Tracy Montross joined the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees in November 2021. The Regional Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines, Montross serves as the airline’s representative in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Ailen Arreaza is the North Carolina Program Director for ParentsTogether, a national non-profit that provides resources and community to help all kids and families thrive. Before joining the ParentsTogether team, she spent nearly a decade working on issues of equity and access for the City of Charlotte.

Amy Hawn Nelson is currently with the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Policy and Practice in the Actional Intelligence for Social Policy as the director of training and technical assistance and was formerly the director of the Institute for Social Policy.

Trustee

Kimmery Martin is a Charlotte novelist whose debut work has been praised by multiple media outlets including Southern Living, The Harvard Crimson, The Charlotte Observer and The New York Times. A lifelong literary nerd, she promotes reading, interviews authors, and teaches writing seminars. She’s a frequent speaker at libraries and bookstores around the United States.

Charles Thomas, an artist, educator and entrepreneur, is the Charlotte Program Director for the Knight Foundation.  In Charlotte the Knight Foundation focuses on building an equitable and inclusive city that attracts and retains diverse talent, promotes economic opportunity and fosters a culture of civic engagement. Previously, Charles was the Executive Director of Queen City Forward.

Jon Buchan is an attorney and member of Essex Richards, P.A., with a litigation practice focused on business disputes and media law/First Amendment issues. Jon has held leadership positions with various organizations, including Board Chair of WFAE 90.7 and President of the Mecklenburg County Bar.

Dr. Ricky A. Woods is the senior minister of First Baptist Church - West where he has served since 1995. During his tenure, he also served on numerous civic engagement groups including the Task Force on Pupil Assignment for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, The Opportunity Task Force, Charlotte Pre-K Initiative and WBTV News Advisory Board. Dr. Woods is a member of the North Carolina State Library Commission appointed by Governor Roy Copper.

Political science and international relations journals, dissertations and working papers on topics such as comparative politics, political economy, international development, and environmental policy.

An online Earth & Space science resource specifically designed for learners in grades 3 to 6. Informs about earth cycles, ecosystems and biomes, rocks, environmental issues, space and more.