UNC Charlotte The magazine of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Alumni and Friends • v19 q4 • 2012
From Someday to
Graduation Day 49er Finish PROGRAM marks 500 graduates
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All Ships Rising: Enrollment Tops 26,000
"UNC Charlotte was named by the Education Trust as one among 11 institutions to close the graduation gap between both African-American and Hispanic students and their counterparts.”
There’s good news, and even better news, in this fall’s indicators of growth at UNC Charlotte. We’ve never been more in demand, with enrollment reaching 26,274. The figure includes 371 more incoming freshmen than we had expected, and the freshman class is among the most talented and diverse in UNC Charlotte history. While enrollment numbers tell one part of the story, retention and graduation rates are the opposite side of the coin. We are highly focused on seeing students through the UNC Charlotte experience from start to finish. The numbers indicate that our work to create a culture of student success is paying off. In fact, we have developed many ways for students from all backgrounds to achieve their educational goals — whether they are first-generation students, nontraditional students or students whose dreams of a college education had faded into the background of life’s circumstances (see “From Someday to Graduation,” pg. 18). One of the most pernicious barriers to student success is the so-called “achievement gap.” Nationally, students from underrepresented populations graduate at significantly lower rates than their Caucasian counterparts. Not so at UNC Charlotte. For more than 25 years, the University has put into place programs and safeguards to assure minority students have access to the resources they need in a nurturing learning environment. In 2010, UNC Charlotte was named by the Education Trust as one among 11 institutions to close the graduation gap between both African-American and Hispanic students and their counterparts. This year the trust ranked the University sixth among the top 25 institutions to increase Hispanic student graduation rates. Clearly, tutoring, mentoring and advising initiatives such as the University Transition Opportunities Program, Student Advising for Freshman Excellence and PRODUCE (designed to reach African-American males in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines) are making a difference.
These programs have resulted in yearto-year retention rates that are nearly 10 percent higher than those of nonparticipant minority students, and six-year graduation rates between four and six percent higher than nonparticipants. Transfer students are another significant segment of our population. UNC Charlotte outpaces all UNC institutions in transfer enrollment, with 3,414 transfer students comprising 51 percent of new UNC Charlotte students in 2012. By aligning our transfer support services and sharing data across the University, we have improved the transfer experience in admissions, orientation, advising, curriculum, campus engagement and career planning. Surely, there is more to be done, both on campus and in the halls of government to ensure that students make it to the finish line. Students need greater access to sustainable sources of financial aid, both public and private. Tuition increases need to be held to a minimum, and that depends in significant measure upon state government providing sufficient tax dollars to maintain the University. Our administrators and faculty members need to be even more focused on ensuring and documenting student learning and success. As North Carolina’s urban research University, UNC Charlotte serves many students who might not otherwise have access to higher education. By working to ensure that these students not only enroll but also achieve success, we are fulfilling a promise to the citizens of the state. That promise is embedded in the fabric of North Carolina’s constitution, and it is regarded as an institutional imperative at UNC Charlotte. Cordially,
Philip L. Dubois Chancellor
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10 This Girl’s on Fire
Honor student and entrepreneur wins big with an all-natural approach to a common beauty problem.
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Turning Someday into Graduation Day
Award-winning 49er Finish Program helps students achieve a dream deferred.
20 Gratitude Etched in Stone
Mural honors outstanding educators, showcases North Carolina history.
24 Exporting Expertise
Professor shares political insights with German citizens and students in advance of presidential election.
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49er Democracy Experience
UNC Charlotte spearheads a unique, multi-pronged civic engagement initiative for students, faculty, staff and the community.
30 Painful Legacy
departments 3
News Briefs
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49ers Notebook
22 Center Stage 38
40 Building Blocks stake your claim profiles 14 Alumni Honored for Staking Their Claim UNC Charlotte recognizes 11 alumni who’ve made a difference in their communities and in the life of the University. 28
Leadership in Action Architect alum Robbie Ferris designs net-zero school, which will return more energy to the grid that it consumes.
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Urban Sounds as Muse Levine Scholar combines his passion for music and architecture in merged-media exhibit.
Scholars and community come together for unflinching look at lynching in the New South.
On the Cover: The 49er Finish Program reaches out to individuals who have completed course work at UNC Charlotte but were unable to realize the dream of a college degree because of financial or other extenuating circumstances. It has received national praise as a model program. Victoria Namishia (right, with advisor Kelly Moore) could be the 500th 49er finisher. Photo by Wade Bruton.
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Class Notes
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In Orbit Together I am writing this on the first day of November. During this week, the one before it and the one to come, I’m immersed in getting this edition into production. Several teammates are working in concert with me, but none of us is able to commit our full time to the magazine. So, when the crunch time comes, we deploy our hyper-focus skills as best we can. Entrenched at my desk, I overhear conversations growing from a flurry of activity coming in and out of the office beside mine. Our annual Giving Green campaign is winding down, and the latest tallies of contributions are coming in like precinct updates on election night. The Giving Green campaign is an internal push to raise money for UNC Charlotte, the Arts and Science Council and the State Employees Combined Campaign. Our Operations and Planned Giving units are consumed with this project, and have been the last several weeks. Later, as I walk into a meeting downstairs, I’m reminded that our Constituent Relations unit is churning full-bore on two upcoming events. The chancellor and a small retinue are making day-long visits to Cabarrus and Rowan counties in November and December, meeting with business, educational and other community leaders to further cultivate UNC Charlotte’s links to those counties. Meanwhile, our Events & Special Projects team is working feverishly on an upcoming building dedication and several other late-fall events that feature the chancellor. Over at the Harris Center, teammates in Alumni Affairs are buzzing to finalize plans for the weekend’s Alumni Awards event. The list could go on. My point is that when one’s own deadlines seem like the world’s, it’s refreshing to take a breath, look around and know that colleagues are moving steadfastly on their own priorities. What’s even better is to realize that all of these projects are touched by many units within our University Advancement division so we may add value and do our best to deliver these projects for UNC Charlotte’s benefit. None of us is at the center of the universe; we’re all in orbit together. Regards,
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Volume 19, Number 4 Philip L. Dubois Chancellor Niles Sorensen Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Stephen Ward Executive Director of University Communication Editor Director of Public Relations John D. Bland Associate Editor Susan Shackelford Contributing Writers Phillip Brown Paul Nowell Lisa A. Patterson Lynn Roberson Buffie Stephens Staff Photographer Wade Bruton Design & Production SPARK Publications
UNC Charlotte is published four times a year by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 ISSN 10771913 Editorial offices: 202 Foundation Building The University of North Carolina at Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223 704.687.5825
John D. Bland, Editor Director of Public Relations
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is open to people of all races and is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability. Printed on recycled paper 17,500 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $.54 per piece, for a total cost of $9,375.
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E.K. Fretwell Jr. led UNC Charlotte during critical period UNC Charlotte’s second chancellor died on Oct. 18 in Charlotte. He was 88. A large measurement of E. K. Fretwell’s legacy evolved out of his lifelong curiosity about other countries and cultures. During his tenure as chancellor at UNC Charlotte from 1979-1989, bilateral institution exchange agreements were forged between the University and prestigious universities in England, France, Germany and Taiwan. Under his leadership, UNC Charlotte’s international student population grew to 3 percent of the undergraduates — the highest of any of the UNC System institutions, including UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. In addition, minority enrollment rose to 9.1 percent of the student body. But Fretwell didn’t stop there. He also diversified the university’s top administration, naming minorities to key leadership positions. “Much of the physical and academic infrastructure that set the stage for UNC Charlotte’s rapid growth was set in place by E.K. during his remarkable 10.5 years as our second chancellor,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “And his leadership of major higher education associations expanded our national reputation at the same time. All 49ers are in his debt. “ In 1979, Fretwell came to the attention of Charlotte bank executive C.C. Cameron, who headed the search committee looking for the right person to succeed Dean Colvard, who was UNC Charlotte’s first chancellor. www.UNCC.edu
E. K. Fretwell served as UNC Charlotte’s second chancellor from 1979-1989.
“Much of the physical and academic infrastructure that set the stage for UNC Charlotte’s rapid growth was set in place by E.K. during his remarkable 10.5 years as our second chancellor.” In his installation address, Fretwell laid out his vision for UNC Charlotte. As a modern metropolitan university, it
would embody “a spirit of service,” expanding its commitment to serve more students and the future civic needs of the Charlotte region. Yet, the university would continue to emphasize recognized values of the arts and sciences. He proposed an honors program and emphasized UNC Charlotte’s responsibility to encourage qualified women and minorities who might not otherwise consider higher education to attend college. “Achieving more diversity always had been one of my fundamental goals,” he said at the time. During Fretwell’s watch, UNC Charlotte expanded its relationships with local community colleges, established more connections with businesses, updated continuing education and produced a state economic forecast. UNC Charlotte also addressed K-12 needs with enrichment and summer programs, and teacher workshops and seminars. Fretwell also managed the growth of master’s programs at UNC Charlotte, including new degrees in computer science, nursing and reading education. In addition, the University began cooperative doctoral programs in engineering with N.C. State and in school administration with UNC Chapel Hill. In the decade that he led the University, freshman SAT scores rose and honors housing began. Enrollment soared nearly 50 percent to almost 13,000 students — 2,000 of them graduate students. After retiring from UNC Charlotte, he continued to stay active. In 1998, he completed a 10-month term as interim president of the University of North Florida. Prior to that, he served as interim president of the five-campus University of Massachusetts System. Q412
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School of Nursing gets $2.3 million grant for nursing scholarships faculty has been proven to enhance student achievement and academic success. “This project will be of great value to the School of Nursing and its efforts to further increase the diversity of its student body, as well as the nursing workforce in our region and our state,” said Dee Baldwin, associate dean and director of the School of Nursing.
Reiter Garners UNC Award for Excellence The College of Health and Human Services
UNC Charlotte’s School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services was the recipient of a $2.3 million grant from the Health Resource Services Administration to provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program promotes diversity among health profession students and practitioners by providing scholarships to full-time students with financial need from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled in health professions and nursing programs. Lienne Edwards, associate director of the School of Nursing’s undergraduate division and principle investigator/project director of the grant, noted the award addresses a widespread need among nursing students from racial and ethnic minorities for financial assistance. The removal of financial barriers allows these students to work fewer hours outside of class and enables them to spend more time on their academic pursuits. “The proposal also addresses the need to provide mentoring support for nursing students in our undergraduate program, as well as for pre-professional students who participate in one of the University’s academic support programs,” Edwards said. Mentorship provided by peers and 4
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Harold B. Reiter, professor of mathematics at the UNC Charlotte, received the Award for Excellence in Public Service today from the Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system. The award, presented Harold Reiter during the board’s regular October meeting, was established in 2007 to encourage, identify, recognize and reward distinguished public service and outreach by faculty across the University. Reiter joined the UNC Charlotte faculty in 1972 and over the past 40 years has made it his personal mission to enhance and advance the field of mathematics education. Instead of limiting his efforts to teaching at the college level, he has been deeply involved as a community volunteer in providing math enrichment opportunities for gifted children of all ages. Over the years, Reiter has tutored and mentored dozens of youngsters exceptionally gifted in mathematics and opened the door for them to be able to enroll in college-level courses at UNC Charlotte. Many have gone on to receive
NSF Grant Given for Teacher Prep UNC Charlotte was awarded a $698,123 Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program grant from the National Science Foundation to enhance the content expertise of 12 secondary education majors dedicated to pursuing careers as chemistry and physics teachers. Through a partnership among the departments of physics and chemistry, the College of Education and the CharlotteMecklenburg Schools, this teacher preparation program uses the “Learning Coach” model to engage UNC Charlotte’s most talented chemistry and physics students in peer instruction, supported by faculty mentors. A cadre of chemistry and physics students will be trained as learning coaches to lead small-group discussion sessions among their peers. After completing the certification program, new teachers will continue to be mentored and supported during their first three induction years. UNC Charlotte will begin accepting Noyce program applications in the 2012-13 academic year, with paid internships available for the summer 2013 semester and scholarships of $12,500 each year for up to two years to be awarded for the fall 2013 semester.
