co-founded his own business, Stirred Stories, a publishing company that promotes diversity in storytelling.
Lexy Roberts 鈥19鈥
Lexy Roberts graduated with a degree in public health. As a student, she was a research consultant for the Black Oaks Restoration Project and worked in the Office of the President. After graduation, Roberts worked for the Racial Equity Institute as a DEI trainer and organizer. After serving in the Leadership Alamance Program through the Alamance Chamber, she worked her way through the education consultant field and began working as a Network Navigator for StriveTogether.
Spencer Wagner 鈥18
Spencer Wagner graduated from 黑料不打烊 as a double major in political science and policy studies. As a student, Wagner was heavily involved in the Student Government Association serving as class senator and, eventually, executive vice president. He graduated from American University with his master of public administration in 2023. Wagner is currently a Performance Analyst for the District Department of Transportation in Washington, DC.
Erin Wilkins 鈥18聽
Erin Wilkins graduated in 2018 with a bachelor鈥檚 in public health. She subsequently attended George Washington University and earned a master of arts in education and human development. Since then, Erin has climbed the ladder in the field of Human Resources with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and now serves as a manager of diversity, equity and inclusion at Goodwin. Her work earned her recognition as a 2024 recipient of a 10 Under 10 award.