UNC Asheville Annual Report 2016: Making an Impact by UNC Asheville

Making an Impact

UNC ASHEVILLE ANNUAL REPORT 2016

CONTENTS

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Letter from the Chancellor Creating the Future Innovative Learning Close to Home Discovery from Day One The Education Pipeline The Pursuit of Greatness Beyond the Classroom Statewide Mission North Carolina Connections Achievements Bulldogs for Life By the Numbers University Leadership

LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR What does it mean to make an impact? At North Carolina’s public liberal arts university, we know. In fact, this year The Princeton Review recognized UNC Asheville by ranking us as the #1 university in the nation for making an impact. As we look back at 2016, we see that impact in everything we do. We see it in a commitment to creativity and innovation that stretches the boundaries of campus with the opening of the STEAM Studio at The RAMP and the launch of the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship. We see it as our students, faculty, and staff engage and lead in the community with programs like GEAR UP and Juntos, which help ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all. We see it in our dedication to lifelong learning through the power of OLLI at UNC Asheville. We see it through civic engagement and critical examination of the world around us as we convene important discussions with national and global thought leaders such as Sir Salman Rushdie and Krista Tippett. It means being more than just champions on the court or the field but also leaders in the classroom, with student-athletes who spend thousands of hours volunteering in the community and graduate with GPAs at the top of their class. At UNC Asheville, we know what it means to make an impact because we are living it every day here on campus. From the classroom, to the lab, to the basketball court, to the stage, and into the community—UNC Asheville students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members, friends, and supporters make an impact on the world around them. As you read through the pages of this report, you will see all of the ways that UNC Asheville made an impact in 2016—in our community, our state, and our world. And through that impact, you will see that the liberal arts are more than a degree. It’s a way of teaching, a way of learning, and a way of engaging the world around us. Thank you for your support!

Chancellor Mary K. Grant, Ph.D.

Creating the Fu

ture IN 2016, UNC ASHEVILLE DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN, firmly grounded in a commitment to our mission as North Carolina’s designated public liberal arts institution, the innovative background of the vibrant city of Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina, and our place as a national leader in public liberal arts education.

Together, we create knowledge and prepare students to be engaged citizens and curious problem solvers, ready for the careers of today and tomorrow. We encourage entrepreneurs and innovators, help scientists develop the skills they need to find solutions, and nurture artists in their passion and their work.” Mary K. Grant Chancellor, UNC Asheville

UNC Asheville’s strategic plan builds from the university’s core values of diversity and inclusion, innovation, and sustainability, and through those values, establishes four key strategic directions for the university—Academic Rigor, Student Success, Community Engagement, and Organizational Capacity. As one of 17 institutions in the UNC system, our plan draws from statewide priorities of access, affordability and efficiency, student success, economic impact and community engagement, and excellent and diverse institutions. Through this plan, UNC Asheville will continue to lead as a nationally recognized center of creativity, innovation, and excellence in public higher education. In all, more than 500 people engaged in the strategic planning process. Faculty, students, staff, alumni, trustees, community leaders, and friends of UNC Asheville made their voices heard. In addition, planners sought input from community members, business leaders, and civic leaders from Asheville and across North Carolina.

Innovative Lear

A DIFFERENT K IN D O F CL A S SROO M THE NEWEST EDUCATION SPACE AT UNC ASHEVILLE—STEAM Studio at The RAMP— isn’t what you might think of when you first hear the word classroom. This state-of-the-art facility combines the latest tools in robotics, sculpture, fabrication, woodworking, design, and engineering to create a truly interdisciplinary space that exemplifies how a liberal arts curriculum drives innovation. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) converge to engage the next generation of makers, engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs, as they work side-by-side with faculty and staff experts experienced in all facets of the creative process. Located less than a mile from campus, STEAM Studio is the anchor facility in the newly opened River Arts Makers Place (RAMP), a 100,000-square-foot building that houses other creative neighbors including multiple working artist and design studios. The space officially opened on December 15, 2016 at a ribbon cutting with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members in attendance. This project was funded by a $500,000 grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation, an equipment grant of $400,000 from Duke Energy Foundation, and $100,000 from North Carolina State University. Many individuals also contributed a great deal of hard work and dedication to make the project a reality, including professors Rebecca Bruce, Jackson Martin, Susan Reiser, Leisa Rundquist, and Brent Skidmore, alongside technicians and UNC Asheville alumni Sara Sanders and Matt West, and Dean of Natural Sciences Keith Krumpe. 4 4