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Gov. Perdue Visits New EPIC Building
Gov. Beverly Perdue (center) tours the EPIC facility with Bob Johnson, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering (left), and EPIC director Johan Enslin (right).
doctorates in mathematics and are on university faculties. No one has worked harder to get the general public to actually enjoy math. Reiter has helped create math clubs and math competitions for every age group. For the past decade, he also has served as state director for American Mathematical Competitions, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious math
Robinson is 2012 recipient of Top Teaching Award Associate professor Joanne Robinson from the Religious Studies Department is the 2012 recipient of the highest teaching honor bestowed by UNC Charlotte, the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. Since joining the Department of Religious Studies faculty in 1996, Robinson has received an impressive number of teaching-related awards and grants. According to Robinson, the key to her success as a teacher is transparency; by ensuring that the goals and outcomes of
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competition program for middle and high school students. Reiter has conducted countless workshops for mathematics competition coaches and K-12 mathematics teachers and attracted grant support to establish the Charlotte Teachers’ Circle. This group meets on a monthly basis and provides opportunities for teachers to work and learn together in a collaborative setting. the course are transparent, she establishes a classroom ethos of mutual respect and high expectation. One graduate student wrote: “Dr. Robinson brings enthusiasm and openness to active student engagement that encourages a free exchange of ideas and diversity of perspective that make the course material accessible and interesting.” By creating a stimulating environment, Robinson has been able to cultivate a practice of intellectual courage and creativity among her students, achieving her goal of instilling “analytical sophistication about complex issues, even in the absence of solutions or agreement.”
During a visit to the UNC Charlotte campus on Oct. 25, Gov. Beverly Perdue toured the University’s new Energy Production and Infrastructure Center. During her visit, the governor met with students and faculty members and received a close-up look at some of EPIC’s cutting-edge sustainability features and technologies. EPIC is headquartered in a new $76 million building on the Charlotte Research Institute campus. EPIC also will further position Charlotte as the nation’s energy capital because of more than 240 energy-oriented organizations and more than 26,000 energy-oriented employees in its 16 counties. It is a partnership between UNC Charlotte, state and local governments, and corporations, including several energy companies with major footprints in the Charlotte area. Along with corporate partners, the state of North Carolina also committed millions of dollars in funding to build the EPIC building and for ongoing support for new faculty members at the center. Considered critical to training new engineers and conducting research in energy technologies, EPIC will serve the diverse needs of existing and new energy companies.
Joanne Robinson wins UNC Charlotte's highest teaching honor.
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Master of Public Administration Program Named for Gerald Fox In recognition of a lifetime of public service, UNC Charlotte has named one of its first master’s programs the Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration program. More than 50 people gathered in the Fretwell Building in early September to commemorate the naming, with representatives from local and state government, student groups, faculty and staff and the community attending. Fox served as Mecklenburg county manager for two decades, retiring in October 2000 after overseeing a time of tremendous growth in the county. Fox also taught as an adjunct faculty member in the MPA program from 2000 to 2010 and has served in interim management roles for counties and nonprofits since his retirement. The Fox MPA program currently enrolls about 90 master’s students and more than 20 certificate students. Since its inception, the program has graduated 500-plus students who now lead numerous nonprofit agencies and hold positions in every level of government throughout the nation. UNC Charlotte’s MPA program marked its 35th anniversary during the 2011-12 academic year. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and is ranked 59th in the country among public affairs programs in the Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News Media Group rankings.
OASES Receives 2012 Knowles Award The Office of Adult Students and Evening Services was the 2012 recipient of the Malcolm Knowles Award presented by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education. The honor was given for the office’s 49er Finish Program, a University initiative that proactively contacts former students to return to UNC Charlotte to complete their degree. Janet Daniel, OASES director, was presented the award formally at the AAACE national conference Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. Malcolm Knowles is a recognized leader in the field of adult education; this 6
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Light-rail extension from Center City to UNC Charlotte Gets major funding commitment With the sun peeking out from behind UNC Charlotte Center City as the backdrop, University leaders were joined by local, state and federal officials at a ceremony at the Ninth Street Station in uptown Charlotte on Oct. 16, to witness the signing of an agreement to build a light-rail extension from the inner city to the UNC Charlotte campus. The Charlotte Area Transit System officially signed the deal with the federal government to pay for half of the $1.16 billion cost of the project. The 9.2-mile extension will connect uptown to the NoDa arts district and then run along North Tryon Street before it finishes at UNC Charlotte. “The Blue Line extension offers UNC Charlotte greater connectivity to the city center and greater accessibility for the citizens of the region to the resources of the University,” said Philip L. Dubois, chancellor of UNC Charlotte. Federal Transit Administration Director Peter Rogoff formally announced the deal, which calls for the FTA to spend $580 million for the extension. The N.C. Department of Transportation will spend nearly $300 million for construction costs. CATS, using revenue from a half-cent sales tax for transit, will spend $281 million, or 24 percent. CATS officials anticipate beginning construction in 2013. The extension could open as soon as 2017. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx said the project will generate more than 7,000 jobs during the construction phase and infuse $250 million in payroll into the local economy. AAACE award named for him recognizes an outstanding adult education program and its personnel who carry out the program in accordance with the andragogical process, which focuses on the art and science of helping adults learn.
Historian Michael Beschloss Discusses the presidency In the wake of Charlotte’s recent success as the host city to a presidential nominating www.UNCC.edu
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Presidents must be able “to tell Americans about what might be unpopular and get them to accept it.” convention, historian and author Michael Beschloss outlined the qualities that make a great president in a speech at UNC Charlotte. His visit to campus on Sept. 27 included an afternoon discussion with more than 200 students, faculty and staff in the Student Union, followed by a well-attended talk at UNC Charlotte Center City. His appearance was part of the second annual Chancellor’s Speaker Series and the 49er Democracy Experience. Beschloss, who has written eight books about U.S. presidents,
is the official NBC News presidential historian. His evening lecture focused on what he considered to be some of the qualities found in great presidents. One was presidential courage. Beschloss said George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were “willing to do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular, it may not get them re-elected, or worse.” Another necessary trait was excellent oratorical skills. Presidents must be able “to tell Americans about what might be unpopular and get them to accept it.” Beschloss said Lincoln was successful with this in pushing for the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. A third skill that is needed is the talent to cross the aisle and work with the other side. “I don’t just mean a Democratic president who’s able to work with Republicans.” A president must have the “imagination to understand why” someone with drastically different views believes in them, he said. Finally, Beschloss said great presidents have a strong sense of history while making tough decisions, often without the benefit of having all of the necessary information. “These guys look different decades later than they did at the time,” he said, adding that most historians agree that at least 30
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to 40 years must pass to provide the proper context to judge an administration’s policies. “You have to know how the story ends.”
International Festival Offers glimpse of the world For the 37th year, UNC Charlotte’s International Festival enabled the campus and greater Charlotte community the chance to sample cultural traditions and fabulous foods from around the world. This year’s IFest was Sept. 29 at the Barnhardt Student Activity Center. As UNC Charlotte’s longest-running cultural event, IFest attracts thousands to the campus for a full sensory experience — the sights, sounds and tastes of more than 50 countries and cultures. “The original purpose of the International Festival was to provide a public venue in which to celebrate the cultural diversity represented by members of the University and Charlotte international community. The growth of the festival’s presence over the years is indicative of the rich, ethnic diversity that is present today. And so we continue to celebrate,” said Marian Beane, chair of the International Festival’s planning committee.
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss addresses students as SGA President Conor Dugan looks on.
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IFest on campus drew its largest crowd in 37 years — more than 23,000.
In addition to the hallmark elements, this year’s festival included a new feature — an international games area for attendees of all ages to participate in and learn about the cultural significance of various games. Participants had the options of learning the rules of bocce, playing a game of life-sized chess or joining in a soccer match.
Kohn, Lecomte named 2012 Employees of the Year Sandy Kohn and Jerry Lecomte have a difference in the number of years of service to the University, but they had one thing in common — devotion to duty. In recognition of their efforts, they were named the 2012 Employees of the Year at Friday’s Staff Recognition Awards Luncheon. Kohn, who started at the University in 1984, is director of the Venture Program. According to nominators, Kohn has spent the last 30 years dedicated to improving the lives of all people through the promotion of experiential learning. During Kohn’s tenure the Venture Program has grown. Between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years, the program increased its challenge course activities by 13 percent, academic programs by 11 percent and trip programs by 22 percent. In addition, Kohn worked with the greater Charlotte community to develop team-building activities to reduce bullying in the public schools and decrease gang activity. 8
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Officer Lecomte, who joined UNC Charlotte in September 2007, began working as the community-oriented policing coordinator for the Police and Public Safety Department last year. During peak hours of the school day, Lecomte staffs a position in the Student Union to maximize contact with students, faculty and staff. Requests for safety and crime presentations have increased, and the number of students
participating in PPS-sponsored programs is up, too. This increase was due to the promotional efforts of Officer Lecomte, wrote one nominator. Another colleague stated, “Officer Jerry Lecomte exudes all aspects of police community policing at UNC Charlotte. His message of safety reaches out to all on campus with his greatest emphasis upon students. He has developed a number of new programs that are preventing crime on campus.”
Jerry Lecomte (left) and Sandy Kohn were joined by Chancellor Philip L. Dubois at a staff recognition luncheon.
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n ew s b r i e f s Dubois Visits Leaders in Cabarrus County
Chancellor Dubois met leaders in Cabarrus County to enhance the strong ties between the county and UNC Charlotte.
ASC Gives Morrill, Reichs Lifetime Achievement Awards Dan Morrill and Kathy Reichs, both UNC Charlotte faculty members, were bestowed the lifetime achievement award from the Arts and Science Council. The ASC honor is granted to CharlotteMecklenburg residents in celebration of their lifetime achievements in the fields of either visual, design or performing arts, or history, literature or science. Morrill, a long-time history professor at UNC Charlotte, was honored for his work
Dan Morrill
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UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois visited Cabarrus County on Nov. 13 as part of the University’s initiative to strengthen regional support. The outreach effort features a series of focused visits to the 12 counties that comprise the greater Charlotte region. The goal is to strengthen relationships within the communities the University serves. Dubois has made similar trips to Gaston and Cleveland counties in recent months and will visit Rowan County Dec. 4. Currently, 1,659 students from Cabarrus County attend the university, including three Levine Scholars and three football players on the 49ers inaugural football team. Cabarrus in the field of history. He joined the UNC Charlotte staff in 1963 — he is the longest tenured faculty member in the school’s history — while also serving as consulting director of the CharlotteKathy Reichs Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission since 1974. Through his nearly 50 years at the University, he has helped not only students but the larger Charlotte community develop a better sense of history. He has helped the Historic Landmarks Commission deem more than 300 properties as historic, which represents about 25 percent of North Carolina’s total. Reichs was honored for her work in literature. The forensic anthropologistturned-author no longer teaches at the University, but remains a faculty member on indefinite leave. Reichs is most notable for creating the forensic science book series, which the television show, “Bones,” is based on. In the past, in addition to her time as a UNC Charlotte professor, Reichs lent her expertise to help educate medical examiners, law enforcement, disaster recovery teams and the military on how to better detect and recover human remains that are otherwise unidentifiable by normal means. These experiences have become the basis for her novels. For her, the science is key when it comes to her thrillers.
