Student Leadership
Lahari Pokala // President and Chair
Hello everyone! My name is Lahari, and I am the president and chair of NCPIRG. I am a sophomore double majoring in biochemistry and biostatistics with a passion for public health, policy reform, community service, and change-making. I am so excited about all the great work we have planned this year!
Ayomide Olajide // Vice Chair
Hello! My name is Mide and I am a second-year Economics B.S. and Political Science double major. I am originally from Cary, NC, and love biking in Umstead State Park and fishing in the lakes and creeks across Raleigh and Cary. I serve as the Vice Chair of UNCPIRG and the Co-Coordinator of the End Hunger and Homelessness campaign. I am passionate about my work with PIRG because I believe that the best way for college students and young adults to get their voices heard politically is through participation in our democratic systems and working collectively to ensure our voices and needs are addressed.
Martha Plaehn // New Voters Project Co-Coordinator
Hello! My name is Martha Plaehn, and I am a co-coordinator for the New Voters Project. I am a junior here at UNC and have been involved with NVP since my freshman year. I major in Political Science, with minors in Math and Social and Economic Justice. Outside of NVP, I am a captain for UNC’s competitive club ultimate frisbee team and tutor with Teach for America. I am passionate about democracy (obviously), education, sports, and birds!
Kennedy Fultz // New Voters Project Co-Coordinator
Hey everyone! I am a co-coordinator for the New Voters Project campaign. I am a junior from Charlotte, NC, double majoring in Sociology and Peace, War, and Defense. In my free time, I love weightlifting, thrifting, watching Carolina basketball, and exploring the Triangle!
Tyshana Tatum // Visibility Chair
Hi everyone, I’m Tyshana! I am a third year at UNC double majoring in Economics B.A. and Management & Society with a minor in Conflict Management. I enjoy hiking, gardening, and volunteering in my free time. This is my second year as the Visibility Chair and my first leading the End Hunger & Homelessness campaign. I’m so excited to work with you all this upcoming year!
Cierra Gutsch // Sustainability Initiative Coordinator
My name is Cierra and I’m the coordinator for the NCPIRG Sustainability Initiative, which I’ve been a part of since freshman year. I’m an anthropology and archaeology major with a minor in public policy. I’m also involved with the Society of Undergraduate Anthropologists and love to read in my free time. I look forward to the year and graduating in spring 2025!
Our Staff
Leigh-Anne Cole // President, Board of Directors
Leigh-Anne is President of the Board of Directors for NCPIRG and oversees NCPIRG’s organizing on campuses across the state. She coordinated the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project from 2008 to 2012, which registered more than 300,000 people to vote and made more than 1 million “get-out-the-vote” contacts. As Director of Recruitment for The Public Interest Network, she recruited thousands of candidates to apply to join our network, hundreds of whom have found jobs or careers here, while others have gone on to pursue other public interest positions. Leigh-Anne lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, where she loves to go hiking with her dog, Aspen, and her daughter, Rosie.
Dan Xie // Political Director
Dan directs the national political strategy and grant fundraising for the Student PIRGs. Dan has managed successful campaigns from coast to coast to cap global warming pollution, fight the high cost of higher education, and make voting more accessible for students. She has recruited and trained hundreds of students and staff on public interest campaigns. Dan lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she is an avid cyclist and climber.