Queens Alumni Association Board Welcomes New Members and Leadership for 2023-2024

The Alumni Association Board at Queens University of Charlotte named four new members to serve three-year terms that started July 1, 2023. The new board members elected to serve are Cindy Reid ’82, John Hannon ’07 MBA ’12, Laine Coplin ’15, and Jeremy Harris ’18.

Cindy Reid ’82, of Davidson, NC, attorney at Irvin Law Group. While a student at Queens, Cindy served as the President of the Student Government Association. A previous Alumni Association Board member and QUnited champion, Cindy has also served on reunion committees and the Board of Visitors.

John Hannon ’07 MBA ’12 is a Director of Office Brokerage at Trinity Partners. He and his family, including wife Hayley Hannon ‘08, recently returned to greater Charlotte after living in Northern Virginia. During his time at Queens, John was a four-year defensive starter for the men’s soccer team and served as the assistant coach for women’s soccer after graduating.

Laine Coplin ’15, of Charlotte, NC, relationship manager at CAV_OK where she is engaged in complex financial planning, consulting, and project execution for ultra-high net worth families. Laine has remained active on campus since graduating in 2015. She serves as a mentor for undergraduate business honors students and is a connector for both alumni and current students. During her undergraduate experience, Coplin was the recipient of the Adelaide Davis Presidential Scholarship as well as the Charlotte Business Woman Fellow. She currently resides in Charlotte with her family.

Jeremy Harris ’18, of Charlotte, NC, senior consultant at Protiviti. While at Queens, Jeremy was a member of the track & field team and served as a Resident Assistant.

In addition to the four new board members, ­­­­­­­Wini Curley ‘74, Vange Lear ‘73, Susan Manning ‘72, Katie McCallum ‘00, and Anne Ward ‘92 returned for their second three-year terms.

Queens is also thankful to seven board members who completed their terms of service. Margaret Cobb ’73, Linda Gerdes ’89, Wes Pitts ’07, and Lindsay Tice ’05 served on the board for six consecutive years. Susan Wilson ’72, Ginni Lineberry ’70, Michael Lum ’11, and Kathy McCollum ‘71 each served on the board for three-year terms.

David Patterson ‘94, who joined the board in 2021, began his two-year term as president. “From leaving my McDowell County, West Virginia family to join the Queens family as a Carol S. Belk Scholar to becoming Queens Alumni Association Board President, my Royals Rise journey continues,” said Dave. “I thank my predecessor, President Ericka Ellis-Stewart ’96, and others for their support as I step into this important role. While serving in this capacity I intend to effectively inspire increased involvement throughout the alumni community while partnering with President Lugo and the Board of Trustees.”

Ericka Ellis-Stewart ’96 worked with fellow board members and university staff to re-establish the board’s committee structure and increased alumni engagement by bringing back 11 alumni and friend chapters from Chicago to New York to Jacksonville. “I cannot express how honored I feel to have been the first African-American to serve in this role. To serve during a pandemic added a new level of complexity that required a level of creativity I had not expected,” she said.

The Queens Alumni Association Board is comprised of 44 undergraduate and graduate alumni serving on committees focused on outreach and engagement, professional development, enrollment support, and fundraising. The board represents a diverse alumni community of over 20,000 in Charlotte, across the Carolinas, and around the world.

For more information about the Queens Alumni Association Board and other volunteer groups, contact Robert Koch, senior director of engagement and giving, at kochr@queens.edu or 704-337-2334.