Shiesha Bell, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director

Shiesha received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work from North Carolina State University. She specializes in working with transition age youth and has done so in the foster care system, day treatment programs and in the private outpatient therapy sector.

Rashidah Bryant, Director of Programs

Rashidah attended Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, New York and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in social work. She has worked with youth in foster care for the past 18 years. She has a wealth of experience in child protective work, foster home supervision, and working with transition age youth and transitional living programs. Rashidah is passionate about assisting transition age youth with developing the necessary tools to become self sufficient adults.

Michael Conroy, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Social Worker

Michael is a transplant to North Carolina, having moved from West Virginia where he earned a BA in Psychology and Criminology before obtaining his Master of Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021. Michael provides clinical services to our youth and is passionate about fostering a safe environment where clients feel comfortable speaking openly about their experiences. He has experience working with a wide variety of populations through Supported Employment, Community Supportive Treatment, and in the criminal justice system. Michael’s personal mission is to learn and grow alongside each population and firmly believes that all people are a work in progress. Michael has fallen in love with the Triangle and is excited to be a part of this community.

Paul Grabowski, Transition Specialist

Paul provides wraparound support to our youth, facilitating teachable moments and empowering young people to take agency over their daily lives. He attended the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Sexuality with a Minor in Sociology. He has worked in child welfare for several years, serving as a Mentoring Program Coordinator for LGBTQ+ youth in state care and as a Community-Based Life Skills Educator for youth in foster care. Paul's personal mission is to create stronger families by teaching empathy and compassion while modeling healthy masculinity. He recently completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, walking from Georgia to Maine in just under six months.

Madison Hayes, MA, Director of Operations

Madison provides operational support at LIFE Skills. She grew up in Florida and attended the University of Florida before moving to the Washington, DC area, where she earned her MA in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs at American University. Her experience includes work at several nonprofits, including food banks in Florida and North Carolina and an international labor rights organization in DC. She is proud to be a part of the incredible work that LIFE Skills does.

Christelle Ndong, MSW, Residence Manager

Christelle is a New Jersey native who suddenly found herself enjoying some ‘southern hospitality.' After getting her B.S. in Psychology from Delaware State University, she moved to North Carolina and enrolled in NCCU’s masters of social work program. Christelle has worked with a variety of clients with mental health and developmental challenges, and is passionate about supporting those who cannot yet support themselves. Christelle lives on-site and provides after hours support to residents.

Samathryn Witham, MA, Director of Development & Communications

Samathryn serves as the Director of Development and Communications at LIFE Skills. Prior to this role, Samathryn worked with youth and families in both direct service and administrative capacities spanning youth development, pre-K-college, the arts, and recreation. She earned her BA from The College of Wooster, a Masters in Education from UNC Chapel Hill, a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership at UNC Wilmington. Samathryn believes in LIFE Skills’ mission to be a “community that embraces, empowers, and inspires youth and emerging adults who need support” and is excited to build connections with others in support of this work.

Interns

Huge thanks to our wonderful Interns past and present! We really value your contribution to our work.

Board

Dr. Sumi Ariely, Vice Chair

Sumi is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Global Health at Duke University. Dr. Ariely holds a PhD in Psychology with a focus on cognitive development and culture. She has been active in applied and basic research and has international experience with global and public health issues in a variety of contexts. Ariely lived in West-Africa for two years during which she worked on maternal and child health care and with communities at risk for HIV/AIDS exposure. As a developmental psychologist she is interested in the inter-relations between cultural, social, and biological influences on development, health behaviors, and outcomes. Dr. Ariely has a passion for teaching and mentoring, directs the DGHI student research training sites in a variety of places, including India and Uganda, and is involved in research examining the transition orphans and vulnerable children make from institutions to communities in Africa and Asia. Before coming to Duke, she worked at MIT where she taught classes in developmental psychology, seminars on research and assessment, and served as advisor to MBA students interning as social entrepreneur consultants for local and international NGOs.

Kathleen Bentley

Kathleen Bentley is Vice President for Cloud Engagement at Fidelity Investments. Prior to her current role, Kathleen was the Regional Communications Director for North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. Kathleen’s career commenced in October 1997 with Fidelity Investments and since that time she has held a number of roles across multiple business lines. In 2007 she relocated with her family to North Carolina as a regional real estate director for Fidelity. She currently resides in Apex with her husband John and three children. Kathleen holds a B.A. in Communications from Niagara University.