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is home to 6,355 UNC Charlotte alumni and is a major employer of Cabarrus County residents. Approximately 675 University employees live in the county. As part of this day-long visit, the chancellor delivered the keynote address at the Cabarrus Chamber State of the Region meeting. He visited with Bill Cannon of The Cannon Foundation; Lynn Safrit of Castle and Cook at the N.C. Research Campus; Jeff Bordner of WindShear; Marcus Smith of Charlotte Motor Speedway and N.C. Sen. Fletcher Hartsell. An alumni reception at Charlotte Motor Speedway concluded the day. Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert and director of the motorsports engineering program, Mesbah Uddin, also attended the event.
PORTAL Rising On CRI Campus One of UNC Charlotte’s latest construction projects is visible from its high-profile location at the Tryon Street entrance of the Charlotte Research Institute portion of campus. Work is proceeding on the PORTAL building, a $37 million facility created to cultivate closer partnerships between the University and private industry. The four-story, 95,000-square-foot building will house Ventureprise Inc., UNC Charlotte’s business incubator, along with the University’s Technology Transfer Office. It will be built using a variety of non-state resources. Construction should be complete by July 2013. PORTAL is an acronym for “Partnership Outreach and Research to Accelerate Learning.” “The PORTAL building reflects the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's commitment to University-industry partnerships with particular emphasis on research, business growth and job creation,” said Robert Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development at UNC Charlotte. Q412
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This Girl’s on
Fire By Buffie Stephens
Marketing major Ashleigh Thornton began her own hair products company and has been featured in “Seventeen Magazine” as a budding entrepreneur.
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When Ashleigh Thornton arrived in Charlotte five years ago, she had a feeling this would be her city. After visiting the campus of UNC Charlotte, she knew she had found her place. “During that first visit, I had a moment,” Thornton said. “I visited UNCChapel Hill and some other UNC schools. Most of them were located in small towns. I grew up in Chicago and Kansas City, so I love big cities. I fell in love with Charlotte and the UNC Charlotte campus.” As a freshman, Thornton had aspirations of becoming a lawyer and declared a political science major. But she came to the conclusion that the study of political science wasn’t inspiring. Soon after, she discovered the Belk College of Business and found her academic home — the coursework was challenging, the students were competitive and the classes were stimulating. Being a business major hasn’t come easy, Thornton noted. “I took operations management four times until I finally got a B in that class. The curriculum also requires us to take a lot of math-intensive courses, and for me, math was a real challenge,” she said. Now a 21-year-old senior poised to graduate with a degree in marketing and a minor in Spanish, Thornton is a member of UNC Charlotte’s honors program and the Belk College Dean’s Fellows organization. She’s held impressive internships with Hallmark Cards Inc. in Kansas, as well as Procter & Gamble and McGuireWoods LLP. In early September, she shadowed the president of Bloomberg Businessweek, Paul Bascobert, during the Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte. And last September, as a junior, she started her own business. “I started wearing my hair naturally a few years ago, and I was spending a fortune on hair products. Finding something that was all-natural and concentrated enough to work on my thick hair texture, without having to use a whole lot of product, was almost impossible. I wanted an alternative,” Thornton said. “When I started looking at what was in those products, I was www.UNCC.edu
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shocked at the ingredients. I decided I would make my own hair products.” And she did, concocting a host of ingredients at home, in the kitchen sink. “Not having a background in chemistry was definitely a challenge for me, but I Googled all the ingredients and their properties and kept trying different combinations,” she said. Using all of the money she saved from two summers of internships, Thornton created NoireNaturals. “The name and overall theme of the line was inspired by my French-Creole heritage. Noire is the French feminine form for the word black.” The line is designed for kinky, curly, wavy and relaxed hair, she explained “Our prices are competitive, our ingredients are completely wholesome and 100 percent all-natural,” she said. The company sells anywhere from 100 to 200 product items a month online, in addition to wholesale orders. One of Thornton’s sales representatives is DJ Yasmin Young, co-host of the Morning Maddhouse on WPEG Power 98 Radio in Charlotte. Young was so impressed after trying the products that she asked to represent the line. “Seventeen Magazine” recently selected Thornton as one of three winners in their Make Your Own Money young entrepreneur contest. Thornton is featured in the magazine’s November issue. Anticipating a jump in business due to increased awareness generated by the magazine article, Thornton sought a manufacturer to help produce enough product to meet the demand. She approached Dudley Cosmetics founder and CEO Joe Dudley about producing NoireNaturals. Dudley Cosmetics is one of the world’s largest producers of African American cosmetics. Dudley agreed to produce the products and allow Thornton to maintain ownership of the company she created. Thornton credits her parents, Curtis and Bridget Thornton, for instilling in her the will to explore and succeed. “My parents encouraged me and my brother and sisters. They let us try everything when we were kids,” Thornton said. “My Mom is the planner. She made us do vision boards when we were young. We figured out where we wanted to be in one year and five years and we set goals. My Dad is the people person and my business acumen comes from him. I talk to my Dad www.UNCC.edu
Using all of the money she saved from two summers of internships, Thornton created NoireNaturals. “The name and overall theme of the line was inspired by my French-Creole heritage.“
almost every day.” She also is indebted to her professors at UNC Charlotte and to the business people she’s met during the past few years. “I consider my Dad, Nigel Long (of Trade Street Investors) and professors Carol Swartz (Belk College of Business), Pamela Richardson (English) and Jody Turner (Women and Gender Studies) as mentors,” Thornton said. Thornton recently added North Carolina General Assembly representative Becky Carney to her list of mentors. She credits an ‘aha’ moment at the spring 2012 Women’s Summit, which focused on women, wages and work, to her renewed desire to attend law school. “When I met Rep. Carney and Gov. Beverly Perdue I realized that I want to go into politics to help craft laws; to be a voice for the youth, women and minorities,” Thornton said. “I’d love to be a state representative and run for U.S. Congress someday. I know I can make a difference.”
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“I was very impressed in the ways Ashleigh determined her goals by knowing her interests, being inquisitive and listening to others and that she took the initiative to develop a small business,” Carney said. “Her immeasurable energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and she uses them in a smart way. I encourage young women like Ashleigh who are interested in public service to go in on the ground level and work their way to where they would like to serve by first getting familiar with their surroundings while gaining the knowledge they will need to make intelligent decisions. Then they will know when they want to go into politics and unselfishly make a positive difference in the lives of the people they serve, and I believe Ashleigh will.” Since winning the “Seventeen Magazine” young entrepreneurs contest, Thornton has been approached by an MTV casting director who is working to design a reality series about young entrepreneurs under the age of 25. Though she’s not certain she wants to be followed night and day, she has until the end of the year to decide. She also is featured as a Hallmark cover girl on the Mahogany Cards website for the holiday season. For now, Thornton will continue on with her senior year and focus on graduation. She’ll run her business, participate in the University Honors Program and the Sigma Alpha Lambda National Honors Society, serve as a Belk College of Business Dean’s Fellow and continue on as a public policy intern at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. If she decides to pursue law school and politics, Thornton thinks she can hire the right people to run NoireNaturals. One of Thornton’s favorite rhythm and blues artists, Alicia Keys, recently released the lead single, “Girl on Fire.” It’s a strong female empowerment anthem, with inspiring lyrics — the song could have been written for Thornton. Oh, we got our feet on the ground / And we’re burning it down / Oh, got our head in the clouds / And we’re not coming down / This girl is on fire / This girl is on fire / She’s walking on fire / This girl is on fire She’s just a girl, and she’s on fire. Buffie Stephens is media relations manager for the Office of Public Relations Q412
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49 e rs n o te b o o k
Countdown to Kickoff
Video Series Showcases Debut
So far, AJ Mead and his staff in the 49ers media production department have attended the first 49ers football team meeting, woke up with first-ever signee Will Thomas for morning workouts at 6 a.m., walked with head coach Brad Lambert to the team’s first practice in pads, and accompanied freshman quarterback Matt Johnson back to his hometown. Mead is producing “49ers Football Now: Countdown to Kickoff,” a video series documenting the start-up of 49ers football. He has gone through scores of footage dating back to early Board of Trustee meetings, the March to the Endzone and the groundbreaking of the 49ers football stadium. He interviewed Chancellor Phil Dubois, Director of Athletics Judy Rose and Football Feasibility chair Mac Everett for Episode 1 to discuss the process that has made football a reality for the Charlotte 49ers. He was in the locker room as the players first put on pads for practice; he was on the practice field as the players began their first 12 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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workouts; and he was in the meeting room as the coaches prepped for their first practice. “This is an exciting project — and an important project for us,” said 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose. “49ers Football Now” will allow us to document a historic period in the development of our University and our athletic program. We are all enjoying watching our football program come to life and through this series we can share each step with all of Niner Nation. We are looking forward to each episode and I know our fans will, as well.” The series debuted in September and will span 13 episodes to run through September 2013. Each 15-minute episode airs monthly at www.charlotte49ers.com, www.charlotte49ers. tv and the Charlotte 49ers Official YouTube Channel. Viewers in the Charlotte area can also see the show on Time Warner Cable Channel 22 every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 pm.
49ers Football Now: Countdown to Kickoff Episode 1 Sept. 4, 2012 Episode 2 Oct. 1, 2012 Episode 3 Nov. 1, 2012 Episode 4 Dec. 3, 2012 Episode 5 Jan. 7, 2013 Episode 6 Feb. 1, 2013 Episode 7 March 1, 2013 Episode 8 April 1, 2013 Episode 9 May 1, 2013 Episode 10 June 3, 2013 Episode 11 July 1, 2013 Episode 12 Aug 1, 2013 Episode 13 Sept 2, 2013 Fans can purchase FSLs to guarantee their seats for the inaugural 2013 football season by calling the 49ers ticket office at 704-687-4949. www.UNCC.edu
49 e rs n o te b o o k Junior DeMario Mayfield, a transfer from Georgia, averaged 11 points and seven rebounds in his first year with the 49ers. With a certain toughness and maturity, Mayfield emerged as a key leader for the 49ers. As did point guard Pierria Henry, who was named to the A-10’s all-rookie team last year and landed a spot on the preseason all-defensive team, this year. Henry broke the 49ers freshman record with 72 steals and has a chance to join Keith Williams (1983-87) as the only four-year starting point guards in school history. Henry leads a sophomore class that includes versatile guards/forwards Terrence Williams and E. Victor Nickerson, who
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both averaged over 16 minutes a game last year against A-10 competition. The freshman class includes bookend forwards Darion Clark and Willie Clayton, exciting point guard Denzel Ingram and shooter Ivan Benkovic. The key to the incoming class, however, could be 6-6 forward JT Thompson, a grad student who transferred from Virginia Tech. Thompson, who missed two seasons with knee injuries, averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in his final season at Tech and brings the 49ers young squad some welcome experience and leadership. Continued on p. 33
Coach Alan Major has a young, talented team this season.
