Investing in What Matters: Trey Harris ’18 and Katherine Maultsby Harris ’18 Shape Davidson’s Future
March 12, 2026
- Author
- Caroline Roy ’20
From North Carolina to Colorado and back again, Trey Harris ’18 and Katherine Maultsby Harris ’18 have found their place as young alumni leaders in philanthropy at Davidson College.
The current chairs of the Young Alumni Ne Ultra (YANU) Society, they’re passionate about inspiring connections and shaping the trajectory of Davidson’s future.
The couple married in 2023, but their paths first intertwined when a mutual friend introduced them at a soccer game during first-year orientation.
A swimmer from Durham, North Carolina, Trey chose Davidson for its rigorous yet balanced team dynamic. Katherine grew up visiting campus with her father, Alex Maultsby ’87. Her cousins lived in town, and some of her earliest Davidson memories include going bowling with student babysitters during her dad’s reunion.
“When I was looking at colleges, I remember going to a Davidson admitted student weekend and running into a lot of the people I met on my first overnight stay,” Katherine said. “They all remembered my name. The whole idea of being recognized made me realize these were the kinds of people I wanted to be around.”
Katherine and Trey dated briefly as first-years, but spent the majority of their time at Davidson as friends in the same social group. After graduation, Katherine moved to Washington, D.C., for a job with the National Institutes of Health while Trey stayed in Charlotte to work for Wells Fargo.
As a young alum living near Davidson, he quickly connected with other alums in the banking world. One of his first engagement opportunities with Davidson was leading mock interviews for students interested in investment banking.
“It was so rewarding to go back and help coach these students through what to expect,” Trey said. “I knew giving back was something I eventually wanted to do, so when I was asked to serve on the YANU council, I said yes. I wanted to help others have the same phenomenal experience I did.”
With frequent trips to visit Davidson friends in their respective cities, the couple’s network pulled Trey and Katherine together again, this time for good.
They recently moved across the country to Denver, Colorado, where Trey is completing a rotational program at Eagle Rock Distributing Company, and Katherine, who is earning her doctoral degree in clinical psychology this May, is completing her pre-doctoral residency in clinical psychology at Denver Health.
The couple married in 2023.
Katherine supports Davidson in a multitude of ways, but she remains most passionate about research initiatives. The clinical psychology community at Davidson is tight-knit, and she enjoys opportunities to reconnect with mentors in the psychology department and talk with Davidson psychology majors about professional development.
“I wrote an Abernathy Grant as a Davidson student, and that was one of the most important professional experiences I had in undergrad,” she said. “I didn’t realize how important it would be for my future career, but I did it because my professor encouraged me and the resources were available. That kind of experience sets Davidson students apart, and I feel strongly about providing that for others.”
Trey, a frequent supporter of Davidson swimming and diving, has an even more direct way to see the impact his gifts have on today’s students – his younger brother, Bennett ’29, is on the team.
“I can go to his meets, I’ve met his friends, I’m able to connect with the team and want to be a resource for them,” Trey said. “It’s cool to see them having the same experience I did, but also seeing the growth of the program over time. More resources means better equipment, better training aids and opportunities and a greater ability to recruit excellent athletes and people.”
Now, Trey and Katherine are preparing for the next chapter of their lives. In the fall, they’ll move back to the Durham area to pursue their careers. Trey will take a leadership role at his family’s beverage distribution company, and Katherine starts a post-doctoral fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill.
While their roles are changing, their partnership remains rooted in a mutual commitment to excellence that extends beyond their careers.
“When I graduated, I didn't know how to give in a way that felt meaningful,” Katherine said. “I didn’t have a lot of money and it felt overwhelming. Now, I encourage other young alums to be aware of the resources you do have, whether it’s your money or your time. Bigger picture, I now give because it is fun to maintain a relationship with a place that is important to you, and it feels good to have an impact on the future.”