ning CR A F T O N C A M P US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND MAKE starts at the center of campus, with UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library further connecting students to hands-on resources this fall by establishing the CrAFT (Creativity, Art, Fabrication, and Technology) Studio. The new space, located adjacent to the Media Design Lab, was funded through a $38,016 award from North Carolina’s Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants. These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver innovative services for their communities. The LSTA grant funded the purchase of 3D printers, large format printers, and tablets for instruction and visualization, and also supports student positions to help staff the space. The new CrAFT Studio at Ramsey Library provides a starting point for students to connect with creative endeavors across UNC Asheville’s curriculum, as well as the City of Asheville, including UNC Asheville’s STEAM Studio at The RAMP (River Arts Makers Place), and the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship.

What you do need [to make great art] is a community of supporters and devoted helping hands. I think, above all else, the fact that STEAM Studio has been brought to its feet is a testament that our school, and Asheville is just that sort of community.â&#x20AC;? Jeb Hedgecock Senior art student

A Q U ICK CO U R S E O N CRE ATIVE FA B RIC ATIO N CROSS-DISCIPLINARY PROJECTS IN CREATIVE FABRICATION AND SCULPTURE taught by professors from several departments provide a glimpse of what the future holds. In this class, Corey Pullium, a senior majoring in mechatronics, partnered with art major Jeb Hedgecock, also a senior. With two other members, the team created a prosthetic hand using soft robotics. Pullium created a prosthetic device for gripping and holding objects; Hedgecock made sure the design was functional and beautiful. Another team member designed the new product logo. They all came to the class with very different points of view, and they not only created a very cool product, they learned about teamwork, listening, and collaboration. Both students are eager to work in the new STEAM Studio facility. The dramatically larger space, new equipment, and opportunity to work alongside professional craft people are all game changers. 6 6

CE NTE R FO R CR E ATIV E E NTR E PR E N EU R S H I P The Center for Creative Entrepreneurship will be the Asheville area’s hub for product incubation, design thinking, and creative sector entrepreneurship. It’s the first product incubator program for makers in the area and will serve as a cornerstone for makers in the region, particularly the students and early-stage makers who will benefit from professional connections, entrepreneurial resources, and the opportunity to work side-by-side with faculty and visiting artists.”

THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP is taking shape in downtown Asheville, fostered by a renewed partnership between UNC Asheville and The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, with support from Mountain BizWorks. The new center, which is supported through an initial grant of $716,500 from the Windgate Charitable Foundation, creates an all-in-one ecosystem to coalesce business resources and training programs to support student and community innovations and craft products. Located in The Hive AVL, a shared regional resource center at 67 Broadway, the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (CCE) will provide a space where UNC Asheville students will have pre-professional experiences, taking concepts and designs from university makerspaces and connecting to professionals for mentoring and real-world support. The CCE has moved into the second year of planning and is collaborating with UNC Asheville’s STEAM Studio in the design process, utilizing the equipment and expertise to fabricate the furniture for the new space. When completed, the space will include lecture, event, and co-working areas as well as a second-floor gallery that will feature student exhibitions.

