UNC Charlotte The magazine of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Alumni and Friends • v21 q1 • 2014
REMEMBERING
MISS BONNIE FOUNDER'S NIECE GIVES KEEPSAKES TO UNIVERSITY
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Core Values: Diversity and Inclusion
"All of us should be proud that the University remains at the forefront of advancing an inherently moral core value."
As we launch what promises to be another great year here at UNC Charlotte, I want to share with you an exciting and encouraging development from the end of 2013. During the Charlotte Chamber’s annual meeting in December, UNC Charlotte was recognized as the first nonprofit recipient of the Belk Innovation in Diversity Award. This accolade honors the countless people within UNC Charlotte who have built it into one of the most diverse and inclusive campuses in the UNC system. The Belk Innovation in Diversity Award recognizes “outstanding leadership and practice by driving business and community results through innovative diversity and inclusion in the workplace, economy and beyond.” We salute CEO Tim Belk and his company for taking the initiative to sponsor this award. In naming UNC Charlotte as the nonprofit winner of the award, the Charlotte Chamber cited the creation of the University’s Diversity Plan in 2008, which has impacted the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population and workforce. The Chamber also mentioned our Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund, which provides $100,000 of grants every year to create a broader understanding of diversity and inclusion; institutional support for diverse partnerships with businesses and the community that resulted in the Good Faith Award from the state Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses; and the enlistment of individuals to serve on the many advisory boards across the campus to ensure that the composition of those groups reflect the community’s population. Diversity and inclusion are core values at UNC Charlotte, as they are in most successful organizations. That includes the recruitment, retention and advancement of our faculty, staff, and students; our work to bring speakers and other culturally diverse activities to the UNC Charlotte campus; our community service engagements in the Charlotte region; and our business relationships with minority- and female-owned businesses that contract services with the University. UNC Charlotte was out front on diversity and inclusion long before it was commonplace. Our founder, Bonnie Cone, made great achievements garnering widespread support for the growth and development of the University from community leaders who were almost exclusively male. Our first chancellor, Dean Colvard, brought a national reputation for integration and equitable treatment from his time at Mississippi State. Chancellors E. K. Fretwell and Jim Woodward consistently built on that strong foundation.
We’ve worked hard to incorporate those values into all that we do in delivering our education and public service mission on campus and throughout the community. Our faculty, staff, and students have been vigorous advocates for greater inclusion at UNC Charlotte. Beginning in 1993, a series of committees and task forces examined issues related to diversity and made recommendations about how to advance campus diversity; and various subsequent groups have reported on the status of campus diversity, calling attention to specific areas of concern and identifying strategies for improvement. In 2004, the University adopted a goal specific to diversity: to enhance opportunities for learning in a culturally rich environment. In my 2006 installation address, I reconstituted the Council on University Community, comprised of members of my Cabinet and chaired by Provost Joan Lorden, charging the Council with the completion and implementation of a comprehensive diversity plan for faculty, staff, and students. This “Campus Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Plan” is the product of the Council’s deliberations and builds on the carefully considered recommendations and insight of prior working groups. In 2008, we began implementing the plan. To yield a sustainable campus culture of inclusion, a successful diversity plan necessarily involves all areas of the University and requires collective responsibility at all levels. UNC Charlotte is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that is respectful of differences and promotes understanding and cooperation. You’ll see more about this award in a news item later in this edition. I feel it’s important to point out that UNC Charlotte fosters these initiatives and programs not to win awards but to do what is right and what is beneficial to the community. All of us should be proud that the University remains at the forefront of advancing an inherently moral core value. In working together to nurture and sustain a culture of diversity and inclusion, the groups and individuals who make up this University have created a beautifully rich tapestry, and it is gratifying to know that our efforts are impacting the community in such a meaningful way. Cordially,
Philip L. Dubois Chancellor
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features
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Remembering Miss Bonnie
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Saving Green by Going Green
The University founder’s niece recently visited campus bearing cherished family heirlooms and keepsakes as part of an oral history project designed to keep Miss Bonnie’s legacy alive. UNC Charlotte’s sustainability mission is on full display in the Student Union where its pulper acts to reduce landfill waste and is paying dividends in many environmental and energysaving ways.
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When Zero is Best
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Moments in Time
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Jerry Richardson Stadium is unique in that it is designed with countless methods aimed at managing the carbon footprint of the facility with an aspirational goal of “zero waste.” The Charlotte 49ers’ inaugural football season provided a myriad of memories that will live in the hearts and minds of Niner Nation for years to come.
24 Celebrating Past & Future
The Honors College recently celebrated several milestones in its growing history, but remains focused on the future of the program and its leadership role within the University.
26 UrbanEden: Part of a Journey
12 stake your claim profiles 12
UNC Charlotte’s Solar Decathlon team pioneered an integrated concrete wall system that relied on a long road of ongoing research, and will serve as a catalyst for future research.
30 Eight Alums Honored for Service, Achievements
The UNC Charlotte Alumni Association recognized its newest contingent of individuals that embody the core principles of the University and distinguish themselves through service to the University.
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News Briefs
34 Giving
20 Center Stage
36 Building Blocks
22 49ers Notebook
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Perspective
On the Cover: Bonnie Cone Sawyer, niece of University founder Bonnie Cone, donated approximately 70 artifacts to the Adkins Library Special Collections that help illustrate and bring to life the anecdotes and memories she shared about her aunt’s quest to establish UNC Charlotte.
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‘A Big Deal’ UNC Charlotte student, Josie Cambareri, made the most of her internship at the Washington Center and is excited about the many opportunities that lie ahead of her as a result. UNC Charlotte Student Becomes White House Volunteer Michael Higgins took some time from his duties as a student volunteer to describe his experiences working in the Office of Presidential Correspondence in Washington D.C. Amazing Jewel Angela Broome, regional CEO for the American Red Cross, touts her graduate education from UNC Charlotte as providing her with all the tools necessary to be successful in her role. Q114
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Staking Our Claim in a New Year The arrival of a new year seems to feature two recurring themes: 1) resolutions, whether personal or professional, relating to things that are suppose to change and 2) continuity – those things that endure from year to year. This column is about continuity – continuity of UNC Charlotte’s Stake Your Claim brand position, and the practical aspects that bring that brand alive. As you know, an organization’s brand includes visual identity marks, logos, color palettes, guidelines for usage of these things and just about everything that comprises the “look and feel” of marketing communication materials. The brand also extends into the true stories we choose to tell about UNC Charlotte and how we tell them. In University Communications we prioritize as best we can stories that directly support the UNC Charlotte mission statement. From there, we seek stories that advance one or more of our three strategic messages: 1. UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research university, 2. UNC Charlotte is integral to the social, cultural and economic fabric of the Charlotte region and 3. U NC Charlotte provides a high quality, high value education worthy of broad-based support. Further, we seek to shape stories that advance those messages by positioning them as representative of our official brand “channels”: Research, Scholarship, Arts and Culture, Community Engagement, Global Reach and Athletics. Typically, when you read and view content produced and earned by UNC Charlotte, the brand reflection is “in there” somewhere. It is in the stories and news published in this edition. As a new year begins, the continuity of the Stake Your Claim brand position stays alive, a dynamic guiding light for UNC Charlotte.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Volume 21, Number 1 Philip L. Dubois Chancellor Niles Sorensen Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Stephen Ward Executive Director of University Communication Editor Director of Public Relations John D. Bland Associate Editor Susan Shackelford Contributing Writers Phillip Brown Melba Newsome Paul Nowell Karla Stanchina Shelly Theriault Meg Whalen Tom Whitestone Staff Photographer Wade Bruton Design & Production SPARK Publications
UNC Charlotte is published four times a year by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 ISSN 10771913 Editorial offices: 202 Foundation Building The University of North Carolina at Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28223 704.687.7214
Regards
John D. Bland, Editor Director of Public Relations
Printed on recycled paper
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is open to people of all races and is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability.
17,500 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $.54 per piece, for a total cost of $9,375. 2
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UNC Charlotte Gets
Innovation in Diversity Award Used by permission of the Charlotte Business Journal
Chancellor Philip L. Dubois accepted the Belk Innovation in Diversity Award from the Charlotte Chamber’s Lilicia Bailey.
THE BELK INNOVATION IN DIVERSITY AWARD RECOGNIZES “OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICE BY DRIVING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY RESULTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE, ECONOMY AND BEYOND.” UNC Charlotte is the first nonprofit recipient of the Belk Innovation in Diversity Award, presented by the Charlotte Chamber and Belk Inc. The University was acknowledged at the chamber’s annual meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3. The Belk Innovation in Diversity Award recognizes “outstanding leadership and practice by driving business and community results through innovative diversity and inclusion in the workplace, economy and beyond.” In naming UNC Charlotte as the nonprofit winner of the award, the Charlotte Chamber cited the creation of the University’s Diversity Plan in 2008, which has impacted the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population and workforce. Other initiatives mentioned included the development of the Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund, which provides grants to create a broader understanding of diversity and inclusion; institutional support for diverse partnerships with businesses and the community that resulted in the Good Faith Award from the state Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses; and the enlistment of diverse board and advisory groups across the campus that mirror the community’s population. www.UNCC.edu
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL COMING TO CAMPUS Plans are under way to open an Early College High School on the UNC Charlotte campus in the fall of 2014. It will be the first of its kind in Mecklenburg County for an innovative educational concept that has been growing in popularity across North Carolina. The new high school will focus in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education, with a specific emphasis on energy. In early college high schools, students take a variety of required high school classes and tuition-free college courses. Once it gets the necessary approvals, the new school would be housed near the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, or EPIC, on the Charlotte Research Institute campus. EPIC opened its doors in a new $76 million building in 2012, with a mission to produce the next generation of engineers and other workers for the region’s expanding energy-industry cluster. EPIC has the financial backing of energy giants such as Duke Energy, Siemens, Westinghouse and Areva. The school, a joint partnership between the University and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, must be approved by the CharlotteMecklenburg School Board as well as the State Board of Education and the UNC Board of Governors. For UNC Charlotte, the school will become a research and professional development site for STEM education and teacher preparation. It will feature a fiveyear curriculum that will enable students to earn their high school diploma and up to two years of transferrable college credit. Q114
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UNIVERSITY, CMPD COLLABORATE TO ENHANCE OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING In efforts to ensure the safety of UNC Charlotte students who live in apartments surrounding the campus, the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety and the Dean of Students Office are in the process of implementing the Niner Choice program. The program is designed for multifamily developments and will directly address crime issues that can occur in apartment complexes. According to a recent WSOC-TV news report, CMPD conducted a study and found 53 percent of its major crimes happen in neighborhoods like the one containing apartment complexes around the University. About 37 percent of crimes come from rent-by-the-room complexes where a bedroom with access to a kitchen and living room can be rented from $300 to $400 a month. Oftentimes the arrangement is a less expensive option for students. Police note that it is risky when students are matched with people looking for a cheap place to live. Currently UNC Charlotte has more than 26,500 students enrolled, and 35,000 students are expected by 2018. The University expects more apartment complexes to be built as a result of the growth and began to proactively address safety issues, now. The program requires apartment complexes to have student-only units, on-site security officers and quarterly property management meetings with police. If properties meet those requirements, they are certified as a Niner's Choice complex, and can advertise on the University’s off-campus housing website. One complex, 49 North Apartments, has already made changes. The property invested $2 million in renovations and security and maintain in constant contact with CMPD. In the first six months of 2013, crime dropped by 35 percent.
