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Trustees
Lyons Gray
Chair
Lyons Gray formerly served as a commissioner on the North Carolina Utility Commission, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, senior advisor to the president of the University of North Carolina System and chief financial officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Gray was also a six-term member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He has served on the boards of the North Carolina Communities and Business Alliance, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership and the North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation, among other groups. Mr. Gray attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Herbert A. Claiborne III
Vice Chair
Herbert A. Claiborne III is Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Carpenter Co. in Richmond, Virginia. He currently serves on the board of the Virginia Historical Society. Mr. Claiborne formerly chaired the board of governors of St. Catherine’s School and served on the board of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation. He is also a former director and president of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation and a former member of the Advancement Council for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing. Mr. Claiborne earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from the University of Richmond.
Dr. Penny L. Elkins
Dr. Penny L. Elkins is the Executive Vice President of Mercer University. Dr. Elkins previously served in several other roles at the University, including Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management, Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Vice President for the Atlanta campus, and Associate Dean for both Teacher Education and Educational Leadership in the Tift College of Education. A lifelong educator, Dr. Elkins began her career as a third-grade teacher and elementary school administrator. Elkins earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mercer and her Ph.D. in educational leadership from Georgia State University. She currently serves as President of Georgia Women of Achievement.
Charlote Hudson
Alternate Trustee
Charlotte Hudson is the Executive Director of the Blue Convergence Fund, an organization committed to supporting communities by providing actionable science to guide sustainable decisions about our oceans and coasts. She previously led the Lenfest Ocean Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Hudson is the co-author of many papers on the role of science, philanthropy and policy in decision-making. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Davidson College and a master’s degree in environmental management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.
ABOUT | TRUSTEES & STAFF
Staff
Neida Arrington
Assistant Controller
Neida joined the Foundations' staff in 2025. She previously worked as an auditor at Bennett Thrasher LLP and served nonprofits in finance roles. She earned an A.S. degree in chemistry from Andrew College, a B.A. degree in environmental studies from Green Mountain College, and a master’s degree in professional accountancy from Georgia State University. Neida formerly served as board treasurer of Propel ATL. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the Georgia Society of CPAs.
Beth joined the Foundations’ staff in 2024. In addition to serving as Secretary and General Counsel, she shares responsibility for the Foundations’ environmental grantmaking, including conservation, parks and greenspaces. Beth has over 20 years of experience practicing environmental and regulatory law in the public and private sectors, including roles as partner at Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford and Martin and assistant branch chief at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned a B.A. degree in ecology and political science in 2000 and a J.D. degree with honors in 2003.
Dahlia joined the Foundations’ staff in 2020. She shares responsibility for grantmaking in child well-being, health and human services. Dahlia previously served for 10 years in the public sector, including most recently as deputy division director of Strategy, Innovation and Engagement at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Prior to DFCS, she spent four years at the Georgia Governor’s Office for Children and Families and several years in the nonprofit sector. Dahlia serves on the steering, public policy and program committees for the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance. She received a B.A. degree in psychology and a correlate sequence in Africana Studies from Vassar College. Dahlia earned an M.P.H. degree from Morehouse School of Medicine.
Carrie joined the Foundations’ staff in 2014. She oversees the grants programs of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation and shares responsibility for the Foundations’ grantmaking in higher education, independent education, arts and culture, and senior care. Carrie previously served as executive director of the Southeast region for CARE USA and has 10 years of experience working in development in the higher education sector. She chairs the board of The African SOUP, a non-governmental organization focused on improving health and education for children and families in Uganda. Carrie also serves on the membership committee for Philanthropy Southeast and is the former convenor of the Atlanta Foundations Forum. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with a B.A. degree in history and received an M.A. degree in liberal studies from St. John’s College.
Stephanie joined the Foundations’ staff in 2020. She previously served as executive assistant and office manager of the Grady Health Foundation and has over 30 years of experience working in administration at SunTrust Banks. Stephanie earned her Associate of Applied Science degree from Clayton State University.
Erik joined the Foundations’ staff in 2006, became Treasurer in 2014, Vice President in 2021, and President in 2025. He previously served as a law clerk to Chief Judge J.L. Edmondson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Erik is the former chairman of the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance. He earned his B.A. degree from Emory University in 1998 and his J.D. degree with high honors from the University of Georgia’s School of Law in 2005.
Jenny joined the Foundations’ staff in 2013. She supports grantseekers in navigating the Foundations’ request and reporting processes and shares responsibility for grantmaking in early childhood and K-12 education. Jenny previously worked as an account executive at the marketing communications firm Jackson Spalding. She formerly served on the President’s Advisory Council for PEAK Grantmaking and is a Georgia Education Policy Fellow. Jenny graduated summa cum laude from the Georgia Institute of Technology with B.S. degrees in psychology and communications.
Eli Niepoky
Treasurer
Eli joined the Foundation’s staff in 2021. She previously served as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Berman Capital Advisors and as CIO and Principal of Diversified Trust Company. Eli started her investment career at Delta Air Lines’ pension fund. She is board chair of the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia and serves on its investment committee. She received her B.A. degree in economics from Wake Forest University and her M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University. Eli is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Atlanta, where she previously served as president and board member.
Emily joined the Foundations’ staff in 2019. She works closely with Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation grantees and supports grantmaking in higher education, senior care and conservation. Emily previously worked as a client and grants manager with the SunTrust Bank Foundations and Endowments Specialty Practice. She graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University with B.A. degrees in economics and Spanish.
Lizzy joined the Foundations’ staff as Grants Officer in 2005 and became Grants Program Director in 2011. She has broad responsibility for grants programs, with a focus on education, youth development, arts and culture, and parks. Lizzy previously worked for the fundraising consulting firm of Coxe Curry & Associates for more than seven years and served as Director of Special Events for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Raleigh, NC. She is a former trustee of Philanthropy Southeast and a past chair of Candid’s Atlanta Advisory Board. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree in economics.
Sarah Tablan
Controller
Sarah joined the Foundations’ staff in 2007. She previously worked in public accounting with Smith & Howard, P.C. and ran her own accounting and tax practice for six years. Sarah graduated summa cum laude with a B.B.A in accounting and received her master’s in taxation from Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business. She is a certified public accountant.
Elijah joined the Foundations’ staff in 2025. Previously, he worked as a teaching fellow for the National Education Equity Lab and as a student teacher for the Transatlantic Outreach Program. He also studied at Middlebury College Language Schools and La Universidad Anáhuac in México. Elijah graduated co-valedictorian from Morehouse College with a B.A. degree in English and Spanish.
Tammy joined the Foundations’ staff in 2008. She previously worked as an equipment supply coordinator at Coca-Cola Enterprises and as an HR assistant at Emory Healthcare. Tammy earned her B.A. degree in business administration from Talladega College in 1993 and her M.A. degree in Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling from Argosy University in 2016.