UNC Charlotte : the magazine of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for alumni and friends.

              Wiintteerr 2007 Voll.. 14 No.. 1
THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
Making History for
the Next 60 Years:
Amazing change
and growth continue
Dear alumni and friends,
General Assembly support for
UNC Charlotte is growing
As the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2007 session approaches, all 49ers have reason to be
pleased with the support UNC Charlotte received from the legislature in 2006; we will work to ensure
that type of support continues in the coming year.
The 2006 session ranks as one of the most successful for the University of North Carolina system
overall, with a 10-plus percentage increase in its authorized budget. UNC Charlotte shared in that increase
through one hugely significant capital appropriation, salary increases for faculty and staff, funding to
support our rapidly-expanding enrollment of students, and expanded authorization for building projects.
The capital budget committed $45.8 million in certificates of participation – full funding – for our
classroom and office complex at Ninth and Brevard streets in Center City Charlotte. The building will
provide 150,000 gross square feet for academic programs targeted toward graduate, professional, and
continuing education. Our Belk College graduate programs, including the MBA and our new Master’s
in sports management and marketing, will be headquartered there, as will graduate-level programs in
engineering management, health administration, information technology, public administration, urban
design, organizational science, public history, liberal studies, and other fields. UNC Charlotte Center
City will also house a significant presence for the Office of Continuing Education, and will be the new
home of the Charlotte Community Design Studio.
The Center City building will anchor a mixed use development in a major redevelopment of
Charlotte’s First Ward that will include several condominiums, retail shopping, a four-acre park and an
underground parking deck. In securing funding for the building, UNC Charlotte can begin establishing
a highly visible, very substantial beachhead in the Center City. We’ll be more competitive than ever and
more visible to the business community. Design should start in earnest early in 2007, with the grand
opening due in early 2010. Let the countdown begin!
The other major capital improvement win that we achieved involved increased authorization for the
most significant – and most expensive – structure ever built on the UNC Charlotte campus – the new
$65 million Student Union complex. The new Union will rise across Craver Road from our new College
of Education and College of Health and Human Services. It will feature 195,000 square feet under roof
and will connect to Cameron Blvd. residence halls via a walking bridge. The entire cost of the Union is
being paid for through bonds to be repaid by student fees. Our students are really stepping up to the
plate, guaranteeing a facility that will be enjoyed by fellow students for generations to come.
In addition, funding to support faculty salaries was increased by 6 percent, while our staff enjoyed
the 5.5 percent “across the board” increases authorized for all state employees. The sum of $5 million was
created as a faculty competitiveness fund to be administered by UNC President Erskine Bowles to help
campuses recruit and retain the best faculty.
UNC Charlotte also received more than $10.5 million in funds for enrollment growth as we expanded
to more than 21,500 students this past fall. And in one of the most significant legislative actions in recent
years to address the conditions of our existing buildings, UNC Charlotte received just over $5 million in
“repair and renovation” funding. Although we still rank 13th in the UNC system in per student funding,
all of these additions to our budget were very much welcome!
With the help of President Bowles and the Board of Governors, support from Governor Mike Easley,
and effective advocacy by hard-working legislative leaders and supporters in both parties, there is growing
realization statewide that The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a true gem.
Go Niners! Cordially,
Philip L. Dubois, Chancellor
F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 3
W I N T E R 2 0 0 7
Contents Winter 2007
W I N T E R 2 0 0 7
Volume 14, Number 1
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHARLOTTE
PHILIP L. DUBOIS
Chancellor
MALCOLM E. “MAC” EVERETT III
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
UNIVERSITY RELATIONS AND
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
David Dunn
EDITOR
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
John D. Bland, APR
STAFF WRITERS AND
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ben Baran
Paul Nowell
Denise Buff Stephens
CLASS NOTES
Katie Suggs
PHOTOGRAPHER
Wade Bruton
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Cathy Brown
UNC Charlotte is published four times a year
by The University of North Carolina
at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd.,
Charlotte, N.C. 28223-0001
ISSN 10771913
Editorial offices: Reese Building,
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
Charlotte, N.C. 28223. Telephone:
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e-mail: jdbland@email.uncc.edu
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is open to people
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Printed on Recycled Paper
2
News Briefs
4
Faculty Honors
7
Staff Briefs
26
DEVELOPMENT/GIVING
29
ALUMNI PROFILES
30
ALUMNI NOTES
UNC
CHARLOTTE
MAKING HISTORY
FOR THE NEXT
60 YEARS
On The Cover
William H. Grigg Hall
p2g. 2
STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE
DRIVEN BY SERVICE
p1g. 6
IRWIN BELK:
A LEGENDARY GIVER
pg1. 0
2 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ N E W S B R I E F S
UNC Charlotte
selects branding firm
Comprehensive study will
feed strategic marketing plan
In November UNC Charlotte selected the Stamats
firm of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct a comprehen-sive
branding study from which the university will
develop a strategic marketing plan. This will be the
first comprehensive branding study by the university.
At press time, the study was expected to begin in
December and extend into early spring. It will encom-pass
marketing, public relations, community affairs,
graphic design, advertising and related disciplines.
Stamats, which specializes in providing integrated
marketing communications strategy and creative
services to colleges and universities, won the assignment
after UNC
Charlotte
conducted a
nationwide
search. David
Dunn, vice
chancellor
for university relations and community affairs, led an
evaluation committee representing a cross-section of
UNC Charlotte divisions and colleges.
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois identified the branding
study as a priority soon after returning to UNC
Charlotte. In his installation address he said, “We must
expand our presence in the greater Charlotte region and
distinguish ourselves in the higher education marketplace
with an identity that is both recognizable and respected.
Such an identity, expressed as part of a strategic market-ing
plan which addresses all forms of the media and the
worldwide web, is critical to student recruitment, the
development of student internship and job placement
opportunities, private fundraising, and the formation
of university-private sector research partnerships.”
Dubois also noted that an effective identity is
not simply a slogan or a tag line. “Our constituents –
whether our students, alumni, research partners or the
public at large – must actually experience what we say
we are,” he said. “Whatever we may do in branding
and marketing cannot end with the public relations
and community affairs staff or the Web page. UNC
Charlotte must actually become better connected to
the region we serve.”
“Open For Business” economic
development initiative seeks partnerships
Backed by a $900,000 grant, and with the hiring of a project manager UNC
Charlotte in November officially kicked off “Open For Business,” a three-year pilot
project to develop a model for universities to build the nation’s best partnerships
with businesses.
Erskine Bowles, UNC system president, selected UNC Charlotte from among
the entire 16-constituent UNC system to receive the grant.
“UNC Charlotte is increasingly an engine for economic development,” said
UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “University organizations such as the
Charlotte Research Institute kick-start growth in new technologies for the region,
creating intellectual capital, jobs and a more enticing environment for attracting business.”
Dubois said that UNC Charlotte professors are already doing important
research – and developing useful products – in areas as unique as laser-guided
tools for hip replacements to engineering faster speeds for the motor sports industry.
The Charlotte Research Institute, the portal for university-business technology
partnerships, is leading the “Open for Business” project.
“UNC Charlotte has demonstrated strong results in connecting world-class
applied research at the university with growing businesses in the region and beyond,”
said Robert Wilhelm, executive director of the CRI. “We want to make our university
even better at responding to the needs of our business partners.”
In its first year, the project focuses on information-gathering. Interviews are in
process with executives from companies with as few as 10 employees up to conglomer-ates
with tens of thousands of employees. Trade associations, independent research
organizations and other higher education institutions are also on the docket for input
to ensure input that covers potentially unique partnership activities.
International programs executive
chosen for UNC-wide role
Joël Gallegos, executive director of UNC Charlotte’s
Office of International Programs, has been appointed by
the UNC General Administration (UNC GA) to chair the
University of North Carolina Exchange Program (UNCEP)
advisory board and the University Council on International
Programs (UCIP).
“UNC Charlotte’s Office of International Programs
has flourished under Joël’s leadership,” said Provost and
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Joan Lorden. The
UNCEP is an administrative unit of UNC GA located at UNC
Greensboro that manages a multilateral exchange program made
up of several system-to-system wide relationships including Germany, Australia, South
Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Gallegos has served on the
advisory board of this program for several years. Several UNC Charlotte faculty
members also serve on the program-specific faculty advisory committees.
The UCIP was established to help advance the international agenda across the
UNC system. It consists of the senior international education officer from each of
the 16 constituent institutions.
Joël Gallegos
N E W S B R I E F S ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 3
Laura Simic receives fundraising
Executive of the Year award
In November, Associate Vice Chancellor for
Development and Secretary of the UNC Charlotte
Foundation, Laura Simic was honored by the Charlotte
Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals
(AFP). Simic was presented with the Outstanding
Professional Fundraising Executive of the Year Award.
Since coming to UNC Charlotte in 2000, Simic directed
the comprehensive It Takes A Gift Campaign for the university
with gifts and pledges of more than $116 million. The campaign
is the largest and most successful fundraising initiative in the history of
UNC Charlotte. In the most recent fiscal year, the university recorded
gifts and pledges of more than $16 million, a record for a non-campaign period.
“Good fundraisers are highly organized, attentive to detail, and always follow up,”
said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois in Simic’s nomination letter. “But more than
anything, they are good listeners. Laura Simic demonstrates all of these important
qualities. Our It Takes A Gift campaign would not have been successful without her.”
Simic has enriched every college community in which she has lived and worked.
She is easily identified on campus – the license plate on her car reads, “Giv2UNCC.”
College of Education honored nationally
for impact on urban teaching, learning
In October, UNC Charlotte’s College of Education won
the national 2006 Urban Impact Award by the Council of the
Great City Schools for its work in behavior and reading, in
collaboration with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
The award focuses on the positive impact of the U.S.
Department of Education project Behavior and Reading
Improvement Center, which has been directed at UNC Charlotte
by Professors Bob Algozzine, Nancy Cooke and Richard White.
The goal of the Behavior and Reading Improvement Center at
UNC Charlotte is to evaluate the effects of school-wide behavior
improvement and reading enhancement programs for students in
kindergarten through third grade.
“This award underscores the longstanding partnership between the university
and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and our shared commitment to helping children
learn,” said Mary Lynne Calhoun, dean of UNC Charlotte’s College of Education.
“Bob Algozzine, Nancy Cooke and Richard White have provided visionary leadership
and research into reading, social and behavioral development of local children during
the past five years. We also applaud CMS for applying recommendations from the
Behavior and Reading Improvement Center.”
The Urban Impact Award is given annually by the Council of the Great City
Schools to a university that is committed to improving teaching and learning science
for urban children. It also recognizes outstanding school-based projects, conducted
by faculty from its associated member institutions, which have had a positive and
significant impact on teaching and learning.
UNC Charlotte dedicates
two new Charlotte
Research Institute buildings
UNC Charlotte marked a major university
milestone in September with the formal dedication of
Duke Centennial Hall and William H. Grigg Hall on
the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) campus.
The 106,786-sq.-ft. Duke Centennial Hall is
home to The William States Lee College of
Engineering, The Center for Biomedical Engineering
Systems, The Center for Precision Metrology, the
Department of Mechanical Engineering and
Engineering Science and the North Carolina
Motorsports and Automotive Research Center offices,
as well as laboratories and computing and research labs.
The 96,820-sq.-ft. Grigg Hall is home to the Center
for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications, and
the university’s graduate-level physics program.
“Today’s dedication reflects the power of partner-ship
between UNC Charlotte and Duke Energy to
provide intellectual capital and drive economic develop-ment
in the Charlotte region,” said UNC Charlotte
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “With the brainpower,
equipment and resources housed inside these buildings,
the Charlotte Research Institute is truly a force for the
future as UNC Charlotte advances the research frontier.”
The concept of the Charlotte Research Institute
was only a vision six short years ago, when Advantage
Carolina shared results of a study proposing creation of
such an entity. In 2002, The Duke Energy Foundation
announced a $10 million gift to UNC Charlotte’s
capital campaign to fund CRI programs and initiatives.
Construction of The Duke Centennial Hall and
William H. Grigg Hall began in 2003, with funding
provided by $3.1 billion bond referendum approved
by North Carolina voters in 2000.
The William H. Grigg Hall is named in honor of
Duke Energy Chairman Emeritus William H. Grigg,
who served the company with distinction for nearly
35 years prior to his retirement as
chairman and chief executive
officer in 1997.
Laura Simic
Mary Lynne Calhoun
4 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F A C U LT Y H O N O R S
Nursing professor selected
as post-doc scholar
The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for
Geriatric Nursing, part of the New York University
College of Nursing, has named UNC Charlotte
Assistant Professor Meredith Flood, Ph.D., to
be a scholar in its 2006 Geriatric Nursing
Research Scholars Program. The Institute
selected Flood for her significant research
in gerontologic nursing and for her strong
leadership potential. She is one of 14
nurses selected for this program from a
national pool of outstanding applicants. The program, now in its ninth year,
and co-sponsored by the American Journal of Nursing, is designed to foster new
gerontological nursing researchers. Its long-term goal is to augment the contributions
of nurse researchers toward enhancing evidence-based practice and improving the
quality of health care for older adults.
