Tarryn Henry

Executive Director

Tarryn Henry is the Executive Director of Hayti Heritage Center, where she leads operations, fundraising, governance, and community engagement for one of Durham's most historic cultural institutions. She brings more than a decade of experience in organizational leadership, financial stewardship, and ecosystem development, with a consistent focus on advancing the economic and cultural vitality of Black communities. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Tarryn served on Hayti's board for four years, including as Board Chair, giving her rare institutional depth and a clear-eyed understanding of both the organization's challenges and its potential.


Before joining Hayti's leadership, Tarryn held senior roles across the nonprofit, financial, and community development sectors. At Freedmen Green Bank and Trust, she served as VP of Operations, Marketing and Programs, leading federal fundraising efforts that resulted in $30M in deployable capital and $2M in operational support for historically underserved communities. At American Underground, she directed programs serving 300+ founders annually and led the Google for Startups Black Founders Exchange, scaling accountability frameworks across six global hubs and elevating 45+ Black-led startups to national visibility. As founder of Tarryn Henry Enterprises, she advised executives and organizations across the nonprofit, tech, and ecosystem-building sectors on strategic planning and operational design.


Tarryn holds a BBA from North Carolina Central University and is an MBA candidate at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. She is a Goodmon Fellow with Leadership Triangle and holds a Clean and Equitable Energy Development Certificate from Yale University. She is based in Durham, North Carolina.

Tarryn Henry is the Executive Director of Hayti Heritage Center, where she leads operations, fundraising, governance, and community engagement for one of Durham's most historic cultural institutions. She brings more than a decade of experience in organizational leadership, financial stewardship, and ecosystem development, with a consistent focus on advancing the economic and cultural vitality of Black communities. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Tarryn served on Hayti's board for four years, including as Board Chair, giving her rare institutional depth and a clear-eyed understanding of both the organization's challenges and its potential.


Before joining Hayti's leadership, Tarryn held senior roles across the nonprofit, financial, and community development sectors. At Freedmen Green Bank and Trust, she served as VP of Operations, Marketing and Programs, leading federal fundraising efforts that resulted in $30M in deployable capital and $2M in operational support for historically underserved communities. At American Underground, she directed programs serving 300+ founders annually and led the Google for Startups Black Founders Exchange, scaling accountability frameworks across six global hubs and elevating 45+ Black-led startups to national visibility. As founder of Tarryn Henry Enterprises, she advised executives and organizations across the nonprofit, tech, and ecosystem-building sectors on strategic planning and operational design.


Tarryn holds a BBA from North Carolina Central University and is an MBA candidate at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. She is a Goodmon Fellow with Leadership Triangle and holds a Clean and Equitable Energy Development Certificate from Yale University. She is based in Durham, North Carolina.

Tarryn Henry

Executive Director