Journey to giving
Maribel Carrion's involvement in the Alumni Committee on Racial & Ethnic Diversity helps her identify needs on campus that match her giving interests.
Maribel Carrion's involvement in the Alumni Committee on Racial & Ethnic Diversity helps her identify needs on campus that match her giving interests.
Community, travel and the arts have all been influential in Maribel Carrion’s life. So when it comes to deciding where to give to her alma mater, she seeks to ensure UNC-Chapel Hill students have access to these same life-changing opportunities.
“I want to impact the students who haven’t had as many options because of their backgrounds — particularly first-generation college students who may find it harder to access the opportunities they’ll find at a university like UNC-Chapel Hill,” said Maribel ’77, ’86 (MBA).
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maribel grew up in a military family and lived in the United States, Germany and Panama before she came to UNC-Chapel Hill to study mathematics. She later obtained her MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and went on to a multinational career in software development. Thirty years later, she returned to Chapel Hill, and she is now the executive director of student administration and enterprise reporting in UNC’s Information Technology Services department.
Maribel’s gifts to the University have helped support the Carolina Latino/a Collaborative, which underpinned the establishment of the Carolina Latinx CenterOpens in new window. She funds Global Take Off: Puerto RicoOpens in new window, a short-term cultural immersion experience for first-year students. And she is an avid supporter of the Carolina Performing Arts Student Ticket Angel Fund, which provides students access to CPA performances for only $10.
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Global Take Off: Bringing the world to Carolina studentsOpens in new window from Here At UNCOpens in new window on VimeoOpens in new window.
No one is more surprised by what she has managed to do than Maribel herself.
“When you find something you really want to help with, you find a way to make it happen,” said Maribel. “One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that I could give over time. A little bit over time accumulates, and I could see the results. I began to increase that amount, and now I can sit here and say I never thought I would find a way to give the amount I’ve given. Seeing the impact my gifts have had on these students’ lives just makes me want to do more.”
Maribel volunteers in a number of areas on campus, including as a member of the CPA International Advisory Board, the Chancellor’s Global Leadership Council and the Alumni Committee on Racial & Ethnic Diversity.
Maribel said her involvement in ACRED, which serves Carolina’s multicultural communities by engaging diverse alumni in the life of the University, helps her identify areas of need on campus that match her giving interests.
“I love how ACRED presents what the University is doing and where there are needs across campus. I encourage any and all alumni to participate in ACRED. It provides such great exposure to so much of the University and is one of the best resources for alumni from diverse backgrounds to reconnect with Carolina.”
Members of ACRED commit to giving to the area of their choice at the Chancellor’s Club level — providing annual support to Carolina in the amount of $2,000 or above. To self-nominate or nominate someone for ACRED, submit the ACRED Nomination FormOpens in new window. For more information, visit acred.unc.eduOpens in new window.
