Dear Friend,

I am honored to step into the role of Interim Executive Director at Student U. As we move forward during this transition, I am excited to work closely with our communities, partners, and supporters to continue building on the strong foundation laid by Michelle Price and our team.

For those of you I haven’t had the chance to meet, I have been at Student U for six years as the Associate Director of College Advising and Success, the Program Director, and the Chief Program Officer.  I am particularly grateful that my role as Chief Program Officer for the past two years has prepared me to step into this new responsibility with excitement and readiness. I deeply believe in the power of collective communities to unlock the immense potential of young people, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to dedicate this season of my career to nurturing that growth.  I want to take a moment to thank Michelle Price for her visionary leadership.  She leaves behind an incredible legacy of joy here, and I look forward to continuing the work she began.  She has been an invaluable mentor and friend, and I congratulate her on her retirement.

During this transition, I am committed to ensuring that we maintain the momentum of our programs and deepen our relationships with students, families, and supporters, recognizing that these connections are the heart of everything we do. My focus will be on leveraging partnerships to expand our impact, creating new opportunities for collaboration that drive meaningful change and bring us closer to a more just and equitable Durham.

I would love to hear from all of you—your input matters greatly as we navigate this transition together.  I also invite you to come to our home at The W.G. Pearson Center to meet our talented staff and witness our programs first-hand.  Please feel free to reach out to me directly at elena.maina@studentudurham.org or schedule a meeting with me here.

I am honored to lead Student U through this next chapter and excited for what we will accomplish together. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to what lies ahead.

In partnership,

Elena Maina, M.Ed.

Interim Executive Director