Flood’s research is an examination of the relationships among creativity,
depression and successful aging.
“Our program aims to bring together outstanding new scholars who are
conducting significant research in gerontologic nursing and to give them an
opportunity to interact with leading experts in the field,” said Elizabeth Capezuti,
Ph.D., co-director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. “This unique
opportunity to hone research skills helps these individuals to gain the competitive
edge they need to attract research funding and publish the results.”
The 14 scholars attended a weeklong seminar led by Dr. Capezuti at New York
University’s College of Nursing from July 17-21. During the seminar, they were
brought together with teaching faculty – all nationally recognized nursing researchers –
for an intensive and interactive experience in which they gained critical analysis and
research skills.
Economics professor’s paper wins award
Peter M. Schwarz, professor of economics and senior faculty fellow in the UNC
Charlotte Global Institute of Energy and Environmental Systems (GIEES) was
awarded the 2006 Contemporary Economics Policy Editor’s Choice Award for his
paper, “Multipollutant Efficiency Standards for Electricity
Production,” which was published in Contemporary
Economic Policy (July 2005).
Schwarz’s study contains a simulation of a coal-fired
electric plant subject to multiple pollutant standards for
sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide. It shows that firms may
not choose the lowest cost technology.
Schwarz received funding for the study from the
GIEES and Duke Energy, as well as a UNC Charlotte
research grant. He received the award at the recent meeting
of the Western Economic Association.
Malmgren nominated for
U.S. Professor of the Year
For his dedication to and excellence in teaching
throughout his career, UNC Charlotte has nominated
Dr. Ed Malmgren for the 2006 U.S. Professors of the
Year Award. According to his students and colleagues,
Malmgren’s impact on his students has been tremen-dous.
One of his former students, Erik Cobb, said,
“A professor’s legacy and impact is determined by the
quality of students they produce. The best and most
influential professors are those who not only prepare a
student for a career, but also
motivate and inspire to be
the best and brightest in
your field.”
A Certified Public
Accountant, Malmgren
joined UNC Charlotte in the
department of mathematics
in 1972 and later joined the
department of accounting
faculty in the Belk College of
Business in 1976. As an associate
professor of accounting, his
primary teaching focus is financial accounting at the
undergraduate level. For the past eight years, he has
also acted as the faculty advisor for all accounting
majors at UNC Charlotte.
Malmgren’s previous honors include a
NationsBank (now Bank of America) Award for
Teaching Excellence (1984), the accounting depart-ment’s
first Tom Turner Teaching Award (1994), and
being the first and only faculty member to receive the
Tom Turner Teaching Award a second time (2004).
Since 1981, the U.S. Professors of the Year
program has rewarded outstanding professors for their
dedication to teaching, commitment to students, and
innovative instructional methods. It is the only national
program to recognize college and university professors
for their teaching skills. The program is sponsored by
the Council for Advancement and Support of
Education and The Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching. Awards are given annually
in the fall.
Ed Malmgren
Peter Schwarz
Meredith Flood (right)
F A C U LT Y H O N O R S ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 5
Bank of America Award
recipient: Jim McGavran
Dr. James H. McGavran Jr. described himself
as “young and idealistic” when he decided to pursue
a career as a liberal arts professor. Thirty-three years after earning his
Ph.D. in English, he wrote about his teaching philosophy, stating “I
am much more knowledgeable and experienced now than I was when I
started, but some might still call me idealistic – because I still believe that
by teaching the great literary works of the past I can help my students to
build the skills they will need to strengthen both their own lives and their
society. And I still love my job.” For his dedication to teaching and
student success, McGavran was chosen in September as the 2006 recipi-ent
of UNC Charlotte’s Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence.
Former students praised his teaching ability and genuine concern for
learning. “James McGavran has impacted my life this semester in more ways
than any other teacher has before,” one wrote. Another said, “He is passion-ate
about what he teaches and inspires a passion in his students as well.”
“The evidence that he is an excellent classroom performer is overwhelm-ing,”
wrote a fellow faculty member. “But his impact on the quality of teach-ing
at UNC Charlotte reaches beyond the confines of his own classroom.
I cannot imagine that any will be more deserving than Dr. McGavran.”
The Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence is one of
the most important and prestigious traditions at UNC Charlotte. This
award honors its outstanding teachers and provides an example of the
university’s commitment to excellence in teaching. The award was first
presented in 1968.
Teresa Dahlberg, an associate professor of
computer science at UNC Charlotte, is helping to
change the face of computer science. This year she
received a $2 million National Science Foundation
(NSF) grant to help an on-going problem: dwin-dling
enrollment in IT higher education.
Dahlberg, along with colleague and assistant
professor Tiffany Barnes, applied for and won the
NSF grant that will begin to transform the
computer science industry. In addition, UNC
Charlotte is the coordinating university to help manage program develop-ment
and assessment among a consortium of 10 universities that will be
working together in the STARS (Students and Technology in Academia,
Research and Service) Alliance. The STARS initiatives involve students in
middle and high school, community colleges, minority-serving institu-tions,
women’s colleges, and research universities. Programs are open to all
students, and are designed to appeal to women and minority populations,
as well as for the visually impaired and students with learning disabilities.
Dahlberg also was one of the 2006 winners of the Charlotte
Business Journal’s Diversity in Business award. She was nominated
by the university and was honored at the Charlotte Business Journal’s
annual award luncheon on Sept. 13.
At UNC Charlotte, Dahlberg directs the Diversity in
Information Technology Institute (DITI), which houses the univer-sity’s
organized efforts to attract diverse populations to enter and
succeed in computing and information technology (IT) disciplines.
“As technology plays an increasing role in our collective quality of life,
the demand for professionals who can apply technology to a broad
range of disciplines increases dramatically,” said Dahlberg. “The
DITI programs reach out to people who might not otherwise
consider entering computing or IT fields.”
First awarded in 2004, the Diversity in Business award is
given to those companies and individuals deemed by the Charlotte
Business Journal as embodying inclusiveness and respect for the
uniqueness and differences of all employees.
Dahlberg leading efforts to diversify computing industry
Engineering professor
earns board certification
Dr. Hilary I. Inyang, the Duke Energy
distinguished professor of environmental
engineering and science, professor of earth
science and director of the Global Institute for
Energy and Environmental Systems at UNC
Charlotte, has recently been named a board
certified member of the American Academy of
Environmental Engineers.
Inyang has co-authored more than 170 research
articles, design manuals, book chapters, federal design manuals and a
book on environmental geotechnology and serves on the editorial
boards of eight refereed international journals. In addition, he serves
on more than 60 international, national and state science/engineering
panels and committees. Inyang is the chair of the Engineering
Committee of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and a member of the National Advisory Council
on Environmental Policy and Technology.
He is serving his second term as a member of the National
Environmental Systems Policy Committee of the American Society of
Civil Engineers. He has been appointed and elected to many positions
of professional responsibility, including the presidency of the newly
formed International Society for Environmental Geotechnology. He
was born in Uyo, Nigeria and earned his Ph.D. in geotechnical
engineering and materials from Iowa State University in 1989.
Jim McGavran
Hilary Inyang
Teresa Dahlberg
The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) has awarded Yu Wang, an assistant professor with the College
of Information Technology at UNC Charlotte, with the Ralph E. Prowe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award.
With the intention of enhancing research and professional growth, a recipient receives $5,000 for new funding
opportunities during the early stages of their careers. UNC Charlotte will match the ORAU award with an
additional $5,000 making the total prize worth $10,000. With research interests in wireless networks, mobile
computing, algorithm design and artificial intelligence, Wang will be able to concentrate his research on these
subject matters.
6 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F A C U LT Y H O N O R S
Information Technology professor
awarded prestigious education grant
Yu Wang
Communication Studies professor
awarded first-ever honorary appointment
In a first-ever appointment, Associate Professor Alan R. Freitag was honored with
the university’s Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship for Teaching distinction at
UNC Charlotte’s convocation on Aug. 15. He was also inducted into the exclusive
College of Fellows of the Public Relations Society of America. Freitag has served as a
member of the UNC Charlotte faculty since 1998, and was promoted to associate
professor with conferral of tenure in the 2004-2005 academic year. He has taught
eight courses since his original faculty appointment, focusing on the subject area
of public relations.
“Dr. Freitag has demonstrated himself to be an outstanding educator, one who
carries his teaching outside the classroom to curriculum development, extracurricular
work with students … to professionals in the region, and even to his fellow faculty,”
wrote Dr. Richard Leeman, communications studies department chair. “Alan is a
model educator … [He] has comprehensively introduced students to the public
relations profession, mentored adjunct faculty, and substantially contributed to our
department’s curriculum development.”
Prior to joining UNC Charlotte’s faculty, Freitag served in a multitude of high-profile
roles as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. In addition to a variety
of classroom and research efforts while at UNC Charlotte, he developed a unique
undergraduate Certificate in International Public Relations.
Approved by the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees in December 2005, the
Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship for Teaching is awarded to a faculty
member who has been awarded tenure within the last three years. The three-year
appointment term includes the inscription of the professor’s name on a permanent
plaque, a position of
honor at the first
convocation of the
professor’s term and the
award of university
resources more than that
normally given to faculty.
Alan Freitag receives
a plaque honoring him
with the Bonnie E. Cone
Early Career Professorship
for Teaching from
Provost Joan Lorden.
Victimology expert
recognized with awards
for worldwide work
Paul Friday works with United Nations
UNC Charlotte profes-sor
Paul C. Friday is the
recipient of the UNC
Charlotte’s 2006 Faculty
International Education
Award. A highly regarded
and extensively published
scholar, Friday is recognized
worldwide as an expert in the
field of victimology. His inter-national
research and teaching
includes work in Sweden, Greece,
Great Britain and China; and he has mentored
scholars from Nigeria, India, Poland and Jordan.
To most scholars, Friday is best known for his
research on victims of crime throughout the world.
This research and his leadership in the World Society
of Victimology was recognized recently by the Society
of Victimology with the presentation of its 2006 John
P.J. Dussich Victimologist Award. He also is one of the
founders of the prestigious International Division of
the American Society of Criminology.
Friday has worked with the United Nations for
more than seven years, as a representative on the
International Scientific and Advisory Council and on
the Crime and Crime Prevention Council of the
United Nations. He is actively in the developing the
U.N.’s written positions on restorative justice, child
abuse, child slavery and human trafficking.
The Faculty International Education Award,
supported by the Office of International Programs, recog-nizes
outstanding contributions to the enhancement of
international studies and education at UNC Charlotte.
Paul Friday
S T A F F B R I E F S ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 7
Niles Sorensen Named Vice
Chancellor for Development
and Alumni Affairs
Niles Sorensen joined UNC Charlotte as vice chancellor for
development and alumni affairs effective August 28, completing Chancellor Philip
L.Dubois’ reorganized executive cabinet. Sorensen also will serve as president of The
Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Inc. Sorensen’s hiring
concluded a national search.
Sorensen, 50, brings 24 years’ experience in nonprofit management. Since 1999,
he had served as executive vice president for financial development for the YMCA of
Metropolitan Los Angeles, directing all aspects of fundraising and communications for
the 254,000-member, 25-branch human service organization.
Sorensen will experience a
homecoming of sorts. From 1994-
1999, he served as vice president for
financial development for the YMCA
of Greater Charlotte, managing all
aspects of its fundraising program.
“Our national search process
yielded a number of highly qualified
applicants, but Niles Sorensen
emerged as the clear candidate whose expertise and energy will take UNC Charlotte to
an unprecedented level of success,” Dubois said. “Niles’ deep ties into Charlotte and
his outstanding record of engaging volunteers in private fundraising give us an unparal-leled
opportunity to engage friends and 49er alumni in the life of UNC Charlotte and
further position our university as a driving force in the region and state.”
In his new role, Sorensen provides executive leadership for the Division of Development
and Alumni Affairs, with an overall annual operating budget of nearly $2.2 million and
supervisory responsibility for 30 employees, including college development officers. He also
serves as president of the university’s recently reorganized Foundation, working with an
appointed 45-member board to enhance the university’s ongoing base of private support.
Additionally, Sorensen works with the 32-member UNC Charlotte Alumni
Association Board of Directors to expand the institution’s alumni-related programs
and activities, including establishing vibrant in-state and out-of-state chapters.
At the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Sorensen managed an 11-member
financial development department and coordinated the fundraising efforts of 24
YMCA branches, engaging more than 700 board members and 4,000 volunteers in
support of the organization’s fundraising objectives.
