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Unique Statewide Program Announces 2025-2027 Class

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擳he William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, the flagship program of Wildacres Leadership Initiative (WLI), has named its 2025-2027 class. 蜜豆直播 alumnae, Sherika Eskridge and Sharon Surratt Robbs, both of Cleveland County, N.C., are two of just 18 individuals across North Carolina selected for the thirteenth William C. Friday Fellowship class. Both hold undergraduate and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees from 蜜豆直播 University and support their communities in professional and personal roles.

A competitive statewide program for cross-sector leaders, the Friday Fellowship is dedicated to fostering relationships across differences and utilizing dialogue to address North Carolina鈥檚 most pressing issues. The Fellowship program is both a central piece and one example of WLI鈥檚 mission to build individual and collective leadership that creates cultures of collaboration throughout the state.

鈥淓ven years after my formal Fellowship experience, I find the essence of the Friday Fellowship still working on me and doing the work of bettering human relations,鈥� conveyed WLI board chair Faith Bynum Patterson. 鈥淎s a graduate of the Fellowship class of 2017-2019, I have worked with the classes that came after mine, just as the classes before me did. My Fellowship class experience was life-changing. The intra- and inter-class relationships continue to be profoundly impactful, and I strongly urge each incoming class member to take full advantage of this truly unique opportunity.鈥�

The 2025-2027 Fellowship class includes 18 individuals who currently reside in 12 North Carolina counties. The months-long selection process included a formal nomination, written application, virtual-based conversation, and in-person regional interview. Friday Fellows demonstrate commitment to leadership in North Carolina, model curiosity and continuous learning, and are courageous risk takers seeking to create innovation through their work in the world.

Eskridge, a native of Shelby, N.C., is a mission-driven nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience in program development, strategic operations, and community engagement. She has successfully led multimillion-dollar grant programs, managed diverse teams, and implemented impactful initiatives in housing, public health, and neighborhood revitalization. As a HUD Certified Housing Counselor and former state program coordinator, she brings expertise in compliance, outreach, and collaborative partnership building. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Robbs is a servant leader and human services professional with a background in serving diverse populations ranging from youth to senior adults. She has served in leadership roles in the corporate and nonprofit sector including executive director, community relations director, and sales director. She has worked with at-risk students and families in partnership with Cleveland County Schools and Communities In Schools. In addition, she has worked as a social worker investigator and Family Resource Center Director. Currently, she is a licensed assisted living administrator in the State of North Carolina and served as housing director and Senior Center director with Council on Aging/Neal Senior Center of Cleveland County for 12 years. She has served a total of 20 plus years in the senor living industry. Robbs is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Shelby Alumnae Chapter where she holds the office of vice president and director of Program Planning and Development.

鈥淲LI and the broader Friday Fellowship community are thrilled to welcome the incoming members of the 2025-2027 Class,鈥� shared Beth Coleman, WLI鈥檚 lead faculty. 鈥淚n their own unique ways, they have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to learning, growing as leaders, and engaging with others for the collective betterment of human relations. Now, as much as ever, we need collaborative leadership. We look forward to the two-year journey ahead and to seeing the positive impact this group will have in our local communities, across our state, and the world.鈥�

Like other Friday Fellows before them, the 18 incoming class members will engage in professional and leadership development both individually and collectively throughout the duration of the two-year fellowship cycle. The program, which operates without tuition or fees from class members, is structured over six four-day seminars and allows for shared experiences across the state, including in Carteret, McDowell, and Tyrrell counties. Before and after each seminar weekend, class members are invited to embrace new and different pathways toward building and sustaining relationships across lines of difference.

Hunter Corn, WLI Director, who is also a Cleveland County native, added, 鈥淓ach of these individuals have already made choices to stop, reflect, and step into something not fully known. I am grateful for their choices to intentionally be in relationship with those different from themselves. It is choices like these that strengthen communities.鈥�

A class directory page with more information and a photo of each new class member is available at this .

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About the William C. Friday Fellowship

The for Human Relations is a program of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative. The fellowship honors the legacy of longtime UNC system president Bill Friday, who charged the first class of fellows in 1995 with embracing personal growth and learning in the service of all North Carolinians. Responding to Bill Friday鈥檚 call for leadership marked by both courage and grace, the fellowship has equipped over 250 individuals with opportunities for deep engagement with their own鈥攁nd others鈥欌�攍eadership practices. With human relations at the core of the fellowship鈥檚 mission and design, fellows step into relationship with one another while evaluating their power, place, and purpose in a changing world.

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University鈥檚 tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

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