Meet our Board and Staff

Staff • Executive Director

Danie Watson-Goetz is a writer, editor, and social media manager that serves as the Executive Director of WomenNC. Danie’s work has always prioritized education and empowerment. Her previous work in higher education, justice reform, curriculum development and nonprofit operations especially drew her to this project because she believes that education is at the cornerstone of reform and equity. She holds an MA in Creative Writing, an MFA in Creative Writing Education, both from Wilkes University, an MBA from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University.

WomenNC Founder, President, Programming Co-Chair

Beth Dehghan is a humanitarian and activist advocating for women’s human rights locally and globally, and she is also the fonder of WomenNC. Her unwavering commitment to gender equality has been showcased at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings since the Beijing Conference in 1995. Her vision and leadership has gained international recognition. Beth’s advocacy work extends beyond her local work. She has actively participated as an NGO representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. She attended the 54th session of the HRC in 2023, highlighting issues to advance the cause of women’s rights at the international level. Beth is also the founder of the NC Coalition for CEDAW and has served as a board member for several local and national organizations, including UNA-Wake, Wake County Commission for Women, Iranian American Community of NC, and the US Women Caucus at the United Nations. Beth’s educational background is in Biological Sciences. She and her husband are entrepreneurs. She has two daughters and one granddaughter.

Vice President, Fundraising Co-Chair

Secretary, Alumni Relations Co-Chair, WomenNC Alumni

Gabriela Goodman is a research assistant at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Economic Security and Opportunity. She was a 2021 – 2022 WomenNC Scholar, during which she conducted a Durham-based study about the effects of child care access on parental employment and well-being. Gabriela graduated with a BS in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Luther Hodges Scholar and was awarded the 2023 Undergraduate Prize in Economics and the Kenan Institute’s 2022 James Johnson Policy Impact Award for efforts to alleviate socioeconomic disparities. While at UNC, her experiences included conducting research in the economics department, interning at the US House of Representatives, and serving as president of UNC Mental Health Ambassadors.

Programming Co-Chair, Alumni Relations Co-Chair, WomenNC Alumni

Talia Chavis is an alumna of North Carolina Central University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education with Honors Distinction. She is a previous scholar, having participated in the program during the 2022-2023 year. Her research topic was Addressing Health Disparities: Would Black Women in Leadership Be Part of the Solution? She has a strong interest in health policy, research, and administration. She has interned with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of Health Equity and with Wake County Health and Human Services. Talia plans to pursue both a Master’s and Doctorate in Public Health. Her education and experiences during her collegiate career have shaped her into a champion for equity and change. Talia served multiple student leadership roles during her time at North Carolina Central University, including as an Honors Council member. In addition to the WomenNC Board, she volunteers actively on the Executive Leadership Team of The HBCUSTEMuLus. In her free time, Talia enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading, and following women’s basketball.

Marketing Chair

Lori Bunton is a retired pharmaceutical executive and longtime activist for women’s rights. She spent nearly 28 years working in established companies as large as Eli Lilly and instart-up biopharmaceutical organizations. Her career spanned sales, marketing and market research. Lori has previously served on the board of Planned Parenthood in TN. In N.C., she was Secretary and Membership Chair with the NationalOrganization for Women and President of the North Carolina Alliance for HealthyCommunities in Raleigh. She is past Co-President of the ERA-NC Alliance, where she has been a Board member for seven years, serving as Secretary and VPMembership for the Alliance and recently resumed a Board VP role helping with membership. Lori also serves on the board of ProChoice NC and as VP of Programming with AAUW ODC. She has served on the Advisory Board for WomenNC for over two years. Her other volunteer work has included career coaching with Dress for Success in Durham and moderating panel discussions for the social club, Gray Matters.

Lori has a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Tennessee. Lori has lived all over the U.S. and in Germany and now resides in the Raleigh-Durham area since 2007.

Fundraising Co-Chair

Irena was born and raised in the Soviet Union, where personal ambition was often stifled and women
had limited opportunities to define their own futures. Her life was forever changed when she was
awarded a scholarship to attend a four-year college in the United States. That opportunity opened
not just doors-but an entirely new world. It fueled a lifelong mission: to help women access the
resources, education, and support they need to thrive.

Adjusting to a new country and culture came with immense challenges-from learning a new
language to finding her place in an unfamiliar professional landscape. Over the years, Irena has worked hard to build a successful career as a financial advisor, while also balancing the demands of
motherhood. She took time away from my profession to focus on raising my children and volunteering in their schools. Later, she navigated a divorce and the realities of single motherhood, all while
re-establishing herself professionally with strength and determination.

Through every chapter, Irena’s commitment to uplifting women has only grown stronger. Today, she works with women from diverse backgrounds-many of whom are navigating retirement, starting over after divorce, or seeking financial clarity-to help them take control of their futures. She believes deeply in the power of education and access. Irena’s goal is to empower women to develop themselves, grow professionally, and achieve their dreams.