Among his achievements during his tenure at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte,
Sorensen increased annual giving totals from $850,000 in 1994 to $1,530,000 in 1998.
Prior to that, Sorensen spent 13 years with Ketchum, Incorporated, a fund-raising
consulting firm, where he served as campaign director, managing director, vice presi-dent
and senior vice president.
He also has served as a political campaign manager and as legislative caucus assistant
for the Indiana House of Representatives.
Sorensen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration from Indiana
University in Bloomington. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals,
the North American YMCA Development Organization (NAYDO) and the NAYDO
Council of Directors, and served as editor of the NAYDO Developments Newsletter.
Gilliland takes
reins as controller
In August, Brandon Gilliland joined UNC
Charlotte as controller, in the Office of Financial Services.
As UNC Charlotte’s controller, Gilliland has
responsibility for general accounting, payroll, accounts
payable, student accounts, cashiers, and tax manage-ment.
Most recently, Gilliland was the Dean of Finance
and Controller for Indian River Community College
(IRCC). Prior to IRCC,
Gilliland served as the senior
consultant and auditor for
Ernst and Young, the finance
administrator for Oklahoma
State University at Tulsa, and
a buyer for the city of Tulsa.
Gilliland graduated from
Northeastern State University
with a bachelor’s degree in
business administration. He
holds a Master of Business
Administration degree from
the University of Tulsa and is a candidate for the North
Carolina certified public accountant exam.
Communications
manager joins Computing
and Informatics
Clark Curtis joined the
College of Computing and
Informatics as communica-tions
manager. He comes to
UNC Charlotte after serving
as the director of communica-tions
at Miller Motorsports
Park near Salt Lake City, Utah.
Prior to that he was the public
relations director at Pikes Peak
International Raceway near
Colorado Springs, Colo.
For several years Clark combined his broadcast
journalism and public relations skills and ran his own
consulting business. During that time he served as a
correspondent for the NBC Radio Network and covered
both Oklahoma City Bombing trials in Denver and the
Cattlemen vs. Oprah Winfrey trial in Amarillo, Texas.
Clark grew up Indiana, attended Indiana
University and lived in Colorado for 26 years.
Niles Sorensen
Brandon Gilliland
Clark Curtis
“Niles further positions
our university as a
driving force in the
region and state.”
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois
8 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ S T A F F B R I E F S
Public Relations hires former
Associated Press newsman
UNC Charlotte’s public relations department has
hired veteran newsman Paul Nowell to serve as the
university’s media relations manager. He started work
at UNC Charlotte Sept. 25, coming to the university
from The Associated Press.
Nowell serves as the senior manager of news media relations
for UNC Charlotte with local, regional and national press; he reports to John Bland,
director of public relations, and works closely with other members of the core public
relations team including Ben Baran, internal communications manager; Buffie
Stephens, communications coordinator and manager of special projects;
and Cathy Brown, office manager and administrative assistant. The public relations
department is part of the Division of University Relations and Community Affairs.
Nowell will focus primarily on identifying, developing and advancing stories
that provide the greatest opportunity to enhance UNC Charlotte’s reputation as
a contributor of intellectual capital and engine of economic development.
“Paul’s addition to the team gives us a greater capability for proactively
communicating news with high value beyond just the local market,” Bland said.
“His optimism and enthusiasm are a great match for the university’s needs.”
Previously, Nowell served as a newsman, business writer and correspondent for
the Associated Press since 1982. He earned an undergraduate degree in English from
Boston College and a master’s degree in journalism from The University of Missouri.
Ashley Oster named
Community Affairs Director
Ashley W. Oster has joined the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte as Director of Community
Affairs, in the Division of University Relations and
Community Affairs.
As Community Affairs Director, her primary
responsibility is to assist in the development of the
University Community Affairs plan. She will be working in
the continued efforts to help extend the University’s visibility
and presence in the region. Ashley’s role will be to engage the
greater business community, the University area, the local government officials,
and the faculty to represent UNC Charlotte’s resources and opportunities.
Most recently, Oster was director of industry councils at the Charlotte Chamber
of Commerce and held the director of public policy – special projects position
previously. She also has previous work experience in health services and public policy
while residing in Portland, Oregon and Washington D.C. Oster graduated from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Communications Studies and in Spanish. She attended the Charlotte Chamber’s
Leadership School in 2005.
Catherine Hicks
joins the Charlotte
Research Institute
Last spring, Catherine L. Hicks joined the
Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) as director of life
science ventures. Hicks works
with UNC Charlotte life
science researchers in the
College of Arts & Sciences,
Health and Human Services,
Information Technology,
and Engineering as well as
multidisciplinary research
centers for Bioinformatics
and Biomedical Engineering
Systems.
She is responsible for helping
develop intellectual capital in the
area of applied life science research, marketing, and
business development. In this capacity, one of her
primary roles involves directing the research partner-ship
that has been established between UNC Charlotte
and the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas, a multi-disciplinary
group of healthcare professionals, business
leaders, and patient advocates committed to the devel-opment
of a translational brain cancer research
program at UNC Charlotte.
Hicks served as vice president of national recruit-ing,
economic development, at the Charlotte Chamber.
Previously she worked closely with the Cincinnati
business community by developing major investors
for the Cincinnati Chamber and the Partnership
for Greater Cincinnati during their economic develop-ment
campaign. Hicks earned her doctorate from the
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and masters
from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.
She received her undergraduate degree from Wake
Forest University.
The CRI is the portal for business-university part-nerships
at UNC Charlotte. Focusing on science and
technology, the CRI supports new research ventures,
university partnerships with regional and national
enterprises, and spin-off companies created from
UNC Charlotte research results.
Catherine Hicks
Paul Nowell
Ashley Oster
S T A F F B R I E F S ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 9
Burnett ascends at
OTT after Wdowik exit
Ruth Burnett became acting director of the Office
of Technology Transfer (OTT).
The OTT is primarily responsible for managing the
university’s intellectual property and leads the university’s
economic development initiatives in concert, with local,
county and state agencies. In addition, the OTT helps
faculty and students create new businesses and oversees
licensing of university-based intellectual property.
Burnett replaced Mark Wdowik who left UNC Charlotte
after six years to become the vice president of technology transfer for the Colorado
State University Research Foundation.
Burnett has worked for the state of North Carolina for 20 years and has a back-ground
in paralegal work. Previously, she worked in the Department of Engineering
Technology and has 14 years of experience working with the Winston Salem/Forsyth
County School System as a technologist and in the business management arena.
UNC Charlotte was the first in the nation among universities in the number of
start-up companies formed in a survey by the Association of University Technology
Managers. That same ranking also listed the university as second in invention disclo-sures
received and third in patents issued for each $10 million in research dollars.
Sharon Harrington directs
development for COAS
Sharon Carr Harrington has joined the staff of UNC
Charlotte as the director of development for the College of
Arts and Sciences. Harrington is responsible for identifying,
cultivating and soliciting major gifts for the college from
alumni, parents, friends and UNC Charlotte board members.
She has significant experience developing strategic donor
solicitation and stewardship programs.
Most recently, Harrington served as director of parent
programs at Davidson College, where she developed strategies to effectively cultivate
and solicit prospective donors for leadership gifts, capital gifts and planned gifts. Prior
to joining Davidson College, Harrington served as vice president of development and
planned giving for the Foundation for the Carolinas. She also provided counsel on
charitable giving options to donors.
Harrington holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from
the University of Delaware and a law degree from Duke University. She serves on the
Leadership Team of Community Building Initiative and on the directorial boards of
the Women’s Impact Fund and the Executive Service Corps. She has been admitted
to law practice in Louisiana and the District of Columbia and is a past member of
the Law Alumni Association Board of Directors of Duke University School of Law.
Jesh Humphrey joins
General Counsel’s office
James E. S. “Jesh” Humphrey, IV joined the
Office of General Counsel as Assistant General
Counsel on August 21.
Humphrey advises university administrators
on a wide range of legal topics
including the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act, the
Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act,
contracts and student affairs.
Humphrey came to UNC
Charlotte from Helms Mullis &
Wicker PLLC, where he served
as an associate. In that role, he
advised local colleges and universi-ties
on various educational issues.
Humphrey brings extensive experience
in business law including software licensing
and intellectual property issues.
Humphrey received a Juris Doctor, with Honors,
from The University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill School of Law. He received a B.S. in Computer
Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a varsity scholar-athlete.
Katie Suggs joins
UNC Charlotte
Alumni Association
Katie Conn Suggs joined the Alumni Association
as marketing and communications director in June.
Her responsibilities include all
aspects of Alumni Association
marketing, creation of quarterly
newsletter, web site content,
Alumni Board communications,
and working with Alumni
programs and volunteers.
Suggs’ marketing and public
relations experience includes work
with Lowe’s and Florida Gov. Jeb
Bush’s administration. She received
a bachelor’s degree from the University
of Tennessee and a master’s degree
from Florida State University.
Sharon Harrington
Ruth Burnett
Jesh Humphrey
Katie Suggs
10 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ C O V E R S T O R Y
The year was 1946 and veterans returning from World War II
were acclimating to life back in the states, many of them enrolling
in colleges and universities.
Harry S Truman was in the White House and the Cold War was in its infancy.
Not surprisingly, most U.S. citizens were in pursuit of the American Dream.
The television set was not yet a staple in every American living room.
Families sat around the radio listening to the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller
and Duke Ellington.
In 1946, movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” played in theaters across
the country and baseball fans cheered for players like Ted Williams,
Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial. It would be another year before
Jackie Robinson would suit up for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
It was a time when Americans looked forward to building
a better world for themselves and their children. Words like
hope and optimism weren’t merely catch phrases. After
living through the horrors of World War II, no one
was afraid of putting in an honest day’s work.
Bonnie Cone
Chancellor Emeritus Jim Woodward
By Paul Nowell
So it was befitting that on Sept. 23, 1946,
The Charlotte College Center – which
subsequently became Charlotte College and then
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte –
first opened its doors to 278 freshmen and
sophomores. The legendary Bonnie Cone was
a part-time instructor on the first day, but
within a year she was at the helm.
From its inauspicious beginning, UNC
Charlotte has made incredible leaps in a relatively
short span of 60 years. Now located on nearly
1,000 sprawling acres in northeast Charlotte,
the university currently has more than 21,500
students, nearly 1,100 full-time and part-time
faculty members, and nearly 1,600 permanent
staff employees. Currently the fourth largest of the
16 institutions in the University of North Carolina
system, UNC Charlotte and offers 17 doctoral
programs, 59 master’s degree programs and 85 programs
leading to bachelor’s degrees. The University’s 18th doctoral program – in nanoscale
science – awaits approval by the Board of Governors.
At an autumn ceremony marking the university’s 60th anniversary, longtime
faculty member and historian Dan Morrill described the school’s founding as the
seminal event in the history of Charlotte – surpassing even the emergence of Bank
of America and Wachovia as national banking powers and the city’s entry into the
National Football League and the National Basketball Association.
Former Chancellor Jim Woodward believes UNC Charlotte’s status actually
surpasses its reputation.
“The rule of thumb is a university’s reputation typically lags about seven years
behind its accomplishments,” he said. “In general, some elements of the general
public still don’t understand what is being accomplished on this campus.”
That’s why Woodward and other leaders, particularly current Chancellor
Philip Dubois, are so optimistic about the school’s potential.
“Will higher education be more important to this community
10 years from now?” said Woodward. “Of course it will. And
the institution that will be leading the way is
UNC Charlotte. There are other fine
educational institutions in Charlotte,
but we are the only one within a
100-mile radius with doctoral programs.”
His sentiments were echoed by Bill
Whittaker, president of the UNC Charlotte
Alumni Association’s Board of Governors.
“We are most proud of the growth of
the university and its physical presence,” said
Whittaker, who graduated from UNC Charlotte
in 1979. “And now it offers doctoral degrees
and it is well on the way to becoming a major
research university.”
Miss Bonnie Cone, founder: Miss Bonnie Cone
(1907- 2003) is fondly known as the founder of UNC
Charlotte. She became head of the Charlotte Center
in 1946 where she taught mathematics; since then she
fought to turn the college into a university, in hopes
to become part of the UNC system. Thanks to her
persistence and determination, her wishes came true
in 1965. She declared this day, March 2, “the happiest
day of her life”. The Charlotte Center became the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
College of Arts and Sciences: COAS is the
oldest and largest college in the university.
It also serves half the undergraduate majors with
programs in Africana Studies, Anthropology,
Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication
Studies, Criminal Justice, Dance & Theatre,
English, Geography & Earth Sciences,
History, Languages & Cultural Studies,
Mathematics & Statistics, Music,
Philosophy, Physics & Optical Science, Political
Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, ROTC Aerospace
Studies, ROTC Military Studies, and Sociology.
