Camp Nakanawa
Camp Nakanawa Board of Directors
The mission of Camp Nakanawa is to provide an overnight summer camp to educate girls and young women through outdoor experiences to gain confidence and reach their full potential. By supporting the Spirit of Nakanawa the board of directors seeks to provide the Camp Nakanawa experience to as many girls as possible – because we know it makes a difference in their lives and they will make a difference in the world.
President
Alex Seblatnigg
Atlanta, GA
Alex Seblatnigg, TR 1988 and former Nakanawa counselor, makes her home in Atlanta, GA. We know Alex as an effective, flexible leader of our volunteer corps at Service Weekends in May, but she is a true professional in the field.
As Director of Volunteer Services and Internal Engagement at Shepherd Center in Atlanta for ten years, Alex implements all aspects of volunteer service in Shepherd’s unique hospital community. Her impact is both external with community service groups and internal among employees. Alex consistently leads employee giving to more than $200,000 annually with 80% or more staff participation, a stellar average.
Alex’s extensive non-profit board service and leadership has received recognition at community, state and national levels. She coordinates personnel and team evaluations, edits newsletters, stages national conferences and reassigns Nakanawa alumnae in a chilly downpour (no small feat!). Alex is a doer and a builder who brings both unity and purpose to her work. Outside of Nakanawa, the annual Georgia 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer is close to her heart.
Vice-President
Ginny Bass Carl
Oklahoma City, OK
Ginny Bass Carl, Founder and CEO of Giving Well LLC, is ​a 5th generation Oklahoman and a licensed attorney in Oklahoma, Texas and Hawaii. She received her law and accounting degrees from University of Oklahoma. Combining her years of working for nonprofits, including Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Oklahoma Hall of Fame, nonprofit board service, training, and passion to change the world, she started her own business to scale philanthropy and ensure greater impact for nonprofits. In 2019, she achieved her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation.
Currently, Ginny is the Executive Director of Community Cares Partners which administers the pandemic emergency rental relief for the state of Oklahoma.
Ginny joined the founding Board of Directors for Camp Nakanawa upon its conversion to a nonprofit in 2021. A member of Tent Row 1979, she attended camp for six summers (when it was still seven weeks!) and all her TR reunions.
Living in Oklahoma City, she has two grown children, Collin Groves of Houston and Rachael Groves of Oklahoma City (10 years a Nakanawa camper, Tent Row 2014, and one year a counselor). Ginny is married to Peter Carl.
Secretary
Patty Lankford Akers
Georgetown, TX
After 43 years, I retired from the full time practice of law last December 31st. For the last 20+ years my practice focused on representation of Texas municipalities. Over the years I was city attorney for 25 cities and did specialty land development work for an additional 50+ cities. So if I have an occasional twitch, its because I have been involved with politicians most of my professional career.    Â
I first learned about Camp Nak in 1964. We took a family vacation from Texas up to DC and on the way mother decided to stop in Mayland, Tenn to see if THE summer camp was still there. Mother had attended camp in 1945 and 47 as a tennis counselor. It was the first of June and camp wasn’t in session yet, but camp was sure enough still there! We pulled up to the big house and two grey haired ladies came out to see who we were. Mitch recognized mom immediately and greeted her by name. Mitch then gave us a personal tour of camp and I was hooked for life. In fact, back in the car I pleaded my case for a chance to attend camp that very summer. In fact, why not leave me there and pick me up on the way back from DC. It made perfect sense to my 10 year old brain at the time.
I attended camp as a camper for 7 years and was a counselor for 5 years. I taught riding, soccer and fencing. My mother, Dr. Fran, began coming as camp doctor in 1966 and came for another 35 or so years. She worked with Col Rice, Mitch, and Ann and Pepe. When mom wasn’t busy with infirmary duties you could find her on the tennis court with Mitch, Mark and Wally.
Other family members to attend include my sister Lynda and my brother Chuck. My daughter Megan came as a camper and counselor and now my son’s 2 daughters are at camp currently. Granddaughter Maddie is in tent row 2025 and Granddaughter Harper will be a first year intermediate. I have been married to Monte Akers for 43 years who is also an attorney and is the author several books.
I was honored to be a part of the first ever Service Weekend put on by Ties and I managed to attend all but 2 of the service weekends, until the new non-profit was formed. I am very excited and honored to serve on the Board of Directors and to be a part of this fabulous group of talented people.
Treasurer
Margaret Roddy
San Francisco, CA
Chairman-Finance Committee
Margaret Roddy grew up in Knoxville, TN and attended camp through Tent Row in 2013. She was a Junior Camp canoeing and cabin counselor and particularly loved the Fourth of July.
Today, Margaret is a Vice President at the private equity firm TPG based in San Francisco. She leads investments in late-stage climate-oriented companies. Prior to joining TPG, Margaret worked at Goldman Sachs on their Global Natural Resources Investment Banking team in Houston, TX. Margaret holds a BS in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Rice University.