RESEARCH, PARTNERSHIP YIELD SEWER INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY A company called InfoSense is the outgrowth of a unique development partnership between UNC Charlotte and the CharlotteMecklenburg Utility Department (CMUD). 4
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The Charlotte-based startup’s innovative acoustic inspection technology, the SL-RAT, revolutionizes sewer line maintenance and is an example of how creative collaboration between government, business and academia can help solve difficult problems. Back in 2005, engineers and officials from CMUD met with faculty members from the UNC Charlotte Electrical and Computer Engineering Department to discuss how the University might assist in solving a variety
of issues faced by the utility. One issue that floated to the top early in the discussions was how to combat sanitary sewer overflows. What CMUD needed was a more costeffective method to determine which specific segments needed cleaning, so they could focus their efforts on the real problems. Engineering professor Ivan Howitt came up with the concept of using sound waves to determine whether a pipe was dirty or clean. In March 2006, Howitt submitted a proposal
49ERS TO FIELD MARCHING BAND The UNC Charlotte Department of Music will field a marching band in fall 2015. It will augment the drum line that performed at home football games this fall. The introduction of a full marching band will coincide with the 49ers’ ascent into the elite Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA. The Department of Music is conducting a national search for its inaugural director of athletics bands. This position is expected to join the UNC Charlotte faculty in fall 2014 and will spend a full year leading students in planning the marching band and establishing new traditions. According to officials, the planning will include fundraising for marching band scholarships, purchasing new instruments and new uniforms and the construction of a building for offices and storage. This facility would be located within walking distance of Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts, as well as the field next to Highway 49 where the band would practice. Officials anticipate the band would play during pre-game festivities and welcome the football team as they run onto the field. Also, the band could play the fight song and other cheer songs in the stands during the game and return to the field to entertain fans during halftime. At the end of every game, the marching band will lead the crowd in the UNC Charlotte Alma Mater. www.UNCC.edu
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FORMER SENATOR TO KEYNOTE 2014 WOMEN’S SUMMIT Former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe will be the keynote speaker for the 2014 summit of the Women + Girls Research Alliance scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2014. Snowe, a Maine Republican, served three terms in the U.S. Senate, from 1995-2013. She also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1995. The fourth woman in American history elected to both houses of Congress, Snow was the first woman to serve in both houses of a state legislator and both houses of Congress. The April 2014 summit is entitled “Convergence: Mapping Success, Well-being and Empowerment.” It will feature Women + Girls Research Alliance (formerly Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Summit) findings and experts on topics such as gender, race and entrepreneurship, domestic violence education and policy in the workplace and the ever-changing economic landscape of the greater Charlotte community. Snowe’s work in the U.S. Senate garnered her nationwide recognition as a leading policymaker in Washington. In 2005, she was named the 54th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine. In 2006, Time magazine named her one of the top 10 U.S. senators, the only woman in the exclusive group.
for a joint development effort, and the study received funding approval in 2007. CMUD began to see the technology’s real potential, so they agreed to fund a pilot project by purchasing a prototype unit. With the help of UNC Charlotte’s Ben Craig Center business incubator, Howitt began working to commercialize his product. Because the initial development work was done at the university, UNC Charlotte owned the patent, but Howitt was able to negotiate an exclusive license for the new company. InfoSense officially started marketing in 2012. The company’s sales network now covers 41 states and has sold more than 50 SL-RAT units to customers nationwide. TRUSTEES HOLD DOWN TUITION Following UNC system President Tom Ross’ recommendation for no increase in tuition for in-state undergraduates for 201415, trustees at UNC Charlotte approved a proposal that calls for a freeze for the upcoming academic year. Under the proposal from Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, overall student fees will increase by $120 annually, or 6.5 percent. The trustees also approved Dubois’ recommendation for www.UNCC.edu
a $50 increase for campus renovations and repairs to physical infrastructure. Resident undergraduate tuition will remain at the current level of $3,522, but the combined overall cost of attendance will increase by $170, or 2.78 percent. The $120 increase in general fees includes a previously approved $50 increase for football. The remainder of the fee increase came in health services, education and technology, athletics and recreational services. CLARK RECEIVED GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE Director of Classroom Support Steve Clark has been called a one-of-a-kind thinker and an innovator in his job at UNC Charlotte. He can add recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence to his resume. Clark was among the educators, wildlife officers, law enforcement officials and other state workers honored, Nov. 19, during a
special luncheon at the Museum of History in Raleigh. The Governor’s Award for Excellence is the highest honor bestowed a state employee. His technological and operational innovations resulted in tremendous cost savings for the University, decreased response time and improved access to education and safety in classrooms on campus.
Classroom Support Director Steve Clark (left) received the Governor's Award for Excellence from Gov. Pat McCrory.
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Today, all smart classrooms utilize Clark’s podium design that has a touch panel control system, a DVD/VCR combo player, document camera and personal computer linked to a projector and retractable screen. Two-way communication between the podiums and classroom support, added after the first year, Steve Clark improved efficiency technician response time. It also has become part of the campus’ emergency preparedness efforts as faculty members can receive help quickly and alerts can be delivered to all equipped classrooms.
Students danced for 12 hours to raise more than $35,000 for the Levine Children's Hospital.
UNC Charlotte PORTAL Building when the facility opens in early 2014. Johan Enslin, EPIC director, said EPIC will provide SineWatts with a team of postdoctorate fellows and students to assist in the development of the molecule inverter. The $620,000 federal grant funding this research is from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Incubator Program. It is designed to fund startup businesses with high-growth potential in breakthrough technology.
DANCE MARATHON BENEFITS LEVINE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL UNC Charlotte students started dancing at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and stayed on their feet for 12 hours to celebrate raising $35,066.25 for the Levine Children’s Hospital. The 49er Dance Mine was the first of its kind at UNC Charlotte; it was part of a national movement in which colleges and universities across the country generate financial support for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in their communities.
UNC CHARLOTTE RANKED AMONG TOP FULBRIGHT-PRODUCING INSTITUTIONS
EPIC GRANTED FEDERAL SUNSHOT AWARD UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) was named a partner on a $620,000 federal grant to develop a molecule inverter that mounts on solar panels. EPIC will work with clean-energy startup SineWatts, which will open an office in Charlotte. It is likely to be a tenant in the 6
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Nationally, UNC Charlotte is one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. This is a significant achievement, ranking UNC Charlotte alongside other major research institutions, such as the University of California Berkeley, University of Georgia and University of Michigan. But it’s not a surprise either, said Joël Gallegos, assistant provost for international programs. The Office of International Programs, under Gallegos’ direction, spearheads efforts to prepare UNC Charlotte faculty to apply for Joel Gallegos the Fulbright Scholars Program. The office sponsors workshops and information sessions each semester to educate faculty about the process; often, these sessions include presentations from former UNC Charlotte Fulbright recipients. Extending the University’s global reach is an important aspect for UNC Charlotte’s mission as the state’s urban research institution, and having a robust number of Fulbright Scholars on campus is a plus. The Fulbright Scholar Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars. www.UNCC.edu
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ALLEMEIER, PARKISON GET N.C. ARTS FELLOWSHIPS
John Allemeier
Aimee Parkison
Parkison, a 2013 William Randolph Hearst Creative Fellow for historical fiction, is the author of The Innocent Party (BOA Editions, 2012)
Levine Scholars Celia Karp and Caitlin Vaverek co-chaired the planning committee for the marathon. Planning for the event started eight months ago and involved representatives from a number of student groups. The planning committee met with more than 60 campus organizations and created a number of fundraisers in advance of the marathon. Families from the Levine Children’s Hospital came and spoke about how they had been affected by the hospital. CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON STUDENT-VETERANS The College of Health and Human Services Department of Social Work cosponsored the one-day conference “Boots to Books: Understanding Military Culture and Supporting a Successful Transition” in November. The conference brought together experts on veteran’s issues, as well as, faculty, staff, students, service providers and the public, to learn about the unique perspectives of student veterans. Organizers also sought to identify resources to support student veterans’ success at UNC Charlotte and their transition to civilian life. David Vacchi, a national leader in the study of and advocacy for the success of student veterans, served as the keynote speaker at the conference. A U.S. Army veteran with www.UNCC.edu
John Allemeier, associate professor of composition in the Department of Music, and associate professor of English Aimee Parkison are among 15 artists across the state who received a 2013-14 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in the categories of songwriting, composing and writing. Fellowships are awarded to artists to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline. Allemeier’s most recent recording project is a set of three chamber music compositions inspired by North Carolina murder ballads. A subgenre of traditional ballads, they are folksongs whose lyrics recount the narratives of notorious murders.
CHARLOTTE BRIDGE HOME HELPS CHARLOTTE VETERANS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION HOME AFTER MILITARY SERVICE BY IDENTIFYING THEIR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
Student-veteran Rob Bates has won recognition for his drawings from his deployment.
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more than 20 years of active duty service, Vacchi is working toward a doctorate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Paul Passaro, program director with Charlotte Bridge Home, served as a keynote speaker, too. Charlotte Bridge Home helps Charlotte veterans successfully transition home after military service by identifying their education, employment and health care needs. The organization also connects them to available community, state and federal resources. Passaro is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the U.S. Army. “Boots to Books” featured a student panel discussion and opportunities to interact with all speakers. Attendees had the opportunity to visit the “support services” vendor fair and view an art exhibit featuring the work of Robert Bates, a veteran and UNC Charlotte student.
"Boots to Books" brought together student-veterans, faculty, staff, service providers and others.
“NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS OFTEN MUST JUGGLE WORK AND FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES ALONG WITH CLASSES AND HOMEWORK. HOWEVER, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF REENTRY STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY USE THE SKILLS THEY ACQUIRE AWAY FROM COLLEGE TO THEIR BENEFIT WHEN THEY RETURN.”
EDUCATION/ENGINEERING PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS AREA STUDENTS During a four-week project, local middle and high school students had a chance to experience the life of an engineer. The students, participants in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Activities League (PAL), partnered with UNC Charlotte Engineers without Borders (EWB-UNCC) students. Their
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collaborative project, supported through a Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund grant, was led by faculty members Brett Tempest from the Lee College of Engineering and Lisa Merriweather from the College of Education. The goal was to expose the middle and high school students to math, science and engineering concepts in a fun and meaningful way that could benefit the community. During the program, the students designed and installed a rainwater collection system for the roof of a shed, placed a solar panel on the shed’s roof to supply electricity to light bulbs and a pump and figured a way to pump the collected rainwater from the storage tank to another part of the garden for reuse. The project offered students and parents -- some who had no interest in or little knowledge of engineering -- a first-hand look at some of the skills and competencies that are involved in engineering careers, and hopefully inspiring the next generation of engineers.
