Banking by Tar Heels, for Tar Heels.
Carolina Students is an initiative in the process of chartering the proposed Carolina Students' Credit Union. We are building the first student-run financial institution in the state—the only student-run financial institution at a public university in the nation—completely governed by the UNC community.
Our Mission
Carolina Students promotes thrift and creates a source of credit for provident and productive purposes for students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by offering affordable, transparent financial services, and cultivating financial knowledge and wellness.
Our Vision
We aspire to make UNC-Chapel Hill a beacon for economic democracy where students leverage their collective power to advance the public good and where no Tar Heel is left behind.
Our Story
Over the past several years, our team of dedicated students has worked closely with industry partners, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and university leadership to turn the vision of a student-run credit union into reality. We have successfully secured initial startup capital, finalized vendor partnerships, and filed all necessary charter applications.
Currently, our application is under active review by regulators. We anticipate receiving our official charter and deposit insurance approval soon, and expect to open our doors to the UNC community next Spring!
Our Team
Economics and Public Policy student passionate about economic democracy. Work experience at the NC Department of State Treasurer; Director of Programming for Carolina Women in Economics; Summer Undergrad Research Fellowship on member agency in cooperative financial institutions. From Apex, NC.
Business Administration and Economics student. Seeing firsthand the importance of financial stability sparked her interest in building a financial institution that puts members over profit. Accounting and compliance experience at Irish Liquidations. From Trinity, NC.
Economics student involved in the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship and Women in Consulting. Passionate about entrepreneurship and empowering women in business. Background in operations leadership and marketing. From Brookfield, WI.
Economics and Public Policy student focused on International Development and reducing income inequality. Certified Credit Union Compliance Officer (CUCO) by America's Credit Unions. Researches distributional effects of power plant expansion in NC. From Davidson, NC.
Data Science and Business Administration student. Commercial banking experience at Capital One. Career Advancement Manager in Women in Consulting at Carolina; Lead ULA for UNC's Intro to Data Science course. From Charlotte, NC.
Business Administration student. Works for 100 Women at UNC Kenan-Flagler and is involved in Alpha Kappa Psi. Passionate about operations, organizational efficiency, and mission-driven work. From Huntersville, NC.
Economics and Data Science student in the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship. As an international student, she experienced banking access gaps firsthand and joined to help close them. Also pursues high-altitude expeditions around the world. From Hyderabad, India.
Economics and Journalism student advocating for ethical and community-centered banking. Senior Writer and DEI Coordinator at the Daily Tar Heel; President of Asian American Journalists Association; freelancer at WUNC Public Radio. From Charlotte, NC.
Senior studying Economics with a minor in Data Science. Believes business can serve people when ownership, governance, and incentives are intentionally aligned with their needs. From Greensboro, NC.
Business Administration student with minors in Entrepreneurship and PPE. Part of UNC's Entrepreneurship Club, Finance Society, and Black Student Movement. Believes young adults deserve accessible financial education and services designed around their needs. From Apex, NC.
Economics and Data Science student passionate about community financial empowerment. Healthcare Research Sector Lead for a student-led impact investing fund; Learning Assistant for UNC's Economics Department. Multi-department internship at HomeTrust Bank. From Apex, NC.
Economics and Philosophy student. Leads partnership and market expansion strategy for the Lessons for Sports Fans startup at the UNC Law Institute for Innovation. Conducts research on competition in the Brazilian fuel market and participates in UNC Fed Challenge. Mihika is originally from San Francisco, CA.
Bodford Scholar studying Business and Journalism. Uses visual media to support causes and bring people together. Through volunteering with nonprofits across NC, he has used his photography to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged communities. Originally from Greensboro, NC.
Psychology and Sociology student passionate about expanding diversity within research spaces. Holds assistantships in the Bioinformatics Building and the Arnold Lab for Cognitive Psychology. From Greensboro, NC.
Studies Business Administration with prior experience advocating for the arts.
Business Administration and Data Science student passionate about driving impact in the UNC community. Former competitive Indian dancer; enjoys teaching music to special needs students. From Northern Virginia.
Mathematics and Data Science student with a minor in Business. Experience in technology, consulting, entrepreneurship, policy research, pro bono consulting for local small businesses, and student organizations focused on mental health and criminal justice.
Business Administration and Economics student with years of experience expanding financial literacy. From Cary, NC.
Freshman double majoring in Mathematics and Philosophy on the Pre-Law track. Participates in community service and technology initiatives focused on expanding access to opportunities across Charlotte. Founded a teen hackathon circuit for students from underrepresented backgrounds and worked with a Charlotte nonprofit to improve access to fresh food.
Junior studying Business Administration and Information Science. Her campus involvement has strengthened her commitment to helping peers build the knowledge and skills needed for long-term financial success. Enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with family.
Mathematics major with a minor in Business Administration; Morehead-Cain Scholar. Experience at a Myanmar fintech, the UNC Math Help Center, and founding the Photography Club at Carolina. Parr Center Scholar and national FDIC Academic Challenge finalist. From Ames, IA.
Economics student passionate about informing economic decisions with quantitative reasoning. Work experience at Nike PivotPoint Analytics and Speak Out Sisterhood. Co-President of Carolina Women in Economics. From Miami, FL.
Junior studying Economics and Business Administration. Undergraduate Chair for UNC’s Investment Management for All: Wealth & Women event and interns with UNC’s student-managed impact investment fund.
Business and Public Policy student. Experience at Kennedy Krieger, a nonprofit hospital, and conducted research for a search fund. Involved in Alpha Kappa Psi’s service committee; Director of Membership for Best Buddies; and participates in UNC Club Tennis. Coaches swimming for Special Olympics. Originally from Ellicott City, MD.