Stephanie Moore

Executive Director, Center for Craft, Creativity & Design

Close to Home

Name Title

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WELCO M ING TH E N E X T G EN ER ATIO N THE FUTURE BEGINS WITH OUR STUDENTS, all 3,715 of them, with 2016 bringing one of the largest classes of incoming students on record. The first-year and transfer students totaled more than 1,000 on move-in day, as the campus community came out in full-force to carry in bags and boxes, helping the newest Bulldogs move into their college home. UNC Asheville’s incoming class has been increasingly diverse, with an increase in Hispanic and Asian students choosing to attend UNC Asheville in 2016. Students from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) started or continued their studies as part of an instructional credit agreement signed in 2015, and students from Asheville High School and SILSA (School of Inquiry & Life Sciences at Asheville) take classes as part of a dual enrollment agreement. Of the incoming students in fall 2016, 14 percent came from out-of-state, hailing from 25 states. In-state students came from 70 counties and 242 high schools. Now in its sixth year, the Chemistry Scholars Program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), welcomed three new students. In addition, six firstyear students, one transfer student, and one secondyear student joined the NSF-funded Atmospheric and Computer Science Exploratory Scholars (ACES) Program. The Black Mountain College Legacy Fellows and Research Interns, funded through a $180,000 grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation, also began in fall 2016.

#1 Nationally for “Best Schools for Making an Impact” The Princeton Review, 2016

#8 Public Liberal Arts University U.S. News and World Report

2016 Green University of the Year WNC Chapter of the Sierra Club

The McCullough Fellows received their program name and a $1 million gift for research and environmental study from the late Dr. Charles T. McCullough Jr. and his family.

M CCU LLO UG H FELLOWS THE 2016 MCCULLOUGH INSTITUTE RESEARCH FELLOWS spent the summer delving into the many facets of sustainability and reached out to local organizations to connect their research interests to real needs of the community. Their research topics ranged from the economics of microdonation systems to support farmland conservation, to solving food insecurity, to studying the divergence of a specific salamander population.

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LE A DING IN TH E CO M M U N IT Y LEADERSHIP ASHEVILLE, a program of UNC Asheville, led a three-part series including “Asheville’s Culture: Past and Present,” “Finding Shelter?”—a discussion on affordable housing—and this panel on “Asheville’s Direction,” with Mayor Esther Manheimer, UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. Grant and former CEO of The Collider, Bill Dean. The panel was moderated by Jim Stokely, president of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy. MAYOR ESTHER MANHEIMER

DARIN WATERS, MICHELLE LANIER, & DEWAYNE BARTON

REM EM B ERING TH E PA S T, CELEB R ATING TH E PRE S ENT THE THIRD ANNUAL African Americans in Western North Carolina Conference brought together scholars and filmmakers for three days of dialogue and celebration at the YMI Cultural Center and UNC Asheville. Michelle Lanier, director of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and the Traditions and Heritage Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, gave the keynote lecture, sharing stories from her work as an oral historian and folklorist. The three-day conference featured local research, including UNC Asheville undergraduates, as well as the debut of two documentaries. In addition to honoring DeWayne Barton, founder and CEO of Hood Huggers International, the conference also partnered with Buncombe County’s Health and Human Services and Date My City to honor “Unsung Heroes,” recognizing African American and Latino leaders in the community.

FA RM -TO -TA B LE DIN N ER THE UNIVERSITY HOSTED the second annual Farm-to-Table Dinner on the Quad in September 2016, bringing together 300 participants for a wonderful evening celebration featuring Cherokee culture, dance, music, language, and farm-fresh food. The event was a chance to build community, celebrate sustainability efforts at UNC Asheville, and learn more about the history and culture of Western North Carolina, reflecting two of UNC Asheville’s core institutional values—sustainability and diversity and inclusion. Much of the evening focused on Cherokee culture. Students from UNC Asheville’s first Cherokee language course demonstrated a simple conversation in Cherokee, and John Grant Jr. taught the audience to count to 10. He also taught participants several traditional Cherokee group dances. Tables covered with blue-and-whitecheckered tablecloths filled the Quad, illuminated by string lights and, as the evening wore on, an almost-full moon. The meal included foods grown in campus gardens and in local Asheville gardens and farms, featuring dishes such as pickled beets, green bean salad, plant-based “meat” hash with sweet potatoes, beef stew, and more. Many of UNC Asheville’s community partners also joined the dinner, including Mountain Food Products, a produce supplier that provides local produce to restaurants and institutions in WNC—including to UNC Asheville’s Dining Services. At the end of the evening, John Grant Jr. reminded everyone at the dinner that they had all done something special together that evening. “We made each other smile,” he said.

