The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR) is pleased to announce that Dr. Nora Carr will join the staff of the Foundation as assistant director in August 2021.
In this role, Carr will assist in promoting the mission and core values of the Foundation by overseeing the implementation of All For NC: ZSR’s Framework for Grantmaking and Learning. This includes, but is not limited to, helping Trustees identify programmatic priorities, playing leadership roles within the state of North Carolina and within the broader field of philanthropy, actively listening to and learning from people and communities across the state, and coordinating the programmatic and grantmaking operations of the Foundation. In addition, Carr will support ZSR’s Executive Director Maurice “Mo” Green as it pertains to matters of Foundation operations, strategic planning and general management.
Carr brings to the Foundation a combination of public, private and nonprofit sector experience. She most recently comes to ZSR after spending 13 years as chief of staff of Guilford County Schools where her responsibilities included, but were not limited to, leading the district’s strategic plan development and implementation, serving on the executive team to oversee the operations of North Carolina’s third largest school district and leading internal and external communications. Prior to that, Carr served as chief communications officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where her responsibilities included, but were not limited to, leading and/or supervising strategic communications planning, media relations, community relations, volunteers and partnerships, CMS-TV (a cable television news and information channel), employee and corporate communications.
Carr also has served as a Board member and officer for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Greensboro, Charlotte and St. Louis, Missouri.
“We are thrilled to have Nora join our team,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “Having worked closely with Nora both at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and at Guilford County Schools, I am confident that Nora will be a tremendous asset to the Foundation, assisting ZSR in generating creative ideas, implementing strategy and fostering a spirit of collaboration as she works alongside staff, Trustees, partners, and grantees.”
“Dr. Carr will be an invaluable asset to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation,” said Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras, PhD. “We will miss her and are grateful for the 13 years she spent in service to the students and staff of Guilford County Schools. We know that her work will now have an even greater impact across the state of North Carolina.”
Carr earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Louis University, a master’s in communications studies with a concentration in public relations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Doctor of Education and education specialist degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Carr’s first day with the Foundation is August 9, 2021.