Kimberly Owens

Term on Council:

December 2025 - Present

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) with honors, University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), French with highest honors Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Political Science (BA), with highest honors Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Course work in French and Political Science, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

Professional Experience:

• Discovery Education, Attorney
• Nuveen Natural Capital, Global Head of Legal
• Greenwood Resources, General Counsel
• TIAA, Director, Real Estate Group
• TIAA, Associate General Counsel, Commercial Mortgage and Real Estate Group
• McGuireWoods, LLP, Charlotte, NC, Associate, Real Estate and Environmental Practice 
• Kilpatrick Stockton | Petree Stockton, Charlotte, NC, Associate, Real Estate, Capital Markets, Bankruptcy, Workout
• United States Bankruptcy Court, Charlotte, NC, Judicial Clerk to Chief Judge George R. Hodges
• Research Intern, Consulate General of Canada, Chicago, IL

Civic Engagement:

• Chair, Board of Directors, RAIN Inc. 501(c)(3)
• Chair, Board of Directors, The Havens 501(c)(3)
• Former Board Member, Lillian’s List 501(c)(4)
• Established Olde Providence Elementary School Foundation, a 501(c)(3)
• Established Douglas Springer Horizon Forensics Scholarship at Pekin Community High School
• Member | Former Communications and Pro Bono Chair, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
• Former National Chair, LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies, TIAA’s Alliance Business Resource Group
• Member, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina Bar Associations
• Former Rotary District 7680 In-Bound Chair for Youth Exchange Program
• Volunteer Voter Protection Associate, Poll and Absentee Ballot Count Observer, Mecklenburg County
• Campaign volunteer and canvasser, North Carolina House District 105
• Volunteer supporting students facing expulsion or long-term suspension, Council for Children’s Rights

Key Achievements:

• Emerge National Candidate Boot Camp Graduate, 2025
• Project Management, Financial Accounting and Financial Management (MBA) coursework with Practicing Law Institute, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Boston University
• Project 2040 City Planning Boot Camp Graduate, 2025
• Advanced conversational in French, beginner in Swahili and Spanish
• Trained and summited Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak with my sons in 2023
• Trained and completed 65-mile Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with my sons in 2025

Council Committee Assignments

Housing, Budget, Governance & Intergovernmental Relations

Platform and Goals:

• Community-focused public safety
• Attainable housing
• Smart growth and responsive transit solutions

Awards and Recognitions:

• Awarded TIAA Volunteer of Year for leading Pro Bono Expungement Program and Student Defense Project work with the Council for Children’s Rights