Program Staff

Malasia C. McClendon joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation as a Fellow in July 2020. Malasia is a native of North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University in 2020. During her undergraduate experience, Malasia participated in the North Carolina General Assembly Internship Program, worked as a Research Assistant at the T.E.A.C.H. National Center, and interned with the James B. Hunt Institute. On campus, Malasia worked to create safe spaces for underrepresented populations by reactivating the campus chapter of the NAACP.

Caitlin Burke comes to Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation with environmental research, teaching and nonprofit work experience at the national, state, and local level. Previously, she was associate director at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina where she oversaw the organization’s service programs, managed collaborative programs including sourcewater protection and climate change efforts, supported its community economic development partnerships, and co-led its racial equity efforts.

Maya A. Revell joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation as a Fellow in July 2019. Maya received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wake Forest University in 2018. During her undergraduate experience, Maya worked with the Office of Sustainability to analyze campus waste streams and engage students on environmental initiatives, while also volunteering with several nonprofit organizations to address food justice and other community issues in Winston-Salem.

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn is the Assistant Director for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. In this position, Joy is responsible for managing All For NC: ZSR's Framework for Grantmaking and Learning. She also leads the Foundation's Exploratory, Visionary Ideas Strategy. A native North Carolinian, and a graduate of a North Carolina public school, Joy joined the Foundation in 1998. In her time at ZSR, she has worked across all aspects of the Foundation and has led ZSR’s strategic planning processes.

Shaheen B. Towles joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in February 2012 as its first director of communications. Shaheen is responsible for building awareness of ZSR’s mission, grantmaking and programs; providing appropriate information to stakeholders; and furthering the role of ZSR as a leader on issues of current importance to the state. Prior to this position, Shaheen worked as director of communications and outreach for the e-NC Authority, the state’s former broadband authority, established in 2000 by the General Assembly.

Tom Lambeth joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in 1978 as executive director and now continues to serve as director emeritus. Throughout his career, Tom has dedicated himself to the people of North Carolina in a variety of capacities. He has worked on the campaign staff of gubernatorial candidate Terry Stanford, served as assistant to the chair of the NC Democratic Party, and was administrative assistant to Governor Sanford. From 1965 to 1969, Tom was an administrator at the Smith Richardson Foundation in Greensboro, and from 1969 to 1978, he worked as administrative assistant to U.S.

James Gore joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in February 2009. Prior to coming to the Foundation, James served as a program director with One Economy Corporation, a Washington, DC based multi-national nonprofit that focused on efforts to bring broadband access, online content, and technology resources to low-income families. James also spent eight years with the Winston-Salem Foundation as a program officer and donor services officer. James has been active with numerous philanthropic efforts throughout his career.

Natalie Blake joined the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in July 2012 and is the program officer who co-leads the Foundation’s Community-Based Strategy and oversees the Advancing Public Education priority area within ZSR’s Statewide Systemic Change Strategy. Through her role at ZSR, Natalie strives to support connections between people, places, organizations and sectors who are working to impact the communities in which they live.