N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela Cashwell announces the appointment of Dr. Melody Hunter-Pillion as deputy secretary for External Affairs. She joins the department Nov. 9 and will oversee the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the Office of K-12 Education, Marketing and Communications, and the North Carolina Arts Council.
“Dr. Hunter-Pillion will be an outstanding member of our DNCR leadership team,” said Secretary Cashwell. “Her expertise as a historian and storyteller along with her experience in communications and media relations make her an excellent choice to oversee the department’s externally focused divisions.”
Dr. Hunter-Pillion is a historian, journalist and communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in media relations, communications, storytelling and higher education. She was most recently the acting director of the Southern Oral History Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hunter-Pillion previously held communications positions at the NC Office of State Human Resources, the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows and Rex Healthcare. She has also been a news reporter and correspondent for WTVD-ABC11 and PBS North Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in liberal studies from Duke University and a PhD in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I am honored to join DNCR and work with colleagues across North Carolina who share the same excitement about our state’s people, history, culture, and beauty,” said Dr. Hunter-Pillion, who is a Scotland County native and daughter of an educator. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve my home state in DNCR’s work to preserve and share North Carolina’s rich history and culture and shape a strong future for all of her people.”
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.