Don Fowler

Don is a Creedmoor, NC native who has lived in Durham three separate times, most recently since 1999. He received both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Duke University and played baseball for the Blue Devils and in the minor leagues for the Baltimore Orioles. Don is a branch leader and mortgage lender with Movement Mortgage in Durham. In between long stints in the banking and mortgage industries, he worked for fifteen years as a fundraiser, development officer and non-profit leader. His most recent non-profit position was as the executive director of Playworks NC which served in Title 1 schools throughout Durham and Wake Counties.

Don lives in Durham with his wife, Kara, and daughter, Sophie. They have an adult son, Carl.

Ty’Onna Hartsfield

Born and raised in North Carolina, Ty’onna is a LIFE Skills alumna. Throughout working with LIFE Skills she has gained relationships and skills that have lasting effects. In 2021 Ty’onna gained her peer support certification hoping to be able to advocate for and support her peers. While being passionate about advocacy and LIFE Skills, Tyonna is an eager young adult who is still finding her way through the professional world. Hoping to continue to gain knowledge and grow as an individual, Ty’onna is looking forward to what the future could bring.

Calleen Herbert

Calleen serves as the Director for the Office of Community Engagement and Service at North Carolina Central University. Prior to her current role, she was an IT Project Manager developing software systems for several governmental clients. In 1994, she relocated with her family to North Carolina and joined Ciber, Inc. as a Principal Consultant. Calleen earned a B.A. in Computer Science from Mississippi State University and a M.S. in Public Management and Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

David Klein

David Klein is founder and managing director of a holding company that operates businesses in advisory services, technology, and real estate.

Prior, David was founder and CEO of CommonBond, a leading financial technology company based in New York, offering a suite of lending solutions to consumers and enterprises. The company scaled to $5 billion in loan originations, 1 million users, and 1000s of enterprises nationwide before all assets were sold in 2022.

Ever the believer in business as a force for good, David created CommonBond as a for-profit “social enterprise” – it was the first finance company with a "1-for-1" social mission. For every loan CommonBond funded, the company also funded the education of a child in need, in partnership with Pencils of Promise. It’s what led Harvard Business School to call CommonBond the “Warby Parker of (finance).”

In 2020, CommonBond made the Inc 5000 list, which highlights the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. And in 2018, CommonBond was selected by Fast Company as one of the world’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.

David is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, and former member of Crain's New York 40 Under 40 list. He pursued his MBA at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated with a BA in Politics and Economics from Brandeis University.

Early in his career, David held positions at McKinsey & Company and American Express. He also sat on the Board of Bronx Charter School for the Arts. Upon graduating college, he taught English to school children and North African immigrants in Paris, France.

David lives in Durham with his wife and 2 children.

Ryan Lockamy

Ryan was born and raised in Athens, Georgia where he graduated with a degree in sociology from the University of Georgia while working as a golf professional at the University of Georgia Golf Course. After earning his undergraduate degree, Ryan and his wife moved to Albany, New York where Ryan graduated cum laude from Albany Law School.

While in law school, Ryan organized a conference confronting the political and constitutional implication arising from the intersection of religion and land use. He also served as a teaching fellow and as a research assistant. During school, Ryan clerked for a law firm specializing in insurance defense, where he gained invaluable litigation experience.

Following graduation, Ryan moved to New Bern, North Carolina where he put his litigation training to work representing individuals injured as a result of the negligence, carelessness, and recklessness of others. While practicing in New Bern, Ryan’s caseload ranged from motor vehicle negligence to premises liability cases to food service negligence, from minor injuries to wrongful death.

At Meece Law, Ryan focuses his practice on representing individuals, organizations, and companies in a wide spectrum of civil litigation matters. Ryan’s goal is to provide quality legal representation with a personal touch. He recognizes that each client counts on him for quality representation, personal attention, and efficient case management.

Ryan, whose father was born in Durham, feels like he has come home to his family roots. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys exploring the area, and participating in a wide variety of sports, from golf to baseball.

Kara Pittman

Kara owns a boutique real estate company, Terra Nova in Chapel Hill NC. They celebrate their 27th year in business in 2023. She helps buyers and sellers with their real estate needs daily.

