Sam Parker, NCAAT Board Chair
Operations Director of Put NC First
Sam Parker is a fourth-generation Japanese-American born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. His dual passions for art and activism have led him to be involved with organizations such as Social Justice Fund, where he helped to build financial and operational infrastructure for progressive community organizers in the Pacific Northwest, and Hollow Earth Radio, where he was part of a campaign to transform the online-only arts station to a community-based low-power FM hub found on the radio dial. He currently works as part of the progressive electoral infrastructure — in his off-time, he enjoys playing the bass and perfecting his blackberry pie recipe.
Inderdeep Chatrath, NCAAT Board Vice Chair
Assistant Vice President, Duke University Office for Institutional Equity
Inderdeep Chatrath is the assistant vice president of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Programs in the Office for Institutional Equity, Duke University and Duke University Health System. She is responsible for designing studies, compiling and reporting institutional data pursuant to federal regulations, and coordinating research and evaluation studies to identify progress and trends. During her tenure at Duke, Dr. Chatrath has been responsible for institutional research functions, and has managed programs for harassment prevention, diversity and disability management.
Dr. Chatrath is a member of the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) and is actively involved in evaluating, developing, and teaching courses for the AAAED Professional Development and Training Institute. Dr. Chatrath holds leadership roles in a Consortium of Ivy League and Select Universities; the Federal Diversity Institute; the North Carolina Diversity and Inclusion Partners; and the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations of the US Census Bureau.
Dr. Chatrath was awarded the 2017 Triangle Industry Liaison Group EEO/AA Practitioner Award that recognizes the accomplishments of an individual for their leadership, contributions and commitment to promoting equal opportunity and affirmative action in employment.
Chris Kromm, NCAAT Board Secretary
Executive Director, Institute for Southern Studies
From 1997 to 2000, Chris was the editor of Southern Exposure magazine, the Institute for Southern Studies’s award-winning journal of politics and culture. He was appointed executive director in 2000. He is also publisher of Facing South, the Institute’s online magazine.
A frequently-sought commentator on Southern politics and current issues, Chris has appeared on over 300 TV and radio broadcasts including American Public Media’s “Marketplace,” CNN “Live,” C-SPAN, Democracy Now, KCRW California’s “To the Point,” Mississippi Public Radio, MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Pacifica Radio, WUNC’s “The State of Things” and Sirius XM Radio.
Under Chris’s leadership, the Institute for Southern Studies has been recognized with several prestigious honors and awards, including the George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting, a North Carolina Justice Center Defenders of Justice Award for Policy Research and Advocacy, a Harry Chapin Media Award for coverage of poverty issues, an Investigative Reporting award from the North Carolina Press Association and honors from the National Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists and the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Stacey Carless, NCAAT Board Treasurer
Executive Director, NC Counts Coalition
Stacey started working with the Coalition in August 2017. Stacey is an attorney and a member of the North Carolina State Bar. She earned her juris doctorate degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Stacey’s commitment to service and her passion for protecting human rights led her to complete a certificate program in constitutional law and civil rights. In that program, she focused her studies on the 14th Amendment and the resegregation of public schools in North Carolina. Following law school, Stacey hung her own shingle and opened Carless Law. There, she utilized her life experiences, legal knowledge and passion for justice to advocate for her clients in the judicial system. Stacey is American bawn (born) and Jamaican raised; she is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants. She was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina and is a true Tar Heel! Stacey earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she double majored in Journalism and Mass Communications and Political Science. While attending law school, Stacey worked in transportation, project management, and public relations. In her free time, Stacey enjoys Zumba, spending time with her family and friends, and exploring Downtown Raleigh and Downtown Durham. Stacey is a volunteer attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, where she advocates for tenant rights in eviction matters.
Cyndy Yu Robinson, NCAAT Board member
Executive Director, National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP)
As NAAAP’s Executive Director, Cyndy Yu-Robinson supports and coordinates the actions of NAAAP’s 30 chapters, 600+ volunteer leaders in areas of business development, programs, communication and administrative efficiency.
Cyndy has worked for 25 years in communication, public affairs and public engagement. Her passions include environmental sustainability, community service and philanthropy and sports and fitness. Cyndy worked as a public information officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for 18 years (and as the Asian Special Emphasis Program Manager for 9 of those years), as Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Lenovo for 1 year and as a public involvement specialist with AECOM for 9 years.
Her service to the Asian community includes being a volunteer at the Asian Women’s Center in San Francisco, an officer of the Triangle Area Chinese American Society in North Carolina and project director for Census 2010 Outreach to Asians and Pacific Islanders in North Carolina.
Manju Karkare, NCAAT Board Member
Nutritionist/Dietician, Founder of Nutritionally Yours, LLC (Raleigh, NC)
Manju Karkare is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a breadth of experience for over 20 years. She has been licensed to practice dietetics in NC since 1999. Manju believes in providing evidence based, scientifically proven nutritional counseling. She has worked in a variety of capacities including acute care clinical nutrition, outpatient oncology (cancer care) consulting, public health education, and classroom instruction.
Manju is passionate about helping people learn about healthy eating and loving it. She volunteers routinely for Meals on Wheels of Wake County delivering meals and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle teaching nutrition classes for low-income populations. She loves to cook a variety of cuisines and use her knowledge to make it nutritious. She is especially excited to promote local agriculture, mindful eating, and nutritious ethnic cuisines.