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LE A DER S IN SUS TAIN A B ILIT Y IN DECEMBER 2016, the Western North Carolina Sierra Club named UNC Asheville “Green University of the Year,” an award that recognizes organizations and volunteers who have made a difference by preserving the environment and creating a better quality of life for all.

TH E Y E A R O F TH E B EE UNC ASHEVILLE RECEIVED CERTIFICATION as a Bee Campus, becoming only the eighth institution in the country to earn the honor. The certification stems from the university’s work to plant and sustain several pollinator gardens, many of which are grant-funded. The cross-pollination extends into the curriculum as more courses include pollinators in their syllabi, and the Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences program offers a new certificate in cultural and environmental sustainability. The university also collaborated with Asheville Design Center in summer 2016 to build the Bee Hotel, a home for solitary bees constructed of steel and natural materials reclaimed from campus. The structure provides a nesting habitat for local pollinators and served as a project to teach design principles to a group of students. It also serves as an educational tool for the community, with spaces built in for informational displays and even art projects. In addition to supporting the declining bee population, the university has integrated sustainable practices into every corner of campus and beyond, from dining services, to grounds management, to research projects.

BOARD CHAIR PAT SMITH, CHANCELLOR MARY K. GRANT, 14 14 & AL WHITESIDES

H O N O RING A LIFE TIM E O F S ERVICE ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND UNC ASHEVILLE for very long knows Al Whitesides. Now, those new to campus will know the name too. On February 19, 2016, the university dedicated an academic building in honor of former chair of the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees and community leader Alfred J. “Al” Whitesides Jr. The building, previously known as New Hall, was dedicated after a unanimous vote by the board. An ardent supporter of the Bulldogs, with more than 15 years of service to the university and many more to the UNC system and the Asheville community, Whitesides is a board member of the UNC Asheville Bulldog Athletic Association (BAA), having served as president of both the BAA and the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees. He received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from UNC Asheville in 2012 and currently serves as a Buncombe County Commissioner, after being appointed to that position in December 2016.

As a student who highly values the importance of service, inclusion, intersectionality, and racial diversity, I look to Mr. Whitesides’ contribution to this community as an example of how to be engaged, influential, and a compassionate citizen…. It’s also important to note that Mr. Whitesides is not a distant figure or just a name on a building that students see on a map or on their way to class. Mr. Whitesides is here, and he’s with us. As students we can talk to him and learn of his struggles, experiences, and accomplishments firsthand.” Maya Newlin ’16

2015-16 Student Body President and a student trustee

Discovery from

A FO U N DATIO N FO R U N DERG R A DUATE RE S E A RCH FOR MANY STUDENTS, that spark of the first day of class continues throughout their college careers, culminating in an undergraduate research project. Undergraduate research offers hands-on experience in the field, guided by expert faculty who let students take the lead. In April 2016, UNC Asheville students were joined by 4,200 colleagues from across the country in a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). This 30th renewal of NCUR marked the fifth time the university has hosted the national conference, which has grown tenfold in size since its founding at UNC Asheville. 16 16

Day One Being on the edge of science and creativity, searching for truth, is an intellectual rush, and it has lasting impact. The skills students develop in completing and presenting their research are invaluable—a focused curiosity, organized thinking and analysis, and clear communication. Undergraduate research is tremendous preparation for future success regardless of the student’s chosen discipline.” Mark Harvey Professor of Psychology and Director of Undergraduate Research

SU M M ER RE A DING KEVIN ASHTON, author of How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention and Discovery, spoke at UNC Asheville on August 23, concluding first-year students’ orientation and kicking off a semester-long conversation on innovation, one of UNC Asheville’s core values.

