Join us as we celebrate the amazing research and accomplishments happening at UNCG. As the university advances cutting-edge research, we look forward to a celebration highlighting key advancements and next steps.
ResearchCON 2025ResearchCON attendees can watch recordings of the sessions here. Check your email (Coming soon!) for the password!
UNCG invites you to join us at the AI for Business event, hosted by the ISSCM Department in the Bryan School of Business and Economics. At this event, we will hear from industry leaders regarding their experiences with AI and discuss its future in business. A panel of business leaders… Continue reading…
The UNCG Graduate School will host the 13th Annual Graduate Research and Creativity Showcase: “Scholarship That Matters.” on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm in the Elliott University Center at UNCG. The annual Showcase’s purpose is to present the accomplishments of UNCG’s graduate students to the Greater Greensboro community and… Continue reading…
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Scott Lane, AICP, is the Co-Founder and General Manager of WriteAngle, LLC, a certified grant writer, and an expert in benefit-cost analysis (BCA) with over 33 years of experience. He has successfully developed and managed grant applications for clients ranging from small towns in North Carolina to large-scale federal infrastructure projects. Through WriteAngle, a woman-owned company, Scott collaborates with architectural-engineering firms and professional development companies to deliver comprehensive grant solutions.
Scott uses advanced search platforms to identify funding opportunities that align with client goals. His strategic approach fosters partnerships across non-profit, private, and government sectors to maximize funding success. With a deep understanding of grantor objectives, he has secured over $200 million in project funds.
In addition to grant writing, Scott performs detailed BCAs using tools like TREDIS and IMPLAN. He enhances applications with professional-grade mapping, infographics, and spatial research using GIS tools. As a certified editor and accomplished writer, Scott ensures each application presents a compelling narrative. Recent clients include the Town of Elizabethtown, NC, Merced County, CA, and MaineDOT.
Dr. Amy Davis, Founder and CEO, brings 28 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal, and district leader. Her expertise extends to grant writing and proposal development, where she has successfully secured over $25 million in funding to support K-12 school districts, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations.
Guided by the philosophy of working smarter, not harder, Amy is deeply committed to fostering meaningful connections and ensuring that education remains both effective and human-centered. Her leadership continues to drive innovation and impact in the field.
In her spare time, Amy loves to spend time with her husband, Mike, and her two pups, Dukes and Dottie. She is also an avid traveler, having visited six out of the seven continents so far.
Laine Bradley is a grant funding expert, consultant, and speaker with over six years of experience in business operations, grant management, and proposal development. As the founder of Vraiment Financial, she has trained nonprofits, universities, and government agencies on securing six- and seven-figure grants and contracts. Passionate about empowering underrepresented communities, Bradley strives to make grant funding more accessible and equip organizations with the tools for long-term success.
Mark is most sought after as an expert proposal writer and project strategist. In 2019, he was selected by his peers at AFP as the chapter’s Outstanding Fundraising Executive. He is the creator of the Open Communication Fundraising Model, a system that enables all nonprofit agency stakeholders to effectively work together toward organizational and fundraising goals. Mark has consistently served nonprofits as a staff member, board member or consultant since 1991.
Mark has raised more than $100 million for his clients and employers by obtaining grants for organizations of all types, sizes and locales, particularly for health, human service, community development and technology needs. He is the past President of the Grant Professionals Association North Carolina Chapter as of February 2025 and is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western NC. He has served as a founding board member for a public access television station and for Carolina Public Press. Mark has provided training sessions through many organizations, including WNC Nonprofit Pathways, the Duke University Continuing Studies Nonprofit Management program, and Alliance for Better Nonprofits.
Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and son, curling up with their furry family members, and bingeing on TV or audio. He is an avid tennis player and puzzle solver.
Dr. McCrary currently serves as Vice President for Research and Professor of Chemistry at the University of the District of Columbia. Previously, he was Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the first Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Professor of Chemistry at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD. Prior to that, McCrary was the Business Area Executive for Science & Technology and principal professional staff at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory where he directed internal research and development (IRAD) funding to develop new core competencies and innovations in the areas of national security and space technologies for civilian and military applications.
He started his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories-Murray Hill, as a post-doc and then Member of Technical Staff before being tapped to be a program manager with the Advanced Technology Program and becoming the first Chief of the Convergent Information Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). At NIST, McCrary led the first efforts to develop industry standards for electronic books where he was a co-recipient of the US Department of Commerce’s Gold Medal for his efforts. He is a former national president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) and a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.
McCrary was a member of the NSB class of 2016 – 2022 and was reappointed to the class of 2022 – 2028.
Hugh Holston is a native of Fayetteville, NC and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
He currently serves on the Greensboro City Council as a Councilmember, At-Large.
Hugh also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Greensboro Housing Coalition advocating for fair, safe, healthy, and affordable housing for low-to-moderate income families. Previously, Hugh has worked in leadership positions with Wells Fargo, AT&T, Lincoln Financial, and Old North State Medical Society.