Van Landingham Glen: In the early 1900s the Van
Landingham family attempted to re-create their home in
the mountains, right here in Charlotte. They covered the
grounds with gardens filled with different types of plants,
like rhododendrons, to create that atmosphere. The prop-erty
was willed to UNC Charlotte, who, before selling the
estate, created Van Landingham Glen using transplants
from the gardens. The Glen is now seven-acres of plants
native to the Carolinas and is the most diverse
Rhododendron garden in the Southeast.
Birthplace of WFAE 90.7: WFAE began on June 29,
1981 and was licensed to UNC Charlotte. The station
was located in the basement of the Cone Center and
featured jazz by day and classical music by night before
moving to One University Place and 24-hour a day
broadcasting.
Giving flight to The Carolina Raptor Center: The
Carolina Raptor Center (CRC), originally part of the
biology department of UNC Charlotte, was officially
created in 1979 when a biology student cared for two
injured owls in her apartment. The Center moved
from the biology department’s basement and became a
non-profit organization within Latta Plantation Nature
Preserve in Mountain Island Lake. In 2006, CRC reached
an all-time high with over 31,000 visitors; and in March
2006, became the first institution in the state to give
birth to bald eagles.
Belk Tower: Belk Tower has been the central meeting
place on campus for students since 1970. Designed by
architects for Little, Lee & Associates, the 147-foot-tall
tower chimes at the top of every hour and plays the UNC
Charlotte Alma mater three times a day. The Belk Tower
was named for William Henry Belk, founder of the Belk
department store, whose family wanted to give the
University a bell tower as a gift.
continued next page
C O V E R S T O R Y ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 11
Sixty Points of Pride
from our First 60 Years
Bonnie Cone
Chancellor Philip Dubois
12 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ C O V E R S T O R Y
Whittaker, an attorney in
Matthews, N.C., said the school’s
reputation has grown along with its
degrees. “Our graduates are regarded
as being top-notch,” he said.
To Whittaker, the university’s rapid
ascent started with Cone’s leadership and
follows through to Dubois.
“Charlotte has been very fortunate to
have the right people in place to lead this
university,” he said. “From Miss Bonnie to
Dean Colvard to E.K. Fretwell and Jim
Woodward. And now we have Phil Dubois.
It’s been built and I believe it’s Phil’s job to
let the people know it’s out there.”
In reviewing the history of UNC Charlotte
one might divide the first 60 years into three
eras, each characterized by distinct but evolving priorities.
1946-1965: FOUNDATION
AND EDUCATION
Like many other colleges across the country, the fledgling Charlotte College
Center was supported largely by the G.I. Bill and state funds when it opened in the
fall of 1946. It could not have succeeded without leaders like Cone, who juggled her
duties as a high school teacher along with handling placement testing and teaching
40 students in the Center’s mathematics-engineering program.
In 1949, the state closed the Charlotte Center and about a dozen similar
institutions across North Carolina, declaring the state’s on-campus facilities were
sufficient to meet the increased demand from the returning veterans.
Behind the efforts of Cone and others, the school was taken over by
Charlotte’s school district and became known as Charlotte College, a two-year
institution. Local leaders also convinced Charlotte voters to approve a two-cent
tax to support the college.
In a speech to the Charlotte Eastern Lions Club in 1959, Cone
outlined her ideas for a new campus about 10 miles northeast of downtown
Charlotte. “We envision there a four-year state supported college within a
few years and a university within a decade,” she declared.
Ground was broken in November 1960 and one year later the first
two buildings opened. Two years later, Charlotte College became a
four-year college and the seeds were sown for it to become part of
the University of North Carolina System.
On March 2, 1965, a day Cone later described as the
“happiest day of my life,” the North Carolina Legislature voted
to bring Charlotte College into the UNC system. It also marked
the end of an era, as “Miss Bonnie” – who had served as
Acting Chancellor – prepared to hand over the reins to
Dean Colvard, the university’s first chancellor.
When asked about not being offered the job on a
permanent basis, Cone eloquently stated: “We are not here
to elevate ourselves but the institution.”
A Legacy of Great Teaching: UNC Charlotte first
gained recognition for its exceptional teaching of under-graduate
students. While the university has grown into a
prominent doctoral, research intensive institution, one of
its priorities is maintaining its reputation for providing
an outstanding undergraduate experience through great
teaching and personalized attention to student welfare.
College of Health and Human Services: The
College of Health and Human Services is home to
Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science,
Nursing and Social Work, as well as several Master’s
Degree programs and a Doctoral Program in Health
Services Research.
49er Final Four ’77: Once upon a time, the Charlotte
49ers made it pretty far in the NCAA tournament.
They made 4th place in the NCAA with an overall
record of 28-5. However, they lost to the University
of Nevada-Las Vegas with a final score of 106-94.
Seventeen Ph.D. degrees, ’59 Master’s, ’85 Bachelor’s:
Degrees new this year include a Ph.D. in geography and
urban and regional analysis, M.A. in Sports Marketing/
Management and Ethics and Applied Philosophy,
Bachelor’s degree in Art History, and a Bachelor of
Science degree in Construction Management.
First Chancellor Dean W. Colvard: As the first chan-cellor
of UNC Charlotte, Colvard took the college
from a junior college to 4-year university of UNC; he is
also responsible for accreditation, University Research
Park, creation of residence halls, a graduate program,
and an increase in enrollment from 1,700 to 8,000.
The Charlotte Research Institute: The CRI is the
portal for technology partnerships between UNC
Charlotte and the entrepreneurial businesses of the region.
The institute offers a variety of opportunities to engage
talented faculty and make use of specialized facilities that
are available only at UNC Charlotte. CRI is committed
to industrial, governmental and educational growth.
Niner Nation: UNC Charlotte 49er team spirit. Die
hard fans created traditions that include: Green Fridays,
Alma Mater, Camp Outs, Bell Ringing, Pic Axes and
the Lutz at Games.
Cornbread (Cedric) Maxwell: As UNC Charlotte forward/
center, he led the team to the NCAA Final Four in 1977,
ranked 6th all-time in points scored and had his #33
jersey retired in 1977. He was the 12th overall pick for
NBA to the Boston Celtics and named MVP in 1981.
Coach Lee Rose: Rose led 49ers to the NIT champi-onship
in 1976 and NCAA Final Four in 1977. In three
seasons at UNC Charlotte, his record was 72-18 (.800).
More than 70,000 living alumni: UNC Charlotte
currently has 73,369 living alumni – 42,872 live in
Charlotte region (this includes: Stanly, Anson,
Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union, Lincoln,
Rowan, Cleveland and Iredell counties in NC. Also
included are the following South Carolina counties:
York, Chester and Lancaster).
Summer school
at Charlotte College
making HISTORY the NEXT 60 YEARS
C O V E R S T O R Y ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 13
1966-1990: PHENOMENAL GROWTH
A native of Grassy Creek, N.C., Colvard was appointed the first chancellor of
the young university in 1966. He had gained national fame in 1963 as president of
Mississippi State University when he defied school policy and ordered the men’s
basketball team to take the floor against an integrated Loyola University Chicago team.
In an interview years after he took the job, Colvard said he had some initial
reservations about his choice to come to UNC Charlotte.
“It was a barren place and a lot of people thought I was foolish because I had the
options to go to larger institutions, older institutions,” he said. “But Charlotte was a
challenge. It was my home state.”
As it turned out, UNC Charlotte was not the first public university in North
Carolina to employ Colvard. In 1948, he was hired to run North Carolina State
University’s animal science program. Five years later, he became the dean of
agriculture, a job he held until 1960.
Most of Colvard’s early accomplishments at UNC Charlotte did not generate
national headlines like his courageous stand at Mississippi State, but they were vitally
important to the school’s development.
Under his watch, the men’s basketball team surprised the nation by making it into
the Final Four in 1977, led by Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell. The 49ers have been a
perennial source of pride at UNC Charlotte, earning spots in the NCAA Men’s
Basketball Tournament 11 times and the NIT five times.
Center for Precision Metrology: The Center for
Precision Metrology is located in the new Duke
Centennial Hall. It is dedicated to research, application,
integration and education in areas of design, manufac-turing,
processes and controls relating to precise meas-urement.
Known as the “world’s premiere university
metrology lab,” the center includes high-end instru-ments,
machines, and temperature controlled labs.
Woodward Hall: A brand new building named after
third chancellor of UNC Charlotte. The $33.2 million,
585,000 square foot addition to campus is the home to
the College of Computing and Informatics, the
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
and the Department of Biology.
College of Architecture: In the College of Architecture,
students study how architecture affects and stimulates
everyday life. They learn to be experts in design and
construction, strategic thinkers, and develop leadership
skills. Students can receive either a BA in Architecture
or a BA in Arts of Architecture that includes an addi-tional
year; there is also a variety of Master’s Programs.
Biomedical Engineering Systems Center: The
Biomedical Engineering Systems Center is located in
the William States Lee College of Engineering building.
The center requires interdisciplinary collaboration to
address current issues in biomedicine. It provides a way
for faculty, students, and local researchers to interact.
Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence:
In 1968, the first recipient of the Bank of America
Award for Teaching Excellence received what was going
to be an extremely important and prestigious tradition
at UNC Charlotte. This award goes to outstanding
teachers on campus that show commitment to excel-lence.
A recent recipient is Professor James McGavran,
for his excellence and dedication to teaching and
research of the English Romantic period of literature.
Second Chancellor E.K. Fretwell: UNC Charlotte’s
second chancellor from 1979-1989. During his time at
UNC Charlotte, enrollment increased from 8,000 to
12,000, he oversaw the creation of the Graduate school
and degrees, library’s card catalog transferred to internet
(1983), business incubator (the Ben Craig Center), the
development of the university area and an increase in
academic grants up to $6.1 million.
Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts: One of the
university’s newer buildings, Robinson Hall opened in
the fall 2004. The $23 million, 3-story, performing arts
building includes: costume and scenic labs, a music
library, rehearsal rooms and a theater with orchestra,
mezzanine, and box seating for 300 people.
The Miner statue: Located in front of the Reese and
Colvard buildings, the 49er Miner statue is valued at
$60,000 and was acquired in 1991 through many
donations including the UNC Charlotte graduating
class of 1985.
continued next page
14 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ C O V E R S T O R Y
On the academic side, Colvard oversaw accreditation of the university and the
development of University Research Park. Under his leadership, UNC Charlotte’s first
residence halls were built and the first graduate programs were created. Enrollment
grew from about 1,700 students when he started to just over 8,000 students when he
retired in 1978.
In 1979, E.K. Fretwell succeeded Colvard, coming to UNC Charlotte from the
State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was president. Enrollment at UNC
Charlotte grew by about 4,000 students under his watch and he was credited with
bolstering the Graduate School.
Some of Fretwell’s other accomplishments during his 10-year tenure included
integrating the library’s card catalog into the Internet and securing the funds for the
Ben Craig Center, a business incubator for start-up companies.
Fretwell also was ahead of his time, reaching out to minorities and women.
“Achieving more diversity always had been one of my fundamental goals,” he said.
During his term as chancellor, minority enrollment rose to more than 9 percent of the
student body.
The policy also extended to Fretwell’s administration, as he hired women and
African Americans to fill some of the top administrative posts at the university. The
mission went beyond borders to include other countries.
During Fretwell’s tenure, UNC Charlotte raised its international student enrollment
to among the highest of all 16 UNC campuses. It was then that the school’s successful
international student exchange programs brought a lot of attention to the university.
1990-PRESENT: SEEDS OF A
MAJOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
Woodward, whose résumé included stints as an aerospace engineer and the dean
of engineering at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, became UNC Charlotte’s
third chancellor in 1989.
From the start, it was clear Woodward had a passion for research.
During Woodward’s 16-year tenure – at the time
Graduate Clay Aiken: American Idol runner-up.
Aiken graduated from UNC Charlotte in Dec. 2003
with a BA in special education. After American Idol he
went on to become a world famous recording artist and
has become an advocate for education. Aiken founded
the Bubel-Aiken foundation which supports the
integration of children with disabilities into the life
of their non-disabled peers.
UNC Charlotte Urban Institute : Located on the
UNC Charlotte campus, UNC Charlotte Urban
Institute provides affordable services to non-profit
organizations, educational institutions, government,
businesses and citizens. Such services include: data
management, demographic analysis, feasibility studies,
focus groups, grants management, meeting facilitation,
needs assessment, open space planning, program
evaluation, regional strategic planning and consulting,
software support and student enrollment projects
and surveys.
Third Chancellor James H. Woodward: From 1989-
2005, Woodward’s initiatives helped to increase enroll-ment
to over 19,000 students, new doctoral programs,
growth of the campus with 6 additional buildings and
the creation of the Charlotte Research Institute campus.
