Director of Niner Finances
Nicole Benford is the Director of Niner Finances. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado Denver with her BA in Sociology and a UNC Charlotte Alumni with her Masters of Accountancy (MACC) from the Belk College of Business. After spending 20 years in Financial Services, she joined Niner Finances in 2022 and was most recently the Program Director for Programming & Community Engagement. She is passionate about Financial Literacy and has spent a lot of time volunteering to teach Financial Literacy throughout her career and is honored to help ensure that the next generation of college graduates makes better decisions during their college years and is better prepared for life after college.
Interim Assistant Director
Nadine Jones is the Interim Assistant Director of Niner Finances. She is a graduate of Champlain College with her BS in Integrative Professional Studies focusing in Finance, Social Work, and Business Administration. After taking a supervisory/leadership role during her time as a Personal Finance Peer Coach at her school, she realized her passion for helping high school and college students with understanding financial concepts, and having accessibility to financial resources. During her undergrad, she hosted workshops for students on campus, while going to a local high school in a nearby town to break down the basics of banking and help students to develop a healthier mindset when it comes to spending. She is also devoted to helping her community in any possible way that she can. With this in mind, she did several jobs in the field of social work to interact and connect with individuals who were unhoused and experiencing economic hardship in Burlington, VT. When she’s not working, Nadine enjoys sunsets at waterfronts, exploring anything that’s strawberry, and finding joy in the little things life has to offer.
Assistant Director
Ashley O’Bruba is the Assistant Director for Niner Finances and also a graduate student working towards her MBA. She is a UNC Charlotte Alumni with a B.S. in Exercise Science, her Master’s in Educational Leadership, and a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. With over five years of experience in higher education, specializing in team and program management, systems development, and mentorship, she is excited to expand her skill set with financial literacy. Ashley is passionate about sustainability initiatives and plans to expand on their relationships with personal finance within Niner Finances.
Graduate Assistant
Kudzai Mtasa is the Niner Finances Relationship Management Graduate Assistant at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Finance. He holds a BA (Hons) Business Studies from Bournemouth University in the UK. With over 4 years of experience working across multiple industries, including, financial services, climate tech, AI, and SaaS, Kudzai has contributed to the growth of early-stage VC-backed businesses in the UK and Southern Africa. His passion for creating a positive impact continues to shape his professional journey, and he hopes to spread his knowledge on financial literacy to empower students to make informed decisions
Graduate Assistant
Neha is a graduate student in the Health Informatics & Analytics Program, focusing on Data Science. She aims to build a career in analytics within the healthcare or finance sectors, driven by her passion for data analysis and impactful insights. Initially sparked by personal interest, her enthusiasm for personal finance has grown into a deep passion, and she aspires to guide others on similar journeys. Beyond academics and work, Neha enjoys dancing, reading, and is a huge movie buff. She is eager to demonstrate the empowering and transformative benefits of financial literacy to others!
Financial Wellness Coach, Lead
Justin Howard is a Senior Civil Engineering major at UNC Charlotte with a minor in Economics. As an Engineer, Justin deeply enjoys problem solving and feels that open mindedness is a strong tool that can deeply impact any setting. As a Peer Ambassador, Justin’s main approach is to take an organized approach to setting up positive and manageable goals in order to ensure long term financial success. Outside of academia Justin is a member of the ASCE, NSBE, and spends a lot of free time cycling and deeply enjoys learning about late 20th Century media and art forms.
Financial Wellness Coach
Dhwani (Woo) is a sophomore majoring in Finance with a minor in Data Science and plans on pursuing a career in consulting. To give back to the community, she volunteers at the local women’s shelter and Gurudwara. She is a people person and enjoys interacting with new people and building relationships. As a first generation U.S. college student, she is excited to learn in depth about financial literacy and educate others on it. Dhwani’s Top 5 strengths are: Competition, Activator, Maximizer, Achiever, Positivity.
Financial Wellness Coach
Taliyah is a sophomore majoring in Finance. She loves personal finance and wants to make a difference by helping underserved communities. Outside of work, she's a Niblock Scholar, a Business Honors Program member, and a total foodie. She enjoys trying new things and exploring the arts. Taliyah aims to make learning about finances accessible, less stressful, and empowering for everyone!
Financial Wellness Coach
Ashley is a Junior majoring in Management Information Systems and Capitalism Studies. She is passionate about empowering underrepresented communities through financial education. She loves being involved in my community by serving on the board for the Latinx Student Union and volunteering with my sorority. In her free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking. As a peer ambassador, Ashley seeks to empower students with the tool of financial literacy.
Financial Wellness Coach
Eunice is a double majoring in Economics and Health Systems Management, with a minor in Data Science. She aspires to pursue a career in risk and compliance, regulatory governance, or wealth management. As a Peer Ambassador, she is passionate about economic empowerment and is dedicated to educating students on making smart financial decisions to build a strong foundation for post-college life. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is actively involved in various student organizations such as the Ghanaian Student Association, the Black Organization Alliance Board (BOAB), and EmpowerHer: Black Women in Business, serving as President, Vice President and Marketing & Communications Officer, respectively. Prioritizing health and wellness, she enjoys working out and playing flag football with the UNCC club team.
Financial Wellness Coach
Gerard Covarrubias is a double majoring in International Business and Finance Concentration with a minor in Economics. He is passionate about raising awareness of financial literacy to help everyone, especially college students, to educate themselves through financial habits and tools that strive for a financially literate world. Outside of class, Gerard is always eager to grow his network with others. He interacts with UNC Charlotte ALPFA members and participates in events the organization hosts. Gerard loves traveling and exploring different cultures, which has inspired him to declare a major in international business to better understand how connected the world is and to visit as many countries as possible. He has had the pleasure of studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and has the pleasure of interning and studying abroad during summer, 2025.
Financial Wellness Coaches: Yesenia Garcia