Margaret joined the Nakanawa Board in 2024. In addition, Margaret co-founded the non-profit Highwind Impact Fund and served as its co-President from 2021-2023.
Board Member
Megan Wellford Grinder
Memphis, TN
Nakanawa counselor for three summers. Her time spent at Nakanawa sparked a lifelong love for spending time outdoors and a deep appreciation for genuine and lasting friendships.
Megan received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1995.
After college, she went to work as a development consultant at Coxe Currey & Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, before shifting focus and pursuing a career as a
professional artist and starting a family. Fittingly, the only medal she ever earned at Nakanawa was the Arts & Crafts medal—an early sign of the creative path she would follow.
Megan and her husband, Brett, have been married for 29 years and are proud parents of Anne (Tent Row 2018) and Edward. Now empty nesters, they are
savoring this new season of life—while gently encouraging their kids to come home for visits whenever possible.
A committed community volunteer, Megan has served extensively with local schools, including Hutchison School and Presbyterian Day School. At Hutchison, she is a long-standing board member and former board chair.
On the Nakanawa board, Megan serves on the Development Committee and the Governance Committee.
Board Member
Margaret Leatherbury
New Orleans, LA
Margaret Leatherbury grew up in Mobile, AL and attended Camp Nakanawa for nine summers through her Tent Row in 2013. She has spent nine additional summers on both sides of the lake as a counselor teaching canoeing, swimming, and tennis. Most recently, Margaret has served as the Head of Canoeing on Senior Side as well as the Tent Row Mama since 2022. Margaret is passionate about continuing Camp Nakanawa’s legacy of developing confidence, leadership, and lifelong friendships for generations to come. Prior to joining the Board of Directors, she served on the Development Committee and Governance Committee.Â
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Margaret received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Alabama focusing on Nonprofit Organization Management and Development. After graduation, she moved to New Orleans, LA to work with the Team Gleason Foundation where she served as the Adventure and Project Coordinator. During her time there, she helped manage the Foundation’s CRM database, contributed to fundraising events, and helped plan adventures for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She later transitioned into early childhood education, teaching two-year-olds at McGehee’s Little Gate, and is now pursuing a path toward a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. In her free time, Margaret coaches volleyball at Louise S. McGehee School and Pelican State Volleyball Club.
Board Member
Carol Carlock Vig
Dallas, TX
Carol Carlock Vig is the owner and founder of Carol Vig Photography, specializing in capturing people and their stories – from high school graduations and family milestones to holiday cards, corporate headshots, events and just-for-fun friend sessions.
Her passion for photography began with an Intro to Photography course at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and continued through her time in artist relations at The Image Bank (now Getty Images) and as Director of Marketing at The Color Place. Photography has always been a central thread in Carol’s life — she has never strayed far from the lens.
Known for her ability to capture authentic, in-the-moment emotion, Carol has a knack for revealing her subjects’ genuine personalities. Her family and friends chalk this up to the fact that she has never met a stranger. Carol’s love of photography extends to the State Fair of Texas, where her work has earned several ribbons in the Creative Arts competition, including one for first place. She also serves as the official photographer for Klyde Warren Park, working to capture the community of visitors at one of Dallas’s most beloved destinations.
A native and lifelong resident of Dallas, Texas, Carol graduated from the Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD) and holds a B.A. in Advertising from SMU. She is a past President of the ESD Alumni Association and has served on the Board of Trustees for ESD as Chair of the Advancement Committee, as well as on the Communications Task Force, Worship Committee, and Governance Committee.
Carol is passionate about literacy and has volunteered with Readers 2 Leaders and Catch Up & Read, where she served on the board and continues to serve on the advisory council. She and her husband, Bennett, are past Chairs of The Children’s Trust of Children’s Medical Center Dallas.
Carol and Bennett have two children: Eleanor, an Ole Miss junior and proud member of Tent Row 2022, and Hank, a senior at the St. Mark’s School of Texas. When she’s not behind the camera, Carol loves playing tennis, trying out every possible queso offering, listening to podcasts and her favorite radio station, The Ticket, and spending time with family, friends, and her four-legged friend, Roscoe.
Board Member
Karen Barlow Parrish
Fort Worth, TX
Karen’s connection to Camp Nakanawa began 50 years ago when she first arrived as a camper—and it has remained an enduring part of her life ever since. Over the years, she has served as a counselor, Head Counselor, parent, and later as Camp Nakanawa’s full-time, Communications, Media, and Events Coordinator. Her family represents three generations of Nakanawa girls: her mother, Karen Haun Barlow TR ’56; her daughter, Maggie Parrish TR ’12; and her nieces, Caroline Barlow TR ’21 and Eleni Barlow TR ’24. Camp Nakanawa truly feels like home to her family.