Climate data by itself is not useful; it’s the people with the expertise to discover what the data means and the ability to visualize it so people can understand it.” Jim Fox Director, NEMAC

TH E PL ACE FO R IDE A S TO CO LLIDE UNC ASHEVILLE’S NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING AND ANALYSIS CENTER (NEMAC) has a new location, both in the heart of Asheville’s hub of climate and weather agencies and on the edge of the next wave of data innovation. At the core of NEMAC’s mission is access to a vast quantity of digital climate and weather information gathered by the federal government’s chief climate agency, headquartered in Asheville’s downtown federal building complex. But NEMAC’s competitive advantage in a growing industry built around climate data is their proximity to experts. A distance, in fact, that can be measured in footsteps. In March 2016, NEMAC became the anchor agency in a new downtown office space and joined a contingent of enterprises focused on the commercialization of climate data at The Collider—a nonprofit venture that provides physical space for innovation and collaboration around products and services dedicated to adapting to climate change. Among NEMAC’s fellow tenants at The Collider are Acclimatise, one of Europe’s leading climate services companies, and FernLeaf Interactive, a homegrown business launched by UNC Asheville alumnus and former NEMAC intern Jeff Hicks ’08. NEMAC is a key driver in bringing the public and private sector together around climate issues and, through their work, will help bring to the mountains a share of the estimated $1 trillion industry centered on climate change innovation and resilience. 18 18

TH E N E X T G EN ER ATIO N O F SCIENTI S T S THE NORTH CAROLINA GLAXOSMITHKLINE FOUNDATION awarded UNC Asheville a $1,577,718 grant to elevate the undergraduate research program in chemistry and biology. Beginning in January 2016, these funds were used to develop a new NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Chemistry & Biology Fellows & Scholars Program, creating fellowships and scholarships in medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical win-win STEM and molecular biology.

The university has designed a component where scholars are mentored and supported by post-doctoral teaching and research fellows, with a unique model where they are also mentored by faculty advisors. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great pipeline for success for females and under-represented minority science majors that continues to build low-income firstgeneration students into successful fellows.â&#x20AC;?

The first cohort started with 12 scholars, including four first-year students in 2016. The NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Program also funds teaching and research fellows and is modeled on the successful Chemistry Scholars Program at UNC Asheville.

Marilyn Foote-Hudson Executive Director, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

MARILYN FOOTE-HUDSON & RECENT GRADUATE EMILY LANIER

The Education P

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ipeline J U N IO R B U LLDOG S THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 2,500 AREA MIDDLE SCHOOLERS took their first steps on a college campus through the Junior Bulldog and GEAR UP programs. The students visited campus for an action-packed five hours that included a scavenger hunt, a workout with the Athletics Department, two “academic adventures” in classrooms, and a meal at the dining hall. These programs are an essential tool in ensuring these young people one day go on to achieve a college education. Often, the students come from families with little experience with higher education and this may be their first opportunity to visit a college campus—something that research shows More than 3,000 is an important step in eventual college attendance and people visit campus completion.

during summer camps and conferences.

Among GEAR UP’s many components are tutoring by UNC Asheville faculty and students, classes on how to enter high school with an eye on higher education, and cost-free professional development for area teachers involved in promoting college access. Participants also attend “summer academies” at the university that include engagement with students and faculty, most involved with STEM fields, and an overnight stay in residence halls. Along with Appalachian State University, UNC Asheville uses the program to spark awareness among students from 11 mostly rural Western North Carolina counties.

EDU C ATIO N DAY EDUCATION DAY brought another win for the Bulldogs, with more than 2,500 elementary and middle school students and teachers from 23 schools cheering on the home team at UNC Asheville on November 29, 2016 as women’s basketball took on Warren Wilson College.

