Meet Our Director
In July 2025, the Town of Wake Forest welcomed Thomasina Colbert as the new Director of the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging (WFCAA).
As Director, Thomasina is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the WFCAA, advancing its mission to enhance the lives of older adults in the Wake Forest community. She will lead efforts to foster innovation, inclusion, and excellence in aging services while cultivating strong partnerships with local, regional, and statewide stakeholders. Her leadership will guide the center’s growth, ensure alignment with Town goals, and create meaningful, wellness-focused experiences for older adults.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Thomasina credits her upbringing for instilling in her a deep commitment to service and excellence.
“I come from a creative and faith-rooted background that continues to inform how I lead, serve, and live,” she says. “I had the privilege of attending the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where I trained as a classical opera singer and performed at the Kennedy Center—an experience that fostered both discipline and expressive excellence at a young age.”
Thomasina holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from American Intercontinental University. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Marketing from the American College in London and an Associate of Arts in Fashion Marketing from Brooks College. She is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) through the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) and earned an Organizational Development Certification from Birkman International.
With over 16 years of leadership experience in federal and local government, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, Thomasina brings a wealth of operational and visionary expertise to the WFCAA.
Most recently, she served as a Director at the Durham Center for Senior Life. Her earlier roles included leadership and technical positions with the City of Houston’s Department of Health & Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, Public Library, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Thomasina is also a devoted mother of four children, whom she describes as her proudest achievement.
“My two older children, who are just 12 months and three days apart, are now in college and living full, rewarding lives,” she said. “I also have identical twin daughters in elementary school, and I remain an active ‘room mom’ and frequent substitute teacher. Education is deeply important to me, and I view every opportunity to engage with students as a form of meaningful investment in the future.
“My greatest accomplishment is the people I have raised and am still raising. It is my joy to serve my community, and I’ve instilled that same spirit of purpose, service, and compassion in my children. They are my proudest work.”