Norm the Niner: The UNC Charlotte 49ers’ mascot,
who attends many school events including basketball
games and celebrations, was named “Norm the Niner”
by UNC Charlotte students in 1990.
NC Motorsports and Automotive Research
Center: NC Motorsports and Automotive Research
Center is on its way to becoming a nationally recog-nized
program, thanks to the close ties with local race
teams. It promotes the education of students in the
broad area of motorsports and automotive engineering
through theoretical and applied instruction at the
undergraduate and graduate levels and through
interaction with and support of the industry.
Charlotte Community Design Studio at Southend:
The Charlotte Community Design Studio is located in the
heart of Charlotte’s South end neighborhood and a part
of the College of Architecture. Its purpose is to provide a
forum for and initiate discussions by offering the creative
energy, academic resources and research capabilities of
the College of Architecture to critical community design
issues in and around the city of Charlotte.
One-thousand rolling acres: The UNC Charlotte
campus is one-thousand rolling acres. It currently is
home to 75 buildings – and growing.
McMillan Greenhouse orchids: The McMillan
Greenhouse has five major growing environments in
which the public displays of unusual and exotic plants
from around the world grow. The greenhouse consists of
eight rooms, surrounding beds, terraces and a courtyard
bog garden featuring carnivorous pitcher plant hybrids.
It also contains an orchid collection, a rainforest conser-vatory,
desert succulents and many tropical plants.
making HISTORY the NEXT 60 YEARS
C O V E R S T O R Y ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 15
the longest of any chancellor in the UNC system – enrollment grew to more than
19,000 students and the school’s endowment soared to $84.5 million. New buildings
went up across the campus and UNC Charlotte offered 12 doctoral programs.
Besides his avid interest in research, Woodward proved to be adept in
diplomacy. He was in charge of a university that had grown rapidly and was based
in Charlotte – the state’s largest city in what many in North Carolina politics call
the Great State of Mecklenburg.
“I’ve never wanted this institution to succeed to the detriment of the state as a
whole,” he told Business North Carolina magazine. Still, his view was unshakable
about the need for Charlotte to have a major research university.
“If you undid all the higher education in the state and said, ‘We’re going to build
two major research universities,’ where would you build the first one?” he said in the
2004 interview. “Right here in Charlotte. You’d probably build the second one in
Raleigh, but the first one would be here.”
Not coincidentally, Woodward spearheaded the efforts to found the Charlotte
Research Institute, an organization that opens the campus’ wealth of applied science
and technology expertise to industry. As the university’s research portfolio grows,
the Charlotte Research Institute will facilitate partnerships with technology-based
businesses, accelerating the growth of university research and supporting the economy
of the region.
“I believe in higher education,” Woodward said in a Fall 2004 interview in the
school’s alumni magazine. “It is the principle vehicle for upward economic and social
mobility. It contributes to the political and social stability of this country.”
Woodward doesn’t want to dwell on his major accomplishments.
“I happened to be the chancellor, so I had something to do with it,” he said.”
I believe the biggest achievement during my term was when we were able to offer
doctoral studies. That was the biggest accomplishment. Now we have 17 doctorate
programs and the real value comes from the quality of students and faculty we are
now able to attract.”
He’s teaching an MBA finance class and enjoying it.
Transamerica Field/Belk Track: Created in 1996,
Transamerica Field/Belk Track has been host to AAU
Junior Olympics, the German Olympic Track and Field
team, NCAA soccer tournament games, Conference
USA Track and Field Championship, NCAA Soccer
Championship and North Carolina High School Track
and Field Championships.
Five Ventures: Five Ventures is an annual event in
which five regional entrepreneurs compete and discuss
their visions for the next multi-million dollar business.
Competitions include areas such as financing, sales
and marketing, etc. It takes place on campus at the
Barnhardt Student Activity Center. Last year’s winners
include SoyMeds, Inc., earning the $5,000 top prize.
College of Education: The College of Education has
over 3,000 undergraduates and numerous departments
including: Departments of Counseling, Educational
Leadership, Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education,
Reading and Elementary Education and Special
Education and Child Development.
International Festival: After 31 years, the International
Festival is a successful annual family event that cele-brates
all different cultures and the region’s international
growth through food, dancing, arts and crafts and
costumes. It is the longest running annual entertain-ment
event in Charlotte.
Coach Amanda Butler: Amanda Butler is currently
celebrating her second year as head coach for women’s
basketball. In her first season, the team won 21 games and
was named A-10 Coach of the Year. They also received
bid for WNIT-fourth straight post-season appearance.
The Barnhardt Student Activity Center: Built in
1996, The Barnhardt Student Activity Center (more
commonly known as the “SAC”) houses a food court,
game room, conference rooms, fitness center, tennis and
racquetball courts and the Halton Arena.
Halton Arena: Halton Arena was named for former
president and CEO of a Pepsi Bottling Company,
Dale F. Halton, and was funded entirely on private
donations and student fees. Its doors opened December
2, 1996 and seats 9,105 for basketball and volleyball
and commencement ceremonies.
Hechenbleikner Lake: This unique landscape on the
UNC Charlotte campus was created by and named for
the late Dr. Herbert Hechenbleikner, professor of
biology and geology at UNC Charlotte, and formerly
Charlotte College. By damming a small spring-fed
stream, Heckenbleikner Lake was created. Herbert
Hechenbleikner was known locally for his passion for
gardening and landscaping.
continued next page
16 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ C O V E R S T O R Y
“I decided to teach a class to see if I still liked it, because it’s been a long time
since I was in the classroom,” he said. “I worked harder than I ever could have
imagined, but I like it and I’m doing it again this semester.”
In 1998, UNC Charlotte launched the “It Takes a Gift” fundraising campaign,
which easily surpassed its $100 million goal by more than $16 million, far and away
the most successful fundraising initiative in the history of the university.
More than 20,000 donors contributed to the campaign and 130 new endowments
were established. The funds were spread around the university’s schools and programs,
helping leaders
After Woodward’s retirement in 2004, Dubois – who had previously served as provost
and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNC Charlotte – was recruited back to UNC
Charlotte. He returned to UNC Charlotte after serving as president of the University
of Wyoming from 1997-2005. He has made it his top priority to transform UNC
Charlotte into the third major publicly-funded research university in North Carolina.
When Dubois came to UNC Charlotte, he noted the university had already
increased its annual research funding to more than $33 million. “The new buildings
that have opened all over campus in the past four years will provide the space to
expand existing research programs in optics, engineering, and biology and to add
programs in new areas like nanoscience and bioinformatics. Whether you have been
here for 40 years or four months, UNC Charlotte is an exciting place to be. Rapid
growth means that you can have an impact on the future shape of the institution.”
Gazing into his crystal ball, the future looks bright. The university’s endowment is
nearly $115 million and enrollment continues to build, with the Board of Governors’
enrollment plan calling for UNC Charlotte to reach 25,000 students by 2012. Dubois
has launched a planning exercise to determine how much beyond that mark the insti-tution
could be expected to grow in the rapidly-expanding Charlotte metropolitan region.
“We now have more than 70,000 graduates and the numbers are growing
exponentially,” Whittaker said with a tinge of pride in his voice.
Provost Joan Lorden said UNC Charlotte touches the lives of virtually everyone
in the Charlotte community.
“Our alumni staff the schools, hospitals, and businesses in the region. They
run non-profit agencies and work in government,” she said. “As the needs of the
community have grown, the University has added new programs and facilities as
fast as we can. We live Bonnie Cone’s vision every day, providing access to higher
education in service to our community. “
Another one of Dubois’ priorities has been to connect the university to the
community at large, which was a major factor in efforts to build a new Center
City classroom building in downtown Charlotte. Funding for the 150,000
square foot building was approved this summer; ground breaking will be several
months away, with completion projected for early 2010.
Connecting to the community is also behind Dubois’ avid support for
bringing light-rail service to the campus, which would give students choices other
than gas-guzzling cars to travel back and forth from school and the inner city.
In mid-November, Charlotte transit officials voted to pursue a light rail line
to University City at a cost of $740.5 million. About half the total amount will
come from local taxpayers and the state, with federal grants needed to make up
the difference.
University officials and potential riders will need to be patient. The most
current timetable calls for construction to start in 2011, with a projected 2013
completion date.
“Light rail holds tremendous potential to deliver faculty, staff and students to
our campus without their vehicles,” Dubois wrote in a recent op-ed piece in the
First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal: Each year the
graduate school presents the First Citizens Bank
Scholars Medal to a full-time faculty member who
shows advancement in the diffusion of knowledge and
creativity. Previous recipients include Professor Tanure
Ojaide for his scholarship and research on behalf of
Africa and dedication to the critical issues facing
African people.
Institute for Social Capital: Founded by UNC
Charlotte, the Institute for Social Capital allows
nonprofits, governmental agencies and community-based
organizations to develop a way to compile
validate and analyze data. This database will assist the
research and university communities in their analysis
of children and families in certain programs and how
they are affect by those in other programs.
The Graduate School: The school now includes 59
master’s programs, 17 doctoral programs and 4,400 gradu-ate
students. New degrees include: Ph.D. in geography and
urban and regional analysis, M.A. in Sports Marketing/
Management and Ethics and Applied Philosophy.
Ringing of The Old Bell: In 1960, UNC Charlotte,
then Charlotte College, purchased the bell from the old
Elizabeth School that was located at East Fifth Street and
Travis Avenue in Charlotte. The bell is rung every year
during commencement and other ceremonial occasions.
Campus Art: The UNC Charlotte campus is home to
an extensive outdoor sculpture collection consisting of
18 works of art including the most recent addition,
“Water Harp,” now installed at the entrance of
Robinson Hall, the new performing arts building. The
total value of the outdoor collection alone is almost
$1 million. UNC Charlotte is the only campus in the
country to have an athletic sculpture collection repre-senting
every intercollegiate sport the university fields.
Toby Creek Greenway: Approximately 2 miles long
from Mallard Creek Greenway at Highway 29 to the
intersection of University City Boulevard (Highway 49)
and W.T. Harris Boulevard. The Greenway is currently
under design and will link Mallard Creek Greenway to
the UNC Charlotte campus.
Atkins Library: Nearly one million volumes and is the
largest library in Southern Piedmont region. The one
millionth volume will be donated and celebrated in April.
College of Computing and Informatics: Includes
computer science (design and implement software, devise
new ways to use computers, and develop effective ways of
solving computing problems) and software and informa-tion
systems (focuses on issues related to developing
software and information systems, and the interactions
between people and the information systems they use).
Coach Jeff Mullins: Men’s basketball coach from 1985-
1996. His record includes 182 victories and 3 visits to
the NCAA Tournament in ’88, ’92, ’95 and 2 NIT
Tournaments in ’89 and ’94. Mullins helped develop Dale
F. Halton Arena and the move to Conference USA in 1995.
making HISTORY the NEXT 60 YEARS
C O V E R S T O R Y ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 17
Charlotte Observer. “Light rail will knit together the main campus and our new $45.8
million Center City facility at the corner of Ninth and Brevard. And light rail will
provide new access to higher education (and great college basketball games and cultural
events) for anyone who may board at a South Boulevard station bound for either
UNC Charlotte in the Center City or the main campus.”
In his installation address, Dubois said one of his primary goals was to raise UNC
Charlotte’s profile in the region and across the rest of the country. One of the most
important parts of the university’s strategic marketing plan is a branding study, he said.
“Our constituents – whether our students, alumni, research partners or the public
at large – must actually experience what we say we are,” he said. “Whatever we may do
in branding and marketing cannot end with the public relations and community affairs
staff or the web page. UNC Charlotte must actually become better connected to the
region we serve.”
UNC Charlotte will use the Stamats firm of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct
the comprehensive branding study that will encompass marketing, public relations,
community affairs, graphic design, advertising and related disciplines.
The study is in its early stages and it is expected to continue into early 2007.
Dubois is very optimistic about the future of Charlotte’s university. Pointing to
the recently-dedicated buildings on the Charlotte Research Institute campus (Duke
Centennial Hall and William H. Grigg Hall), a new College of Health Sciences
Building, Student Health Center, and Harris Alumni Center to be dedicated next
spring, and new construction soon to begin for the Bioinformatics Research Center
and the Student Union, Dubois said that his continuing mantra about UNC
Charlotte will be that “it is all about change.”
“Our faculty, staff, and students have never been content to sit back and wait
for things to happen. Our mission is to serve this region as a primary resource for
the creation of intellectual and social capital, and cultural enrichment. We are making
history for the next 60 years.”
Charlotte 49ers in the A-10 Conference: The 49ers
joined the Atlantic-10 Conference in the 2005-2006
season from Conference USA. Charlotte was predicted to
be #2 for their first season in the conference and #4 for
season number two.
William States Lee College of Engineering:
Includes civil, electrical and computer, and mechanical
engineering, along with engineering technology, hands
on, labs, research.