AHMAD THOMAS & MENTOR KEVIN O’CONNOR

O LLI M EM B ER S LE A D FRO M E XPERIEN CE MENTORSHIP TAKES CENTER COURT with UNC Asheville’s Leaders for Leaders program. The initiative started with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNC Asheville as a mentoring program for student-athletes. Now in its third year, 58 mentors have signed up and it has expanded beyond athletics to the AVID Program, with a focus on first-generation college students. Dick Murray and Jim Lenburg, well-respected longtime OLLI volunteers, helped found the program. To Murray, the idea of putting OLLI’s intellectual capital to work for the benefit of the university seemed like an obvious mentoring opportunity, but he credits former OLLI member Neal Barrille with the inspiration to focus on first-generation students. Murray noted, “A lot of prospective mentors are concerned that they don’t have valuable experience to impart, but most are surprised how quickly their experiences and stories translate into a rewarding and nurturing bond.” That experience took center court in the case of men’s basketball player Ahmad Thomas and mentor Kevin O’Connor who worked together to outfit Special Olympians with new Adidas uniforms. The project began with a simple conversation between the two in which Thomas told O’Conner that he wanted to pursue a career as an elementary school special needs instructor after graduation. O’Connor was inspired that Thomas was already thinking about ways to serve his community, despite his age.

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O’Connor was so inspired, in fact, that he decided to become a basketball coach for the Special Olympics of Buncombe County, and has teamed up with UNC Asheville Athletic Director Janet Cone and women’s basketball coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick on the uniforms, purchased through a partnership with First Team Sports and the Walnut Cove Members’ Association.

AVID S TU DENT S MOVING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, GEAR UP’s goals are furthered for some students by Juntos (the Spanish word for together), a dropoutprevention and college-access program for Latinos that was adopted by UNC Asheville last year. About 15 students at Asheville High School and 25 at nearby Erwin High School enrolled in the program last year, which was initially funded by a grant from the AT&T Foundation. Juntos—which consists of family-engagement, tutoring, success coaching, and mentoring—is managed by a full-time coordinator, Vanessa Guerrero. For 17 years, UNC Asheville has nurtured many more middle and high schoolers—and even starting college students—through a larger program called AVID (Advancement Via UNC Asheville’s AVID Individual Determination), partnership has a and for the past four years, 17-year record in UNC Asheville has led the Asheville City Schools. state as North Carolina’s first university participating in AVID for Higher Education, funded through a partnership with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. The 136 AVID participants have access to tutoring and coaching focused on fostering organizational and studying skills, with designated sections of the first-year seminars. The students are also paired with faculty, staff, and community volunteer mentors who work with them on a one-on-one basis to coach and guide them through their time at UNC Asheville. This all-campus, hands-on approach has resulted in better retention rates and higher GPAs.

S TA RTING WITH SCIEN CE ONE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S most vital ways of engaging young students is the Science Olympiad, a national competition that’s coordinated in Western North Carolina by UNC Asheville. According to Astronomy Lecturer Judy Beck, who co-directs the university’s participation with Department of Mathematics Lecturer Cathy Whitlock, it runs a little like a track meet, with individual and team medals and trophies, and the possibility to go on to the state and national levels. Every spring, middle and high school students from throughout WNC convene on UNC Asheville’s campus for 46 science contests, launching rockets, identifying rocks, and presenting their various constructions and experiments. Twelve teams participated in 2001, the first year. This year, there were 42. The program is a great recruiting tool for both UNC Asheville and science in general. Students who have a positive experience in STEM early on are more likely to go into STEM later. In fact, Beck and Whitlock report that they are getting more and more stories from students who have said that they came to campus for the Olympiad and had a great time, and that’s one reason they chose UNC Asheville.