BASKETBALL SEASON CRANKS UP Head men’s basketball coach Alan Major enjoyed the team’s trip to the Bahamas in August — and not just for the weather. With 10 days to practice for the trip and two games played while there, Major was able to get a sneak peek at his 2012-13 squad. The trip to the Bahamas gave the 49ers an added dose of experience — a valuable commodity, especially this season. Major’s squad is young — with nine freshmen and sophomores on the 15-player roster and only two players, seniors Chris Braswell and Colby Lewis, with more than one letter-winning season to their credit with the 49ers. Even with the young squad, there is plenty to look forward to. Braswell, a preseason second team allAtlantic 10 choice, powers the 49ers inside game. He has already scored over 1,000 points in his career and could become just the fourth 49er to add 1,000 career rebounds. He led the 49ers in scoring and rebounding last year. www.UNCC.edu
Senior forward Jennifer Hailey is an all-Atlantic 10 second team and all-defensive team pick. Q412
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Staking Their Claim 11 Alums Honored for Service, Achievements In what has become an annual tradition — except for a one-year hiatus in 2011— the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association recognizes alumni who embody the core principles of the University and have distinguished themselves through their outstanding service to the school, their chosen field and humanity. Indeed, these are 49ers who embody the University’s “Stake Your Claim” motto. The 2012 awards were presented at the Nov. 3 Alumni Awards Banquet. “Our University has so many talented graduates who have excelled in their profession and in the community while simultaneously being supportive and connected to their alma mater,” said Niles Sorensen, vice chancellor for University Advancement. These 11 outstanding alumni have been instrumental in propelling UNC Charlotte to become the powerhouse that it is today.” The honorees are recognized within five different categories: Distinguished Alumni Award — The highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association, this prestigious award recognizes an individual chosen from the previous inductees selected to the Hall of Fame based on the nominee’s career accomplishments and/or service to his or her community, state, nation, or to UNC Charlotte and its Alumni Association. Greg Davis: From ‘mentally retarded’ to Ph.D. Greg Davis ’76 was a 21-year-old high school freshman who had been labeled mentally retarded when he dropped out of school in 1972. He got his GED from Central Piedmont Community College. Four years later, he became one of the first African Americans to graduate from UNC Charlotte’s Religious Studies program. Davis went on to earn a master of divinity degree from Duke and a Ph.D. in American religious history from the Union Institute. 14 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Former UNC Charlotte administrator Greg Davis is now a pastor in Harrisburg, N.C.
“I was always taught that education was the best way out,” Davis said. “I’m just blessed.” That is a blessing he wanted to facilitate for similar students. Davis went on to oversee minority retention programs at the University with a focus on mentoring first-generation college students. “When I was first there, there were only about 100 minority students,” he recalled. “Now they represent 20-25 percent of the student population. That’s great!” When he retired as director of multicultural affairs in 2008, his decades-long commitment to the University was rewarded with a need-based scholarship in his honor. Four years post-retirement, Davis misses his interaction with the students. However, pastoring the 180-member Bellafonte Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, N.C. keeps him busy. Misty Hathcock: ‘My blood runs green’ Misty Hathcock ’85 ’91 ’92 ’96 ’04 is not only a super alumna — with five degrees from UNC Charlotte
— she is a valued faculty member. She has served as director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program in the College of Education since 1998. She is also a clinical assistant professor, University supervisor, Kappa Delta Pi chapter counselor and First 3 Beginning Teacher Support Program coordinator. The sixth generation educator who has earned five degrees from UNC Charlotte is also president of the school’s Alumni Association. She was responsible for securing the site for the Harris Alumni Center and beginning the design work on the building. Hathcock was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003. Since then she has achieved a great many accomplishments, including earning her doctorate in Misty Hathcock has five degrees from the education from University and is a UNC Charlotte, valued faculty member. developing the Teaching Fellows Program into a model for the State of North Carolina and reviving the Teacher Cadet College Partnership, and many other Parnterships. She has supported the Alumni Association through participation on the Board of Governors, Past Presidents Council and Teaching Fellows Alumni Chapter. “Blending my work with being an active alumnus enhances what I do professionally and personally. My blood runs green and I am a 49er for life!” Hathcock said. Alumnus by Choice — Honoring a nongraduate of UNC Charlotte who has gone out of his or her way to support the University and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. General nominations are not solicited for this award; rather the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association can make recommendations for this award on an as-needed basis. www.UNCC.edu
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A renowned administrator and community leader, Jim Woodward now prefers treks with his family.
James Woodward: Former chancellor enjoys hiking in Europe Former UNC Charlotte Chancellor James Woodward has had no problem filling up his days since his retirement. Still very active in the community and state, Woodward serves on several non-profit boards. In addition, he served on such groups as the UNC Tomorrow Commission, the North Carolina Education Lottery and the Judicial Nomination Commission. He also served as interim chancellor at N.C. State University in 2009-2010. All these things have not stopped him from enjoying his “leisure” time. He travels extensively with his wife, Martha, their children, and now their grandchildren. One of his favorite things to do is to travel to Europe and go on long hikes. “Now it’s more like long walks rather than hikes,” he quipped. “I decided several years ago I wasn’t going to camp anymore, so now we stay in hotels or bed-and-breakfasts.” He has fond memories of trips with his son, Wade, and daughter, Connie, and other family members. “One of my favorite experiences was during a hiking trip with Wade into the Scottish Highlands,” he recounted. “We stayed in a small town called Strachur in the Loch Fyne region. It turned out we were the only two Americans staying in our hotel and after we ate dinner we stopped in the pub for a drink. “A group of Scots came in and they were celebrating with a large trophy. It turned out they were the Shinty champions of the region. We stayed up with them www.UNCC.edu
and drank beer from their trophy.” During another visit to Scotland with his daughter Connie, Woodward stayed in a small village named Port Charlotte. The locals urged them to attend the rural fair, where the Woodwards had the opportunity to attend the local livestock competition. “We looked down the hill and three men were marching and playing bagpipes, followed by the three winning cows,” he said. “I remember the song they were playing on the pipes was the theme to the Miss America pageant. It was quite a scene.” He is already planning his next trip — this time he is going with Wade to the Dolomites in the Italian Alps. “The best thing about retirement is that you have time to plan these excursions,” he said. “You can’t take the kind of time it requires to do these things when you are working full-time running a major University.” Alumni Hall of Fame — A highly-selective award, only 75 of the nearly 100,000 alumni have been named to this prestigious honor. The award is based on the nominee’s career accomplishments and/or service to his or her community, state, nation, or to UNC Charlotte and its Alumni Association. Dennis Bunker: Passionate and Prideful 49er Dennis N. Bunker III ’81 is passionate about UNC Charlotte and has served as a past president of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association. A fixture at many athletic and community events on campus, Bunker has devoted a lot of his
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time to the University along with making significant financial contributions. “I enjoy all the sporting events, but at the end of the day what my wife, Kathy, and I really focus on is the educational curriculum,” he said. “We are so proud to see how UNC Charlotte has grown and we are happy to allocate what resources we can to support it.” A native of a Salisbury, N.C., Bunker began his real estate career in 1981 after he graduated from UNC Charlotte with a degree in economics. He established Bunker Land Group LLC in 1994. His educational background also includes a master’s in real estate development from Columbia University in New York in 1990. Bunker has attained the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member and Member Appraisal Institute designations.
Kathy and Dennis Bunker are especially proud of UNC Charlotte’s educational curriculum.
“When I was attending UNC Charlotte, it had only been a part of the UNC System for a few years,” he said. “Everything about the school was new and emerging. So it could not be like some other institutions that are hundreds of years old. I feel I picked up some vital skills at UNC Charlotte that remain relevant today in my life. I had the opportunity to learn some leadership skills in my involvement with my fraternity and student government. You just don’t always get that opportunity.” Bunker has served on the original board of the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors and the North Carolina CCIM Board. He is a North and South Carolina licensed real estate broker, a North Carolina licensed commercial real estate appraiser and a member of the Urban Land Institute. Bunker also has been a member of the Chancellor’s Society, Founder’s Society, Steering Committee for the Campus Master Plan, Athletic Foundation and the University foundation board. Q412
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John Cato: From Modest Beginning to Big Success John P. Derham Cato understands that great things often spring from modest beginnings. His company’s success bears that out, and his philanthropic endeavors help provide the impetus for students to achieve great things. Cato graduated in 1973 from UNC Charlotte with a degree in accounting. After graduation, he went to work for his family’s business, The Cato Corp. His grandfather, Wayland Henry Cato, made his start in retail in 1916, working a summer job in a general store in his hometown of Ridge Spring, S.C. Wayland Cato became a top salesman and eventually opened his own chain of stores throughout South Carolina. Today, Cato Corp. has approximately 1,300 specialty apparel retail stores in 31 states, with revenues topping $920 million. He has served as vice chairman of the board and chief operating officer since 1996 and as president since 1997. He is currently the company’s chief executive officer. Cato has been generous to the University with his time and philanthropic efforts. He currently serves on the Business Advisory Council for the Belk College of Business Administration and previously served on the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of UNC Charlotte. His leadership of the Cato Advised Fund of The Foundation for the Carolinas has included the creation of a $500,000 Cato Scholars Endowment Fund at UNC Charlotte. This endowment allows the University to recruit highly talented students
John Cato has committed substantial resources to helping UNC Charlotte recruit outstanding students intent on becoming teachers.
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who have made the commitment to become outstanding teachers. In addition, he has committed $300,000 for the development of the Cato Teaching Discovery Mural on the University’s campus. The mural is under construction; when finished, it will include powerful images of the act of teaching as well as images that relate to North Carolina culture, geography and history. Bill Crowder: The Ties That Bind Are Strong As a civil engineering student at UNC Charlotte in the early 1970s, Bill Crowder ’75 shared common bonds with his fellow students, and with his professors. Many of the students, including Crowder, had just returned from Vietnam. They were going back to school, were married and some had children. Most of the professors were the same age as Crowder and his classmates. Together they learned civil engineering and how to teach civil engineering. In the process, they formed bonds that exist to this day. When he graduated in 1975, Crowder went to work for the family business, Crowder Construction. Now, almost 40 years later, he is chief operating officer and executive vice president of the Bill Crowder leads company, which a construction firm that has grown into has grown from a a major regional small local entity corporation. to a major regional corporation recognized for its quality and quantity of work. The younger Bill has been an active, involved and generous support of his alma mater. He serves on advisory boards for civil engineering and generously donates materials, labor and time in support of student projects and faculty research. He and his wife Pamela have given more than $100,000 to establish scholarships for civil engineering students. They have made the scholarships a legacy in honor of Bill’s friends from his time as a student. One is named for Dr. David Byer, who was one of his professors. Another is named for Dr. Johnny Graham, a fellow veteran and classmate, who went on to become a professor of civil engineering at UNC Charlotte.
Esther Rose Erwin: A ‘thumbs-up’ alum After the late Esther Rose Erwin ’61, ’68, ’72, ‘83 earned her associate’s degree in history from Charlotte College in 1961, she went on to obtain three additional degrees from UNC Charlotte. “She was part of the University and a beacon for UNC Charlotte from the day they rang the bell,” said her friend Martha Price. Erwin’s association with UNC Charlotte dates to the 1950s, when the University was known as Charlotte College. Erwin completed many of her classes at night while working fulltime. Later she left the business world to commit her career to teaching. She was one of the students chosen to ring the “Old Bell” when the University became part of the UNC system. After being strongly encouraged by UNC Charlotte founder Bonnie Cone to enter education, Erwin taught at Matthews Elementary School for 25 years. During that time, she brought Esther Rose Erwin many of her students was a beacon for to the University UNC Charlotte for decades. for activities and programs, encouraging them to continue their education. Many of those students are now UNC Charlotte alumni as well. Erwin was an avid supporter of the school’s athletic program, giving her time and financial assistance over many years. In addition to establishing the Heritage Endowed Scholarship, she created a student athletic scholarship. Erwin died on Sept. 3, 2011 at the age of 84 but remained a devoted 49er until the end. “She went to that last basketball game in that wheelchair and sat with her thumbs up,” recalled Price. “It was her life.” Ann Newman: Professional and Caring Nurse A board-certified specialist in psychiatric nursing, Ann Mabe Newman ’78 has served as a practicing therapist in the community for more than 40 years. She retired from UNC Charlotte in July 2012 after 30 years of teaching. During her tenure as an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Services’ School of Nursing, www.UNCC.edu
a l u m n i a wa rd s Newman taught courses on psychiatricmental health nursing and health policy and developed the University’s online graduate program in nursing education. Throughout her distinguished teaching and research career, Newman received numerous honors, including the prestigious Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. She also served on the N.C. State Board of Nursing and as president of the University’s Faculty Council. In the greater Charlotte community, Newman has served in volunteer positions with the PTA at Idlewild Elementary, Northeast Middle and Independence High schools. As a Boy Scouts of America merit badge counselor, she taught CPR and first aid, and she continues to provide pro bono health-care services to the community, including grief and mental health counseling, advice on obtaining access to health services and information on how to manage chronic illnesses. In 2010, she was named among the “50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte.”