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n ew s b r i e f s INAUGURAL ENDOWED OSHER REENTRY SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED AT LUNCHEON The Office of Adult Students and Evening Services recently honored the inaugural recipients of the Bernard Osher Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Last year, UNC Charlotte received a $1 million grant from the San Franciscobased Osher Foundation, which is being used as a permanent funding source to aid nontraditional students to complete their degrees. Through the Osher Reentry Scholarship Endowment, 29 undergraduates received scholarships for the fall semester. Students who have been away from college for several years face various obstacles, stated Janet Daniel, OASES director. “Nontraditional students often must juggle work and family responsibilities along with classes and homework. However, research has shown that the vast majority of reentry students successfully use the skills they acquire away from college to their benefit when they return.” Robert Payne, a computer science major from Stanfield, is on track to finish his degree in May. He is among the first cohort of endowed Osher Reentry Scholars. He said such financial support served as a reminder to never give up. He plans to start a business to develop mobile applications. UNIVERSITY CREATES PROJECT MOSAIC TO ENHANCE SOCIAL/ BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE RESEARCH UNC Charlotte has established Project Mosaic, an initiative that will be led by Knight Foundation Distinguished Professor Jean-Claude Thill to enhance the University’s social and behavioral science research. The divisions of Academic Affairs and Research and Economic Development are funding the campus-wide effort, which will be housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Project Mosaic will support interdisciplinary teams centered on social and behavioral science research. Initially, the work will center on two themes: human and social capital, innovation and quality of life and metropolitan Jean-Claude Thill www.UNCC.edu
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SIEMENS PLM SOFTWARE MAKES $5.8 MILLION GRANT The William States Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte announced it received an in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software, with a commercial value of $5.8 million. The in-kind grant gives students access to the same technology that companies around the world depend on every day to develop innovative products in a wide variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, machinery, shipbuilding, high-tech electronics and many more. The grant includes Siemens PLM Software’s NX™ software, a leading integrated solution for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE). UNC Charlotte is using the software to enhance motorsports engineering graduate research and student projects, such as the Formula SAE race car competition. Graduates with this type of software training are highly-recruited candidates for advanced technology jobs.
centers, world trade, transportation and communication. Project Mosaic is inspired by the National Science Foundation report “Rebuilding the Mosaic,” which identified the need for research in the social and behavioral sciences to be increasingly interdisciplinary, dataintensive and collaborative. Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development, stated Project
chief of Computers, Environment and Urban Systems and the area editor-in-charge of Geographic Information Science of Networks and Spatial Economics, American editor of the International Journal of Society Systems Science and associate editor of Geographical Analysis. With the founding of Project Mosaic, UNC Charlotte joins the ranks of institutions with targeted efforts centered
WITH THE FOUNDING OF PROJECT MOSAIC, UNC CHARLOTTE JOINS THE RANKS OF INSTITUTIONS WITH TARGETED EFFORTS CENTERED ON SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH. Mosaic will further the goal of advancing the quality, diversity and growth of research at UNC Charlotte. Thill, who is leading Project Mosaic, is a faculty member in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He is editor-in-
on social science research. These include Cornell University’s Institute for the Social Sciences and Center of Social and Economic Research, Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Odum Institute and Duke University’s Social Science Research Institute. Q114
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Remembering
Miss Bonnie University founder’s niece visits campus, donates family keepsakes By Phillip Brown
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he namesake and niece of UNC Charlotte founder Bonnie Cone recently visited campus for the first time since her aunt’s death; she brought cherished family heirlooms, as well as memories that were recorded as part of an oral history project for the J. Murrey Atkins Library. Bonnie Cone Sawyer had a close relationship with “Miss Bonnie,” who served as her surrogate mother. Sawyer was born in Oregon, but her family returned to Saluda, S.C., when she started third grade. “We moved three times when I was in the first grade, but when I came to Saluda, Aunt Bonnie would visit us often,” Sawyer noted in the oral history. When Sawyer’s mother died in July 1955, Bonnie Cone stepped in to fill the void, said Sawyer. She recalled visiting her aunt in Charlotte and seeing her at holidays and family events. Among the roughly 70 artifacts Sawyer brought to be added to Atkins Library Special Collections were family photos, including
The niece of UNC Charlotte founder Miss Bonnie Cone has given Miss Bonnie memorabilia to the University.
“SHE ALWAYS SAID, ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT ME BUT IT’S ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY.’ SHE KNEW THAT WAS A TRUE STATEMENT.” pictures of Miss Bonnie’s baptism and of a wedding where she served as a bridesmaid, her high school diploma and passport and treasures from Miss Bonnie’s desk. Family friend Fay Reynolds accompanied Sawyer on the visit. She roomed with Sawyer at Coker College, Miss Bonnie’s alma mater. A Charlotte native, Reynolds met Miss Bonnie at Central High School in the mid-1950s; she did typing and filing for her. Reynolds explained she never intended to go to college and visited Coker at Miss Bonnie’s invitation. “My daddy had a third-grade education, but the goal was to get out of high school,” said Reynolds. “I took secretarial courses, shorthand and typing. That got me in connection with Aunt Bonnie. She didn’t give me money, but somehow she was responsible for my going (to Coker).” Reynolds said she was admitted on deficiencies and subsequently received a www.UNCC.edu
$400 scholarship. “I didn’t get it on merit. I know Aunt Bonnie had her left hand in it.” Sawyer recalled that her aunt advocated taking advantage of cultural opportunities, and she remembers taking a trip to Colorado with Miss Bonnie and her Aunt Louise in 1957. Miss Bonnie was going to a meeting, and she had purchased her first car, a green 1957 Ford. On the return trip, they stopped in Oklahoma City to see an outdoor production of “Oklahoma.” Another memory involved a milestone for then-Charlotte College–legislative approval that created UNC Charlotte, making it the fourth campus of the statewide university system, and the selection of Dean Colvard as the first chancellor. The Cone family was disappointed that Miss Bonnie was not named the institution’s first chancellor, said Sawyer, who extolled her aunt’s selflessness. “She always said, 'it’s not about me but it’s about
the University.' She knew that was a true statement. . . All of Charlotte was adamant she deserved it (to be chancellor), but we were glad they gave her a role to still be part of the University. That would have been really devastating to be cut off from what you loved and worked for all those years.” During Sawyer’s visit, she met Cone scholarship recipient Andrew Lay, a first-generation student majoring in engineering, and Cone EarlyCareer Professor Kent Brintnall. John Cullum, director of planned giving in the Division for University Advancement, arranged details of Sawyer’s visit, luncheon and campus tour. “She was amazed at the growth of the University, the preservation of the University’s past and its prospects for the future,” Cullum stated. “One of the items Mrs. Sawyer brought was a letter Miss Bonnie had kept. It was written by a gentleman associated with the Career Center at Central High School; it stated that the idea of Charlotte College would never amount to anything.” Phillip Brown is UNC Charlotte's internal communications manager. Q114
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‘A Big Deal’ Josie Cambareri finds D.C. internship rewarding By Melba Newsome
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hen several professors prompted Josie Cambareri (’15) to apply for a new internship offered through The Washington Center (TWC) in D.C., the criminal justice and political science major had never even been to the nation’s capital. But that didn’t stop her from embracing the challenge. “The more I learned about it, the more I realized that this was a big deal,” she said. Since 1975, TWC has run the largest program of its kind with over 50,000 alumni from more than 400 colleges and universities in the United States and around the world. When TWC selected 10 UNC Charlotte students for an academic internship to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, an opportunity for a broader, longer-term partnership emerged. The City of Charlotte agreed to provide the financial resources for 10 TWC interns, becoming the first and only municipal entity in the country to do so. “I am a huge believer in internships,” explained UNC Charlotte alum and Charlotte City Council member David Howard (’96). “I got six of my credit hours through internships with (N.C. House) Rep. Kelly Alexander and the NAACP. This will give our students some real-world experience.
SIX FROM UNC CHARLOTTE While interning full time, each TWC intern must also take an academic course, commit to a civic-engagement project and attend weekly seminars or workshops. Cambareri was ultimately chosen as one of six students to participate in the University’s inaugural program. She landed a coveted internship with the Department of Justice and was chosen to be a paid blogger for TWC website. “I underestimated every experience I’ve had here,” said Cambareri, who interned over the fall 2013 semester. “I have attended a lot of organized sight-seeings, museum tours and professional development workshops. I also had a chance to meet with Sen. Kay Hagan.” In recent years, student internships have 12 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Josie come under fire. Critics allege that, rather than mentoring or educating students, some employers use them to avoid hiring paid staff and/or assign them menial or personal tasks that provide little practical experience or educational benefit. That has not been Cambareri’s experience. “I truly feel I have one of the best internships out there,” she said. “Third-year law students applied for the internship I got. I get to do things that are relevant to both of my majors.”
PERSONAL COMMITMENT Cambareri acknowledged that internships can be hit or miss but believes each student must make a personal commitment to take something away from the experience. For her, the challenge has been finding time to check things off the bucket list she made last summer. So far, she has gone skydiving and seen all the museums in the Smithsonian. Instead of helping her winnow her career path, however, she said the experience has made her more unsure of what lies ahead for her. “I thought I would leave here knowing exactly what I want to do, but more doors and opportunities have presented themselves to me. I am considering law school and graduate school.” In the meantime, she’s anticipating spring semester at the University. “I will cry when I leave here and have to say goodbye to everyone, but I am really looking forward to coming back to Charlotte,” she said. “I’m homesick. I miss class and being a student.” Melba Newsome is a Charlotte-based writer and frequent contributor to this magazine.
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NC Charlotte student Michael Higgins missed his chance to rub elbows with top political leaders from around the country at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. For Higgins, it was his rite of passage. Instead of wallowing in pity, he registered to vote for the first time and made a personal vow to get more involved in policy issues affecting him and his generation. Higgins is currently working as a student volunteer in the Office of Presidential Correspondence in Washington D.C. He took some time from his duties to describe his experiences with Media Relations Manager Paul Nowell: Tell me a little about yourself and why you decided to attend UNC Charlotte. “I am a 22 year-old undergraduate planning to graduate in May 2014 with a B.A. in political science, a B.S. in economics, and a minor in Islamic studies concentrated in Mideast and South Asian affairs. My studies are geared towards a future career in policy and/or government affairs. Being from Raleigh, most people might expect that I attended State, Duke, or Chapel Hill, but I never found myself inclined to attend any of those schools. I was so impressed with Charlotte’s state of the art campus and facilities that I made a pretty quick decision about where I would study after I graduated high school. It was a smart move. My curriculum overlapped enough for me to get two degrees and a minor in just four years and I was awarded the opportunity to work in our nation’s capital.” Did you do anything at the Democratic National Convention when it came to Charlotte in 2012? “I wish I had. At the time I was apathetic toward the upcoming Presidential Election, so I failed to get on board with volunteer opportunities at the DNC. I regret that now. After watching President Obama www.UNCC.edu
I n te r n s h i p Fe a t u re
Michael Higgens interned at the White House.
What is a typical day like? “I primarily help sort letters addressed to President Obama, Vice President Biden, the First Lady, and White House Staff. I also answer calls from constituents who have policy concerns and submit their comments to the Executive Office of the President. The most rewarding part of my experience was being exposed to various issues that our country faces. It has built my awareness and inspired me to conduct more research on topics I knew little about and others I once thought I understood. Reading or listening to personal stories of Americans will make anyone consider answering John F. Kennedy’s famous question regarding what you can do for your country!
Any anecdotes you can share about being in the White House during such an intense period, with government shutdowns, battles over Obamacare, Syria, and other major events? “It was certainly an eventful few months. I felt so alive being in our nation’s capital where all of the action was happening! Work got busier as each of these events unfolded and I began to realize how hard the president’s job actually is.” During the shutdown, my program was also closed, but I made the most of my time. I researched the issue, visited several privately-owned museums, toured George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, and witnessed live press coverage on Capitol Hill.”
UNC Charlotte Student Becomes
White House Volunteer Edited by Paul Nowell speak I realized how important this particular election would be, so I registered to vote for the first time and watched every single debate. The issues brought to the table were so compelling that I became more interested than ever to explore opportunities to work for the Executive.” Tell me about the job at the White House. “After gaining acceptance to the Washington Center, I adamantly pursued a chance to volunteer for the White House. A representative from headquarters forwarded me information about student volunteer opportunities in the Office of Presidential Correspondence (OPC) and I applied without hesitation. The student volunteer program I participate in is offered by OPC and is separate from the White House Internship Program.” www.UNCC.edu
What do you hope to get out of this experience? “Fond memories, a taste of professional life, but most importantly I hope that it will help me get my foot in the door somewhere I truly desire to be. When I first started, I thought I might be able to gain employment at the White House if I successfully demonstrated my skills, commitment, and work ethic. I began
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to realize that perhaps it would be best for me to start smaller and build up my qualifications first. I am sure I will make it in one day if I still desire to be there.” Do you think it’s worthwhile for other students to spend a semester/year/period in this sort of work? What do you get from being in this environment? “Of course! All students should get a taste of their particular career interest through an internship, volunteer opportunity and/ or semester program if it is feasible. It will enhance their professional development, give them networking opportunities, and influence their career decisions. That last point is the most important. It is better to realize whether you love or hate something before you graduate and get hired.” What are your aspirations and future plans? Do you plan to work in politics? “Right now I am not entirely sure. I have always been interested in national security and advising policymakers on what priorities to set for America’s best interests at home and abroad to protect our citizens. I am confident that my passion for such a career would drive me to accomplish great things. However, it is quite a competitive field that seeks some of the brightest minds in the country, so I need to keep my options open. I have also considered working in government affairs in the private sector, which might give me a greater opportunity to pursue higher education and open the door to an important job in government down the road. In either case, being a volunteer at the White House was certainly worthwhile and I was proud to serve there. I am sure including that experience on my resume will make me more marketable.” Do you plan to come back to UNC Charlotte, or does this finish up your studies? “Yes, I will be wrapping up my final semester in the spring (2014). It seems bittersweet, but I feel ready to move on to the next chapter of my life. I look forward to sharing my experience with my classmates and the Charlotte City Council.” Paul Nowell is media relations manager in the Office of Public Relations. Q114
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Food waste from the Student Union is pulped into compost through a partnership with Earth Farm Organics, Dallas, N.C. Jim Lanier is Earth Farm's CEO.