Coach Bobby Lutz: Current Men’s basketball coach
with a 135-83 record, six post-season tournaments,
five NCAA Tournaments, four 20-win seasons, three
conference championships including two tourney titles
and one regular season crown.
49er Gold Dusters: Besides a co-ed cheerleading
squad, UNC Charlotte has an official dance team
called the 49er Gold Dusters. They perform at every
home basketball game and have recently won national
championships.
Diversity-students from 83 countries: In 2005, of
the 20,772 students enrolled, 670 were from another
country (216 from India), contributing to the 2,510
total out-of-state students.
Future Greek Village: A new addition to the UNC
Charlotte campus and home to fourteen fraternities and
sororities-each have their own house. Each house holds
either 14 or 28 residents, and will include a chapter room,
kitchen, and outdoor gathering area for different activities.
Athletic Director Judy Rose: Only the third woman
to be put in charge of Division I athletics, Rose helped
raise money for the Barnhardt Student Activity Center,
Irwin Belk Track and Field Center, and the Wachovia
Fieldhouse. She has helped attract national sporting
events to UNC Charlotte.
Bissell House-Chancellor’s Residence: The Bissell
House is the new home of Chancellor Philip L. and
Lisa Lewis Dubois and their family. The home was
named in honor of Sara H. Bissell who decorated the
home and is a major supporter of the university.
Ben Craig Center business incubator: Partnered with
UNC Charlotte, the Ben Craig Center is a non-profit
organization that provides incubation, education and
advisory services to small businesses in order for them
to reach full potential.
Belk College of Business: The College is one of the
largest business programs in the Carolinas with 2,500
undergraduate students, 500 graduate students, and 87
faculty members.
Fourth Chancellor Philip L. Dubois: As provost and
vice chancellor from 1991 until 1997, Dubois lead the
first comprehensive campus-wide plan for information
technology and programs to better serve non-traditional
adult students. He also planned and launched the
university’s first graduate programs. Dr. Dubois became
UNC Charlotte’s fourth chancellor on July 15, 2005.
See back cover for 60 Points of Pride listing
18 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F E A T U R E A R T I C L E
It’s the
SERVICE
that
DRIVES
THEM
Students in Free Enterprise
impress with maturity, focus, deeds
Three hundred hours.
Imagine adding 300 hours in one school
year to the already busy life of a typical
American college student.Hours
devoted to a program in addition to
class lectures, labs, studies, and jobs.
In a nine month time frame, it’s almost
equivalent to adding one more day to
the week.But SIFE members aren’t really
typical American college students.They
are remarkably focused and driven.The
program they devote their extracurricular
time to is designed to assure their ability
to land a job after graduation and make
an exceptional contribution to their
communities as well.
By Denise Buff Stephens
Standing, left to right:
Joseph Rinaldi and Robert “Trey” Rhyne
Seated, left to right: Natalie Rogers, Ellen Lusby
and Amy Harkins (current President of SIFE)
F E A T U R E A R T I C L E ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 19
During the last academic year, 41 UNC Charlotte students, mostly from the
Belk College of Business, collectively devoted 10,945 hours participating in
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), an organization dedicated to making sure
students enter the workforce well-prepared and community service oriented.
The late Dr. Jack Hogue introduced the idea of participating in SIFE to Belk
College honor students four years ago. At the time, Hogue supervised advising and
curriculum for 3,000 undergraduate students. After Hogue’s death in July 2005,
Dr. Daryl Kerr, director of Belk College undergraduate studies, began working with
the team along with faculty member Annette Hoover. According to Kerr, Hogue
was particularly passionate about two things regarding his students: “enhancing their
academic experiences with valuable programs that connected them to the business
community and teaching them how to give back to their communities.”
SIFE is one of the largest global student organizations in the world, operating on
more than 1,600 college and university campuses in 40 countries – 800 nationwide,
with 31 of them in North Carolina. The organization offers students the opportunity
to develop critical leadership, team-work
and communication skills that
most people in business take years
on the job to acquire.
Teams organize on each college
campus and in the fall, SIFE
members attend leadership seminars
to learn the principles of free enter-prise.
Applying the principles and
key educational goals of SIFE such
as free market economics, entrepre-neurship,
personal and financial
success and business ethics, SIFE
teams develop outreach projects that
target people or groups within their
community who may benefit from
the business knowledge students gain in class and through SIFE experience.
With so many teams engaged all over the world in various outreach projects, the
national SIFE organization maintains that these students are literally improving the
quality of life and the standard of living for millions of people. The concept is very
simple, but the results are remarkable.
Joseph Rinaldi, a senior and president of UNC Charlotte SIFE in 2005/06 has
participated as a leader in a multitude of projects. Lifespan was one of his favorites.
Team members wrote a business plan for a group of artists with disabilities who wanted
to change their non-profit status to a for-profit venture. They wanted to create profits
in order to become more self-sufficient. In the process, “Artspan: A Unique Boutique”
was created to sell their original work. “Their artwork was amazing,” Rinaldi said.
“Some pieces sold for several hundred dollars. It wasn’t the most complex or time-consuming
project the team worked on, but we felt like we really made a difference.”
Throughout the year, SIFE teams all over the world participate in special project
competitions. In the spring, SIFE regional competitions and Career Opportunity Fairs
are held in more than 22 cities in the United States with thousands of students partici-pating.
Teams present a 24-minute multimedia synopsis of their projects to judges
describing their outreach programs and how effective they were. Prominent executives
from around the region help advise the team on projects, presentation and effectiveness
and serve as judges at regional competitions. CEOs and other top-level executives
UNC CHARLOTTE’S
2005-2006 SIFE BUSINESS
ADVISORY BOARD
▪ Michael Andrus – Sam’s Club
▪ Debbie Antshel – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
▪ Randy Cox – Wal-Mart
▪ David Finby – Merrill Lynch
▪ Jewel Glenn – Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
▪ Hilda H. Guardian – La Noticia
▪ Alfredo Garza – enventys
▪ Brian Hamlett – enventys
▪ Heather Haugh – RSM McGladrey
▪ John T. Holdorf – John Hancock
▪ Doug McMillon – Sam’s Club
▪ Diane Marsfelder – Compass Group
▪ Aaron Means – IBM
▪ Vernon J. Menard III – Choice Translating
▪ Terry Middleton – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
▪ Peter Mihaltian – SCI
▪ Debbie Murphy – Acosta
▪ Jim Owens – Biltmore Estate
▪ Verl Purdy – AGDATA
▪ Dana Ratchford – Microsoft
▪ Jennifer Robert – Mecklenburg County Commission
▪ Ryan Schachtner –
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
▪ Virginia Schafer – Schafer Clinic
▪ Robert Schoffner –
NC Council on Economic Education
▪ Jeff Stewart – Wachovia
▪ Michael Sullivan – Take Charge America
▪ Robert Sumner – Private Physician
▪ Kevin Toomb – First Charter
▪ Dave Vander Jeugdt – Walgreens
▪ Lauren Welch – Premier
▪ Kyle Worthy – John Hancock
Note: Two Business Advisory Board members,
Lauren Welch and Brian Hamlett are former UNC
Charlotte SIFE team presidents and are engaged to
be married – another benefit to being involved in
the SIFE team according to Daryl Kerr.
“I’ve learned about real
business applications,
developed leadership
skills and teamwork
mentality – which
taught me a lot
about patience.“
Amy Harkins, (current President of SIFE)
continued next page
20 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F E A T U R E A R T I C L E
participate in judging national and international competitions across the world. During
the competitions, businesses from across the country send representatives to recruit and
hire SIFE members during career fairs.
Kevin Toomb, Director of
Marketing for First Charter Bank in
Charlotte is a SIFE Business Advisory
Board Member recruited by Jack Hogue
almost five years ago. He is a dynamic
public servant and one of the team’s
most dedicated mentors. He spends
hours of personal time working with
them during the year and coaching
them before competitions. He believes
in internships and business world
experiences for college students.
According to Toomb, SIFE has
value on three levels for students: “They learn how to be creative; how to develop
projects and implement them, and how to communicate the value of projects in a
compelling fashion.” Toomb also believes SIFE offers a tremendous networking
experience for students. At competitions and career fairs, “Students interact with
business executives who are experts in their fields,” he says.
Joseph Rinaldi knows that is a fact. “SIFE students are highly regarded and
recruited, especially during the career fairs at competitions,” he says. “I had an
unofficial job offer at Nationals in Kansas City, and I haven’t even graduated yet.”
A junior and SIFE student president for 2006/07, Amy Harkins has been
involved in SIFE since she was a freshman. For an undergraduate, her summer job was
impressive. Harkins worked for David Drummond, director of marketing at National
Gypsum Corporation, helping with technical support doing field work in sales,
marketing and advertising. During the past school year, she worked in the Belk College
as the Business Honors Program’s undergraduate assistant. with Beth Fischer, director
of development for the Belk College. Fischer has attended several of UNC Charlotte
SIFE’s events. “I’m amazed at the level of maturity and focus. The work they do is
incredible – especially to be so young,” she says.
“I’ve learned about real business applications, developed leadership skills and
teamwork mentality – which taught me a lot about patience,” says Amy. “This
organization is a great foundation for any career and would benefit students in other
colleges here at UNC Charlotte,” she adds. “We plan to actively recruit more members
from programs beyond the Belk College during this school year.”
One of their strongest, most successful and on-going projects, Career Day is one
that benefits the entire student body. It was designed with the professional growth
of all students in mind. Students from every college at the university were invited to
participate in a series of interactive lectures delivered by 42 local business executives.
They focused on topics such as job search strategies, interviewing skills, preparing
for the workplace and business etiquette
The SIFE team hosted a semi-formal dinner at the conclusion of the project. Local
business executives, UNC Charlotte students and faculty attended. Steven Sweeny, President
and CEO of Chartwell Dining Service delivered the keynote address. Business dining
etiquette was the topic of discussion – an often underestimated skill in business today.
Belk Department Store assisted the team with a “Dress for Success” fashion show
where professional and business casual attire were showcased and modeled. The project
was so successful that Career Day will continue in October of 2006, with similar results.
Jack Hogue, according to his students, had a large
persona, a commanding presence, a baritone voice
and the expressive laugh of a child. He was instru-mental
in establishing the Management Information
Systems program at UNC Charlotte when he joined
the faculty in 1984. His interest in student affairs led
him to administration and he was appointed director
of undergraduate student affairs for the Belk College
of Business in 1998 and to assistant dean in 2002.
Jack created numerous extracurricular programs for
his students – one of which was Students in Free
Enterprise. He was dedicated to his students, to his
colleagues and to UNC Charlotte. After attending
the National SIFE competition last year, Amy
Harkins and Joseph Rinaldi, SIFE team members,
presented Hogue with a key chain that read: #1
Dad. He is considered “an outstanding scholar, an
inspired teacher and a great colleague.” Jack died in
an automobile accident last July and the University
continues to feel his absence. He has, however, left a
tremendous legacy at UNC Charlotte.
It’s the SERVICE that DRIVES THEM
Jack Hogue
Kevin Toomb
F E A T U R E A R T I C L E ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 21
According to Kevin Toomb and to Daryl Kerr, as these students graduate and
begin planning for careers, they will have a tremendous advantage. “In comparing job
applicants – and all other factors being equal, the SIFE experience gives these students
a definite advantage,” states Toomb. The SIFE organization claims that “the best
companies in the world recognize the value of this experience and compete very
aggressively for the chance to meet and recruit SIFE students. They believe these
students are among the most talented prospects.”
Joseph Rinaldi has an incredible sense of appreciation for what he has been able
to learn through SIFE. “We are fortunate to be able to attend college and I’m grateful
for all the opportunities I’ve had. It seems like sharing our experiences to help people
is the right thing to do.” he says.
Working in partnership with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools International
Magnet Program, the SIFE team worked with students in two middle and two high
schools to promote global awareness. The theme was The Power of Politics of a
Traveling T-Shirt based on the book Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy by
Pietra Rivoli. The book is about the economic impact of world trade through the
step-by-step production of a t-shirt.
The SIFE team created an original curriculum for 15 weeks in four different
classrooms preparing them for a leadership event: The Global Summit. Students from
the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, 34 German Students, and 160 faculty
members attended the event to share their experiences and global economic knowledge.
“It’s the service that drives them,” says Kerr. These students have an incredible
sense of community service. Overwhelmingly, that is the reason Kevin Toomb remains
committed to the team. “I’m absolutely proud to be associated with UNC Charlotte
SIFE,” says Toomb. “The organization and these students are absolutely dedicated to
making the world a better place for themselves, for children and for their communities.”