Ann Newman (right), with Provost Joan Lorden, is relentless in her service to the University and the community.
As a proud 49er graduate, Newman has undertaken a number of volunteer roles for the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association, including faculty advisor for the Nursing Alumni Interest Group and membership on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Board of Directors. She also was instrumental in establishing a nursing alumni emergency fund for UNC Charlotte nursing students. Newman received her diploma in nursing from the University of Virginia www.UNCC.edu
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Pictured here at the Democratic National Convention, Curt Walton has served as Charlotte city manager during a period of great accomplishments and challenges.
before completing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from UNC Charlotte in 1978. She went on to obtain a master’s in nursing from UNC Chapel Hill and a doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Through her devotion to teaching and service to UNC Charlotte and the greater community, Ann Mabe Newman has displayed the pioneering spirit of a 49er. Curt Walton: University Gave Him Vital Skills Curt Walton ’82 is a familiar name to anyone who lives in Charlotte. Serving as Charlotte’s 14th city manager, he is responsible for administering the policy and decisions made by the City Council and overseeing the day-today operations of city government. Charlotte is one of the largest cities with a council-manager form of government, dating back to 1929, where the manager reports to the city council and the council votes on the manager’s recommendations. The city manager ensures that all city services are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Walton earned his master’s in public administration at UNC Charlotte, and several of his staffers have gone back to the Uuniversity to earn their advanced degrees. “Right now I have three employees on my staff who went to UNC Charlotte to get their M.P.A., and they emerged as exceptional employees who are well-trained, articulate
and very valuable employees,” he said. He said UNC Charlotte played a major role in his career. “Absolutely. While it’s been a long time since I’ve been in class there, I think what helped me the most is that my education, is that it served as a launching pad, and I grew from there,” he said. “And it helped me connect with the right people in this community.” As an alumnus of UNC Charlotte, Walton said the University is a key institution in the city. “This University has all the attributes we need,” he said. “For top-shelf things we need, UNC Charlotte has everything from innovation, research and entrepreneurship. The University has done a great job providing these attributes for the city of Charlotte.” Faculty Service Award — This award recognizes a current UNC Charlotte faculty member for distinguished service to the community while bringing recognition to the University. Consideration for the award is based on the amount of time and effort spent enhancing the University, level of civic involvement above-and-beyond the faculty member’s university responsibility and evidence that the nominee is considered an “expert” by the community in his or her discipline.
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49 e r f i n i s h
Turning
Someday into
500th 49er Finish Program participant to receive degree
Graduation Day By Phillip Brown UNC Charlotte commencements in 2012 have been opportunities to celebrate milestones. At May’s ceremony, the University honored its 100,000th alumnus. Come December, UNC Charlotte’s 49er Finish Program will shepherd its 500th participant into the ranks of those who have completed their undergraduate degree. Victoria Namishia could be that 500th 49er finisher. Obtaining her bachelor’s degree has been 28 years in the making. The University’s innovative, award-winning 49er Finish Program, administered by the Office of Adult Students and Evening Services, was created to help individuals to realize the dream of a college degree. The program, which began in fall 2005 as a University initiative to proactively reach out to senior-level students who stopped short of completing their bachelor’s degree, uses a concierge approach of service and support, and it is earning national acclaim. In 2009, it was named Outstanding Institutional Advising Program by the National Academic Advising Association, and this fall, the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education presented the program its Malcolm Knowles Award for Outstanding Adult Education Program. Earlier this year, OASES officials discussed the program’s progress with chief academic officers for the UNC system and gave a presentation to members of the Joint Education Oversight Committee for the state legislature. Janet Daniel, OASES director, and her colleagues have fielded requests from other universities about implementing similar programs at their institutions, too. “We are honored that UNC Charlotte’s 49er Finish Program is being singled out for such recognition, and we welcome the opportunity to work with our colleagues to help students fulfill 18 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Victoria Namishia (left, with OASES advisor Kelly Moore) could be the 500th 49er "finisher."
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“Our personalized approach is the key, because every person who comes into the 49er Finish Program is entering from a different place. No two students are alike in their needs.” that dream of obtaining their degree,” said Daniel. “Years of research support that having a bachelor’s degree enhances earning potential. Degree holders are more competitive in the job market, and it opens up new opportunities for advanced study. And, of course, for some who return, it is simply the chance to realize a long-held ambition.” For Namishia, her educational journey began at New Jersey’s William Paterson State College in September 1984; however, she withdrew the next year. Four years later, she entered Passaic County Community College, where she graduated with an associate’s degree in May 1991. That fall, Namishia and her husband moved to North Carolina for work reasons. Now a project manager with Bank of America, Namishia said she attempted to finish her degree at UNC Charlotte in the intervening years, but between work and family commitments, it was a daunting task. “I was contacted by the program a few times, and I even responded in 2010. But I didn’t follow through,” said Namishia. “But last fall, I received the 49er Finish Program Stake Your Claim flier. My life had settled down, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I expected to be told that I’d have to start all over. Originally, I was pursuing an education degree. As it turned out, if I switched to an English major with an American Studies minor, then I could complete my degree with only eight classes.” Determined to graduate in 2012, Namishia took four classes in the spring, three during the summer and is taking her final class this fall. After 13 years out of the classroom, she received three As and a B in the spring and made the Dean’s List. Kelly Moore, 49er Finish Program coordinator and OASES advisor, worked with Namishia and Shane Auton, another December graduate who www.UNCC.edu
One of the hallmarks of 49er Finish Program is the high level of personalized attention each student receives.
could be the program’s 500th finisher as well. “It’s exciting to work with students like Victoria and Shane who decide to return to UNC Charlotte and complete their degree,” said Moore. “These students really work hard to finish, and when they talk about their journeys to reach this destination, it underscores the importance of the 49er Finish Program. We are making a positive impact – one student at a time.” One of the hallmarks of the program is the level of personalized attention each returning student receives, explained Daniel. “For anyone contemplating returning to the University, the 49er Finish Program offers several incentives, including fee-free admission, enrollment assistance, mentoring programs and a referral service.” Moore added that she and her colleagues work closely with department chairs and deans of the colleges to meet students’ educational needs. Options available to students vary, and program advisors work with prospective returnees to provide the best solutions. “Our personalized approach is the key, because every person who comes into the 49er Finish Program is entering from a different place. No two students are alike in their needs, so while it keeps me on my toes, I know how difficult the process could be for students to try to return without someone to assist them,” Moore said. Auton, now a purchasing manager with Crawford Composites in Denver N. C., acknowledged that the attention from the OASES staff made the difference. He began at UNC Charlotte in 1996 but withdrew before completing
his degree following the death of his grandmother. Then full-time employment took precedence, although he did attempt to return in 2003 prior to taking his current job. “I finally returned for good in spring 2012. I received information about the program, but Kelly (Moore) made returning very simple, very forthright and actually handled most of the administrative processes associated with coming back,” explained Auton. “That was a major difference from when I tried to come back before.” Needing only 10 hours to complete a degree — eight of the hours in foreign language — Auton said he worked with his employer to arrange to get off early to take the necessary classes. He noted that employer support was vital to the process, too, and Namishia agreed, adding her boss allowed her to work a flexible schedule to take classes in the early evening. No matter the challenges, each 49er Finish Program participant who returns has exhibited little acts of courage to complete the quest. For Namishia, commencement was a 28-year odyssey. “You shouldn’t let the dream go because life happens,” said Namishia. “Langston Hughes, in his poem ‘Harlem,’ asks ‘What happens to a dream deferred?’ I can answer that question – it doesn’t go away. It hides and it waits for the opportunity to be realized. I always said I would graduate from college someday. For me, someday is Saturday, Dec. 15.” Phillip Brown is the internal communications manager in the Office of Public Relations. Q412
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fe a t u re
Gratitude Etched in Stone
By Lisa A. Patterson
Panels showing events with historical import for the nation include the first forays into school desegregation. Dorothy Counts, depicted here early in the design process, was one of the first black students admitted to a school in an all-white school district in Charlotte. After four days of harassment and threats, her parents forced her to withdraw from the school.
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Historian, essayist, cultural gadfly and philosopher of education Jacques Barzun said, “In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for 20 years.” With this truism in mind, on the eve of the UNC Charlotte College of Education’s 40th anniversary, the Cato Teaching Discovery Mural was conceived. A year in the making, the mural is now taking shape as the centerpiece of the College’s Looking Forward campaign, and as a permanent tribute to unforgettable teachers and the teaching profession. “When we consider the College’s history, the generations of great educators who have passed through our doors, and the bright future of the University and the profession, this is a wonderful time to honor educators,” said Mary Lynne Calhoun, dean of the College of Education. “To capture this moment and to generate gifts that will help the college support future educators, we created the mural.” Located outside of the College of Education, the mural was designed as an interactive, multi-dimensional work of sculpture featuring carved brick panels depicting the impact of teachers through visual references to literature, science, mathematics, geography, arts and culture, athletics, business and commerce, and social diversity. Contributors are invited to make gifts to commemorate educators (including coaches, school administrators and professors) who have made positive impacts on their lives. Those honored at the highest level will have their names listed permanently www.UNCC.edu
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of Education has grown exponentially in size and stature. The College now offers a full complement of nationally recognized baccalaureate, master's and doctoral programs to prepare professionals to meet the needs of schools and communities. With enrollment of more than 3,000
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students, the College graduates the second-highest number of teachers among North Carolina’s 47 colleges and universities. Lisa A. Patterson is senior writer in the Office of Public Relations.
