After earning a BS degree in secretarial administration from UNCG, followed by an MA in Public Administration from NC State, Betty Conley Brooks spent her life in public service. During her thirty years with the State of North Carolina Personnel Office, Betty played key roles in statistical analysis, vocational testing, policy development and administration. Upon her retirement and relocation to Florida, she began a new “career” as a volunteer with her local civic association, serving on the board and organizing estate sales to help elderly residents downsize and move to assisted living facilities. These sales raised over $1 million for the association during her tenure. In 2013, combining her love of community and passion for education, Betty was the lead donor to her local community foundation for a capital project to provide office space and a network education center for non-profit organizations serving the underprivileged.
Betty has been an extraordinary philanthropist to UNCG. She and her late husband, Charles, established a fellowship fund to support graduate students in economics. In addition, she established gift plans that will supplement the fellowship fund, create an endowment for student leadership activities, and establish an endowed professorship in economics. In all of her philanthropic activities, Betty strives not only to make a difference, but to inspire others to offer their support as well.