North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has added seven new members to its Board of Trustees.
Farad Ali, Ryan Combs, Courtney Crowder ’00 and Michael Goodmon were appointed by the University of North Carolina (UNC) Board of Governors. Francesca D. Gary was appointed by the North Carolina Senate and Dr. Orlando R. Stovall ’76 was appointed by the North Carolina House of Representatives. Each appointment is for a four-year term.
Sha’Lexus Sanders, 2025-2026 president of the NCCU Student Government Association, joined the board for a one-year term.
All appointments began July 1, 2025.
Ali is an executive, investor and board leader with more than 30 years of experience transforming public, private and non-profit organizations. He brings deep expertise in P&L management, strategic risk oversight and competitive market positioning, with governance experience across aviation, healthcare, economic development, higher education and foundations. Ali is a board member of two nationally acclaimed Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) working to advance economic mobility and wealth equity with Black and Latino communities through strategic investment, job creation and leadership development. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University. Ali also completed executive education courses at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Combs is the executive director of Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) and works with economic development organizations in RTRP’s member counties to market the Research Triangle Region to potential investors. He previously served as legislative director for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and field representative on the North Carolina staff of U.S. Senator Richard Burr. Combs began his career in Washington, D.C., as a White House staff assistant under President George W. Bush and served in the office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole. He has served on the boards of the Triangle Flight of Honor and NC State University’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Research Foundation, and the Board of Visitors of Livingstone College. Combs is a graduate of NC State University.
Crowder is North America managing director and chair of advocacy for APCO, and is an expert in public affairs, government relations and political strategy with nearly 25 years of experience. In his current role, he manages APCO’s operations in Washington, D.C., and Raleigh. Crowder previously founded Crowder Consulting, where he provided tailored advisory services and served as legislative director and senior advisor to North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. Earlier experience included roles at Capstrat, the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the campaign and congressional staff of Congressman Bob Etheridge. An NCCU alumnus, he received a bachelor's degree in English literature and French from North Carolina Central University and master’s degree in liberal studies from Duke University. Crowder also completed studies at Oxford University’s Exeter College.
Goodmon is senior vice president for Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. (CBC). He leads the real estate, sports and family office divisions of CBC: The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality, and Coastal Plain League in Durham; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, N.C.; and The Greenville Yard Gnomes in Greenville, N.C.. He helped establish the American Underground startup hub – nationally recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship – and related real estate interests, and advocates for the Durham and Triangle communities through service on several boards, encouraging growth, entrepreneurship, sports growth and opportunities and community development. Goodman earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Hampden-Sydney College and a master’s degree in trust and investment management from Campbell University. Goodman, his wife, Liz, and their four children reside in Durham.
Gary serves as a senior vice president at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). She is responsible for strategic direction, performance and growth of BCBSNC Core Insurance Group which encompasses Government and Commercial market business segments. Gary previously served as the president of the East Region of Medicaid as well as senior vice president of Federal Government Solutions at Elevance Health leading a federal business group comprising National Government Services and WellPoint Military Care as well as the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program®.
Stovall is the owner of Stovall Dental and has been practicing general/family dentistry, including restorative, implant and cosmetic dentistry, since 1982. He has a Fellowship with International Congress of Oral Implantologists and previously served as president of the Wayne County (NC) Dental Society and the Old North State Dental Society. Stovall believes in giving back to his community and has provided hundreds of people with free dental care through Mission of Mercy and Dentistry from the Heart. He previously served as a trustee of Wayne Community College, chairman of the Wayne County Board of Health and on the board of Wayne County Public Schools. Stovall received a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.
Sanders is the 2025-2026 NCCU Student Government Association President. A dynamic student leader and dedicated scholar, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and plans to graduate in May 2026. Sanders is deeply committed to community impact and political action, serving as precinct chair for the NCCU campus polling site. She also led NCCU’s “Soar to the Polls” voter education and turnout event, drawing more than 1,000 participants. She is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and the National Society of Leadership and Success.