Walters, Robinette, Berdecia Elected to Lead UNCP Board of Trustees
The UNC Pembroke Board of Trustees has elected a new slate of officers to help guide the university as it advances key strategic initiatives and continues to expand opportunities for student success.
Allison Harrington Walters has been elected chair, Kenneth Robinette vice chair and retired Col. Carlos Berdecia, secretary. Student Government Association President and senior Mass Communication student Elijah Griffin also joins the board as an ex officio member.
“I am grateful for the dedication and commitment each of our trustees demonstrates in service to UNC Pembroke,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings. “With backgrounds spanning business, military service and deep ties to UNCP as alumni, our newly elected officers bring a valuable breadth of knowledge, leadership and perspective to the Board. I look forward to working alongside them as we advance our mission and build an even stronger future for UNCP.”
Walters, a 1995 UNCP graduate who joined the Board of Trustees in 2018, said she is honored to lead the board at a time when the university is expanding its academic offerings and strengthening its impact across southeastern North Carolina.
“I appreciate the board’s trust and confidence in me,” Walters said. “It has been an honor to serve on the Board of Trustees, and I look forward to working alongside Chancellor Cummings, the cabinet and the entire university community to continue building on the tremendous momentum we’ve experienced. UNCP has done nothing but take leaps forward, and I want to help ensure that momentum continues.”
Walters said she is particularly excited about the university’s continued investment in healthcare education, including the future College of Optometric Medicine and the recently accredited Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program.
“As a speech-language pathologist, it’s especially rewarding to see UNCP advancing its impact through healthcare education,” Walters said. “Celebrating the first graduating class of our MSOT program this December and preparing to welcome students to the future College of Optometric Medicine reflects the university’s commitment to serving our region’s healthcare needs.”
Robinette, chief operating officer of C.F. Smith Property Group, said he looks forward to supporting Walters and continuing the board’s focus on student success.
“I’ve always been a team player, and we’re fortunate to have such a strong Board of Trustees,” Robinette said. “Everything we do is centered on student success. We are committed to providing a world-class education while giving Chancellor Cummings, the faculty and staff the support they need to continue moving the university forward.”
Robinette said UNCP’s continued growth in healthcare education and new academic programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, positions the university to meet critical workforce needs across the region.
“We are meeting the needs of rural North Carolina,” he said. “We’re educating students, providing critical services and creating opportunities that will benefit our communities for generations. It’s truly a game changer.”
Berdecia, a 2001 UNCP graduate and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, said he is honored to serve as secretary and help advance the university’s mission.
“I’m deeply honored by the trust placed in me,” Berdecia said. “UNCP has a remarkable history of serving students throughout our region, and it is a privilege to contribute to what we’re building here. The Board prioritizes student success in all that it does, and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to help ensure the university continues to thrive.”
Drawing on more than two decades of military leadership and his current career in the airline industry, Berdecia said his focus will be on supporting sound governance while helping the Board advance the university’s long-term strategic priorities.
“At the end of the day, leadership is about service,” Berdecia said. “My responsibility is to help ensure UNCP remains a place where every student can succeed, every dollar is used wisely, and every decision reflects the values of our university and the communities we serve.”
As chair, Walters said the Board remains committed to supporting the university’s strategic vision while ensuring UNCP continues to fulfill its mission of serving students and the region.
“I believe in UNCP,” Walters said. “I’m proud to be an alumna, and I believe UNCP is going to continue being a shining star for Robeson County and all of southeastern North Carolina.”