Honoring Poppa and Momma Worsley Submitted by: Anthony Lowry Artist Mara Smith crafts a mural panel depicting the 1960 sit-ins that resulted in the reversal of the Woolworth store chain's racial segregation policy.
on one face of the mural sculpture, and their testimonials will be featured in an interactive display in the lobby of the education building. Photos tracking the mural’s progress and stories submitted by those who have made a gift in honor of an educator also are available online. Calhoun hopes that the mural will also serve as destination teaching tool for students and campus visitors, with design elements related to North Carolina history. The mural was established with generous support from UNC Charlotte alumnus John P. Derham Cato (see page 16) and The Cato Corp. to demonstrate the uniquely felt influence of individual teachers, and to inspire growth in resources to support new initiatives in the College of Education and in the region’s many classrooms. Additionally, Cato has been instrumental in the creation of the $500,000 Cato Scholars Endowment Fund at UNC Charlotte through the Cato Advised Fund of The Foundation for the Carolinas. The endowment allows the University to recruit highly talented students who have made the commitment to become teachers. “Our students will walk by that mural and know that the transformational power of teachers goes on forever,” said Calhoun. “With this mural, we’re honoring the student-teacher relationship, the transferal of knowledge and the gift of hope.” First established as the College of Human Development and Learning, the College www.UNCC.edu
It is my hope and desire to give the Worsleys the honor of being on this mural while they live. For years both have battled and continue to battle life-threatening diseases. To be honored in this way is to know that they are really appreciated. This will put to rest questions such as, “Have I made a difference in at least one child’s life?” Through the Worsleys I was saved. Rudolf Worsley was my fifth grade homeroom teacher. The Brown v. Board of Education case caused me to be bused from my neighborhood school (Barringer Elementary) to Collingswood Elementary, where I met and identified with an instructor that understood the socialization and economic circumstances of underprivileged minority children. Where I did not understand or was misunderstood, Rudolf Worsley served as a buffer, an intermediary and a sounding board. He taught me the difference between reacting and responding, and how to keep my cool and to expect the unexpected. I lost contact with Mr. Worsley (now affectionately known as Poppa Worsley) when I reached high school. After two years of feeling like a misfit, I became discouraged and uninterested. I failed my first two years at South Mecklenburg High School simply because I saw no need to try. Fortunately, God changed things in such a way that my third year of high school was spent at Harry P. Harding High School. It was there that I met Jean Worsley (affectionately known as Momma Worsley). Momma Worsley was my 10th grade
biology teacher. She single-handedly embarrassed, chastised and nurtured me into a straight ‘A’ student. She challenged me and would never accept “I don’t know” or “I can’t” as an excuse. I became so interested in learning that I’d voluntarily stay after school to help work on teaching projects. How surprised I was when I learned that Jean and Rudolf Worsley were husband and wife! Around this time they became my surrogate parents, and not a moment too soon. My biological parents were in the process of separating and ended up divorcing in the mid-1970s. I ended up dropping out of school to work to help support my family. The Worsleys were there when I married the love of my life nearly 30 years ago. They were there when my two wonderful children (both college graduates now) were born. They supported me when I went back and completed my GED, when I graduated from Central Piedmont Community College as a student ambassador with a GPA of 3.8, all the while working full-time and with a full-time family. They were there when I went on to UNC Charlotte, pledged a fraternity and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. I can continue with the countless rewards I’ve received, but none would have been possible without the tireless intervention, love and support of Jean and Rudolf Worsley. They are my heroes! This submission was made to the College of Education's Looking Forward campaign website. It has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Game On! Photo by Wade Bruton
November 3. There was tailgating. There were ovations. There was the Uh-Huh Guy. No, it wasn’t the first scrimmage the Charlotte 49ers football team has had — they’ve ended practices with scrimmage activities on several Saturdays. But this was the first set of scrimmage activities on the stadium turf — and 1,500 Niner Nation fans turned out to watch. The practice started the same as usual — stretching drills, position drills, some “skeleton” practice. But then the 49ers offense lined up against the 49ers defense. Officials blew a whistle. And it was Game On. Running back Alan Barnwell ran for four hard yards on the first play, as Niner Nation sat back under the splendid Saturday sun, and watched college football — Charlotte 49ers college football. Mark Pettit, a 6-6 outside linebacker from Greensboro, recorded the first sack. Then, 6-3 nose tackle Larry Ogunjobi had a crushing stop on receiver Corey Nesmith Jr. And receiver Austin Duke raced 58 yards on an end around. And the crowd cheered. Soon Ja’quil Capel took a 19-yard pass to the one-yard line. Then Barnwell burst through the line and into the end zone. It wasn’t the first touchdown the 49ers had scored in their scrimmages, but for those on hand to watch the plunge, seeing a 49er break into the “Charlotte” logo’ed end zone was the absolute opposite of déjà vu. This was something they hadn’t seen before. And they liked it. www.UNCC.edu
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Exporting By Lisa A. Patterson
Expertise
German students examine presidential politics
Where in the world is David Goldfield? The Robert Lee Bailey Professor of History in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences suffers no shortage of invitations to share his expertise, and his latest foray into foreign territory finds him back in Germany, where he regularly provides programs on behalf of the U.S. State Department. “This year, the 2012 presidential election is foremost, so I spent time talking about the influence of region, religion and race on the presidential election,� said Goldfield, who conducted a similar tour through China last May. Goldfield traveled to various cities, including Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin, where he addressed think tanks and university audiences. But unlike previous visits, this time Goldfield worked directly with high school students in northern Germany who have been asked to focus on particular aspects of the U.S. presidential election. At the invitation of the U.S. Consulate, Goldfield returned to Frankfurt on Nov. 6 to provide analysis and 24 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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“One of my points this year is, for all our difficulties, we’re seeing an election between a black man and a Mormon — these were two of the most despised groups in 19th century America.” Goldfield traveled to various cities, including Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin, where he addressed think tanks, university audiences and high school students. At the invitation of the U.S. Consulate, Goldfield returned to Frankfurt on Nov. 6 to provide analysis and commentary at a special event held during election night and the following day.
commentary at a special event held during election night and the following day. “Germans are fascinated with American politics,” he said. In 2008, more than 200,000 Berliners turned out to hear Barack Obama speak. “There’s a tremendous amount of interest in the U.S. election because, as a world power, whoever gets elected will have significant influence well beyond the United States.” Nearly 700 German high school students are participating in a new State Department initiative developed to expose German citizens early in life to American culture and institutions and to strengthen ties between the two countries. Groups of participating students were assigned U.S. states to study, and Goldfield was tapped as the subject matter expert for North Carolina, one of almost a dozen so-called “swing states.” Before leaving for Germany on Oct. 13, Goldfield corresponded www.UNCC.edu
with the students via email. He received a number of questions about the party conventions, with one student inquiring into how Charlotte “qualified” as the location for the Democratic National Convention. Goldfield speculates that the students’ interest is an outgrowth of their experience with party conventions in Germany, which are more substantive affairs than those in the United States. “Swing states are interesting to German high school students, who don’t really understand we don’t undertake a national election,” Goldfield noted. “Because of the electoral college, some states are more important than others; our presidential election is fought in the swing states. Students also find it odd that in a democratic society such as the United States, we do not vote directly for the president. The popular vote totals are interesting but not decisive. It’s the electoral votes that
determine the winner.” For the remainder of the tour, Goldfield focused on issues such as the impact of immigration on the United States, the co-existence of religion and government and diversity. “When I traveled to Germany in 2010, I got into a discussion with one group about the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court contains nine justices: six are Roman Catholics and three are Jewish,” Goldfield said, noting that the United States is probably the only country in the world where the majority religion is not represented at all on the highest court. “One of my points this year will be, for all our difficulties, we had an election between a black man and a Mormon — these were two of the most despised groups in 19th century America,” he said. Lisa A. Patterson is senior writer in the Office of Public Relations. Q412
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49erDemocracy Experience Civic, educational initiatives was experience for the ages
Here are some of the highlights of the 49er Democracy Experience: • 6,000 delegates — many of them firsttime visitors to Charlotte — intermingled with students, faculty, University staff and community leaders. • More than 300 course sections were taught at UNC Charlotte as part of a special 49er Democracy Experience curriculum, from spring-fall 2012. • 50 faculty experts made themselves available as expert commentators and sources for media. • Approximately 15,000 journalists from around the world visited Charlotte during the height of the 49er Democracy Experience. • More than 40 foreign dignitaries from parliaments and embassies in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas visited the UNC Charlotte campus for a panel discussion on education. • The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held its meeting and panel discussion at UNC Charlotte Center City. • A number of UNC Charlotte students 26 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Former Charlotte Mayor and civil rights icon Harvey Gantt, here with UNC Charlotte student Susan Ireri, drew the attention of students at the “Why Charlotte” forum at UNC Charlotte Center City.
and others from across the nation and the world took part in internships, seminars and volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Americans for Prosperity, CBS News, CNN, Microsoft, Tribune Broadcasting, Univision, The Washington Center and with the campaigns of statewide and national candidates and parties. • 1 3 UNC Charlotte students worked internships with The Washington Center. •U NC Charlotte’s proactive outreach to media resulted in more than 100 separate stories in publications and outlets such as: • Associated Press • Canadian Broadcasting Corp. • Danish Broadcasting Corp. • Iraqi Media Network • KQED radio (San Francisco) • Public Broadcasting Service • Swedish Broadcasting Corp. • The Hill • The New York Times • Tokyo Shimbun • U.S. News & World Report • WCBS radio (New York City) The 49er Democracy Experience was a collaboration with more than a dozen colleges and universities in the Charlotte region, yet was the
brainchild and of UNC Charlotte. Co-chaired by Eric Heberlig, associate professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Betty Doster, special assistant to the Chancellor in the Division of University Advancement, the 49er Democracy Experiences was conceived, born and nurtured primarily by the staff, faculty and students of UNC Charlotte. Indeed, it was an Experience — one for the ages.
Photo by Liz Compton
By the time you read this, the tumultuous 2012 presidential election will be in the history books. Leading up to Election Day, both the main UNC Charlotte campus and the UNC Charlotte Center City campus bustled with activity, culminating in September when Charlotte hosted the Democratic National Convention. Throughout the year, the University partnered with leaders from higher education, business, civic leadership and community engagement to present the 49er Democracy Experience. For North Carolina’s urban research university, the unprecedented initiative was successful beyond all expectations. The 49er Democracy Experience brought together expert faculty, civic-minded students and community partners to develop educational programming to enhance the public understanding of and participation in our nation’s democratic process.
Photo by Wade Bruton
Staff Report
UNC Charlotte students “Staked Their Claim” is all sorts of ways during the 49er Democracy Experience. Here, three students take to the stump at the corner of College and Trade streets, posing for a national broadcasting crew. From left: Melody Sowers, Kari Dalrymple and Kayla Harrity. www.UNCC.edu
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Chance Lewis, the Carol Grotnes Belk distinguished professor of urban education in the College of Education, chats with Brian Williams of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Lewis participated in the foundation’s meeting and panel discussion held at UNC Charlotte Center City during the Democratic National Convention.
Photo by Liz Compton
Photo by Liz Compton
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Charlotte Chamber CEO Bob Morgan (right) talked with students who were interns with The Washington Center, one of UNC Charlotte’s nonpartisan partners in the 49er Democracy Experience. Thirteen UNC Charlotte students worked internships with the center.
Photo by Liz Compton
UNC Charlotte hosted a panel discussion on “Why Charlotte” to discuss how Charlotte was chosen for the presidential nominating convention. Participants in the discussion — sponsored by the prestigious, nonpartisan Washington Center — included former Charlotte mayors Harvey Gantt (left) and Richard Vinroot (second from right), and Bob Morgan (right), CEO of the Charlotte Chamber. They are pictured with Chancellor Philip L. Dubois.
Photo by John Bland
UNC Charlotte Communication Studies majors and instructors found myriad opportunities to participate in and chronicle the 49er Democracy Experience. Seen here with UNC Charlotte alum and media entrepreneur Justin Ruckman (center) are Hollin Hainor, Jared Moon, Brandon Kirkley and James “Clint” Exum. Ruckman organized The PPL, a start-up incubator in uptown Charlotte that hosted independent bloggers and new media practitioners during the presidential nominating convention.
Photo by Wade Bruton Photo by Liz Compton
Photo by Liz Compton
UNC Charlotte Center City was the location for a reception by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Taken on the second floor atrium of the building, this photograph looks across a future park, directly toward Time Warner Cable Arena, primary site of the Democratic National Convention.
Party faithful turned out in the time-honored tradition of presidential nominating conventions. This partisan’s hat was festooned with campaign buttons. www.UNCC.edu
Eric Heberlig, associate professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, was the co-chair of UNC Charlotte’s historic 49er Democracy Experience. Heberlig, widely recognized throughout the region and nationally for his expertise on elections, conducted 35 interviews with media from around the world. Here, he is interviewed on campus by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. Q412
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Leadership
in Action Gold standards and will be a net-zero facility, meaning it will return more energy to the grid than it consumes. Design and construction features that are planned include large photovoltaic and geothermal heating and cooling systems, high-efficiency lighting, sprayfoam insulation, a building generator and solar panels The features will save Hoke County Schools nearly $35 million over the next 40 years, projections say.