STUDENT UNION
Saving Green
by Going Green Student Union’s pulper reduces landfill waste, generates compost By Melba Newsome n recent years, going green has become the “in” thing with all manner of businesses and entities touting eco-friendly practices. But UNC Charlotte is no Johnny-comelately to the conservation movement. Ever since a small group of students began collecting aluminum cans nearly 25 years ago, the University has embraced a variety of recycling and waste-reduction
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initiatives that have earned awards and national acclaim. In 1992, UNC Charlotte hired its first full-time recycling coordinator, whose primary responsibility is to conserve energy, reduce waste and shrink the size of the campus’ carbon footprint. “UNC Charlotte has made a commitment to diverting or recycling as much material as possible in order to minimize our
environmental footprint,” said Devin Hatley, environmental educator for the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling. Nowhere is that effort more visible than in the stateof-the-art Student Union building. Every day, roughly 2,700 customers visit Crown Commons and Bistro 49. Many come for Continued on p. 16 www.UNCC.edu
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When Zero is Best Making Richardson Stadium a green machine in all respects By Shelly Theriault
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ith the advent of football, a longanticipated pillar of the University’s sports program arrived. But the pigskin debut was not the only cause celebrated as the team played its first season. The approximately 15,000 fans who attended home games at Jerry Richardson Football Stadium took part in a social experiment focused on consumer education and behavior, a program with the aspirational goal of “zero waste.” When the 49ers hit the gridiron, it marked the first time the zero-waste concept had been implemented in a new college football stadium. UNC Charlotte was keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities as it demonstrated how to manage the carbon footprint of a facility covering 25 acres. “Zero waste” is broadly defined as waste diverted from the landfill through recycling or composting, and University leaders believe they can eventually dispose of 90 percent of stadium waste through the green methods. This inaugural season showed that goal is within reach. For the 49ers’ six home games, 82.6 percent of trash stayed out of the landfill. Through the first three games, the University had already achieved an 80 percent diversion rate, prompting praise from Devin Hatley, environmental educator for Facilities Management’s Office of Waste Management and Recycling. “Members of the Recycling Department, Charlotte Green Initiative and volunteers from ROTC have performed flawlessly, working together to allow this program to flourish,” Hatley said. “Employees from JaniKing (which performs postgame cleanup) have also been very cooperative. Our feedback from the fans is that they are excited about the program and are happy to participate. “As we get more games under our belt and more fans educated in the process, www.UNCC.edu
we will be able to continue our upward trend of reducing waste at the stadium,” he added. “Just based on numbers alone, the program is going swimmingly.” Nonetheless, re-directing several tons of waste requires an affinity for logistics. The initiative had its first test during last spring’s scrimmage game, and it was highly successful. “At the end of the spring game, our waste output (items not composted or recycled) was less than 2 percent of the total weight leaving the stands,” said Brad Green, director of catering and special services for Chartwells, the University’s food vendor. Educating fans both at the scrimmage and through the season was important. “We had 22 pairs of compost/recycling bins set up at various locations around the concourse. Volunteers at each location talked to people and helped them drop their leftovers into the right container,” said Shannon CavenyCox, waste contract administrator for Facilities Management’s Office of Waste Management and Recycling. Volunteers were primarily students, particularly from the Charlotte Green Initiative, the Student Government Association and the EARTH Club. Although tailgating areas are not controlled environments like the inside of a stadium, zero-waste incentives existed. “We had three larger containers outside the stadium designated for recyclables,” said Caveny-Cox. These bins were available for drink bottles and cans, and volunteers scoured the area and reminded tailgaters to use them. Caveny-Cox and Chartwells worked in tandem to encourage an eco-friendly mindset among vendors during the planning stage. “Chartwells has done an awesome job,” she said. “All of the drink cups/bottles are recyclable, and almost all of the food packaging/
containers are compostable. (Chartwells) also has recycling and compost bins inside each (vendor) pod.” Eight convenient bottle-refilling stations (four locations with two refill faucets at each site) were also available. The goal of the stations was to divert fans from purchasing plastic water bottles or cups and using what they already have. So what happened when the clock ran out, the cheers subsided and the stadium was almost empty? This is where the “second half ” of the zero-waste effort began. JaniKing, the company contracted for post-game cleanup, swung into full speed. After emptying recycling and compost containers during the game, the cleanup crew separated materials into recyclable and compostable groups after the game. “Bags were color-coded — green for compost, blue for recycling and clear for waste — so when removed, JaniKing employees easily knew which bin to (use) without having to take the time to actually look inside the bag,” said Caveny-Cox. Once collected, recyclables went to the recycling facility ReCommunity and composted items traveled to Earth Farms, both locally owned businesses. Trent Barnes, associate director and stadium complex manager of UNC Charlotte’s Student Activities Center and Venue Management, anticipated the zerowaste effort would start strong. “There have been some challenges, but working with the Charlotte Green Initiative and Office of Waste Management and Recycling has made it a great experience,” he said prior to the season. “The key to the initial success has been the support of the students. I hope … other stadiums and arenas will look to us to start their own programs.” Shelly Theriault is communications officer for the department of facilities management. Q114
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Continued from p. 14
the variety of dining options which include madeto-order selections and ever-changing food stations that offer everything from apple pie to zucchini bread. The bad news is that this results in a lot of waste. The good news is that the Student Union and Dining Services have found a way to both reduce the volume of waste and turn what’s left into a rich resource for local community farms. When the current Student Union building opened in 2009, UNC Charlotte was one of just three colleges and universities in the state to install a pulper — a gigantic steel apparatus that grinds up and extracts water from food and disposable serving products. LOOKING AT PULPERS “We knew basic disposer systems were problematic,” said Roger Lademann, executive chef with Chartwells, the University’s food vendor. “We toured Johnson & Wales University and noticed they had an early
products and food waste each day, reducing the mixture by up to 85 percent of its original volume. This step alone greatly cut down the amount of refuse the University was sending to landfills. However, the management team members believed they could do even better. They searched throughout the greater Charlotte area for a company that could divert the remaining waste from the trash
WHEN THE CURRENT STUDENT UNION BUILDING OPENED IN 2009, UNC CHARLOTTE WAS ONE OF JUST THREE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE TO INSTALL A PULPER.
base for the composting process. The waste is kept at more than 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 75 days and then cured for 80-120 days to complete the composting process. Finally, the nutrient-rich, soil-enhancing compost is redistributed to businesses, individuals and schools throughout the Charlotte area. “Compost has become more viable in the greater Charlotte region,” said Student Union Executive Director Jerry Mann. “As people and businesses continue to make the transition, it drives down costs for additional eco-friendly practices — and this is the kind of ‘new tradition’ the Student Union is particularly proud to support.” To date, the UNC Charlotte-Earth Farms partnership has resulted in the diversion of about 3,000 pounds of composted waste per week or nearly 25 tons of pulped waste per semester. In addition, it is also paying dividends for the University in many environmental and energy-saving ways. Water extracted from food waste is
Earth Farms collects biodegradable waste from the Student Union twice a week.
version of the pulper system, so we asked our food service consultant about them and how they work. After learning that Davidson College also had a pulper system, Auxiliary Services Director Ray Galleno and I visited their campus for a tour. The rest is history.” The process begins with food and paper waste being rinsed from the dining trays. The biodegradable waste is then carried away to the pulper located on the Student Union loading dock. Using an advanced water extraction system, the machine churns the waste and deposits it into a loading container. During the normal school year, the steel behemoth compacts about 485 pounds of paper 16 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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heap by using it as compost. In 2012, they found the perfect strategic partner in Earth Farms Organics, a Dallas, N.C.based company founded and run by CEO Jim Lanier. After more than 35 years in the environmental waste industry, Lanier opened the composting facility in 2006. CREATING COMPOST For the same cost as sending the material to the landfill, Earth Farms collects the compacted biodegradable waste twice weekly from the Student Union loading dock. The materials are tested and mixed together based on their nitrogen/carbon content to create the
recycled and re-circulated, reducing overall water usage. The decreased reliance on garbage disposals drives down costs in water, electricity and sanitation resources. The reduction in waste produced has allowed dining services to reduce trash pick-up from two days a week to one day per week. “The partnership with Earth Farms Organics to compost food scraps is a big step toward creating a more sustainable campus,” said Hatley. It is also proving that going green can save a lot of green. Melba Newsome is a Charlotte-based writer and frequent contributor to this magazine www.UNCC.edu
Amazing Jewel
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Red Cross CEO enriches community, advocates for graduate education By Karla Stanchina eing the regional chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in Charlotte, Angela A. Broome, ’97, has seen her fair share of local disasters, from tornadoes and flooding to three-alarm apartment fires. She has also supported relief efforts for national and international disasters, including Hurricane Sandy. During her first day at the Red Cross, a tsunami devastated Japan. Needless to say, she received on-the-job training. But she loved it. Giving back to the immediate community and beyond is what lured her away from a successful 20-year career in banking and financial services to the iconic American Red Cross in 2011. “My decision to make a career change was actually a comfortable and effortless transition,” said Angela A. Broome, regional chief executive officer. “Having the opportunity to be active in the community and to make an impact on people’s lives is what fulfills me. So when I was approached about the position, it was quite easy to realize this was the right move for me – directing a region of one of the nation’s premier humanitarian organizations.” As CEO, Broome steers the strategic direction of 10 Red Cross chapters in 15 counties throughout southwestern North Carolina, covering a population of 1.5 million people. With 38 employees and more than 3,000 volunteers, the region supports Red Cross programs such as Services to the Armed Forces, Disaster Services, Transportation Services and Community Education, as well as support services, fund development and communications. Broome will even get involved with tragedies on site. One early Sunday morning, she arrived at a fire-ravaged apartment complex in Matthews. She jumped right to work helping to determine the number of people affected. Along with a team of volunteers, she assessed the need for overnight accommodations, food, medical assistance and emotional and mental health services. “When any type of disaster occurs we, The Red Cross, are one of the first on the scene to provide immediate assistance to the people who have been affected,” stated Angela A. Broome, regional chief executive officer. “We are there to help them begin the recovery process and to help them get back on their feet.” A native of Monroe, N.C., Broome earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Western Carolina University in 1992 and completed her master’s in business management from UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business in 1997. Today she is a member of the Graduate School’s Advisory Board, where she is an advocate for graduate education in our region (see sidebar). “UNC Charlotte was my only choice when I decided to attend graduate school at night,” says Broome. “The level of education there was second to none.” Through class projects and group assignments, Broome developed her skills around working in teams, influencing colleagues and executing against strict deadlines. Throughout her career in banking and now at the Red Cross, she has drawn on these proficiencies on a daily basis. “I am very proud of my MBA from UNC Charlotte, and I encourage individuals all the time to take a look at this amazing jewel in the crown
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of the Queen City,” Broome said. “UNC Charlotte is a fabulous academic university where individuals can get a great education, expand their skill sets and push themselves forward to bigger and better things in their careers.” Broome’s position at the Red Cross adds to her long history of serving the Charlotte community. She has chaired the YWCA Board of Directors and served on the boards of the Charlotte Chamber’s East and Metro chapters and the Charlotte Philharmonic. She has also served on Lifespan’s Board of Visitors and held volunteer positions with Junior Achievement, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Habitat for Humanity and the Make-AWish Foundation.
