Our Board

Callie Brinker is a marketing professional with over a decade of experience developing marketing campaigns and strategy for small and large businesses. She has a Bachelor’s degree as well as various certificates in marketing. She uses this experience to collaborate on marketing material, social media content, event logistics, and other projects for the Gilbert Scholarship. Callie lives in Wilmington with her husband Zach, her children Eli and Eva, and two dogs, Chloe and Blue.

Leslye is the Marketing Director at All American Relocation Inc., a NC-based commercial and residential relocation company. She has served on the Board of Directors for The Better Business Bureau of Eastern NC for 12 years and won the NC Movers Association 2019 Mover of the Year Award. In her 22 years at All American, she has partnered with for-profit and non-profit organizations, building relationships and sponsoring events that serve kids in need. In her spare time, she enjoys zumba, music, movies and art, boating and fishing. She and her husband Brett live in Raleigh with their dog, Snickers.

Dr. Paula Egelson has worked as a community organizer, a classroom teacher, a professional developer, a researcher, and a school improvement director in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She has an undergraduate degree in child development from Rockford University, a master’s in reading education from Western Carolina University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Egelson’s areas of expertise include assessment, school improvement, program evaluation, and disadvantaged youth. Paula’s work has included grant writing and strategic planning; she will use these skills to support the Gilbert Scholarship. She has also served as the president of a national research organization and is currently the Vice-President for Citizen Engagement for the Charleston Area of League of Women Voters, and a board member for the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation. Paula has published journal articles and book chapters on assessment, student teaching, school improvement, class size reduction, and literacy. She loves living in Charleston, South Carolina, near the water, and is an avid traveler and reader. Her two adult sons, Daniel and Ben also live in Charleston.

Risa Moore has 10+ years of IT and finance experience in the banking and manufacturing fields. She has a computer science degree from UNC Wilmington. She has served on the IT Women’s Council, which focuses on professional women in IT, the American Women’s Network, which celebrates and connects professional women, and the Sustainability Network, which works to make office spaces more environmentally friendly.  Risa is the Gilbert Scholarship accounting and IT Guru, the queen of spreadsheets, and keeps everyone on track with budget goals. Risa has also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Raleigh Soup Kitchen. She enjoys running, yoga, gardening, soccer, and reading. She lives in her own urban bliss in Raleigh, NC with her husband, Matt, daughter, Adeline, and her 4 super hens, Pepper, Basil, Chili and Ginger.