Not only is Robbie Ferris '87 experienced designing award-winning facilities, his inspiration to be a leader in his field was nutured at the University.
Architecture grad Robbie Ferris designs net-zero school Robbie Ferris, an alumnus of UNC Charlotte, is the president and CEO of SfL+a Architects, an architecture firm with offices in Raleigh, Charlotte and Fayetteville. Two other principal architects with the firm, Barry Buckman and Eric 28 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Lindstrom, are also UNC Charlotte alumni. Currently, a big focus for Ferris is the design of Sandy Grove Middle School, a Hoke County facility in Lumber Bridge, N.C., which is located in eastern North Carolina near Raeford. Slated to open for the 2013-14 school year, Sandy Grove will be the first school in North Carolina and one of the first in the nation financed through a public/private partnership. The 74,000-square-foot facility is designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
INTENSITY, PASSION The Sandy Grove project didn’t just land in Ferris’s lap. Not only is he experienced designing award-winning schools and facilities, his inspiration to be a leader in architecture was nurtured at UNC Charlotte. A native of Fayetteville, Ferris earned his bachelor of arts in architecture as well as his bachelor of architecture, a fifth-year degree, at UNC Charlotte in 1987. He believes that a significant part of the value of the University’s architectural program comes from the intensity and passion of the professors and students. “The program’s high demands kept me focused,” Ferris recalled. “I spent many Friday evenings with my fellow architecture students working on class projects. There was simply not enough time to get distracted or let my attention get diverted.” Professors helped students identify who they were as both architects and people, he remembered. “I felt genuine care from each of my professors as they worked with me,” he said. www.UNCC.edu
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Small class sizes promoted strong bonds with professors and classmates, he adds. With approximately 10 students per teacher, students received individualized attention and spent much of their time working and learning with their classmates. “The setting helped facilitate great trust among us as students,” said Ferris, noting that his fellow students also have been positive influences on him and his career. Experiences from his time at UNC Charlotte stick with Ferris and have given him cause for reflection throughout his career. Ken Lambla, AIA, now the dean of the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte, taught Ferris a lesson that has had a huge and lasting impact. For architects to be successful, Lambla said, they must intimately understand each client’s business. “Ongoing debates that stemmed from this assertion spurred me to think deeply about the impact such an understanding would have on my business and career,” Ferris said.
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SPARKING HIS SPECIALTY It sparked his desire to focus on design for educational institutions, an area of architecture that he has come to know thoroughly. The advice he received, coupled with the experience he has had since graduation, have led him to believe that to be great an architect needs to specialize and develop a concise body of knowledge. Ferris also notes highly valuable advice from two additional professors. The late Dean Bryant Vollendorf, associate
"I felt genuine care from each of my professors as they worked with me."
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professor of architecture, encouraged Ferris to push the envelope and challenge established practices. “I learned to follow my instincts, believe in myself and trust my gut,” Ferris said. Additionally, Professor Nelson Benzing taught Ferris that being a great architect was enough. While many architects at the time were caught up in attempting to accomplish and be everything, Benzing wanted his students to know that focusing solely on their work as architects was a good choice, and one that could help them meet and surpass their professional goals. UNC Charlotte opened the door for Ferris to stake his claim in the architecture world. He is committed to the communities in which he works, and particularly to sustainable features in his designs. The effort to make innovations in the field of architecture is a trademark of Ferris and his entire firm. As they design Sandy Grove Middle School and other facilities, Ferris will continue to draw from the great lessons he learned as a 49er.
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Painful
Legacy University-led conference examines lynching in the New South By Lynn Roberson
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A map in the Levine Museum’s “Without Sanctuary” exhibit details documented hangings and their locations.
Lynchings in the American South and their lingering legacy drew Charlotte community members and national scholars to UNC Charlotte Center City on Oct. 11-13. “It was important for there to be a coming together,” said Jeffrey Leak, director of the Center for the Study of the New South in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The center presented the conference. “As painful as this is, this happened relatively recently in the New South era, the post-Civil War era,” Leak said. “This is the kind of interrogation of history and culture that a center like ours should be engaged in.” www.UNCC.edu
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“Scholars and citizens of our community together sought understanding, and it was a powerful way to approach such an important topic.” The center’s mission is to promote the study of the New South from a wide range of perspectives and disciplines, through collaboration with UNC Charlotte faculty, the broader world of scholars and the Charlotte community. The conference found its focus in the Levine Museum of the New South’s exhibit, “Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America.” The collection of photographs and postcards document the hangings and other killings carried out by lynch mobs in what often became community events, with nearly 5,000 killed from 1882 to 1968. Most of the victims were African-American males, and most deaths occurred in the South, including the Charlotte region. Presenters at the conference included descendants of both lynchers and lynching victims, along with UNC Charlotte, national and international scholars. The sessions considered the role of lynching in American culture, literary explorations of lynching, the legal and political dimensions of lynching, the impact of lynching on communities in the South and the history of American lynching compared with historical lynching practices in Europe. Attendees also toured the exhibit at the Levine Museum. “The Without Sanctuary conference marked a partnership from the broadest perspective,” said Nancy A. Gutierrez, www.UNCC.edu
Former Rowan County resident Claude A. Clegg III, now an Indiana University faculty member, pauses in front of the historic First United Presbyterian Church, where he talked about his book, “Troubled Ground.”
dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “We and our partners approached the issue not strictly from an academic perspective but also from its lasting impact on communities. Scholars and citizens of our community together sought understanding, and it was a powerful way to approach such an important topic.” Nearly 200 people came to the First United Presbyterian Church one night to hear former Rowan County resident Claude A. Clegg III, now an Indiana University faculty member in history, talk about his book, “Troubled Ground: A Tale of Murder, Lynching, and Reckoning in the New South.” Attendees listened intently as he described the 1906 lynchings chronicled in his book. Clegg and other scholars who spoke at the conference are leading researchers studying the factors that led to lynchings and related acts. “They gave papers that really situated the major challenge or question for America and for Southern states, and that is, how do you reconcile yourself as a region and a community with this aspect of American and Southern history and culture?” Leak said.
The conference came on the heels of Charlotte’s hosting of the Democratic National Convention just weeks prior. “The DNC and then this conference brought to life the contradictions and the triumphs of this historically beleaguered region that in some ways was written off after the Civil War,” Leak said. “We know there are multiple stories, and we see daily the consequences of not dealing with history and political patterns that have impacted people. That’s why we have to ask these deeper and larger questions, because they still inform our political dynamics and, really at the root of it, relate to issues of trust,” he said. For history faculty member Gregory Mixon, who presented a paper entitled “The Atlanta Riot and Lynching,” the international perspective offered by Manfred Berg of the University of Heidelberg (Germany) brought home the unique racial aspects of lynchings in the United States and the South. “What is going on in the United States that makes it a central focus of what’s called lynching, and why do people use this form of violence in Q412
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“We know there are multiple stories, and we see daily the consequences of not dealing with history and political patterns that have impacted people. That’s why we have to ask these deeper and larger questions, because they still inform our political dynamics and, really at the root of it, relate to issues of trust.” controlling society?” he said. The Levine Museum made sure the conference aligned with its core value of grounding its projects in scholarship, said Tom Hanchett, staff historian for the museum. “This went far beyond scholars talking to other scholars, which is valuable, but at First United Presbyterian Church, we had over 200 people, including a large number of college students and a large number of K-12 teachers through the Charlotte Teachers Institute, plus the general public,” Hanchett said. Keynote speakers in addition to Clegg and Berg were W. Fitzhugh Brundage of UNC Chapel Hill 32 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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and Amy Wood of Illinois State University. UNC Charlotte presenters were Mixon, Julia Robinson, Connie Williams and Krystion Obie-Nelson. The North Carolina Humanities Council and the Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund at UNC Charlotte provided support, in addition to the Levine Museum. Following its stop through Dec. 31, 2012 at the Levine Museum, the exhibit will be housed at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Lynn Roberson is director of communications for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Jeffrey Leak, director of UNC Charlotte’s Center for the Study of the New South, welcomes the community to a “Without Sanctuary” event.
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Charlotte women’s basketball has welcomed nine letter winners and all five starters back for the 2012-13 campaign, its second under head coach Cara Consuegra. The 49ers are in pursuit of an 11th-straight postseason appearance, following last year’s WNIT berth, extending a school record. Among the returners is a pair of award winners in senior forward Jennifer Hailey, an all-Atlantic 10 second team and alldefensive team pick, and sophomore guard Hillary Sigmon, an all-Atlantic 10 rookie team selection. In addition to Hailey, guard Jai Forney and forward Amanda Dowe are donning the green and white for the final time this season, and the trio is joined by upperclassmen Ny Hammonds and Gabby Tyler. Jessica Johnson will step onto the court for the first time in two years after missing all of last season with a preseason injury. A group of four freshmen, three from the metro Atlanta area, have joined the squad. Upcoming non conference games to look out for include Davidson (Dec. 21) and Education Day against Coppin State (Jan. 3). The conference slate begins after the new year with a CBS Sports Network telecast vs. Fordham, Jan. 13. BRASWELL ATTENDS STOUDEMIRE CAMP Charlotte 49ers senior center Chris Braswell was among 14 collegiate players that participated in this summer’s Amar’e Stoudemire Skills Academy in Chicago. The camp included hands-on lessons in training and development incorporated into five two-hour workout sessions over three days. Stoudemire is an NBA standout for the New York Knicks. Braswell, an all-Atlantic 10 choice for the 49ers as a junior last year, led Charlotte with a 15.8 scoring average and 7.6 rebounding average. He shot .511 from the field and was one of just three players in the A-10 that ranked in the league’s top 10 in scoring and rebounding. He posted seven double-doubles and ranks sixth all-time with 22 career doubledoubles. He scored 20 or more points seven times, including five times in A-10 road games. He scored his 1,000th collegiate point last year. www.UNCC.edu
CHARLOTTE 49ERS PARTNER WITH IMG With an inaugural football program on the way, the Charlotte 49ers have partnered with IMG College in a broad multimedia rights and sponsorship partnership designed to draw increased corporate interest and fans to the University’s athletics program. Under terms of the 10-year agreement, IMG College will manage and market all rights associated with Charlotte 49ers athletics’ advertising and sponsorship inventory, including radio advertising, official athletic website, venue signage, public address announcements, video boards, game
programs, event promotions and hospitality at athletic events. WZGV ESPN 730 in Charlotte holds the rights to Charlotte 49ers radio broadcasts through the 2012-13 and 2013-14 athletic seasons, which includes Charlotte’s next two basketball seasons and the 49ers inaugural 2013 football season. “This is an important time in the development of our University and our athletic program,” said Judy Rose, director of athletics. “Partnering with IMG College puts our program in position to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie in front of us.” The relationship continues the expansion of IMG’s national collegiate marketing platform. IMG College now represents media and sponsorship rights for more than 90 universities nationwide.
Chris Braswell led Charlotte with a 15.8 scoring average and 7.6 rebounding average last season.
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Urban Sounds as
Muse
Student's exhibit blends music and architecture to make art
By Paul Nowell
Levine Scholar and McColl Center Artist-in-Residence Evan Danchenka displays his artistic talent through his TranSound Plaza exhibit that features music and film focused around urban railways.