“UNC CHARLOTTE WAS MY ONLY CHOICE WHEN I DECIDED TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL AT NIGHT. THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THERE WAS SECOND TO NONE.”
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The consummate public servant, Broome’s dedication to serving the Charlotte region shifted from a part-time interest to a full-time job when she joined the American Red Cross. Q114
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Moments in Time
49ers were set to carry the colors on-field for the first time.
Inaugural gridiron campaign creates great memories By Tom Whitestone The much-anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed first game of Charlotte 49ers football was a collection of moments that will stay with fans for years to come: The national anthem played above a field-sized flag. The team’s first-ever run from the tunnel onto McColl-Richardson Field. The storming of the field following the first-ever win. The entire 2013 football season continued to create such memorable moments. The team posted an impressive 45-point victory in the inaugural game, a 45-21 road win at Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) 18 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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opponent Presbyterian, a 29-point fourth-quarter comeback over 24th-ranked Gardner-Webb for a 53-51 victory and a 61-point outburst in the season finale at Morehead State. The schedule boasted six ranked opponents, including four FCS Top 25 teams, and the victory over No. 24 Gardner-Webb will stand as the program’s first over a nationally ranked FCS opponent. Charlotte put up more than 500 yards of offense five times. Four of those games came against FCS scholarship programs, including 501 yards at third-ranked Coastal Carolina. The 49ers
scored 45 or more points in each of their five wins and over 50 points three times. The 49ers wound up ranked seventh in the FCS in takeaways (31), fourth in fumbles recovered (16), 22nd in interceptions (15) and 30th in tackles for loss (6.9/gm). Charlotte averaged 448.5 yards of total offense (18th) and ranked 26th in the FCS in rushing offense (206.8 yds/gm), 27th in scoring offense (33.4 pts/gm) and 12th in fewest sacks allowed (0.91). SEVERAL SRO CROWDS And Niner Nation turned out. With several www.UNCC.edu
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PEOPLE WILL FORGET THE STATS. RECORDS WILL BE BROKEN. BUT THE MOMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND RELIVED WILL BE THE STUFF OF STORIES PASSED ON FROM TAILGATE TO TAILGATE, YEAR AFTER YEAR.
Gold Dusters Sydney Thompson (left) and Katherine Puryear embody the electric spirit typical on game days in Jerry Richardson Stadium.
standing-room-only crowds, an average of 15,541 fans filled Jerry Richardson Stadium for home games, above the actual stadium seating capacity of 15,314. But aside from wins and losses, touchdowns and fumble recoveries, rankings and stats — the inaugural season provided something a little bit more. In the team, in the fans, in the city and in the University — it provided a source of pride. “You didn’t know what to expect going in,” head coach Brad Lambert said of the inaugural season. “We had high expectations of winning and playing well and establishing the program. I’ve said this all along — and I truly mean this — I really admired the way our team prepared week in and week out. The thing I’m proud of is just the way that they’ve showed up every week. I think we’ve laid a good foundation for a long time to come. That was the number one goal we wanted to get accomplished this year — establish how we’re going to play and lay a good foundation.” That foundation was noticed by the fan base, which took pride in the first season — wins, losses and all — and took to Twitter to salute the 49ers after the season-ending victory at Morehead State: @Charlotte49ers I had a blast cheering on the Niners in football this season, and I can’t wait to do it again in 2014! Proud of effort in year 1 @Charlotte49ers football. www.UNCC.edu
Great inaugural season @Charlotte49ers football! #NinerNation Dominant finish to a great inaugural year. Proud of the season they had and look forward to next year. Way to finish @Charlotte49ers Very proud to be an alumni #NinerNation @Charlotte49ers Great ending to a GREAT inaugural season STIRRING CONVERSATION The 49ers captured headlines and magazine covers, had games broadcast on local television, held press conferences, made TV and radio appearances and stirred up conversation throughout the community. But it’s the moments on the field that really captured the imagination. “I thought the year was amazing,” said quarterback Matt Johnson, a red-shirt freshman. “It’s encouraging to see what lies ahead. Two years ago (football) wasn’t (here) and now it is — and people can see our potential.” “As we progressed and we started playing these teams and you see (their) rankings, third and 25th in the nation,” added redshirt freshman nose tackle Larry Ogunjobi, “we’re playing with them and we’re competing and we’re not really that far off. We’re not going to be complacent. We’re going to come and we’re going to go hard and we’re going to do what we have to do to get better.”
Wide receiver Austin Duke steps lively.
Some of the most magical moments came during the incredible comeback over 24th-ranked Gardner-Webb. Trailing by 24 in the fourth quarter, Johnson threw touchdown passes to CJ Crawford and Austin Duke, and Charlotte added a safety to close to within five points, 45-40. When Johnson connected with Trent Bostick on a 48-yard TD pass in the closing minutes, the 49ers found themselves in the lead. Charlotte, as it did much of the season, forced a fumble and running back Alan Barnwell sprinted 56 yards on the next play to put Charlotte ahead by eight, 53-45. Gardner-Webb would answer with a touchdown drive in the final minute, but the continued on p. 33 Q114
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center stage
Want to help field the band?
Go to giving.uncc.edu and select/ enter 49er Marching Band. Thank you for your support!
By Meg Whalen
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Drumline members pictured here are, left to right: Matt Bulen, Mark Conley, Quinten Wrenn, Mark Sparrow, Kristin Sandor, and Tori Sloan.
It all began – fast – with a humble drumline that began performing at Charlotte 49ers home football games during the inaugural 2013 season. The introduction of a full marching band - complete with brass instruments, woodwinds, and a color guard - will coincide with the 49ers’ ascent into the elite Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA (see News, page 4). As with the ambitious planning that went into launching a football team and building Jerry Richardson Stadium, the University has grand plans for its marching band.
www.UNCC.edu
While the band will start small, at 150 members, it likely will increase to as many as 350. Its “redshirt” season will be 2014, with the marching band actually taking the field in 2015. Developing the band includes fundraising for marching band scholarships, purchasing new instruments and new uniforms, and constructing a building for offices and storage. Current plans call for the new structure to be located within walking distance of Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts, as well as the field next to Highway 49 where the band will practice.
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Judy Rose, Chris Plonsky (University of Texas) and Julie Hermann (Rutgers) are leaders among female athletics directors.
CBS features Judy Rose, other female A.D.s
Charlotte 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose made an in-studio appearance on CBS This Morning, in New York on Jan. 10. Rose was included in a panel of three female collegiate athletics directors who discussed their roles as leaders in the field, hurdles they have faced and accomplishments they have enjoyed. The panel of Rose, University of Texas Women's Athletics Director Chris Plonsky and Rutgers University Athletic Director Julie Herrmann spoke with CBS This Morning co-hosts Norah O'Donnell and Charlie Rose. Rose who was named the 49ers Athletic Director in 1990-91 and was just the third female AD of an NCAA Division I institution at the time, spoke on the changing landscape in collegiate athletics and the increased opportunities for women to serve in leadership roles. The segment introduced the trio as “Game Changers,” Rose noted that within the industry more are realizing that the characteristics of a successful athletic director are not gender specific. Rose became the first female named to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, serving a five-year term from 2000-2004 and she was President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2003-04. She has overseen nearly $100 million worth of athletic facility upgrades and construction and this past fall unveiled the 49ers first NCAA football team, which debuted in a sparkling new 15,314 seat oncampus Jerry Richardson Stadium. She received the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Charlotte Business Journal's 17th Annual Women in Business Achievement Awards, this past fall. TV PARTNERSHIP EXTENDS TO B’BALL The Charlotte 49ers and their media rights holder IMG College have announced that the television partnership with WCCB Charlotte will extend into basketball season. WCCB televised each of the 49ers home football games and one road game at Coastal Carolina during this fall’s inaugural season. The station also will cover five men’s basketball games and one women’s basketball game for the 2013-14 season. “We are thrilled to be able to continue 22 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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CHARLOTTE BASKETBALL RETURNS TO C-USA The Charlotte 49ers rejoined Conference USA in 2013, sending the 49ers men's basketball team back to a league that they won three times. Charlotte enjoyed a 21-win season and NIT appearance last year, and are relying on returning stars Pierria Henry and Willie Clayton to lead the team against the 16-team C-USA, this year. The move to Conference USA rekindles old rivalries with the likes of UAB, Tulane, Southern Miss, East Carolina and even Old Dominion while starting new showdowns with Marshall, Rice, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee, among others. Charlotte finishes the season with four home games in their final six contests, welcoming Marshall, Middle Tennessee, UAB and Old Dominion, Feb. 15-Mar. 2. Charlotte already captured national attention in the nonconference portion of the season when they defeated 13thranked Michigan in the championship of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Terrence Williams’ put back with one second on the clock. The win, aired on ESPN2, gave the 49ers their second regular-season tournament title in as many years (2012-13: Great Alaska Shootout) and a victory over the 2013 NCAA National runner-up. It also gave Charlotte a win over a top-15 opponent for the third year in head coach Alan Major’s four seasons as head coach. Charlotte defeated #10 Butler, last season, on their way to that 21-12 record and trip to the NIT. In Major’s first season, Charlotte knocked off #7 Tennessee at Time Warner Cable Arena. Conference play began in January and concludes with the C-USA Championship Tournament, Mar. 11-15 in El Paso, Texas.
our relationship with WCCB,” said 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose. “They joined with us and helped us deliver our new football program throughout the Charlotte area, and now they will help us take our basketball programs right into those very same living rooms.” WCCB will produce and televise the five 49ers men’s basketball games, including Jan. 4 vs. N.C. A&T, Feb. 1 vs. Florida International and March 2 vs. Old Dominion,
all at home. The station also carried games against Davidson and Appalachian State in December. WCCB Charlotte will produce and broadcast the women’s basketball home game vs. Southern Miss on Feb. 8. The five men’s basketball broadcasts will complement the existing 12-game national TV and Conference USA schedule, giving fans the opportunity to catch 17 Charlotte men’s games on television this season. The Feb. 8 broadcast gives Charlotte’s www.UNCC.edu
‘LET ME PLAY’ EVENT BREAKS RECORD The Charlotte 49ers Athletic Foundation raised more than $190,000 at its 10th annual Let Me Play Luncheon, surpassing its goal and eclipsing the $1 million mark in money raised over the life of the event. The event raised a record $191,000, which exceeded the goal of $175,000. In 10 years, the event has raised $1.07 million. The luncheon was held at the Charlotte Convention Center Oct. 24 and attracted many of Charlotte’s most accomplished female corporate and community leaders. Laura Schulte, president of eastern regional banking for Wells Fargo, chaired the event. A brainchild of Director of Athletics Judy Rose, the luncheon mobilizes influential women in the Charlotte area in support of women’s athletics and shares with them the importance athletic participation can play in the development of young women. “I wanted the attendees to understand the character building and leadershipdevelopment skills that were taking place while student-athletes were preparing for Track star Briauna Jones spoke to the Let their athletic and Me Play Luncheon on academic endeavors,” behalf of 49er female said Rose. “I want athletes. them to know that we’re preparing young women to be tomorrow’s leaders.” The list of past chairs, many of whom were in attendance, includes Mary Lou Babb, Betty Chafin Rash, Pat Rodgers, Dale Halton, Kelly Chopus, Felicia Hall Allen, Natalie English, Lisa Lewis Dubois, Samara Foxx, Ruth Shaw and Cathy Bessant. “We all know that life is hard and can throw us for a loop,” 2013 chair Schulte told the crowd. “Sports help build character women’s program three televised contests during a five-game swing in February. The Feb. 13 game at Louisiana Tech and the Feb. 22 contest at Middle Tennessee will be broadcast as part of Conference USA’s package with the Fox Sports networks. Television station WCCB Charlotte is showing five men’s basketball games and one women’s basketball game this season.
