Coordinating Committee

Sara Terry, Co-President

With an undergraduate degree in biology and an masters in public administration, Sara is an air quality policy wonk with the US EPA.  After three years with the Peace Corps in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a couple years with EPA in DC, Sara moved to North Carolina in 1994.  Busy with three kids, who attend Durham Public Schools, Sara tries to keep a finger on the pulse of local politics, local environmental and LGBT issues, and enjoys traveling near and far. Sara to the lead on PA’s 2012 Amendment Campaign.

Shamieka Rhinehart, Vice-President

Shamieka is a native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and has been a resident of Durham since beggining law school at NCCU. She has worked for the Durham District Attorney’s office since 2005 and has prosecuted cases ranging from infractions to felonies. Shamieka was Supervisor of the Property and Fraud team for over a year, but currently is Supervisor of District Court where she supervises several Assistant DAs and prosecutes various misdemeanors and felonies. While not in the courtroom or volunteering for various community organizations, Shamieka spends time with her cats, in Zumba classes, reading, and laughing (we love her infectious laugh!).

Eric Boven, Treasurer

Eric is the Director of Planning and Operations for Experience Corps, a national nonprofit organization that recruits older adults to tutor struggling young readers. His service as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member fostered a life-long interest in education, civic engagement, and community service.

Helen Wolfson, Secretary

Helen was born and raised in Massachusetts but has lived in North Carolina for more than half her life. She retired from her day job of testing software for SAS Institute at the end of 2010. Her passion is playing the hammered dulcimer at bedside for people who are in physical or emotional pain. She also plays with her husband in the duo, Constellation. For the last year, she’s been helping out with data entry and other various  jobs in the PA office.

David Harris

David Harris has worked in telecommunications for the past 37 years — for General Telephone & Electric (now Verizon) and as a software testing engineer for Nortel. David is stepping back from his role of PA President but will continue to serve on the CC. David is PA’s representative with Peace Action and the “Bring the War Dollars Home” campaign.

Bob Healy

Robert is Professor Emeritus of Environmental Policy at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, where he still teaches part-time. A 24 year resident of Durham, he has long been active in efforts to protect the New Hope Creek Corridor and open it up to public use. Among his other interests are youth employment, the criminal justice system, and Latino issues.

Milo Pyne

Milo has served PA as a PAC coordinator for several years. He has worked in rare plant conservation and regional conservation planning with the state of Tennessee, The Nature Conservancy, and currently NatureServe. Area of Expertise (we thought you’d never ask): Solanaceae, Asteraceae

James Hill

James has served on the PA Coordinating Committee for the past three years and is now serving as a PAC coordinator. Active throughout the Durham community, James is a Commissioner on the City of Durham Human Relations Commission and a member of the City of Durham Citizens Capital Improvement Panel (CCIP). He is currently an MPA candidate at North Carolina Central University.

Dan Hudgins

Dan is the former Director for the County Social Services agency. He is currently faculty at the School of Social Work at UNC.

Ann Rebeck

Ann moved to Durham with her husband Misha Angrist in 2003 and focused on being a full-time mom. That is still her primary job but along the way she became a public school advocate and community volunteer. While she is not the product of public school education, she has the zeal of a convert and will chair the education committee with gusto. Ann also teaches preschool, which is a welcome oasis from the rest of her volunteer commitments.

Nancy Mayer

Nancy is a lawyer in private practice serving Durham and Chapel Hill.  She has retired from US Environmental Protection Agency after working for  Air Pollution Policy issues for 33 years including environmental justice, Indian law and emissions trading programs.  She has a BS in environmental engineering, an MBA and a JD.   Nancy moved to Durham in 1977 and has two sons who graduated from UNC-CH and a husband who loves to travel with her to see penguins around the world.

Tommie Watson

Tommie is the Operations Manager for Student U, a local college access program serving public school students starting in sixth grade through college. Prior to moving to Durham in 2012, Tommie lived in Boston and San Diego where he led two non-profits and a political action committee.

Lanya Shapiro

Lanya Shapiro has lived in North Carolina since 1995, earning her MSW and MPH from UNC.  Her progressive pedigree includes organizing large-scale rock concerts for abortion rights; board/committee service: Planned Parenthood of Central NC’s Action Fund and PAC, NAACP-NC political committee, NC Democratic Party state executive committee, and Durham’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee (as chair); and founding and directing (for six years) Traction — work which was recognized with the 2006 Citizen Award from the Independent and the 2010 Maria Leavey Tribute Award from Campaign for America’s Future.  She lives in Walltown with her partner (Vito), their son (Joshua), their dog (Gumbo), and a baby-to-be due this spring!

Will Wilson

Will moved to Durham in 1995 to take a faculty position in mathematical ecology at Duke University. He now concentrates on urban environments and stormwater. Will also serves on the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and the Farmland Preservation Board.