Our Team
Sarah Viñas
Affordable Housing and Community Connections Director
Since joining the Town in 2011, Sarah has served in a variety of roles in the Manager's Office, Public Works, and Affordable Housing and Community Connections. Before joining the Town, Sarah worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly a decade doing community development and anti-poverty work. She served as a Congressional Hunger Fellow in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and subsequently Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations in Immokalee, FL, and Asheville, NC. Sarah holds a BA in Sociology and Religion with a Minor in Community Building and Social Change from Emory University and an MPA from UNC-Chapel Hill. She enjoys running races, speaking Spanish, and traveling with her husband and two young children. Sarah has a passion for social justice, community engagement, and affordable housing.
Email: svinas@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-969-5079
Rebecca Buzzard
Community Connections Manager
Rebecca joined the Affordable Housing and Community Connections Department in September 2022. Prior to accepting this role, she was the Housing and Community Services Director for the Town of Carrboro. She was with Carrboro for almost five years, working on special projects, implementing the Town’s affordable housing goals, and managing the human services funding process.
Rebecca is originally from northeastern Massachusetts, and also lived on the gulf coast of Florida, before moving to North Carolina in 1996. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Peace, War, & Defense from UNC Chapel Hill and her Master’s of Public Administration from East Carolina University. Rebecca spent the early part of her career working in the non-profit sector, working to improve the health, education, and family support of children in eastern NC. She also lived in Southern Italy for four years, teaching English and learning to cook Italian food, before returning to the Triangle.
She and her husband are the parents of two ultimate frisbee playing teenagers and two tuxedo cats.
Email: rbuzzard@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-968-2756
Lisa Edwards
Public Housing Operations Manager
Native of Chapel Hill. Graduated from Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. MBA and an additional Master’s in Leadership, both from Pfeiffer University. Always worked in public service beginning as a school bus driver for the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. Joined the Town in 1996 as an Administrative Assistant in the Police Department. Worked as an HR Generalist with our Human Resource Development Department and a Management Analyst with the Fire Department. Enjoys analyzing and solving problems while encouraging others to lead from where they are.
Email: ledwards@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-969-4986
Zequel Hall
Community Connections Coordinator
Zequel joined the Affordable Housing and Community Connections team in January 2023. Before starting her career in the public sector, Zequel gained 20+ years of extensive experience in customer service and retail management. Her dedication for helping others in the community guided the transition to the public sector. For the past two years, Zequel has worked in Housing and Community Services. In this role, she has partnered with nonprofit organizations and community advocates to create opportunities for all residents to thrive. She is excited to support the Town’s vision by bringing her passion for creating partnerships and building community. Zequel is a North Carolina native and comes from a long line of Tarheel fans. She and her husband live in Durham with their dog KC. In her free time, she enjoys baking, gardening and hiking with friends.
Email: zhall@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-932-2932
Emily Holt
Affordable Housing Manager
Emily joined the Town of Chapel Hill in September 2018 as the Affordable Housing Development Officer. Before beginning her work with the Town, Emily gained over 10 years of experience as a housing and community development consultant working with a diverse client base, including the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, the City of Alexandria, VA, HUD, and local community foundations, among others. Most recently she helped guide local governments and public housing authorities in the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans centered on the redevelopment of public housing communities in distressed neighborhoods. Other past experience includes evaluating federal homelessness programs and local workforce development programs. Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University as well as an undergraduate major in Public Policy from Duke University. She moved to Chapel Hill in 2017 and has enjoyed exploring the area with her husband and two young children.
Email: eholt@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-969-5058
Katelyn Robalino
Community Connections Coordinator
Katelyn joined the Affordable Housing and Community Connections team in 2022. Prior to working for the Town, Katelyn earned her bachelor’s degree at UNC Chapel Hill and then taught at a Montessori school in Charlotte, NC. Her classroom experiences inspired her to move to Louisville, KY to serve two terms an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Subsequently, she continued in the local nonprofit sector first as a youth worker, then as housing advocate, and always with a language justice lens. These experiences, in addition to her intersecting identities, fuel her passion for building resilient, inclusive, and empowered community.
Katelyn is originally from Flushing, New York and speaks Spanish and Italian. She and her partner are always on the hunt for the best food RDU has to offer. She also enjoys rock climbing, podcasts, and reading graphic novels.
Email: krobalino@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-968-2733
jackie thompson
Transitional Housing Program Coordinator/Human Services Coordinator
Jackie began her career with the Town of Chapel Hill in the Public Housing division where she served as Secretary, Housing Officer I and Housing Officer II. In her current role, Jackie coordinates the Transitional Housing Program, as well as the Town's Human Services Program. Jackie began her career in local government with the City of Jacksonville, NC. Jackie is a graduate of King’s College in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys reading, going to the beach and spending time with her husband and their three daughters and one grandson.
Email: jthompson@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-969-5081
Ian Dalton
Maintenance Mechanic
Ian Dalton joined our team in September of 2023 as Maintenance Mechanic of our Transitional Housing Program. Prior to joining the Town they managed properties for accessible and affordable housing across northern Ohio. They also worked and advocated for emergency food assistance, including founding the mutual aid Deep Roots Giving Garden and serving with the emergency food assistance mutual aid Community Meal for the Cleveland area. Ian grew up in a small Ohio farming town and has always believed in the importance of lifting up neighbors and strengthening communities. They enjoy gardening, raising animals or “critters”, cooking, and pride themselves on their knowledge of both Pygmy goats and the incredible usefulness of radishes.
Email: idalton@townofchapelhill.org
Tyler Martinez
Administrative Coordinator
Tyler joined the Town in October 2022 and will be coordinating the many operational functions that keep our department running! Before joining the Town, he worked in administrative roles for Orange County and NC Department of Public Safety. Before starting his career in public service, Tyler had extensive experience in the private sector advancing his way through the retail sector to become a retail manager for Petco. Tyler was raised in Carrboro and is a lifelong Tarheel fan. He now lives in Mebane with his girlfriend and 3 dogs. In his free time, he enjoys maintaining his planted aquariums, disc golf with friends, and doing projects around the house.
Email: tmartinez@townofchapelhill.org Phone: 919-969-5073
JENNIFER NGUY
Communications & Graphic Design Specialist
Jennifer Nguy is a recent graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with minors in Journalism and Studio Art. Their past design experience includes working with UNC Blue Sky Innovations, Cabarrus County 4-H, and UNC student organizations. Her interest in community engagement and social justice brought her to the public sector as she discovered how to use her design knowledge as a means of building and strengthening community.
Jennifer is originally from Concord, NC. They are the child of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants who instilled passions for traveling and cooking in them. In her free time, she also loves to explore different art mediums, from film photography to printmaking.
Email: jnguy@townofchapelhill.org
MIKAYLA WELLS
Communications & Graphic Design Specialist
Mikayla earned a bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte and has worked as a freelance designer and artist. Her academic and professional experience inspired her to pursue a variety of opportunities to apply her creative talents and passion for social justice. She has worked in the music, film, and games industries. Much of her work focuses on media literacy, representation, and diversity. She also loves cats, character design, movies, and podcasts.
Email: mwells@townofchapelhill.org