www.UNCC.edu
and develop perseverance, endurance and help us all gain an appreciation for operating as a team.” Track and field standout Briauna Jones, a member of the school’s 4x100 relay team that reached the NCAA National Championships, spoke on behalf of the school’s female student-athletes. “I feel accomplished to have worked my way to the top, but I feel even more blessed that there are women like you who believe that our hard work is worth investing in,” she said. “On behalf of all the female student-athletes here at Charlotte, I want to express my gratitude to all of you.” The event was sponsored by Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, the Mariam and Robert Hayes Charitable Trust, Rodgers Builders, OrthoCarolina, Balfour Beatty Construction, Edifice, CocaCola Bottling Company Consolidated, Novant Health, Piedmont Natural Gas, Foundation for the Carolinas, KPMG, Deloitte and Touche, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson and the Charlotte Knights, Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Carolina Panthers. The Let Me Play Luncheon is one of three major fundraisers hosted by the Athletic Foundation each year. In the spring, the 49ers host the 49er Club Golf Outing, April 14 at Pine Island Country club, and the Great Gold Rush Auction, May 31 at Halton Arena. CHARLOTTE WINS C-USA SOCCER TITLE Tyler Gibson’s penalty kick in the 88th minute gave the men’s soccer team the Conference USA Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win over reigning tournament champ Tulsa. “It’s amazing. I am proud of the way the guys played over the last three games — a lot of heart and courage,” said second-year head coach Kevin Langan, referring to the
Senior midfielder Tyler Gibson scored the winning goal for the conference title and was named third-team All-America academically.
title game as well as the team’s wins over the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Kentucky en route to the final. The championship marked the second conference tournament title in program history. Charlotte defeated Old Dominion in a six-overtime victory during the 1983 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship. Four 49ers: Gibson, Brandt Bronico, Thomas Allen and Giuseppe Gentile were named to the all-tournament team. Allen was named Defensive MVP, and Gentile, Offensive MVP. Charlotte won eight straight matches from mid-October through the conference tournament and outscored opponents 20-2 over that span. After the tournament title, Charlotte was awarded one of the sport’s 16 national seeds as it made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years. “This (is) the third time in a row for these seniors, which the program has never done, so it is incredible,” Langan said of the 49ers’ third straight NCAA bid. Seeded 13th in the playoffs, the 49ers had a bye in the first round and then lost a close game in the second round, 1-0 to Coastal Carolina. Gibson, a senior midfielder, also was named Capital One Academic All-America, third team. He has a 3.82 GPA as a marketing major. While playing for the University, he was a Hermann Trophy candidate for the nation’s best soccer player and earned first team National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America honors in 2012. Q114
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Celebrating
Past & Future By Phillip Brown
Honors College eyes growth, takes leadership role
Malin Pereira, executive director of the Honors College.
H
“WE’RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND POSITIONING THE HONORS COLLEGE TO BE THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR HONORS CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMMING.” 24 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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onors programming has been an integral part of the UNC Charlotte experience since 1968, and in 2013 the University celebrated milestones related to honors achievements — including the 10-year anniversary of the founding of the Honors College. Now, University leaders are looking to the future, not just for the Honors College but the honors program overall. The UNC Charlotte Honors College offers academically talented and highly motivated students opportunities for intellectual breadth, undergraduate research, service learning and a community feeling within the context of a large public research university, said Malin Pereira, executive director of the college. Comprised of 20plus distinct programs, the Honors College provides unique enrichment opportunities for participants; there also is a special honors residence option. “The Honors College is only 10 years old, so it’s coming into its adolescence,” Pereira said. “Honors education and programming on this campus have grown with the needs of our students and will continue to grow. We’re looking at the next 10 years and positioning the Honors College to be the umbrella organization for honors curriculum and programming. This is a period where, as a campus, we decide the future of honors education.” Roughly 2.2 percent of the University’s undergraduate population is participating in any honors program; the goal is to increase this number. According to Pereira, most large public research institutions similar to UNC Charlotte have between 5 and 8 percent of their undergraduate students engaged in some kind of honors studies. “We want to build an Honors College that will reflect the identity of UNC Charlotte, which means providing access to our type of students,” Pereira explained. BROAD OPPORTUNITIES While some honors programs focus on freshmen, UNC Charlotte is looking at a broader experience. “We want to offer opportunities for our highly qualified, highly motivated traditional four-year www.UNCC.edu
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Student Glenn Hutchinson (left, now a playwright and teacher) and Prof. Al Maisto (recently retired) were instrumental in the formative years of the Honors program.
students; transfer students with associate degrees or transfer credits; and those who are late bloomers, who enroll, explore majors and then discover their passion. If they’re getting straight A’s as juniors, we want to provide these students with opportunities to take honors courses and conduct research in their major.” Honors education provides many benefits for participants. Students forge valuable connections with faculty members and engage in challenging scholastic or research pursuits. They attend research symposia and conferences, which prepare them for advanced study, and they gain leadership experience through service-learning opportunities. Efforts are under way to transform the Honors College and extend access to honors opportunities to more students. In 2012, University officials appointed a task force to examine how to redesign honors education. A key recommendation was to create a capstone honors experience, such as a project or thesis, in every major and college on campus. Former Faculty Council President Ed Jernigan, associate professor of management in the Belk College of Business, also suggested reconstituting the Honors Faculty Council. The advisory group will help determine policy for the Honors College. It will be a 12-member body, with 11 representatives elected from the Honors Faculty, who have a record of teaching and service to honors on campus. Each academic college will have a representative, except for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, which will have two members due to its size. One of the two at-large positions will be dedicated to represent the University www.UNCC.edu
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Honors Program, just five years old. “UHP is very useful on a campus such as ours, where students come in not knowing their major or who change majors,” Pereira said. “We want to provide those incoming students who’ve been identified as highachieving with a special experience.” To target potential honors students, the Honors College plans to conduct an informational awareness campaign. Pereira is working with the Office of University Communications on this marketing effort, which includes a redesigned website. “We have to get the word out to students that the Honors College exists,” she said. Pereira noted a 2011 survey indicated
PHASE XIV RESIDENCE HALL, A SIX-STORY FACILITY PLANNED FOR SOUTH VILLAGE, WILL BECOME THE ON-CAMPUS HOME FOR HONORS COLLEGE STUDENTS AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE LEVINE SCHOLARS PROGRAM. Honors Program. The 12th member will be an honors student appointed to the council. “In addition to greater centralization of honors programming and administration, my role is to work in partnership with the honors program directors and honors faculty to provide vision and leadership for the future,” Pereira said. “We want to preserve the tradition of the University Honors Program as well as serve everyone else. We’re encouraging the colleges and departments to develop more honors courses, and we will partner with them on recruitment and programming that brings all honors students together.” UHP: 30 YEARS OLD The University Honors Program (UHP), founded in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 30 years ago, is now housed in the Honors College. Designed to serve all majors, it is traditionally a destination for incoming freshmen. The program identifies highachieving students and invites them to join. It is the oldest four-year honors program at the University, although honors courses began at the department level in 1968. Other four-year programs that have grown alongside UHP are the Business Honors Program in the Belk College of Business, which is 20 years old, and the College of Arts + Architecture
that a significant number of students were unaware of honors opportunities. “It was invisible to many students,” she said. To help build the Honors College, Pereira is engaged in efforts to house more honors students on campus. Phase XIV Residence Hall, a six-story facility planned for South Village, will become the on-campus home for Honors College students as well as those in the Levine Scholars Program. Administrative offices for the college and program will be in the facility, too. “The Honors College is moving forward, and our efforts can have a positive impact on UNC Charlotte’s reputation,” said Pereira. “We want to be the synergistic hub for the most highly qualified, most motivated students. Much of the University’s focus has been on retention and supporting all students across the spectrum, but it’s important to focus on our honors students, too. We want to provide challenging experiences for these students, and we want them to give back to the community. The region will benefit from our honors students who have been challenged and developed as leaders.” Phillip Brown is UNC Charlotte’s internal communications manager. Q114
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UrbanEden:
Journey
Photo by Clarke Snell
PART OF A
The blue capillary system in the wall panels of the Solar Decathlon house are plastic tubes through which water can flow to cool or heat the structure.
Decathlon team pioneers concrete wall system, targets sustainability
By Meg Whalen
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Photos by Jason Flakes/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
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he headline of a recent article in the online architecture journal, Archetcetera, summed it up: “Concrete Revolution: UNC Charlotte’s UrbanEden House is a Revolution in Sustainable Concrete.” A full month after the UNC Charlotte Solar Decathlon team brought home the People’s Choice Award and a third place in the engineering category, industry publications like Archetcetera
UrbanEden is pictured at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., where Solar Decathlon 2013 was held. This is the front of the house.
www.UNCC.edu
fe a t u re and the Precast Concrete Institute’s Ascent magazine were continuing to feature UrbanEden’s unique wall system. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is a showcase of innovative design and green building practices. Held every two years, the competition challenges academic teams to design, build and operate fully solar-powered homes. UNC Charlotte was one of only 20 teams accepted to participate in the Solar Decathlon 2013, which took place Oct. 3-13 in Irvine, Calif. The two-year process leading up to the rigorous competition is intense, and the 10 days of contests and public tours are grueling. For many teams, all the energy and attention is focused on those 10 days; the decathlon is the end point of a long journey. But for UNC Charlotte, the Solar Decathlon was a key moment in a journey that began well before the team of architecture and engineering faculty and students came together to design and build UrbanEden, and will continue long after the house is reassembled on campus to serve as an educational facility.
www.UNCC.edu
PROFESSORS THOMAS GENTRY AND BRETT TEMPEST PROPOSED AN INTEGRATED WALL SYSTEM THAT COMBINED ELEMENTS OF THEIR ONGOING RESEARCH AND SOON BECAME THE KEY INNOVATION.
Photo by Daniel Coston
FEEDING ONGOING RESEARCH “Past Solar Decathlons have been sort of a dead end for research,” said Thomas Gentry, associate professor of design sciences and sustainable housing. “There’s little carrythrough. We made a conscious decision that this was going to feed into ongoing research.” Led by Assistant Professor of Architecture Mona Azarbayjani, the team of students was “trying to identify a building envelope system that was cutting edge,” said Gentry. He and Brett Tempest, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, proposed an integrated wall system that combined elements of their ongoing research and soon became the key innovation of the team’s house. During the next semester, a class of architecture and engineering students, taught by Gentry and Tempest, developed UrbanEden’s revolutionary precast concrete wall system, for which Gentry and Tempest now have a provisional patent. So what’s the revolution? Two things, primarily. Embedded in the walls is a system of tiny plastic tubes, called capillary tubes, through which water can flow to either warm or cool the thick concrete walls.
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Assistant professor Brett Tempest (left) and graduate student Clarke Snell visit the precast concrete plant that manufactured UrbanEden’s wall panels.
But perhaps even more significant is the concrete mix itself: a geopolymer mix that, unlike traditional concrete, replaces the portland cement binder with fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired thermoelectric power production. While Tempest and others in his department had been working for years to develop the geopolymer mix, it had “never been used in an architectural precast setting,” Gentry said. “Typically, we’ll make a little test specimen that doesn’t look like anything that you would find out in the world,” Tempest said. “To get something out there as a
demonstration is the big thing. The Solar Decathlon attracted a lot of people to it.” REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS But what makes geopolymer concrete so special? The process of making the portland cement that is common to traditional concrete produces significant amounts of carbon; in fact, the estimate is that 5 to 7 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases come from concrete. Geopolymer concrete would reduce that emission by up to 90 percent. continued on p. 28 Q114
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Continued from p. 27
“Climate change is the big challenge of our generation,” said architecture graduate student and Solar Decathlon team leader Clarke Snell. “If you’re involved in architecture, it’s actually exciting, because buildings are a big part of our collective
“IN CONCRETE, WE KNOW WHERE THE CARBON IS COMING FROM. SO THIS ONE MATERIAL (GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE) COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.” Tempest will continue to lead research on the geopolymer, too. Funded with a $20,000 fellowship from the Precast Concrete Institute Foundation, his student, Maria Trejo, will begin a graduate degree this semester, focusing her research on durability testing of the geopolymer concrete and exploring aspects of its potential commercialization.
