Board of Trustees 2023-2024
David Green, President and Fundraising/Finance Committee Chair
A Raleigh native, David moved to Durham for work in 2013 and was quickly charmed by the city and its people. Having met many great friends (including his now wife) through Durham's recreational sports leagues, David has a deep appreciation for the communal aspect of shared spaces and activity. Whether playing softball at a local park, running or walking his dog on the American Tobacco Trail, or hiking the Eno, David is a frequent beneficiary of Durham's many park and trail offerings. David served on Durham Parks and Recreation's Advisory Committee (the "RAC") from 2014 through 2019 and has been an active board member of the Durham Parks Foundation since 2019, serving his first term as Board President beginning in 2022.
Farrah Sangsookwow Shapiro
Farrah is a parent of two active children, a lover of dogs and the great outdoors, and a spicy food enthusiast. When she is not enjoying outdoor activities with her family and community, she works as a consultant in Clinical Trials services. Her love for public parks grew from a young age, ever since she lived in Thailand. Here in Durham, local parks hold many of her favorite family memories: first playground, birthday parties, first bike ride (no training wheels!), countless family/friend/dog walks, and many more to come. Farrah joined DPF as a board member in 2021 to help Durham public parks thrive and expand access.
Donna Stanek, Secretary
Donna was born in Muncie, Indiana, and during her youth, she lived throughout the Midwest (Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois). Her 33-year journey with the Fish and Wildlife Service took her all around the country beginning in 1978. Donna spent her career planning and designing outdoor recreation facilities for visitors to national wildlife refuges. Her love for the outdoors began as a child and continues to this day. She moved to Durham in 2011 when she retired. She continues her love of the outdoors and wildlife, traveling around the U.S. and abroad. Part of her travel is taking people on safaris to South Africa a couple of times a year. When in Durham, Donna volunteers at the Museum of Life and Science and for You Can Vote, a voter education effort.
Marge Clemmons
Marge is originally from the West Coast and has had family and career connections to the military throughout her life. Her educational background is in sociology, psychology and criminal justice. Marge joined the Durham Parks Foundation board in 2017 and has served on its Executive Committee and as a Member-at-Large. She is no stranger to community service – To name just a few of her leadership roles in the community, she has been a Recreation Advisory Commission member, a Mental Health Criminal Justice Advisory Committee member, a Triangle outreach coordinator for MENAC, and a committee member for the Durham Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities, of which she was recently named co-chair again. Marge has three children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Sara Amolegbe, Vice President
A North Carolina native, Sara joined the Durham Parks Foundation in 2020 because of her love for Durham parks and outdoor recreational activities. Sara works at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she supports planning, communication and evaluation activities for the NIH Common Fund, which addresses emerging scientific opportunities and pressing challenges in biomedical research. Sara is a regular on trails throughout Durham and loves to explore the outdoors with her husband, daughter and dog, Theo. She has also made many friends and met new people through the DPR Adult Women’s Soccer League, other community recreational soccer and futsal leagues, and on walks with her dog through Durham parks.
Dave Connelly
Dave is an advocate for cycling, parks, trails and open space. He and Renee have lived in Durham since 1987. He’s also a member of DOST (Durham Open Space and Trails Commission), two cycling groups, and a steering committee for rail-trails expansion in Durham. Dave would like to see DPF achieve both greater "bandwidth" as an organization and greater funding for local projects.
Michelle Lievsay
Michelle joined the Durham Parks Foundation in 2021 and has enjoyed learning about the many wonderful parks and trails in the area. In her day job, she works in financial technology, but in her free time she loves to run, hike and spend time with her wife, baby and two dogs.
Julie Messina, Treasurer
Marylander by birth, Durhamite by choice, Julie first moved to the Bull City in 2000. Somewhere along the way, Julie was bitten by the running bug and can be seen running frequently on the American Tobacco Trail, Eno River State Park or the Third Fork Creek Trail. In 2013, Julie brought parkrun, a free, weekly, timed 5km run or walk to Durham and can be found there on any given Saturday. One of Julie's favorite things about living in Durham is the beautiful parks and green spaces, and she is dedicated to working with the Durham Parks Foundation to find ways to get even more people out and enjoying these local treasures.
Wade Walcutt, Ex-Officio, Director, Durham Parks and Recreation
Staff Liaison
Emilie McIntosh, Durham Parks and Recreation