Sophomore double majoring in Political Science and MEJO with a minor in Economics. She works for Meantime, UNC’s on-campus nonprofit coffee shop, and is passionate about education reform at both the local and national levels. Maya is originally from Chicago and was raised in Asheville, NC.
Robertson Scholar studying Public Policy and Social Work with an intended minor in Business Administration. Through congressional, state government, education, nonprofit, and credit union roles, he has supported constituent services, multilingual access, civic engagement, and the financial resilience of less-resourced homebuyers.
Freshman double majoring in Applied Mathematics and Physics. Developed his passion for advocacy and community service through his temple’s community kitchen and testifying at the New Jersey State Capitol on inclusive educational environments. Accomplished Indian classical percussionist who has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall.
Sophomore studying Political Science on the Pre-Law track. Immigration law intern in Charlotte, where she continues to handle casework during summer breaks. Involved with Mi Pueblo and is passionate about helping students build the knowledge and confidence to manage their personal finances.
Sophomore studying Economics and Business. Involved with UNC’s Asset and Wealth Management Club. He is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida.
Freshman double majoring in Business and Peace, War, and Defense with a minor in French. Background in video editing for creators with hundreds of thousands of combined followers.
Business and Sociology student. Before coming to UNC, he built a career in the entertainment industry through performances in Broadway shows, television, movies, and commercials and hosted charity events supporting organizations such as the Save the Music Foundation.
Sophomore studying Statistics and Business. Conducts undergraduate research at IRMII and holds leadership roles with R.A.M. Engineering, CHSP, and GIS. Originally from Charlotte, NC.
Freshman studying Political Science on the Pre-Law track. Experience in legal field working alongside state and federal judges while also cleaning houses with his mother and working on a local cattle farm. From Eastern North Carolina.
Freshman studying Economics. Served on her local theatre's diversity board and advocated for low-income, minority communities in her county. She is originally from Mebane, NC.
Board of Directors
Master of Public Policy student; Udall, Truman, and Morehead-Cain Scholar. Founded the CU Initiative at Carolina opposing big banks' fossil fuel financing. Design Thinking & Innovation Fellow at Innovate Carolina. From Boise, ID.
Economics and Public Policy student passionate about economic democracy. Work experience at the NC Department of State Treasurer; Director of Programming, Carolina Women in Economics. From Apex, NC.
Morehead-Cain Scholar studying Economics and Political Science. Research assistant in UNC Political Science; ULA in UNC Economics. Believes individual financial autonomy is essential to healthy democracies. From Warrington, PA.
Peace, War, and Defense and Economics student. Director of nonprofit MoMUNtum; President of the Carolina Economics Club; ULA for the Economics Department. Committed to financial and educational accessibility. From Naples, FL.
Economics student in the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship and Women in Consulting. Passionate about entrepreneurship and empowering women in business. From Brookfield, WI.
Business Administration and Economics student. Passionate about building a financial institution that puts members over profit. Accounting and compliance experience at Irish Liquidations. From Trinity, NC.
Morehead-Cain Scholar studying Business Administration. Appointed by the Student Body President. Holds leadership positions across cultural, creative, and educational organizations. From Minneapolis, MN.
Supervisory Committee
Economics student and NC Fellow. Founded the Bukedea Learning Lab in Uganda. Aspires to advance UN SDG goals as a children's rights advocate. From Denver, CO.
Master's student at UNC's Institute for Risk Management and Insurance Innovation. Research focuses on quantifying and mitigating financial risk for electric utilities. From Bethesda, MD.
PhD student studying risk management and insurance. Research includes measuring credit delinquency and firm creditworthiness in response to natural hazards. From Nashville, NC.
Master of Public Policy student; Udall, Truman, and Morehead-Cain Scholar. Founded the CU Initiative at Carolina. Believes credit unions are key to creating an economy that works for working people. From Boise, ID.
Board of Advisors
Kishen Anand
Board of Advisors
Chief Executive Officer, Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union
Bernard Bell
Board of Advisors
Executive Director, UNC Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship
Stephen Breed
Board of Advisors
Chief Executive Officer, Community Good Episcopal Federal Credit Union
Jennifer Echtle
Board of Advisors
Chief Audit Executive, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Pamela Higgins
Board of Advisors
President, University of Virginia Community Credit Union
Jim Kitchen
Board of Advisors
Professor of the Practice of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Kenan-Flagler Business School
EJ Kritz
Board of Advisors
Chief Experience Officer, DBSI
Oliver Li
Board of Advisors
President, University of Pennsylvania Student Federal Credit Union
Ashley Loftus
Board of Advisors
Chief Financial Officer, Wasatch Peaks Federal Credit Union
Erick Martinez
Board of Advisors
Senior Vice President of Consumer Lending, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Spence McArthur
Board of Advisors
Executive Vice President, Wasatch Peaks Federal Credit Union
Dezbee McDaniel
Board of Advisors
Chief Executive Officer, CliniSpan Health
Dr. Shimul Melwani
Board of Advisors
Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Business Major, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Jeffrey Mittelstadt
Board of Advisors
Executive Director of the Ackerman Center, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Brian Munsterteiger
Board of Advisors
Senior Vice President of Central Operations, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Dr. Christopher Roark
Board of Advisors
Director of Undergraduate Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Economics
Jeff Shaw
Board of Advisors
President and Chief Executive Officer, Wasatch Peaks Federal Credit Union
Doug Stan
Board of Advisors
High School Economics Teacher, Boise School District
Mark Seeley
Board of Advisors
Director of Mortgage, America's Credit Unions
Adam Versprille
Board of Advisors
Head of Product, M-KOPA
Rebecca Weaver
Board of Advisors
Chief Technology Officer, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Denise Wymore
Board of Advisors
President, CU De Novo Collective