Photo by Clarke Snell
The geopolymer concrete mix developed by the Solar Decathlon team is being poured into a wall mold.
carbon footprint. In concrete, we know where the carbon is coming from. So this one material (geopolymer concrete) could make a big difference. We can change the world.” Snell, who was in the class that developed the UrbanEden wall system, will methodically test it this semester for his master’s thesis. “We’ve unveiled it; now we need to quantify its performance.” He will test three different wall samples in a controlled “real-world” situation that allows him to compare their performance as temperature fluctuates throughout a simulated day and night. He will also test different mixes of geopolymer concrete for their thermal resistance. 28 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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“WITH THE SOLAR DECATHLON, WE GOT A HUGE JUMP START. WE SAVED 20 YEARS. INDUSTRY OR CONSUMER DEMAND COULDN’T DO THIS. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET THIS DONE IS WITH A UNIVERSITY BEHIND IT.”
FLY ASH AND SAFETY Tempest will concentrate much of his effort on fly ash, finding other sources in the waste supply and developing concrete “recipes” that use different grades of ash. And of utmost importance are the ongoing safety tests, which Tempest said comprise about 50 percent of his research. Fly ash is a controversial substance. There is great concern about its hazards in the ponds where the ash is deposited. Is it hazardous as a building material, particularly when concrete is broken up during demolition? “We look at basically three things: What leaches out? Is it in a toxic form? Can we do anything to bind the metals into nontoxic compounds?” Tempest said. Tests indicate that “not much is coming out that makes it any more dangerous than soil. Our commitment is to sustainability, which includes ensuring the safety of the materials for humans and the environment.” While this work would still be occurring if UNC Charlotte had not participated in the Solar Decathlon, the research has much more momentum as a result of the effort and visibility surrounding the competition, including the funding provided by the University and industry partners. “With the Solar Decathlon, we got a huge jump start,” Snell said. “We saved 20 years. Industry or consumer demand couldn’t do this. The only way you could get this done is with a university behind it.” Meg Whalen is director of communications and external relations for the College of Arts + Architecture. www.UNCC.edu
The New UNC Charlotte
alUmNi Perks
membershiP Card
PerfecT for ceos aNd oTher VIPs
This card works for 49er alumni, as former Board of Trustee chair Gene Johnson, ‘73 knows. You’ll get special discounts on everything from museums to hotel rooms to performances on campus! The UNc charlotte alumni Membership card is available to all alumni and the basic version is free! or for $49 you get even more discounts and options….think of it as a first class upgrade! To get your alumni Membership card, go to alumni.uncc.edu/perks fill out the form and your card is on the way to you! The UNc charlotte alumni card, show your 49er pride!
alumni.uncc.edu/perks
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Eight Alums Honored
for Service, Achievements By Paul Nowell
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he UNC Charlotte Alumni Association honored eight individuals for embodying the core principles of the University and distinguishing themselves through their outstanding service to the University, their chosen field and humanity. The 2013 awards were presented this past fall at the Alumni Awards Banquet. “These awards have become a part of our academic fabric here at the University,” said Niles Sorensen, vice chancellor for University Advancement. “We have so many talented graduates who have excelled in their profession and in the community while simultaneously being supportive and connected to their alma mater. These eight outstanding individuals have been instrumental in making UNC Charlotte a great institution.” The honorees are recognized within six different distinctions:
Distinguished Faculty Award
ALBERT A. MAISTO, PH.D. Spanning more than two decades, Maisto’s work with honors students is legendary at the University. He served as the first interim director for the Levine Scholars Program playing a key role in designing the scholarship program. Maisto is a longtime professor of psychology and previously the associate dean of the Honors College and director of the University Honors Program. Maisto, the Carnegie Foundation’s U.S. Professor of the Year for 199798, also has served as an assistant to the chancellor for academic affairs, as faculty president, and as coordinator of the undergraduate psychology program. He also was named a Bonnie E. Cone Distinguished Professor for Teaching. In 2012, Maisto helped design the UNC 30 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Charlotte Faculty Council’s voluntary faculty scholarship fund. The Faculty Legacy Scholarship is aimed at meeting all UNC Charlotte students’ financial needs. Starting with small donations from faculty that accumulate over time, the fund’s goal is to eventually help defray tuition and fee costs for UNC Charlotte students. Maisto is co-author of one of the largestselling general psychology textbooks, published in five languages and used at 650-plus Universities worldwide. “I came to UNC Charlotte in 1977 when it was a small, principally undergraduate college dedicated to serving the greater Charlotte community,” Maisto said. “Over the past three and a half decades, I have enjoyed being part of its transformation into a fully developed research university, with a national reputation, yet still retaining its focus on high quality undergraduate education.”
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
ADRIENNE D. BARNETTE, ’04, ’07 Barnette was a member of the Charlotte 49ers Track and Field Team from 2000-05. A high jumper, she still holds the school’s outdoor and indoor track and field record.
“I SOON BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT WITHIN CHARLOTTE EXISTS A GOLD MINE, A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY, A NETWORK OF SUPPORT WHICH ENCOURAGED ME TO REACH MY GOALS …”
As a student, she graduated with degrees in organizational communications and psychology, often earning a spot on the athletic director’s academic honor roll. She returned to UNC Charlotte in 2005 to work on her master's in school counseling, which she earned in 2007. Barnette is currently a licensed professional counselor. Barnette’s biggest adventure to date was when she embarked on a motorcycle trip called “Route 1961” during spring break in 2011. She recreated the 1961 journey by the Freedom Riders, from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans to protest segregation, in order to teach her K-12 students with severe emotional disabilities a tale of positive character education. Her latest counseling endeavor is called “Pedal for Peace,” a character education expedition in which she retraced 800 miles of the underground railroad on a bicycle to Canada. From January, 2008 to January, 2013, she worked as a counselor, department chair and academic facilitator with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “When I chose to attend UNC Charlotte, I was not sure what a 49er was,” Barnette said. “However, while attending UNC Charlotte, I soon began to understand that within Charlotte exists a gold mine, a place of opportunity, a network of support which encouraged me to reach my goals and echoed to me the importance of cooperation and collaboration in assisting others at reaching their aspirations. “Since I graduated from UNC Charlotte, my alumni mission has been to introduce students within Charlotte to the opportunity and support that I found at UNC Charlotte. I can confidently say, that choosing to attend UNC Charlotte was the best decision I could have made for my career and professional aspiration of assisting others.” www.UNCC.edu
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ALBERT A. MAISTO, PH.D.
ADRIENNE D. BARNETTE, ’04, ’07
Humanitarian Award
vegetables to food assistance programs and low income neighborhoods where produce is sold at rock- bottom prices at neighborhood market stands. Currently, Emmons is launching a new program called Community Roots. It will employ people in the community to grow food that they will then sell at farm stands in food desert areas. Emmons recently completed the McColl Center’s Innovation Institute and was named a 2013 CNN Hero and one of 20 William C. Friday Fellows for Human Relations. The two-year fellowship is for emerging leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors who are able to directly affect issues facing communities, through the Wildacres Leadership Initiative.
ROBIN HILL EMMONS After dropping out of high school, Robin Hill Emmons obtained her general education diploma, moved from Boston and enrolled at UNC Charlotte, working toward her bachelor’s degree at the age of 26. Her first job out of college was with the Metrolina AIDS Project. From there, she entered the corporate world, first with Goodrich and then with Bank of America. Meanwhile, her older brother was struggling. Eventually he made his way to Charlotte and started living on the streets. He was arrested and later diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic. His arrest coincided with Emmons’ decision to leave her job, freeing her to become his advocate and guardian. He was placed in a supportive housing program. Emmons, who had been a gardener for most of her adult life, noted that the 30 residents of the group home were not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables. She began planting extra rows of vegetables in her 6-by-10-foot garden, bringing the harvest to the program staff for the residents. After doing that for a time, she began sharing the bounty with others in need. Soon after, she founded Sow Much Good. She built up a team of 120 volunteer gardeners and farmers who worked two parcels of land, while Emmons also continued to raise produce in her garden. By now, the nonprofit has distributed eight tons of organic fruits and www.UNCC.edu
Honorary Alumna Award
ELINOR CADDELL In 1965, UNC Charlotte founder Bonnie Cone asked Elinor Caddell to join the faculty at Charlotte College to develop a nursing program. This set in motion Caddell’s involvement with UNC Charlotte for the next several decades. Caddell’s devotion, enthusiasm and involvement grew to match the continued growth of UNC Charlotte. Through her outreach in the community, she became aware of the need for RNs to complete their BSN degree. Her name has become synonymous with the Pathway Program Completion at UNC Charlotte, which has produced
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ROBIN HILL EMMONS thousands of UNC Charlotte alumni. Caddell led her colleagues in obtaining a grant to develop the Master of Science in Nursing outreach program with Chapel Hill. And for six years she took students to Chapel Hill by some very unusual transportation methods, including a twin-engine plane. She also wrote the curriculum for the MSN program in the College of Nursing. In 1970, Caddell became the first member of the nursing faculty to receive the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. After her retirement, she established a Faculty Scholar Award for Nursing to serve as seed money for research to improve patient care. At 90, Caddell is very active, using her nursing skills as a volunteer at Plantation Estates, where she resides in an apartment. Caddell still recruits for UNC Charlotte. “The College of Nursing had as its goal to foster students’ desires and ambitions to better people’s lives through care, compassion and action,” Caddell said. “The University and the College of Nursing opened the world of learning to students eager to bring health services to people of all walks of life.
