The Robert A. Ingram Fellowship for Excellence in Board Governance

Research Triangle Chapter--(Jan 19, 2024)—The NACD Research Triangle Chapter, together with RTI International, is delighted to announce a fellowship award in honor of Robert A. Ingram, acknowledging his exceptional commitment to excellence in board governance and inclusive leadership throughout his tenure as a director.

The fellowship, which was approved by RTI’s board of governors and the board of NACD Research Triangle, will be open to NACD members and nonmembers in the Research Triangle area and Eastern North Carolina who exhibit high potential for public or private company board service.

About Robert A. Ingram

Robert A. Ingram, “Bob,” passed away on March 24, 2023, at age 80. He served for more than a dozen years on the board of governors of RTI, a 65-year-old nonprofit research institute headquartered in North Carolina. Throughout his tenure, from November 2010 to December 2022, Bob served on the Compensation and Strategic Talent Committee. He served as chair of the committee from 2019 until his retirement from the board.

You can read the  announcement from Hatteras Venture Partners here.

The Fellowship

The Robert A. Ingram Fellowship for Excellence in Board Governance will be open to NACD members and nonmembers seeking NACD Directorship Certification®. As the leading director credential in the United States, the NACD Directorship Certification program provides rigorous governance content, comprehensive preparation, and a credentialing exam.

Those selected as  Ingram Fellow can pursue the NACD.DC designation through either the NACD Directorship Certification program (open to current NACD members who are directors of a private, public, and/or nonprofit organization) or NACD Accelerate, a boardroom readiness program for high-performing executives. The NACD Accelerate program, designed for nonmembers of NACD, includes membership and the opportunity to earn NACD Directorship Certification.

The Ingram Fellowship will offer two items for each winner:

• Fifty percent of the total investment toward the NACD.DC credential (NACD Directorship Certification).
  • For NACD Individual Members: $2,450 (50 percent of the $4,900 cost)
  • For NACD Corporate Members: $1,875 (50 percent of the $3,750 cost)
  • For nonmembers enrolling in NACD Accelerate: $3,250 (50 percent of the $6,500 cost)
• Complimentary registration to two NACD Research Triangle Chapter events, including one of the signature Leading from the Boardroom

Application Process

NACD members and nonmembers are eligible to apply. Self-nomination and nomination by a third party are both acceptable.

Candidates for the Ingram Fellowship will meet the following criteria:

• demonstrates high potential for public or private company board service (if not already serving on a public or private board)
• serves in a senior leadership position at a company headquartered in the Research Triangle Park region (Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area) or eastern North Carolina, within the footprint of the NACD Research Triangle Chapter
• serves on a nonprofit board of directors, with total nonprofit board experience of more than two years
• has attended at least one NACD Research Triangle Chapter program in the last year (note: candidates may qualify by attending a 2024 chapter program prior to the application deadline)
• provides the name and contact information for three people to support the nomination, including a current employer and at least one NACD member in the chapter’s footprint or a sponsor of the NACD Research Triangle Chapter
• provides a résumé
• provides short answers to the following questions, totaling no more than 500 words each:
  • Why are you interested in becoming an Ingram Fellow?
  • What resonates with you about Bob Ingram’s vision and legacy?
  • Why do you think you would be a good candidate for a corporate board role?