Black History Month Spotlight: Martina Ballen

February marks Black History Month, an important time to remember and recognize the generations of Black Americans who have meant so much to our history while we also continue to have conversations about our present and future. Throughout the month of February, Carolina Gymnastics will be celebrating its staff members who play a critical role in supporting the team each day.

Martina Ballen is the Senior Associate Athletic Director (Human Resources) and CFO at UNC, also serving as the primary sport administrator for the gymnastics team. She has worked at Carolina since 1987 and has been with the gymnastics program for the past eight seasons.

In Martina's own words, learn about what Black History Month means to her and how athletics can advance racial equity.

What is your favorite part of working with Carolina Gymnastics?
My favorite part is seeing a gymnast achieve a high score during a meet. I know how hard they all work so it's really great to see it pay off.

What's something you've accomplished in your career that you're really proud of?
I am extremely proud of the fact that I am the first African American administrator for Carolina Athletics and one of the few minority CFOs in the Power 5.

What inspired you to pursue a career in college athletics?
My path was different than many in college athletics. After pursuing my MBA degree, I landed a job with a bank as a branch manager and commercial loan officer. I learned about an opening at Carolina Athletics for a newly created position – Director of Finance. That was in 1987!

What does Black History Month mean to you?
It provides a highlighted platform to pause, remember, reflect, remind and refocus on the journey – where we have been, where we are now and the road ahead. Also, by collectively (as a nation) celebrating and recognizing the achievements of Black Americans it provides encouragement and a broader level of awareness. And that means all of us, regardless of color or ethnicity, can gain a fuller appreciation of the Black experience and how it shapes this amazing country.

Why is it important to use Black History Month as an opportunity to celebrate Black history and culture?
There is a lot of discussion about deep racial and cultural divisions in our nation. The more our larger society learns about, and appreciates, the contributions and talents of those perceived to be different, the more those apparent walls and lines of division dissolve, thus leading to a better understanding of the value that Black Americans bring to the mosaic of our grand democratic experiment.

Who are some Black leaders and/or mentors who have inspired you?
I am inspired by many, so it's hard to pick out specific people. I greatly admire the achievements that African American women have made.

Specifically in athletics, how should departments think about advancing racial equity?
Athletics, at its core, is about utilizing innovation, resources and all the avenues of access to find talented young athletes and convince them to entrust you with their development and growth. Hopefully that leads to success for that individual, the team, coaches, administrators, and the university. Special care is taken to ensure that historically underserved communities are part of that process, because as every coach knows, talent resides in diverse places. That same energy and effort should be deployed to ensure that, all along the athletic and university continuum, you see a similar array of riches. Remember, talent resides in diverse places.

What does it mean to show up authentically in the workplace?
To be true to who you are and the experiences that you have had, but take value from different perspectives.

For additional resources and stories about Black History Month from UNC Athletics, click here.

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