Kara is also a licensed NC General Contractor. The decision to create Curate Construction Company was built from a desire to be more creative and intentional about available homes in the local market. She’s built several homes for herself and others.

Kara’s first exposure to the Department of Social Services began with her volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem in Orange county. However, when she and her partner Stephen decided to become foster parents in 2019, she had to give up her role as GAL. This July will be four years as foster parents and they’ll celebrate by adopting their 20 year old daughter, Viridy!

Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel, Chair

Lauren Lee is honored to serve as the Chair of the LIFE Skills Board. She is a fierce advocate, educator, and mom committed to ensuring every child feels loved, successful, and unstoppable. Lauren Lee is a native Louisianan bursting with generosity and joie de vivre. She was an active student leader and NCCA cheerleader who graduated from Newcomb College of Tulane University as part of the “Katrina Class.” After college, she was a teacher through Teach For America. In 2014, she graduated from the University of Miami School of Law. At Miami Law, she was a Miami Scholar, Chair of Iron Arrow, a Clinic Fellow, and a leader in public interest. Also, she was named part of the University’s inaugural class of 30 Under 30.

Before moving to Durham, Lauren Lee served as the Senior Director of Education at HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS), a large nonprofit located in Brooklyn focused on foster care. In her role, she expanded the college scholarship program—the American Dream Program—from being the sole coach for the young people in care to overseeing a team of coaches who provided holistic support and guidance to over 100 youth. She created the model of coaching that is now used in the Fair Futures Program, which is being implemented in the 26 agencies across NYC. Lauren Lee also coordinated grants and established the Junior Board of Directors at HSVS. After working with her team on weekdays, Lauren Lee conquered the asphalt as a runner, including running through the boroughs in NYC Marathon. She now cheers on her favorite teams and beats the odds as a lupus warrior.

In Durham, Lauren Lee is involved at Immaculate Conception Church as a member of the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee as well as the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties’ (JLDOC) Community Impact Process Committee. She is also on the Newcomb Alumnae Board, Lupus Foundation of North Carolina Board, and Co-Chair of the Strategic Engagement Committee of the Young Alumni Council of the University of Miami. She is married to Abraham Schewel, Esq., a fellow Miami Scholar, a native Durhamite, and an attorney working in civil rights and criminal justice. She and Abe welcomed their greatest joy to the world in June of 2021, Josephine Lee Marie.

Susan Springer, Secretary

Susan serves as director for Madrock Advisors. Prior to joining Madrock, Susan was the Admissions Director at the Lerner School, taught elementary school in Montgomery County, MD, and worked in strategic planning and real estate lending at Citizens Bank of MD. Susan has been a long-time volunteer with the Durham Literacy Center, the Lerner School, Beth El Synagogue and the Jewish Community Center. Susan earned her B.S. in Business Administration at American University, and her M.A. in teaching at Johns Hopkins University. Susan lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Matt, and their teenage daughters, Madison and April.

Akeeya Umstead

Akeeya Umstead is the visionary founder of Misstakenid Gives Back Foundation, dedicated to orchestrating pop-up community service initiatives in food-insecure areas and fostering professional skill development in underserved communities. Serving as the CEO of Misstakenid Incorporated, a management consulting firm specializing in project/program management, event management, coaching, and course/workshop development, Akeeya brings a wealth of expertise.

With a robust background in the tech industry, Akeeya has excelled as an Acquisition Integration Manager and Customer Project Manager at Cisco Systems Inc. She has also held pivotal project management roles in the telecom sector at Verizon and Charter Communications. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, Akeeya's commitment to continuous learning is evident through her certificates/certifications from esteemed institutions like Villanova, Cornell, Scrum Alliance, Meta, and more.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Akeeya is deeply engaged in community leadership. She currently serves on the Mayor's Council for Women in Durham, NC, and extends her care as a dedicated extended caregiver to her father, affectionately known as "The Old Man." Akeeya's commitment to community extends to her previous role on the Board of Directors for the Durham Symphony.

A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Akeeya's impact extends beyond her professional and community engagements. Recognized as a previous 40 under 40 awardee by her alma mater, North Carolina Central University, Akeeya exemplifies excellence and dedication in every facet of her life. Hailing from Durham, NC, Akeeya Umstead continues to inspire positive change through her multifaceted contributions.

LIFE Skills People

Staff