SoUVENIR JoURNAL - UNC General Alumni Association ...

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD
beech award winners
Martina K. Ballen ’80
Senior Associate Athletics Director & Chief Financial Officer, University of North Carolina Department of Athletics
Martina K. Ballen ’80 is in her 24th year overseeing the finances of the UNC Department of Athletics, with revenues
exceeding $70 million. She is also co-chair of her department’s diversity committee and is responsible for developing annual
diversity goals as part of the budget planning cycle.
Martina is active in other areas of campus as a guest lecturer in the sports administration program. She also leads a session
each summer for Project Uplift. Martina is a member of several campus committees and serves as vice-chair of the EPA
Non-Faculty Grievance Committee. She has participated on various athletics department and University search committees,
including positions at the University’s senior level. Martina is a board member of the Carolina Club and is chair of the board of the Autism Society
of North Carolina.
Martina received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of North Carolina and her master’s of business administration
degree from Wake Forest University. A native of Southern Pines, Martina is married to Dwayne Ballen and the proud mother of two sons,
Julian and Jared.
William W. Farmer, Jr. ’77
President, United Way of the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY
Bill Farmer ’77 is currently serving as president of the United Way of the Bluegrass in Lexington, KY. In this position, he
brings to the community his expertise in the areas of strategic planning, issues management, conflict resolution and communications
that he has honed over years in communities across the US.
During his 28 years as a Time Warner Executive, Bill has often been recognized for his leadership and commitment to community.
He received the coveted Distinguished West Virginia Award, The Time Warner International Leadership Award for
his work during recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and was inducted into the National Association
of Minorities in Cable Hall of Fame.
Bill has had a direct impact on North Carolina. He was appointed by the Governor as a commissioner on the North Carolina Commission on
Workforce Development and the North Carolina Banking Commission, where he led policy changes affecting business and the economy. He has
been a leader in multiple education initiatives for the state and served as a member of the UNC Board of Governors.
Howard N. Lee ’66 (MSW)
Executive Director, North Carolina Education Cabinet
Howard Nathaniel Lee ’66 (MSW) has been a prominent voice in local and state politics since 1969. He made international
news when he became the first African-American to be elected mayor of a predominantly white southern town. He served
three terms as mayor of Chapel Hill and later went on to serve as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development (1977 – 81).
In 1990, Howard was elected to the North Carolina Senate where he served for 13 years. During his tenure, he presided
over Education, Transportation and Appropriations Committees. He built his reputation as an education reformist. He
fought for higher teacher salaries, increased funding for public and higher education and advocated for raising teacher and student standards. In
addition, he sponsored or cosponsored several major pieces of educational legislation which included Smart Start, More at Four (a pre-kindergarten
program), the Excellent Schools Act for School Reform and the Safe Schools Act.
He currently serves as the executive director of the North Carolina Education Cabinet. He and his wife, Lillian, a retired public school teacher, live
in Chapel Hill and are the proud parents of three, Angela, Ricky, and Karin and two granddaughters, Jaimie and Jill.
Barbara Pullen Smith ’81
Director, North Carolina Office of Minority Health Disparities
As director of the North Carolina Office of Minority Health Disparities, Barbara Pullen Smith ’81 creates initiatives across
the state to ensure that state government addresses the specific needs of racial and ethnic minorities.
Since 1993, Barbara, an award-winning health advocate, has worked with local health departments and other public and
private agencies to create a network of services to ensure that minorities do not die of diseases that shouldn’t be fatal.
She is also a district representative for the American Cancer Society, where she helped develop local cancer societies across a
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