He currently serves in leadership roles on boards with a variety of local, regional, and statewide organizations to include the College Foundation of North Carolina Inc., North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ), the African American Leadership Group of the United Way of Greater Greensboro, FaithAction International, and Preservation Greensboro, Inc. Hugh has been named to the Black Business Ink Power 100 for North Carolina and was awarded the Pinnacle Award for leadership excellence from the Rosa Foundation.
Hugh has previously served in leadership roles on boards to include Chair of the Greensboro Planning and Zoning Commission, Chair of the Greensboro Board of Adjustment, President of the AT&T Pioneers Volunteer Network, Chair of Communities in Schools of Greater Greensboro, the Board of Directors of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, Board Trustee for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and President of the AT&T Pioneers Volunteer Network.
He is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a Life Member of UNC Carolina Alumni, Life Member of the NAACP, a member of the Greensboro Men’s Club and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Hugh is married to Olymphia LeGrand Holston, a native of Greensboro. The couple has an adult son, Jonathan, a daughter in law, Amber Jackson Holston of Columbia SC, and a grandson, Hudson.
Todd Fisher is an Actor, Playwright, Dancer, Producer, Teacher, Lighting Designer, Husband, Beer Brewer, and sometimes, if it’s your birthday, Singer. Todd is a graduate of UNCG Theater and Dance, an alumni of the John Gamble Dance Theatre, has studied with the SITI Company, and served as Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Greensboro Fringe Festival for over 15 years. He has worked for the City of Greensboro since 2008, currently serving as Creative Greensboro’s Performing Arts Coordinator focusing on new work for the stage and creative community partnership development.
Dr. David Wyrick is an accomplished academic entrepreneur and innovation leader, currently serving as the Vice President for Regional Networks and Hubs at NCInnovation, where he leads a statewide team working to strengthen university-industry collaboration and accelerate translational research across North Carolina’s public universities. In this role, he helps institutions like UNC Greensboro (UNCG) turn groundbreaking research into real-world applications that drive economic development and societal impact.
Dr. Wyrick is also the President and Founder of Prevention Strategies, LLC, a research-based spin-out company of UNCG that specializes in developing, evaluating, and disseminating evidence-based interventions. Under his leadership, the company has secured multiple federal grants—including from the National Institutes of Health—and successfully commercialized prevention programs that promote the health and well-being of youth, athletes, and communities nationwide.
Prior to joining NCInnovation, Dr. Wyrick served as the Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Innovate UNCG at UNCG. During his tenure, he led the establishment of cross-campus “Impact Through Innovation” Hubs, launched partnerships to advance virtual production and immersive media, and helped faculty secure translational funding to move innovations toward commercialization.
Dr. Wyrick brings a unique blend of strategic vision, applied research expertise, and entrepreneurial insight to his work. His efforts have consistently bridged the gap between research and practice, empowering faculty, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to drive innovation with purpose. With over two decades of experience in higher education, research commercialization, and public health intervention, Dr. Wyrick is a passionate advocate for building ecosystems that support scalable, sustainable impact.
Marikay was raised in a very small town in the mountains of Kentucky and came to Greensboro when she was 18 where she has spent her entire adult life. She graduated from Greensboro College.
Marikay is an At Large Representative on the Greensboro City Council. In this capacity, she is a representative for the entire city. She was elected to this position in 2011 and has always been an active member of the Greensboro community, even prior to being elected, in many ways through her service on Commissions, for schools, and volunteering with neighborhood associations throughout Greensboro.
When she became interested in City Government, she took the Citizen’s Academy, IMPACT Greensboro and the Citizens Police Academy. Those informational academies and her interactions with the City piqued her interest into learning more about City government and eventually run for City Council.
She was a small business owner for 22 years (Mahi’s Restaurant) which gave her a real world experience of how entrepreneurship and owning a small business can be an exciting, rewarding yet, at times, a difficult career. It also gave her a good sense of business practices, marketing and a high regard for customer service. Prior to owning a business, she worked for a local university for 13 years.
She also serves on the Greensboro Police Department Railway Trespassing ATV team as an ad hoc member and has done so since 2016. She took the ATV Certification Course and rides an ATV with the GPD Officers on the streets close to the railroad lines to educate trespassers about the danger of walking on the rail lines. Marikay is also on the Board of Crimestoppers and serves the Community with the Greensboro Police Citizens Academy Alumni. She is liaison to 4 Boards and Commissions of the City.
Marikay serves and represents the Greensboro City Council on numerous local and regional Boards and Commissions. She serves as Chair of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, Chair of the Municipal Planning Organization (Transportation Committee) and is on the Executive Committee of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council as Vice-Chair. She is also on the Board of several community organizations.
Mindy Solivan is a Senior Consultant for Attain Partners. She completed her Masters in Industrial Chemistry-Forensic Science program at the University of Central Florida. She has been working in research administration for almost 20 years in central pre-award, post award and research compliance at multiple institutions including the University of Central Florida and the University of the Virgin Islands. For many years, she specialized in pre-award, including proposal submission and contract negotiation, and non-financial post-award. Over the last 6 years she has expanded her experience and oversight to research compliance including IRB administration. After joining Attain Partners this year she continues to expand her experiences in all areas of research administration including system integrations, assessments and training through her opportunity to work with diverse research institutions.
