Meet the C4 Board

Meet the Equality NC C4 Board

Jenna Beckham (she/her)

Jenna Beckham, MD, MSPH has been a longtime supporter of Equality NC and was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Equality NC Foundation board in 2019. She is a North Carolina native; she grew up in a small town but has lived in the Triangle for over 15 years. She completed all of her education and professional training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - undergraduate, medical school, graduate school in the school of public health, and residency training. She is an obstetrician-gynecologist and works as a faculty physician at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh as well as for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic at various locations throughout the state. She is a member of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) and provides comprehensive and gender-affirming care to LGBTQ patients. She lives in Durham with her partner, Harrison, and their three large dogs.

Kinard Douthit (he/him)

Dr. Kinard Douthit is an avid performer and music educator from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Currently, Dr. Douthit is an Assistant Professor of Music and Instructor of Flute And Music Business at Winston-Salem State University and an Adjunct Professor of Music at Forsyth Technical Community College. Dr. Douthit is also Assistant Director of Bands and Conductor of the WSSU Flute Choir. Formerly, Dr. Douthit taught in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System for seven years as Director of Bands at Philo Middle School. His research focuses on African-American composers of flute music and flute pedagogical techniques. Dr. Douthit also recently joined the Instrumental Faculty of the North Carolina’sGovernor’s School in 2020.

Currently, Dr. Douthit is the Principal Flutist of the Piedmont Winds and also performs with countless ensembles and organizations across North Carolina. Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Douthit performed with the Western Piedmont Symphony Chamber Orchestra for their Educational Concert Tours, and also performs regularly with the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, and Community Theater of Greensboro. He has performed a variety of theater shows as well. Dr. Douthit performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician, with faculty chamber ensembles, and is now engaged with several commercial projects across the Triad area.

Dr. Douthit completed the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University, the Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Douthit holds memberships in the National Flute Association, NC Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education, the HBCU National Band Director’s Consortium, the Intercollegiate Music Association, and has recently joined the board of Equality North Carolina.

Italo Medelius (he/him)

Italo Medelius is originally from Lima, Peru and moved to Hampstead, NC at 9 years old. He is a graduate from the North Carolina Central University School of Law and UNC-Asheville. Italo is the former Chair of the Durham Mayor's Hispanic-Latino Committee and began his service with ENC as a member of the Political Action Committee in 2019.

Milan Pham (she/her)

Milan Pham is a queer, lesbian, feminist, immigrant, daughter, sister, auntie extraordinaire, wife and friend among other things. She works as an attorney and is a partner at Nicholson Pham, Attorneys at Law, PLLC. In her practice, she focuses on issues of family creation and protection in the context of queer and emerging families. She is an Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Fellow with the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. She serves on the National Center for Lesbian Rights National Family Law Advisory Committee (NFLAC) which develops strategy and shares resources for the protection of LGBT+ and historically unrecognized or marginally protected families. Before Nicholson Pham, she served as Director of the NC Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program and, before that, Director of the Orange County Department of Human Rights and Relations. She currently serves on the Board of Equality North Carolina. She obtained her Juris Doctor from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. She is a budding mycologist and aspires to be a writer. She loves her niblings, wife, coffee, dogs, reading and gardening.

Elgin Philips (he/him)

Elgin T. Phillips Jr is a Senior Training & Deployment Specialist of Revenue Excellence at Trinity Health. He continually progressed in healthcare Billing & Follow-up over the last 10 years and transitioned into Corporate Training and Development during the last 7 years.  Elgin is an experienced Learning and Development Coordinator with a proven history in the healthcare industry. Elgin is skilled in Public Speaking, Change Management, Adult Learning, Diversity & Inclusion and Training and Content creation.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, with a concentration in Human Resources from Winston-Salem State University.  He also received his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Strategic Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Elgin has an unequaled way of capturing his audience’s attention and connecting the dots for all learners.  In his previous role, he was instrumental in the coordination, implementation and delivery of the Billing training program during the 5-year Epic transition. In his freetime, he enjoys giving back to his community with his brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, traveling, and just spending time with his family and friends.

Elgin also currently a managing partner of CTRL Lifestyle Group, LLC. In Charlotte, NC. He helps maintain and develop professional relationships and good rapport with all of CTRL contracted and patterning clients. Elgin and CTRL Lifestyle Group has been working to tell the stories of the LGBTQ community through their documentary series called CTRL My Story. Elgin wants to continue advocating for helping others to voice their stories to connect our community in multiple ways.

Zach Wardle (he/him)

Zach Wardle is the Chief Operating Officer for Global Banking and Markets (GBAM) Operations at Bank of America. Zach’s responsibilities include management of business operations activities including, business planning, people management, location, and resource strategy as well as financial and expense management. Zach has been with Bank of America for 16 years. Before taking his current role, Zach held numerous Leadership positions including Organizational Performance Management, Leadership Development, Organizational Development, Technology Product Management, and Learning. Prior to working for Bank of America, Zach held numerous positions in technology, including product management, solution design, and custom application development utilizing satellite networks for delivery of video content. Zach is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified and graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Zach manages Diversity and Inclusion for GBAM Operations and sits on the Global Technology and Operations Diversity and Inclusion Council. Zach also acts as the Ambassador Coordinator for LGBT+ Pride Ally Program across the firm. Zach is based in Charlotte, NC where he lives with his husband and his two children.

Michael Wilson (he/him)

Michael Wilson is a lifelong North Carolinian who now lives in Raleigh. He is an advocate who believes we can talk and chew gum at the same time: we can work towards a better future while also making practical changes now.

He volunteers his time working to end domestic violence in North Carolina and serves as the Treasurer for North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He also advocates for fair and affordable housing.

Professionally, Michael holds a degree in Business Administration from UNC Chapel Hill and has previously held two financial services licenses. After working as a financial analyst at a large financial institution, he worked as a legislative staff member in the North Carolina General Assembly where he developed expertise on sexual assault and domestic violence policy and managed multiple violence prevention bills which passed and became law. Michael is currently in his third year of Law School at UNC Chapel Hill and will join a law firm in Chapel Hill after passing the Bar.

Irving Zavaleta (he/him)

Irving Zavaleta is a well-known and highly regarded leader, educator and speaker with in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of inclusion and equity. Irving has first hand experience and knows best practices for working with underrepresented populations including students of color, LGBTQIA communities and first-generation college students.