FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 6/27/2023 — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors recently appointed Dr. Katie Lowry of Lumberton and Russell Smith of Washington to serve on PBS North Carolina’s Board of Trustees. Their leadership and professional background will be a vital resource to PBS North Carolina, whose mission is to provide transformational experiences and trusted content to educate, inform, entertain and inspire the people of North Carolina.
The UNC Board of Governors holds all of PBS North Carolina’s broadcast licenses and is legally responsible for the organization. PBS North Carolina’s Board of Trustees serves in an advisory role to the statewide public media organization and is an essential link to the public.
Dr. Katie Lowry, who will fill a partial term ending June 30, 2024, is a pediatrician and owner of Robeson Pediatrics in Lumberton. A native of Pembroke, she received her BA in biology and master’s degree in public health from UNC Chapel Hill. She earned her medical degree and completed her pediatric residency at Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, where she was named Outstanding Graduating Resident of her class. Dr. Lowry serves with several community organizations, including PowerPoint Church, Kiwanis of Robeson Lumberton and the North Carolina Pediatric Society.
Russell Smith, who will fill a term ending June 30, 2026, established Russell’s Clothing in 1983 in downtown Washington and continues to serve customers from all over the country. He is a past Rotarian and served two terms as president of Washington’s Rotary Club. He graduated from Beaufort County Technical Institute in 1975 with an associate degree in retailing and marketing technology. A huge supporter of the NC Community College System, Smith is on the Beaufort County Community College board of trustees, where he served as chair for three years.
Dr. Katie Lowry and Russell Smith participated in their first board meeting on June 6, 2023.
The 23 members of the PBS North Carolina’s Board of Trustees reflect a cross section of the state, with 11 appointed by the UNC Board of Governors, four by the governor and one each by the president pro tempore of the Senate and speaker of the House.
Six members serve ex officio: the president of the University of North Carolina System and North Carolina’s secretary of Health and Human Services, president of the Community College System, superintendent of Public Instruction, secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and secretary of Public Safety. Ex-officio members may name proxies to represent them on the board.
Board of Trustees (as of June 23, 2023)
Chair: Jack Clayton, Raleigh
Vice Chair: Anne Mayo Evans, Fayetteville
Seth Bennett, Charlotte
James Broughton, Forsyth
Eddie Buffaloe, Raleigh
James P. Cain, Raleigh
Culley C. Carson IV, Raleigh
Dr. Jeff Cox, Raleigh
Rick French, Cary
Brenda C. Gibson, Raleigh
Peter Hans, Chapel Hill
Kody H. Kinsley, Raleigh
Dr. Katie Lowry, Lumberton
Pat Rodgers, Charlotte
Dr. Charles A. Sanders, Durham
Michael Schoenfeld, Durham
Russell Smith, Washington
Catherine Truitt, Raleigh
Bill R. West, Fayetteville
Reid Wilson, Raleigh
Don Woodard, Asheville
PBS North Carolina’s Board of Trustees meets quarterly, and the meetings are open to the public. The next meetings will be held Tuesdays, September 12 and December 5, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings begin at 11 AM and are held at PBS North Carolina, located at the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Communications Center, 10 UNC-TV Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
For more information about PBS North Carolina’s Board of Trustees, visit pbsnc.org/about/board-of-trustees.
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
Laura Kieler, PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org