UNC Charlotte student Evan Danchenka has two passions: music and architecture. As an Artist-in-Residence this summer at the McColl Center, he lugged his recording equipment to the railways of several U.S. cities for his exhibit, TransSound Plaza. One of the 14 inaugural Levine Scholars, Danchenka is the first undergraduate from the University to hold the position at the nationally acclaimed contemporary art 34 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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center in downtown Charlotte. His exhibit, TranSound Plaza, was on display in late July at the McColl Center’s Gallery Reception. He’s also been blogging about his experience at www. evandanchenka.blogspot.com/. A native of Harrisburg, N.C., Danchenka is an undergraduate in the School of Architecture. TranSound Plaza is a merged-media
exhibit featuring music and film derived from the transit lines Danchenka recorded in six American cities: Washington, Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Presented as a 30-minute sensual experience, TranSound Plaza integrates recordings of transit sounds with originally composed music while three projectors work in unison to cast a vibrant film www.UNCC.edu
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Audience members take a comparative trip across the unique urban systems of subways, elevated rails, cable cars, streetcars, and metros. montage. Audience members take a comparative trip across the unique urban systems of subways, elevated rails, cable cars, streetcars and metros. Danchenka has a breadth of volunteer and leadership experience with organizations including the Carolina Thread Trail, Mint Museum of Art and the National Outdoor Leadership School. As part of the Levine Scholarship Program, he was awarded a service grant to design a project which engaged the community and included elements of professional development. “That means using my background in architecture and music,” he wrote
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in his blog. “I brought my ideas to McColl Center for Visual Art and was offered this space, so now I am here working with the Levine Scholar’s grant while fulfilling my internship. “There is a lot of musical interplay there, with the pitches, tones, rhythms and some
of the melodies of the trains squeaking on the rails,” he wrote. “When the public experiences it they will get a better sense of their environment around them.” Paul Nowell is media relations manager at UNC Charlotte.
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a l u m n i a wa rd s anniversary through the creation and launch of the “Looking Forward” campaign. The campaign initiative honors and celebrates the accomplishments of the College, with the goal of growing the College’s resources in North Carolina and beyond. A visible and responsive leader and member of the Charlotte community, Calhoun serves on boards of directors for organizations including United Way of Central Carolinas and Arts Teach, and is a member and chairperson of the board of directors for Lifespan Inc.
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Mary Lynne Calhoun, dean of the College of Education.
Mary Lynne Calhoun: Visionary, Responsive Leader For more than three decades, Dean Mary Lynne Calhoun has been a member of the UNC Charlotte faculty and a leader in the College of Education. In 1982 she was appointed assistant director of special education; she has since risen through the faculty ranks to become the College’s chief administrator. Under Calhoun’s visionary leadership, the College of Education has grown not only in number of faculty and students, but it has also refined its mission and created programs to better meet the needs of Charlotte and North Carolina. Among many achievements during her tenure, Calhoun has enhanced global awareness among faculty and students through the creation of a College Committee on Internationalization. The committee addresses curriculum, faculty development and student development with a focus on international opportunities. Additionally, she established financial support for international travel grants for faculty, and support for elementary education students to study abroad in Ludwigsburg, Germany. She also has strengthened the long-term partnership between UNC Charlotte and German sister-institution Padagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg. Closer to home, Calhoun has engaged the campus and alumni in the College’s 40th 36 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Outstanding Young Alumnus Award — Given to alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years, this award honors those who have shown exceptional service to the UNC Charlotte community and the Alumni Association; career accomplishments as well as community and state involvement are considered. Ashley Clark: Committed to Excellence Growing up in chilly Watkins Glen, N. Y., Ashley Clark decided in high school to head south for college. Within a week of her arrival at UNC Charlotte, she got a part-time job at the Charlotte Country Club and plunged into the demanding architecture program. Two years later, she was president of the American Institute of Architects Student Chapter, demonstrating a commitment to
service that still distinguishes her career. “Early on, I found AIAS as an outlet for me to meet people, look at my education from a much broader perspective and take action on issues that were not being addressed, but desperately needed to be in our changing profession,” she says. Since graduating, Clark has served on AIA boards at the state, regional and national levels and will serve on the AIA Executive Committee in 2013 before receiving her Upjohn Medal for service to the national board. “My current role is about representing the next generation of architectural professionals to the national board, and to provide perspective on how change and policy we create today will impact our practice tomorrow,” she said. Clark earned a bachelor of art in architecture in 2005 and a bachelor of architecture in 2006. Upon graduation she received both the 2006 Alpha Rho Chi Medal and the Book Award for Representation in Architecture. She was the recipient of UNC Charlotte’s Unsung Hero Award in 2004. Currently, Clark is the marketing manager for The FWA Group Architects in Charlotte. With their first child on the way, she and husband Ryan are busy preparing their new home. Clark foresees a long commitment to her adopted hometown, “a city I want to remain in so that I contribute to its future, ”she said.
Ashley Clark, her husband, Ryan, and Gizmo.
www.UNCC.edu
NAMED IN TOP 10
UNIVERSITIES
TO WATCH BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT.
STICK THAT
IN YOUR RESUME Exponential growth. World-class scholarship. Leaders in research and innovation. It’s no wonder that UNC Charlotte was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a university to watch.* 26,000 strong and growing, we’re the home of award-winning faculty, notable alumni, and the next generation of leaders who have what it takes to set the world on fire. Stake your claim to a university that’s got the whole world watching.
Tim Ernst ’09, Former Student Body President * U.S. News & World Report 2008 University to Watch, 2009 Best College.
UNC CHARLOTTE |
c l a s s n o te s
Kales Hailed as Principal of the Year
Tonya Kales
UNC Charlotte alumna Tonya Kales ’91, ’02 has been named 2012-13 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Principal of the Year. Kales is a Project L.I.F.T. finalist and principal of Ashley Park Elementary School. A product of CMS, Kales earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNC Charlotte. She is currently working toward a doctoral degree in education at the University. Under her leadership, Ashley Park’s overall composite score went from 29.9 percent to 65.3 percent. The school’s science scores are also above the district average. Four of the six CMS 2012-2013 finalists were UNC Charlotte alumni. The others were Patricia Sexton, Pinewood Elementary; Sheila Ijames, Hawthorne High School; and Teresa Cockerham, William A. Hough High School. Kales will compete with other award recipients from the southwest region of the state for the Regional Principal of the Year award. The 2013 State Principal of the Year will be announced in the spring. Posnanski Pens Paterno Bio UNC Charlotte alumnus Joe Posnanski ’89 is the author of “Paterno,” a biography of the renowned Penn State football coach. The work debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list in September. The top hardcover nonfiction bestseller was hailed by the Bleacher Report as the “most highly anticipated college football book since ‘The Testaverde Code’ beat out Dinesh D’Souza’s ‘Obama’s America’ for the top spot on the Times’ list.”
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Posnanski, named Best Sportswriter for 2011 by the National Sportscaster and Sportswriter Association, began his storied career in student media at UNC Charlotte in the mid-1980s. He later worked as a sports writer at The Charlotte Observer, The Augusta Chronicle, The Cincinnati Post and The Kansas City Star before landing a job with Sports Illustrated. A two-time Associated Press Sports Writer of the Year, Posnanski also authored “The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neill’s America” and “The Machine: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds.” He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Margo, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Katie. Drabick Rides Air Waves in Nation’s Capital Liz Drabick ’02 owes her broadcast career to Charlotte. She credits UNC Charlotte for teaching her a lot about discipline, interviewing and thinking on her toes and for her internship at Liz Drabick the popular drive-time show Matt and Ramona on 107.9 the Link for her career in radio. In the D.C.-area, she spent five years honing her sports instincts and juggling several part-time jobs before landing at 106.7 The Fan, the all-sports radio station. “My first assignment was covering the Ravens as an assistant producer for training camp,” she recalled. “Several on-air personalities quit and one day during the afternoon sports update, they turned to me and said ‘You’re on!’” These days, Drabick does traffic and weather on radio and television for a Clear Channel station in the D.C. metro area, which means she no longer covers the Redskins. “I’m not a Redskins fan,” she said. “I started out with the Panthers when they were 1-15, and I’m still their biggest fan.” Debbie Kilby Baker ’93 of Belmont, N.C., has received the title senior lecturer at UNC Charlotte. This distinction recognizes excellent educators and University citizens. Baker has been teaching communication studies
Debbie Kilby Baker
since 2001. She has been dedicated to curricular development, community engagement and University leadership, most notably founding an alumni chapter and serving on the Alumni Board of Governors.
Toya Corbett ’97 of Baltimore serves as coordinator of student activities at Morgan State University. She has been named among Maryland’s Top 50 Toya Corbett Women Under 40 by the Maryland Daily Record. Corbett was recognized for her civic service and professional achievements. As student activities coordinator, Corbett counsels, mentors, and prepares students for campus leadership positions and encourages scholastic achievement through educational and cultural programming. Jason Jurjevich ’05 is the co-author of a study entitled “Where Young People Come to Retire? Amenities, Opportunity, and Migration of the Young and CollegeEducated.” The study was recently featured in The Washington Post and in a national Associated Press article. Jurjevich is an assistant professor of urban studies and planning at Portland State University.
Kevin Lottes
Kevin R. Lottes ’89 has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013. He is a real estate law attorney with Quarles & Brady in Naples, Fla.
Daniel Paula
Daniel Paula ’08 recently accepted a position with FIS Global in Jacksonville, Fla., as a senior vice president over the Risk Management group. Daniel and his family are relocating to Jacksonville.
www.UNCC.edu
c l a s s n o te s
| UNC CHARLOTTE
Many UNC Charlotte alumni are serving in elective office statewide, and one has been elected to Congress — a first for a UNC Charlotte graduate. Those who are serving and who were elected in November are (in alphabetical order): N.C. Rep Dean Arp, ’99, civil engineering, R — Anson N. C. Rep. Bill Brawley ’ 78 accounting, R — Mecklenburg N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham,’01 history, D — Mecklenburg N. C. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, '93 ’94 architecture N.C. Rep Mike Hager ’87 mechanical engineering, R — Rutherford N.C. Rep. Kelly Hastings ’09 teaching certificate, R — Gaston U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson ’97 history and political science, R — District 8 N.C. Sen. Bob Rucho, ’94 business, R — Mecklenburg N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, ’95 political science, R — Lincoln
Richard Hudson is the first University graduate to be elected to Congress. He was elected in November to serve the 8th District of North Carolina, a district that runs from Charlotte to Fayetteville.
THE CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY How to guarantee fixed income for life while providing a gift for the deserving students of UNC Charlotte. One annuitant/age 65 70 75 80 85
Payout rate 4.7% 5.1 5.8 6.8 7.8
Two annuitants/ages 65/65 70/70 75/75 80/80 85/85
Payout rate 4.2% 4.6 5.0 5.7 6.7
May we illustrate one for you? Contact Harry Creemers Senior Director of Development 704.687.7220 or hpcreeme@uncc.edu
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UNC CHARLOTTE
| building blocks
We’re Still
Stakin’
To think was just more than three short years ago — August, 2009 — when UNC Charlotte’s Stake Your Claim pick axes starting appearing around Charlotte. On campus, at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, at the First Citizens Bank building in uptown, on the Charlotte Research Institute campus — the larger-than-life sculptures announced a new era at UNC Charlotte. Stake Your Claim, UNC Charlotte’s brand position, speaks to the 40 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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dynamic, relentless, forward-looking character of the University and its people. Growing out of Charlotte’s past history as a gold-mining center and UNC Charlotte’s symbolic miner imagery, the Stake Your Claim pick axes sent a message — UNC Charlotte is asserting itself all over the community, as one of the most essential and valuable institutions in the Charlotte region. UNC Charlotte’s been Staking Its Claim proudly since 1946 — and we’re still stakin’. www.UNCC.edu
OFFICIAL SPIRIT STORE of the CHARLOTTE 49ers
In the Student Union and online: uncc.bncollege.com
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Charlotte, NC Permit No. 949
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte 9201 University Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
The Charlotte 49ers football stadium, home to McColl-Richardson Field, was completed this fall. The first intercollegiate game is Aug. 31, 2013 against the Campbell University Camels.