Julia “Julie” Crippen is a seasoned grants professional with over a decade of experience leading high-impact grant initiatives across higher education and local government sectors. As the Grants Oversight of the NC East Alliance, she specializes in identifying funding opportunities, managing cross-functional teams, and securing resources that fuel community growth, education, and workforce development.
From 2022 to 2024, Julia served as Grants Manager at the Mid-East Commission, managing local government grant projects and navigating the complexities of federal grants management. She spent over 12 years in Grants Management and Teaching in the NC Community College System, retiring as Compliance Director, Wake Tech Community College, where she advised senior leadership and developed tracking systems for $72 million in American Rescue Plan funding.
Previously, as Executive Director of the Grants Management Office at Pitt Community College, she led 30+ grant proposals through 20 teams—achieving a 78% win rate and securing $38 million. Earlier, at Beaufort County Community College, she advanced mentoring, STEM, workforce development, and academic retention initiatives.
Prior to Grants Management, Julia served NC as a K–12 teacher and was Wilson County Teacher of the Year. She and her husband, Scott, live in Pitt County and have two children and three grandchildren.