Alumni Hall of Fame Award Three Recipients
ED DAVIS, ED.D. ’02 Ed Davis earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UNC Charlotte in 2002. Since that time, he has brought great honor Q114
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ED DAVIS
to UNC Charlotte while serving in the Union County Public School district for 35 years (1977-2012) as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary and high school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent until his retirement in 2012. Davis strongly encouraged high school, master's level and doctoral students from his county to enroll at UNC Charlotte. In addition, Davis often recommended his district’s best teachers for admission into UNC Charlotte’s Master of School Administration (MSA) program. As a result, many of the principals currently serving in Union County Public Schools are graduates of UNC Charlotte’s MSA program. Davis also supported UNC Charlotte through his service on various committees and advisory groups. For example, when UNC Charlotte was revising its Master of School Administration program in order to align the program with the Standards for School Executives established by the North Carolina State Board of Education, Davis attended multiple meetings on campus to help identify ways in which the standards could be implemented in the public schools. Davis was named the Union County Educational Office Professionals Administrator of the Year in 1995 and 2009, the Union County Principal of the Year in 1996, and the North Carolina Southwest Regional Superintendent of the Year for 2009-10. He was a recipient of the North Carolina Principals’ Executive Program Jack McCall Award in 1997 32 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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and was honored as a North Carolina Principals’ Executive Program Fellow in 2001. In 2010, he won the Union County Rotary Club’s “Service Above Self ” Award. In 2011, he was selected as Outstanding Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “UNC Charlotte is an outstanding institution of higher learning that is positively impacting public education in our state and region,” Davis said. “Its programs equip teachers and school leaders with the competencies and skills to provide a quality 21st century education to K-12 students. I am proud to be a UNC Charlotte graduate.” HARRY S. KIRK, ’51 While attending Charlotte College, Kirk had a special friendship with Bonnie Cone and Herbert Hechenbleiker. Both were dedicated to the development of a higher education opportunity for the Charlotte area. The UNC Charlotte Foundation made this happen by purchasing land for the campus. As work began, Hechenbleiker came over to Kirk’s dairy farm, which adjoined the north edge of the campus. The first two academic buildings were completed, but there was no money for landscaping. At Hechenbleiker’s request, Kirk came over the next morning and he and his family tilled the soil, picked up truckloads of rocks, hand raked the area and sowed fescue
HARRY S. KIRK seed. He then tackled a second project by mowing the University’s athletic fields. When land was needed to access the north side of the campus, the Kirk family donated land. In addition to being the rural mailman for the Newell area for almost 40 years, Kirk was a member of the Newell Volunteer Fire Department for more than 20 years, and was also on the CharlotteMecklenburg Planning Commission, having been instrumental in establishing the plan for the UNC Charlotte area. MICHAEL L. WILSON, ’93 Charlotte attorney Michael Wilson always makes the time to provide leadership and support to UNC Charlotte. A true believer in the value of higher education, Wilson speaks from the heart as the first generation in his family to attend college and someone whom a college degree would not have happened without a scholarship. Wilson, elected by the UNC Board of Governors to serve a four-year term on the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees beginning on July 1, 2013, is a partner at the Charlotte law firm of Johnston, Allison and Hord PA. He joins board chair Karen Popp as the second former UNC Charlotte student body president to sit on the board. After graduation from UNC Charlotte, Wilson attended law school at UNCChapel Hill, where he served as attorney general of the honor court, chief justice of the moot court and graduated with the www.UNCC.edu
fe a t u re Order of the Barristers distinction. At the firm he is the litigation practice group leader and his area of expertise includes litigating complex business and commercial construction disputes. In 2009, his peers named him as the top construction lawyer in North Carolina and as one of the top attorneys under 40 in Business North Carolina magazine. In the 2012 and 2013 editions of Law and Politics magazine, he was placed among the top 100 attorneys in North Carolina across all practice areas. Wilson was born in Richmond, Va., and raised in North Carolina’s Burke County. While at UNC Charlotte, he held the William H. Barnhardt Business Scholarship and the Alumni Merit Scholarship. He also served as an Alumni Ambassador and as student body president during his junior year. Wilson was one of two graduating students presented with the Bill Mitchell Award (now known as the Bonnie Cone Leadership Award) for academic excellence and service to the University. “It was important for me to have a scholarship in place to attend college and UNC Charlotte helped make that happen,” he said. “Like a lot of my classmates, I worked while I was in school, but the scholarship was a tremendous help. I owe so much to our University for the numerous opportunities that were afforded to me and the great education that I received.”
MICHAEL L. WILSON www.UNCC.edu
Distinguished Alumnus Award
SHELIA B. DILLON, ’75 Shelia Dillon graduated from UNC Charlotte in 1975 with a degree in accounting. Since that day, she has dedicated much of her life to supporting the University’s athletics program as a donor, fan and former employee. Dillon worked as a senior vice president for First Union Corp., where she was in charge of corporate security and regulatory compliance. During her banking career, she maintained her connection to UNC Charlotte. She is a former member of the Alumni Board of Governors and the Alumni Leadership Council. In 1993, Dillon was elected to the Alumni Hall of Fame. She also served on the Athletic Foundation Board and the Department of Accounting Advisory Board. Upon retiring from her first career, she began her second working for her alma mater. As executive director of the Athletic Foundation, Dillon increased the number of supporters and donors. She retired from the University to care for her elderly parents but continues to serve in volunteer roles. “Shelia is one of the most loyal people I have ever met. Her community service exemplifies her desire to help and give. Her commitment to UNC Charlotte is well documented in the areas of fundraising, sports and alumni affairs,” said Hulene D. Hill, Alumni Association past president.
SHELIA B. DILLON (RIGHT) WITH HULENE HILL
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giving Charlotte a 53-51 win over a ranked opponent in just its first season of college football. “The biggest moment for me was that last drive against Gardner-Webb,” Ogunjobi remembered. “As soon as we saw they didn’t make (the two-point conversion), (it was) just running off the field and seeing the crowd and all the enthusiasm.” It was also one of many moments likely to live on in the hearts and minds of all of Niner Nation. Just like Mark Hogan’s historic “pick-six” for the 49ers first-ever TD just two plays into the inaugural game, Mikel Hunter’s 96-yard kick-off return, that Barnwell 56-yard run in front of an elated sideline, Kalif Phillips bowling over a defensive back on his way to end zone. There were sacks and interceptions, fumbles and amazing catches and blocked field goals and safeties — and last-chance moments for veterans and first-ever opportunities for walk-ons. LAMBERT’S KEY MOMENTS For Lambert, the key moments were less about plays and more about players. He cherished the time in the tunnel as the team prepared to run out for the inaugural game. And he treasured the opposite perspective of standing at midfield with his seniors as the team exploded onto the field for the final home game. People will forget the stats. Records will be broken. But the moments that have been captured and relived will be the stuff of stories passed on from tailgate to tailgate, year after year. As fifth-year senior CJ Crawford said after his final game, there’s something especially moving about a year of firsts. “Just don’t want to miss anything,” he told The Charlotte Observer as he took in all of the final post-game celebrations. “It’s hard. I don’t want to leave these guys. I just want to come back. I kind of wish I was a freshman so I could stick it out with these guys and see where it all goes from here.” Some moments you wish could last forever. Many of these moments will. Q114
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UNC CHARLOTTE |
giving
Drum Roll, Please Gene Johnson spearheads funding for drumline, marching band 34 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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The 49er Drumline and Jay Grymes, interim chair of the music department (right), honored Gene Johnson and Lisa Dubois with signed drumheads at halftime of the first football game Aug. 31.
By Meg Whalen
G
ene Johnson, a UNC Charlotte alum and former chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, had a great time at the 49ers exhibition football game last spring. But one thing was missing — live music. The recorded music that celebrated the University’s new football team was “dull, lackluster,” said Johnson, who also served three terms as president of the UNC Charlotte Athletic Foundation. That evening, he and his wife, Vickie, also an alum, discussed it and came to a conclusion: “We can’t have that kind of experience for the fans.” Johnson met with Chancellor Philip L. Dubois and offered to lead the effort to raise money for a marching band. The www.UNCC.edu
giving chancellor accepted. “By the time I got back to my car to leave campus,” remembered Johnson, “there was an email to his wife, Lisa, copied to me, and in no time at all, an email back from Lisa enthusiastically endorsing it.” Marching bands add “vibrancy and excitement, a sense of tradition,” Lisa Dubois said. She had advocated for a marching band the minute the football team was approved. The chancellor, who played trumpet in high school, was certainly sympathetic. What he lacked was the funding. DRUMLINE FIRST By this time, it was well into spring — too late to build a band for the first football game on Aug. 31. But Johnson, a drummer himself, knew the power of percussion and suggested a drumline. He and his wife pledged the first $25,000, and in a matter of days, Johnson raised $100,000 — enough to purchase the equipment and get the drumline going. “It was easy (to raise the money),” Johnson said, “and the reason it was easy is that people were passionate about football and the complete experience.”
“THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST SATISFYING THING I’VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AT UNC CHARLOTTE.” Jay Grymes, interim chair of the Department of Music, received the news with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. “I’m a college football fan and love the tradition, the spectacle of marching band,” he recalled. “I felt strongly that this was something that needed to happen in Charlotte. But at the time we weren’t sure we could pull it off.” At this late date, could he find the students for a drumline? “This is what I’ve learned,” he said. “There is a lot of talent on this campus.” BAND TO DEBUT IN 2015 The 49er Drumline debuted Aug. 31 under the direction of Rudy Gowern. “It’s amazing how the Music Department made it happen,”
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said Johnson. As co-chairs of the marching band fundraising committee, he and Lisa Dubois are continuing to raise money for the full band — at least 150 students strong when it takes to the field in fall 2105, and ultimately 300 students, they hope. “I think it’s going to change the face of the University,” she said. Both Lisa Dubois and Grymes praise Johnson for his dedication, which is felt just as strongly by the students. “It has meant everything to have the support of Mr. Johnson,” says drumline member Edward Bender. “Without his vision and help, this dream would have never had wings.” On home game days this fall, Johnson arrived on campus as early as the drummers. At the end of the football season, the drumline presented Johnson with his own drumline jacket and honorary membership into the group. “This is the single most satisfying thing I’ve been involved with at UNC Charlotte,” he said. Meg Whalen is director of communications and external relations for the College of Arts + Architecture.
A SteAdy StreAm of CASh you CAn rely on… A charitable gift annuity would give a steady stream of cash that you can count on year after year for life with a portion of the income being tax free. You may also receive a charitable income tax deduction for a portion of your gift. For more information, go to Plannedgiving.uncc.edu Or feel free to contact John Cullum directly at 704-687-8003 or john.cullum@uncc.edu Not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice – please consult with your CPA, Financial Planner or Attorney.
UNC CHARLOTTE |
building blocks
Cone Center,
50 years hence The Bonnie E. Cone University Center celebrated 50 years of campus life in November with a weeklong celebration with commemorative remarks, student performances, personal stories, educational exhibits, music, dance and other festivities. The origins of Cone Center intertwine with the life and accomplishments of University founder Bonnie E. Cone.
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Cone was instrumental with the construction of the current main campus, including the “College Center,” which was originally dedicated in a ceremony with Atkins Library on Nov. 3, 1963. At that time, Macy and Kennedy were the only other buildings on campus. Following Miss Bonnie’s retirement, the College Center was renamed the Bonne E. Cone University Center in her honor.
Since that time, the building has expanded to meet the needs of the growing University population. Student affairs officials note it remains true to its mission and Miss Bonnie’s legacy, always serving as a student-focused building with programs and offices that provide opportunities for both structured and informal student interaction and learning.
www.UNCC.edu
perspective
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Professor finds being multifaceted is "super cool" I
’m an engineer. I love to tinker and write technical reports like the best of my kind, but I also have a secret life. I write novels. When I was an engineering student, back before Microsoft existed (before most
of my UNC Charlotte students were even born), I used to think my novel writing was a strange pursuit. I put in my time in the lab, wrangling greasy diesel engines back to life, but I also had interests in poetry
and English literature and even fine art. Unlike fellow classmates, my engineering vocabulary of friction coefficients and enthalpy was augmented with words like pentameter, intaglio and gouache. Over time, I realized that being multifaceted in this way was super cool. I found out it was good for my mental health, and it made me a better engineering student. I can hear your excuses from here. Hobbies are expensive. Hobbies are hard. Hobbies are boring. Hobbies take time. My response: Cue the violins. The worst of all excuses for not pursuing a hobby: I’m not talented that way. That’s a cop out and reveals the crippling fixation that the do-itquick developed world has with perfection. Hobbies aren’t made for perfecting; they are made for developing … slowly, over time. I’ve noticed that my secret life feeds my introversion. Yes, I’m an introvert. No surprise there. But hobbies are not only for introverts. Extroverts benefit from having a fulfilling secret life as well. Mechanical engineer, PBS show host, inventor and human beat box Nate Ball is one example of that. Introversion is not just for introverts (or girls). Okay, I know hobbies take time away from working and studying but that’s the point. The brain needs, yes even craves, time away from our beloved analytical left-brained activity. As we drive ourselves to technological achievement, we’ve taught ourselves to quiet that still small voice that cries out for satisfying, creative diversion. For a little fun reading about the secret lives of other engineers, visit PBS Nova.
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WINTER COMMENCEMENT OFFICIALLY MARKED THE WELCOMING OF NEARLY 3,400 NEW MEMBERS TO THE UNC CHARLOTTE ALUMNI FAMILY – A CONTINGENT THAT’S ALREADY MORE THAN 100,000 MEMBERS AND GROWING.