UNC Charlotte’s SIFE team is still young and continuing to rebound from the
death of their mentor,
Jack Hogue. They have
won recognition both
regionally and nationally
and are outstanding
representatives of the
university. SIFE teams all
over the world are doing
the same – from places
like Zimbawe, Batswana,
Belarus, Russia, and
Guatemala. In the next
20 years, the sheer volume
of community involve-ment
UNC Charlotte
students may participate
in will alter the fabric of
our city and region. As
these young adults move
into their professions all
over the world amazing
things will happen.
Imagine the infinite
global possibilities.
ABOUT SIFE
Students in Free Enterprise originally began as a
regional initiative in Texas. Robert T. “Sonny” Davis,
an attorney, began the program with the help of the
late William Seay, chairman of Southwestern Life
Insurance who provided the funding. In 1985, Jack
Shewmaker, Vice Chairman and CFO of Wal-Mark
Stores, Inc. became SIFE’s chairman giving the
program significant credibility and fund raising
ability. Wal-Mart began providing stipends to
university faculty advisors who were named Sam
M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellows, in honor of
the founder of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart continues to
be a substantial supporter and Shewmaker continues
to be involved in SIFE. Jack Hogue initiated UNC
Charlotte’s SIFE chapter and was the university’s
first Sam M. Walton Fellow.
22 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F E A T U R E A R T I C L E
Belk has a deep-rooted love of Charlotte and for North Carolina. He was born in
1922 at Presbyterian Hospital to William Henry and Mary Irwin Belk. “Ike,” as
he is known, grew up here and knows the history of the region intimately. His
great, great, great grandfather, Robert Irwin, a general in the Revolutionary War, signed
the Mecklenburg County Declaration of Independence – “a year before that other one
in Philadelphia,” according to Belk. He can share historical data as proficiently as any
professor and does so enthusiastically, prodding to determine how much you know.
Perhaps it was his love of the city that grew over time to embrace UNC Charlotte.
He adopted the university and has given his time, his talent, his financial gifts and
scores of art works.
His most recent gift was given to The Foundation of The University
of North Carolina Charlotte, Inc. to establish the Carol Grotnes Belk
Endowed Chair in Nursing in honor of his wife for her loving
care of her family. The gift is eligible to be matched by North
Carolina’s Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust
Fund for a total endowment of $1 million and will
be used to support the teaching and research of
a full professor of nursing in the ollege
of Health and Human Services.
“There is a shortage of nurses in
this country and my wife wanted to
be a nurse. She ended up being
a nurse to me and my children
and our grandchildren,” he says.
Recent endowment and
sculpture highlight prolific
support from one of UNC
Charlotte’s best friends
Irwin Belk might well be
considered UNC Charlotte’s
godfather. He is regarded as a
larger-than-life Renaissance
man for living such an intriguing
life – as an athlete, businessman,
statesman, historian and
philanthropist. It is his gregarious
and generous spirit that has
endeared him to so many. His
gifts to colleges and universities
are now legendary – especially
at UNC Charlotte.
IRWIN BELK,
By Denise Buff Stephens
Irwin Belk
F E A T U R E A R T I C L E ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 23
“Through the years, Ike Belk has demonstrated a commitment to higher
education and to UNC Charlotte that reflects the power of charitable giving,” said
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “His generous gift made in honor of his wife, Carol, will
help the College of Health and Human Services recruit the best talent to train nurses
and enhance our healthcare delivery system in the Charlotte region and nationwide.
We are very grateful for Ike’s gift and his continued support that helps create a bright
future for UNC Charlotte and the students it serves.”
Belk’s gift will enable UNC Charlotte to attract
the very best candidates in a competitive nursing
faculty market nationwide and in turn, address a crit-ical
shortage of nurses in the United States. “This gift
and the matching funds provided by North Carolina
will allow UNC Charlotte to aggressively recruit the
highest caliber of talent and enhance the teaching
and research capabilities offered to students through
our School of Nursing,” said Karen Schmaling, dean
of the College of Health and Human Services.
Ike Belk clearly adores his wife. It has been said
that there are more buildings named after Carol
Grotnes Belk than anyone in the country. (Belk can
account for 12.) “My wife has put up with me for 58
years. I married a wonderful woman,” he says. The
Belks have four children, William (Bill) and Carl
Belk live in Charlotte. Irene Belk Miltimore lives in
Connecticut and Marilyn Belk Wallis lives in Napa
Valley, California.
“This community has been good to my family,”
Belk has said. His father, William Henry Belk, and
uncle, Dr. John Belk founded the Belk Department
Stores in 1888. Belk sold his share of the retailing
empire to his brothers, Tom and John Belk and
retired in 1996. Ever since, he has devoted himself to
investing in the community – “to make it better for
future generations.”
After attending Davidson College for a year,
Belk transferred to UNC Chapel Hill because
“Davidson didn’t have a commerce school.” He
graduated in 1946, married his wife in 1948, did
a two-and-a-half year tour during World War II
in the 491st Bomber Group of the 8th Air Force,
was elected to the North Carolina House of
Representatives in 1959 and to the State senate in
1963. He is the only North Carolinian to have
served in both bodies during the same two-year term
– serving another legislator’s uncompleted term.
a Legendary Giver
Sculptures commissioned
and donated by Ike Belk –
like this one outside the
Barnhardt Student
Activity Center – adorn
athletic facilities on the
UNC Charlotte campus.
continued next page
24 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ F E A T U R E A R T I C L E
According to Belk, his second greatest achievement occurred when he was the
public delegate to the United Nations (appointed by former President Bill Clinton). He
arranged for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee to address the United Nations’ Security Council. It was the first time in
history that any member of a legislative body in the world had done so. “Europe needed
to pay its fair share of U.N. dues and we got them to do that,” he replies. “We saved
the American taxpayers $175 million that year – and every year since.”
Having run track while in prep school and UNC Chapel Hill, Belk developed a
lifelong love of athletics. His close friend, the late Jim Millis of High Point, got Belk
involved in the Olympics where he has since served on the United States Olympic
Committee for over 45 years. “I haven’t missed an Olympics since 1960,” says Belk.
He’s such a staunch supporter, he commissioned an enormous bronze sculpture to
be installed at the International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lucerne,
Switzerland and a smaller version at the United States Olympic Training Center in
Colorado Springs. In support of the Olympic Games and athletics in general, he
established the Irwin Belk Educational Foundation.
Although he graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and is loyal to them, Belk has
bestowed more gifts to UNC Charlotte and Presbyterian College than perhaps any
other schools. In keeping with his passion for athletics, Belk donated a portion of the
funds to build a state-of-the-art track and athletic facility at UNC Charlotte – The
Irwin Belk Track and Field Center. It has been called the finest track and field facility
in the Southeast and it includes a spacious soccer stadium that “rivals any in the coun-try”
according to UNC Charlotte’s Athletic Department.
Then he decided to dress it up – with 14 bronze statues representing every inter-collegiate
sport team that the university fields. UNC Charlotte is the only university in
the nation to have such an extensive
athletic statuary collection.
In 2001, Belk helped fund
the construction of the Miltimore-
Wallis Athletics Training and
Academic Center (named for his
daughters, Irene Belk Miltimore
and Marilyn Belk Wallis). Built
adjacent to the Barnhardt Student
Activity Center which houses
Halton Arena, the center is a state-of-
the-art facility of academic and
training space for student athletes
and includes the Charles Hayward
Memorial Practice Court.
Belk has had athletic tracks
and fields built at other universities,
but “the most beautiful track is at
UNC Charlotte.”
During a recent trip to
Switzerland, Belk discovered the
sculptor, Housi Knecht, a brilliant
artist who creates elaborate outdoor
pieces in addition to other art. He
purchased “Water Harp” – a stun-ning
water and light sculpture
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, Lisa Lewis Dubois,
Irwin Belk and Carol Grotnes Belk shortly after the
Belks announced their recent endowment of a chair in
Nursing for the College of Health and Human Services.
As a senator, Belk introduced the legislation
that would make UNC Charlotte the fourth
university in the North Carolina system. “We were
under-educating the people in this region. It’s my
greatest personal achievement and contribution to
this community,” he says. So in 1965, Belk
orchestrated a coalition convincing 49 out of 50
Senators to endorse the bill that transformed
Charlotte College to The University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. Belk adds with a chuckle,
“Only once in the history of the North Carolina
senate has that ever happened – to have 49 Senators
agree on anything – and it won’t ever happen again.”
Laura Simic, UNC Charlotte’s associate vice
chancellor for development, remembers first meeting
Mr. Belk at Chancellor Woodward’s home shortly
after arriving at the university. “I remember listening
to him tell about introducing the legislation that
made us part of the UNC system. He spoke with
such passion and pride. When Mr. Belk says he has
a big idea, we listen because we know he loves the
University, takes great ownership in it, and is dedi-cated
to doing everything he can to help it prosper.”
Belk also served 12 years on the Board of
Trustees for the University of North Carolina, and
another two terms on the Board of Governors
formed by the General Assembly in 1971 to oversee
the new16-member university system. According to
former Chancellor Jim Woodward, when Belk left
the Board of Governors, he was offered the choice
to serve as a trustee at any one of the 16 universities.
“He chose UNC Charlotte,” Woodward said.
Artist Housi Knecht, who Belk met in Switzerland, created
the water harp. The steel sculpture includes a circulating
water tank. It is eight feet tall, five feet wide and weighs
300 pounds. Water and oil flow over the strings of the
harp. When lit, the harp appears to be playing.
IRWIN BELK a Legendary Giver continued
F E A T U R E A R T I C L E ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 25
made of steel and includes a circulating water tank. It is eight feet tall, five feet wide
and weighs 300 pounds. Water and oil flow over the strings of the harp. When lit, the
harp appears to be playing. He gave it to UNC Charlotte so that it would grace the
entrance of the new performing arts building, Robinson Hall. The piece was installed
in December, 2006. “Nobody will ask
where the music building is again,”
Belk declares.
Over the years, Belk has commis-sioned
artists from around the world
to create giant mascots for numerous
college and university campuses.
“Do you know where the largest
boilermaker in the United States is?”
he asks. “The largest bulldog?”
“The largest wildcat?” “The largest
pirate?” He asks again and again.
Belk is proud to commission
sculptors who create these massive
works of mascot art. He makes sure
artists produce the absolute largest
piece in the United States. Now, the
largest bull is located at Johnson
C. Smith University in Charlotte
(larger than the Merrill Lynch bull in New York City), the largest wildcat at Davidson
College, the largest mountain man at Appalachian State University, the largest
white marble “victory” sculpture (4 tons) at UNC Charlotte. There are many others.
(See sidebar) Which one is his favorite? “The one I’m working on right now,” he
answers. That would be the largest lion at Queen’s University.
There is a long list of other activities Belk has championed. He has served as the
past president of the American Cancer Society Foundation and as an ACS Board of
Trustees member for many years. He’s so passionate about their work that he donated
funds – matched by the North Carolina Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust
Fund – to establish the Irwin Belk Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at UNC
Charlotte. Currently, the Biology Department is searching for a nationally recognized
teacher and scholar to further the university’s cancer-related research activities. The gift
enabled the university to also hire Dr. Ken Bost, designated the Belk Distinguished
Professor of Biology and “one of the best scientists in the world,” according to Dr.
Michael Hudson, Chair of the Biology Department.
Recently, Belk resigned from his UNC Charlotte Board of Trustee’s position, a
post he has assumed at various times since 1973. His son, Carl Belk is fulfilling his
father’s unexpired term.
UNC Charlotte celebrated its sixtieth birthday in September 2006. Irwin Belk has
been a stalwart supporter for more than 40 of those 60 years. “I love UNC Charlotte
and I’m honored to work for its cause,” claims Belk.
“When I look back to think about who was the most important person, exter-nally,
there is no one more important than Ike Belk,” says Woodward. “His political
support and guidance were his greatest contributions.”
Miss Bonnie Cone gave birth to UNC Charlotte and is fondly known as its
founder. The Honorable Irwin Belk has been one of the university’s most ardent
champions and has earned the right to be designated the university’s godfather.
Someone contact a sculptor. We need another statue or two.
“When I look back to
think about who was
the most important
person, externally, there
is no one more important
than Ike Belk. His
political support and
guidance were his
greatest contributions.”
