Shereá D. Burnett, J.D., VSP is a visionary leader, dedicated advocate, and lifelong native of Alamance County with over 35 years of deep connection to the area. Her Afro-Indigenous heritage as a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation profoundly shapes her commitment to equity and community resilience.
With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, Shereá has built a career centered on reshaping narratives, systems change work, and empowering marginalized communities to lead transformative change. Her extensive background spans critical social sectors, including child welfare, domestic violence advocacy, homeless services, and housing program management - including her previous role as Director of Housing Services at Family Abuse Services of Alamance County. In late 2025, she assumed the role of President of the United Way of Alamance County, where her vision centers on a multi-phase approach emphasizing equity, community-driven partnership, network analysis, and reimagining grantmaking for systemic impact.
A proven fundraiser and collaborative strategist, Shereá has a track record of securing major grant funding and building powerful cross-sector coalitions. Her hands-on community roots run deep, from facilitating local housing initiatives and serving meals at Allied Churches to supporting campaigns for the Alamance-Burlington School System, Benevolence Farm, Sustainable Alamance, and the SAFE Alamance food pantry.
Shereá holds a Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Afro-American Studies, with a minor in Social and Economic Justice, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beyond her executive leadership, she contributes to the field as an Adjunct Professor.. Through all her diverse platforms, she remains a steadfast champion for building equitable systems that reflect the lived realities of those she serves.