Karen credits her time at camp with shaping who she is today—giving her courage, confidence, and the belief that anything is possible. She treasures the lifelong friendships and deep sense of community that Camp Nakanawa fosters, which continue to enrich her life to this day.
In the latter part of her career, Karen has focused on advancing the missions of nonprofit organizations that help children and young people build strong foundations for their futures.
After living and working at Camp Nakanawa for five years, she moved to Nashville, where she
served as the Director of Development and Communications for Episcopal School of Nashville for four years. With her heart and family in Texas, Karen recently moved back home to Fort Worth, where she now serves as the Major Gifts Officer for Camp Fire First Texas. Earlier in her career, she held roles in Washington, D.C., working for Speaker of the House Jim Wright, Congressman Pete Geren, and Congressman Chet Edwards, and served as Executive Director for Historic Southside, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas. Karen’s true joy is spending time with her daughter, Maggie, who lives in Washington, D.C. She’s rarely seen without her beloved little dog, Bella, who spent 13 summers at Nakanawa and made many camp friends of her own over the years. In her spare time, Karen enjoys riding her bike, swimming, playing Mahjong, and Texas Hold’em.
Karen is deeply honored to serve on the Camp Nakanawa Board of Trustees and looks forward
to giving back to the place that has given her so much.
Board Member
Lori Wagner
Houston, TX
Chairman – Communications Committee
You could say that a song brought Lori Wagner to Camp Nakanawa. Her choir teacher, Louise Boteler, introduced Lori and her three sisters to camp. Lori is grateful for Louise and years of Nakanawa friendship, laughter, nature and song. Lori spent 24 blissful summers at camp – singing in Octet, running glee club, directing the 2 week musical and occasionally the Operetta. When not in rehearsal, Lori could be found at Lake Aloaloa, swimming or watching the sun rise and set. Lori grew up in New Orleans and currently lives in Houston, with stints in Dallas and The Netherlands in between. She is a choir teacher (thank you again, Louise) and loves helping students find their voice.
Board Member
Ashley Thomas Smith
Nashville, TN
Ashley grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and first attended Camp Nakanawa as a camper in the 1990s. She returned as a counselor during her summers at Vanderbilt University, where she earned a degree in civil engineering. Today, Ashley is a licensed Professional Engineer in Tennessee and Illinois and serves as a Project Management and Commercial Leader at CDM Smith in Nashville, specializing in transportation infrastructure. She is actively involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and currently serves as the Region Governor for Tennessee.Â
Her connection to Nakanawa deepened when she began attending Mother-Daughter weekends with her two daughters, who are now campers themselves. Ashley has served on the Facilities Committee for several years and currently chairs the committee. She also leads the Mother-Daughter weekend program, continuing her commitment to the camp community she’s loved since childhood. Ashley lives in Nashville with her husband and two daughters, who are now proud Nakanawa Amazons!
Board Member
Wyeth Outlan Burgess​
Nashville, TN
Wyeth Outlan Burgess grew up in West Tennessee just outside Memphis. After attending Nakanawa through Tent Row, she was a Junior Camp riding and cabin counselor, an experience which confirmed her pursuit of a teaching career. Educated at Hollins College and Emory University, Wyeth has taught English and writing in settings ranging from university classrooms to magnet schools and after-school youth programs.
After her daughter Goodwin completed her own Tent Row summer, Wyeth returned as a Junior Camp riding counselor and has enjoyed eleven summers there. She teaches at Belmont University in Nashville and has volunteer board experience with alumnae, church and community organizations. Wyeth joined the EMCT Board in 2021.
Board Member
Margaret Leatherbury
New Orleans, LA
Margaret Leatherbury grew up in Mobile, AL and attended Camp Nakanawa for nine summers through her Tent Row in 2013. She has spent nine additional summers on both sides of the lake as a counselor teaching canoeing, swimming, and tennis. Most recently, Margaret has served as the Head of Canoeing on Senior Side as well as the Tent Row Mama since 2022. Margaret is passionate about continuing Camp Nakanawa’s legacy of developing confidence, leadership, and lifelong friendships for generations to come. Prior to joining the Board of Directors, she served on the Development Committee and Governance Committee.Â
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Margaret received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Alabama focusing on Nonprofit Organization Management and Development. After graduation, she moved to New Orleans, LA to work with the Team Gleason Foundation where she served as the Adventure and Project Coordinator. During her time there, she helped manage the Foundation’s CRM database, contributed to fundraising events, and helped plan adventures for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She later transitioned into early childhood education, teaching two-year-olds at McGehee’s Little Gate, and is now pursuing a path toward a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. In her free time, Margaret coaches volleyball at Louise S. McGehee School and Pelican State Volleyball Club.
Camp nakanawa
Elisabeth Mitchell Charitable Fund
- Mary Shearer Baker M.D.
- Lyn Brantley
- Wyeth Burgess
- Georgia Graham Mattern
- Pamela Griffith Pabian
- Pepe Perron
- Sally Tubb Welch