Jim Woodward, Chancellor Emeritus
UNC Charlotte’s Victory Sculpture, “Androgino”
IKE’S LARGEST-IN
THE-UNITED STATES
MASCOTS
▪ Air Force Academy’s Falcon
▪ Appalachian State University’s
Mountain Man
▪ Charlotte Latin School’s Red Tail Hawk
▪ Davidson College’s Wildcat
▪ East Carolina University’s Pirate (45 feet)
▪ Elon University’s Phoenix
▪ Fayetteville State University’s Bronco
▪ Furman University’s Paladin
▪ Johnson C. Smith’s Bull
▪ Livingstone College’s Bear
▪ Lynchburg College’s Hornet
▪ Purdue University’s Boilermaker (34 feet)
▪ Presbyterian College’s Scotsman
(2 1/2 stories tall)
▪ Queens University’s Lion
▪ St. Andrews Presbyterian College’s Knight
▪ Western Carolina University’s Catamount
▪ Wingate University’s Bulldog
▪ Jesse Helms Center’s Bald Head Eagle
▪ UNC Chapel Hill’s Ram
▪ UNC Charlotte’s Victory Sculpture
A group of dedicated friends and colleagues
have made gifts to endow the Mary Thomas
Burke Endowed Scholarship in the College of
Education. Established in 2005, the scholarship
was created to honor the memory of Dr. Mary
Thomas Burke, who established the college’s
graduate counseling program, and her contri-butions
to improve the quality of life for chil-dren
and adults throughout our community.
Pamela and William T. Crowder Jr. ’75,
executive vice president and chief operating
officer of Crowder Construction Company,
established an endowed scholarship in the
William States Lee College of Engineering
for undergraduates pursuing careers in the
construction industry.
David and Bob Dooley, executive vice
presidents of the R.T. Dooley Construction
Company, established an annual scholarship
for incoming freshman enrolled in the civil
engineering program in the William States
Lee College of Engineering.
The Joe S. Epley Scholarship Foundation
created an endowed scholarship for deserving
juniors and seniors majoring in communica-tions
studies in the College of Arts and
Sciences. The foundation was established in
2003 to honor founder Joe Epley’s dedica-tion
to lifelong professional development
in the public relations industry and to
commemorate the 35th anniversary of
Epley Associates/Public Relations.
Judy and Tom Fisher ’77, vice president of
information technology for QUALCOMM
and chief information officer for
QUALCOMM’s CDMA Technologies
Group, established an endowed scholarship to
provide need-based support for undergradu-ates
in the College of Information Technology.
UNC Charlotte received a distribution from
the estate of Helen Gallier, which is funding
much-needed scholarships in art, music, and
dance and theater in the College of Arts and
Sciences. Gallier’s husband, Ted, taught in
the Belk College of Business prior to his
death in 1999.
Two respected foundations are providing signif-icant
private scholarship support for students
in the College of Health and Human Services.
The Hearst Foundation, Inc. established an
endowed scholarship for minority students
pursuing graduate degrees in nursing who
intend to reside permanently in the United
States upon graduation. Recognizing the
importance of need-based scholarship support,
the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation
continues to fund a scholarship for deserving
female undergraduates who reside in the
Southeast. Over the past 16 years, more than
500 Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarships have
been awarded to UNC Charlotte students.
IntePoint, LLC is funding a research fellow-ship,
enabling assistant professor Brent Kang
in the College of Information Technology to
conduct research on an efficient data manage-ment
layer for large-scale critical infrastruc-ture
simulation and visualization. With an
efficient data management layer, authorities
may analyze real-time information from
national dynamic data sources to determine a
disaster’s impact upon nuclear power plants,
dams, roads and electric power grids.
At the behest of former Vice Chancellor for
University Relations Ed Kizer and his wife,
Page, the Bradham Family Foundation has
made a lead gift to establish and support
Middle Grades University (MGU), an annual
program hosted by the College of Education
to introduce middle grades youth to the
opportunities associated with a university
education. Participants who later attend UNC
Charlotte are also eligible for an endowed
scholarship, which is open to MGU graduates
in all colleges and offers special consideration
for those enrolled in the College of Education.
The Kizers also established an endowed schol-arship
to support MGU participants.
Family members, friends and classmates of
Martin “Marty” Limberg, a former UNC
Charlotte architecture student, have marked
the 10th anniversary of his death by making
gifts to endow a memorial scholarship to
provide financial assistance to graduate
students in the College of Architecture. The
scholarship supports dedicated scholars who
exhibit the same talent and devotion to art
and metal design that Limberg demonstrated
as a UNC Charlotte student.
Richard McCracken established an endowed
scholarship in the William States Lee College
of Engineering. McCracken’s gift was made
in honor of his longtime friend, Charles G.
Rust, UNC Charlotte’s director of capital
improvements in Facilities Management.
We extend our condolences to the family
of Charlotte philanthropist and longtime
supporter Irma Irene Mull, 82, who passed
away on Feb. 14. Passionate about art, Mull
used her estate planning to establish an
endowed scholarship fund to assist UNC
Charlotte’s talented and deserving art
students with educational expenses, including
tuition fees and art supplies. Equally passion-ate
about orchids, Mull made generous
contributions to support the maintenance
and growth of the McMillan Greenhouse.
In appreciation of her enduring support,
the university created and named the “Mull
Farlan” hybrid orchid to commemorate
Mull’s childhood home in McFarlan, N.C.
Neuro-Life for the Carolinas is partnering
with the Charlotte Research Institute to facili-tate
and accelerate the growth of biomedical
and translational research in the Charlotte
region. The partnership is critical to the
university’s ability to foster the growth of
biotechnology-based companies, attract world-class
research scientists and make important
contributions in the field of cancer research.
Frank (Alex) Rankin, III, president of
Concord Engineering and Surveying, Inc.,
established an annual scholarship for
incoming or current freshman enrolled in
the civil engineering program in the William
States Lee College of Engineering.
Associate Professor Emerita Jane K.
Testerman ’73 has made a lead gift to
complete the Legacy for Leadership Room
and provide an annual scholarship for educa-tional
leadership graduate students in the
College of Education. The Legacy for
Leadership Room will provide a comfortable
gathering place for graduate students to study,
conduct research and connect with peers and
mentors in the field of educational leadership.
The Young Agents Committee of the
Independent Insurance Agents of North
Carolina created an endowed scholarship for
risk management and insurance in the Belk
College of Business. Both organizations also
made separate annual gifts to begin awarding
their respective scholarships this academic year.
Significant support for the university is coming from throughout the university’s extended community.
Private support provides the necessary funding for advancements in technology, field research, artistic
expression, athleticism, humanitarian efforts and countless other initiatives at UNC Charlotte.
26 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ G I V I N G
D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S ▪ W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 27
Using his talents for blending architec-ture
and art and his desire to serve those in
need, Charles “Chip” Howell has worked
diligently to create better communities
through architectural design. And now, the
third-year graduate student has been recog-nized
for his humanitarianism by receiving a
prestigious university award.
Howell, a master’s student in the College
of Architecture, received the Nish Jamgotch
Jr. Humanitarian Student Award in April for
his efforts to improve the lives of others. The
award is given to a UNC Charlotte student
who demonstrates creative problem solving,
conflict resolution and improvement for the
human condition. Howell, one of three final-ists,
is the third recipient of the award, which
carries a $10,000 cash prize.
“Volunteerism gave me a way to hone
my talents while helping others,” said Howell.
“Giving back to the community was a very
rewarding part of my experience at UNC
Charlotte. All of my professors have been
helpful, enthusiastic supporters of both my
academic work and my desire to serve those
in need.”
The Nish Jamgotch Jr. Humanitarian
Student Award was established and is prima-rily
funded by political science professor
emeritus Nish Jamgotch.
As a volunteer for the Latin American
Coalition, Howell directed a campaign to
create Charlotte’s first community-based Latin
American Cultural and Service Center. A
talented designer, Howell developed a strategy
whereby art and architecture serve as a
springboard for cross-cultural connections.
In addition, he has outlined strategies for
low-income Latino youth to have opportuni-ties
in developing programs for the center.
At UNC Charlotte, Howell assisted in
the design and construction of a house for a
low-income family in Charlotte. In 2005,
Howell led a group of volunteers during the
construction of a fire station in New Bern,
Ala., and in building a bus-stop shelter near
Asheville, N.C.
Howell graduated last May and is
pursuing architectural opportunities in
both the private and non-profit sectors.
Master’s student recognized for improving the human condition
Future architect, current volunteer wins Nish Jamgotch Jr. Award
Tom Slaughter – an avid teacher, devoted husband and longtime
Charlotte resident – recently arranged his third charitable gift annuity
to further support the Tom and Mary Slaughter Scholarship Fund,
which he established in 2003 in memory of his wife, Mary Miller
Slaughter. Available to all UNC Charlotte students, the Slaughter
Scholarship is awarded to recipients who possess good moral character,
show the promise of future usefulness toward society and demonstrate
the need for financial assistance.
At its heart, the Slaughter Scholarship symbolizes not only the
mutual love, respect and admiration the Slaughters shared; it also
embodies their remarkable shared love of teaching. Mary earned her
teaching degree at Converse College and taught for two years in
Cincinnati, Ohio, before spending 22 years as a junior-high language
arts and social studies teacher at several Charlotte schools, including
Hawthorne Middle School.
Influenced by educators within and around his own family, teach-ing
also became Tom’s lifelong dream. “At an early age, my teachers,
doctor and pharmacist were role models,” he said. “The teachers just
stood out in my mind and made me think that I wanted to be a
teacher. I never lost that ambition. Teaching allowed me to enjoy the
camaraderie and the association with young people.”
After serving the U.S. Navy aboard the USS LSM-100, Tom gradu-ated
from Wofford College and served as director of veteran’s training for
York County, where he taught night classes for three years to help veterans
earn their high school degrees. Encouraged by a local pharmacist, Tom
attended the Medical College of South Carolina and worked part-time as a
pharmacist to supplement his teaching income. He later taught advanced
placement and honors chemistry at Charlotte’s West Mecklenburg High
School for 17 years, during which time he earned a master’s degree in
chemistry from the College of William and Mary and completed
graduate work in advanced placement chemistry at Duke University.
Having retired 26 years ago, Tom hopes to inspire young people to
share his enthusiasm toward education. “As a teacher, I’ve always felt
that one of my greatest responsibilities is to pass our civilization on to
future generations,” he said. “My greatest hope is that what I pass along
to future generations will enable people to keep expanding upon and
sharing their learning with others.”
Over the course of his lifetime, Tom said his inspiration still comes
from helping others. “I’m almost 82 years old, and yet my greatest thrill
is in knowing that I can make a difference for someone,” he said.
“Being able to support someone [through scholarship] is probably a
bigger thrill for me than it is for the students.”
“I’m almost 82 years old, and yet… I can make a difference for someone”
Charlotte teacher continues to honor late wife with scholarship
www.giving.uncc.edu
28 W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 ▪ D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S
Scholarship endowed in
memory of College of
Architecture graduate
The family, friends and classmates of Martin
“Marty” Limberg, a UNC Charlotte College of
Architecture graduate, marked the 10th anniversary of
his death by endowing a memorial scholarship in the
College of Architecture.
In 1996, those closest to Limberg created the
Martin Limberg Scholarship Fund. Their wish was for
the scholarship to be self-sustaining so that annual
awards could be made. Although the initial gifts were
numerous, the fund fell short of being endowed.
Ten years later, Jonathan Wolk ’92, a close friend
and classmate of Limberg, challenged fellow alumni and
friends of the College of Architecture to endow the
fund. Wolk’s efforts paid off, allowing the college to
honor Limberg while supporting dedicated fifth-year
architecture students.
“Marty had the ability to instantly relate to people,
and they would open up to him – you always liked to
be around him,” Wolk said. “Without Marty, the
community lost a vibrant and promising architect and
the work that he would have shared with us. I’m
honored to be able to make this scholarship a reality
for the College of Architecture.”
Trudy Schrodt, director of development for the
College of Architecture, voiced her support and appre-ciation
of Wolk’s initiative. “I am extremely grateful to
Marty’s family and friends for their commitment to this
scholarship and what it represents,” she said. “It is
through their gifts, and those of our gracious donors,
that the College of Architecture can provide the critical
margin of excellence, not only for the immediate future,
but also for perpetuity.”
Scholarships attract and support some of the
brightest and most promising students at UNC
Charlotte. Such support has a strong and lasting effect,
not only on the students who benefit from a scholar-ship,
but also on the companies and communities with
which those students share their knowledge and talents
once they leave UNC Charlotte.
Bill Whittaker succeeds
Dennis Bunker as alumni
board president
Whittaker elected president
for 2006-2007
William G. “Bill” Whittaker ’79 is the newly elected
president of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association
Board of Governors for 2006-2007. As president, Whittaker
will oversee the board in its outreach to UNC Charlotte alumni.
Whittaker replaces Dennis Bunker ’81 in the role.
“I have enjoyed my two terms on the board and look
forward to working with the other officers, board
members and Nick McEntire to increase alumni involve-ment
in the university’s mission,” said Whittaker. “Our
beautiful, new Harris Alumni Center will open this fall
and we look forward to making it a focal point for our
graduates and a tool in furthering our goals.”
Whittaker double-majored in history and English at
UNC Charlotte, was a writer and features editor of the
student newspaper, The Carolina Journal, and was a
student worker in Acquisitions at Atkins Library. He
served on the Alumni Association Board of Governors from 2001-2003 and was a
member and ch