The Pursuit of G

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reatness B IG SO UTH CH A M PIO N S DURING TWO EXCITING WEEKENDS in March 2016, the men’s and women’s basketball teams—that’s right, TEAMS, plural—won the Big South Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. It’s a first in university history, and only the third time a Big South school has won both men’s and women’s basketball championships in the same season. The hometown crowd was on hand for the women’s championship with UNC Asheville hosting the Big South Tournament at Kimmel Arena in the Sherrill Center, with many volunteers working behind the scenes. The championship game took two overtimes, with the Bulldogs emerging victorious over Liberty University. UNC Asheville junior guard Chatori Major was named 70% of Bulldog MVP. Major and Bulldogs’ Head Coach student-athletes were Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick were voted the 2015-16 Big South Conference on the Dean’s or Women’s Basketball Player of the Chancellor’s list in 2016. Year and Coach of the Year. Coach Kirkpatrick also was named Division I Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year by Hero Sports. The Big South title is the second for UNC Asheville’s women’s basketball team. UNC Asheville’s men’s basketball team won the Big South Championship for the fifth time, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time, with an automatic bid—their first since 2012, when they almost became the first 16th-seed to win over a No. 1 seed. Campbell University hosted the championship. Dwayne Sutton was named tournament MVP. Men’s Basketball Head Coach Nick McDevitt was named Big South Coach of the Year by Hoops HD.

LE A DER S IN ATH LE TIC S UNC ASHEVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL player Kevin Vannatta was named the Big South Conference’s NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative—one of just 32 student-athletes nationwide who serve as a member of the national committee. In his role, Vannatta is assisting in the mission of the NCAA Division I SAAC—to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, and fostering a positive student-athlete image. He also serves on the Big South’s SAAC and is vice president of UNC Asheville’s SAAC in 2016-17. As a member of the Bulldog basketball team, Vannatta has appeared in 63 games with 52 starts in the last two seasons, including being one of two players to start all 34 games in 2015-16 as Asheville won the Big South Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In his career, Vannatta has started every Big South Conference game for the Bulldogs. He’s also been named to the NCAA men’s basketball oversight committee, and in November 2016 was nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team.

KEVIN VANNATTA

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U N C A S H E VILLE’ S SCH O L A R-ATH LE TE S

156

Earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher

TEEING O FF UNC ASHEVILLE’S WOMEN’S GOLF TEAM teed off in 2016, with six golfers from six states on the inaugural team. They competed in the first golf tournament in school history on September 12, placing ninth out of 11 teams, with an overall team score of 952 after three rounds. Golf supporters and university friends joined in a round on August 22 and 23 for the 2016 BAA Golf Scholarship Classic, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and played at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. The two-day event featured a tournament-high 206 golfers, and raised over $106,000 for Bulldog Athletic Scholarships, more than any previous tournament.

O U R TOWN , O U R TE A M IN 2016, TWO DAYS IN ASHEVILLE were officially dedicated to Bulldog basketball with Mayor Esther Manheimer proclaiming that April 26, 2016 and May 3, 2016 were UNC Asheville men’s and women’s basketball days.

Earned Dean’s List recognition

Achieved Chancellor’s List recognition

Teams received recognition for Academic Progress Rate

Beyond the Cla

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ssroom LE A DING TH E CO N VER SATIO N AS THE PUBLIC LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY for the state of North Carolina, one of the most important things UNC Asheville does is bring people together for important conversations. In a year of national attention, political campaigns, and global forums, the university has fulfilled that promise, with UNC Asheville welcoming nationally and internationally renowned speakers to campus.

MICHELLE LANIER, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WNC CONFERENCE KEYNOTE ADDRESS

17,000 visitors come to campus for events each year.

Sir Salman Rushdie, the celebrated author and champion of free expression, spoke to a packed Kimmel Arena in February. Rushdie, winner of countless literary awards, told the audience that novels can illuminate truth in a way that much contemporary journalism fails to do. He argued that in the digital information age, people find enough information (and misinformation) to support not just opposing views, but mutually exclusive realities. “The world no longer has the solidity that it had in the age of the great realist novel, where the writer and the reader could basically have the same description of the world,” he said. “Now we live in a much more fractured moment in which there is no such agreement. … The world is becoming, in a way, fictionalized. … The real has become a problem—we don’t agree on what the real is.”

DAVID BERSON, ECONOMIC CRYSTAL BALL SEMINAR SPEAKER

ENKESHI THOM, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WNC CONFERENCE PRESENTER

BOB DEVANEY, PARSONS LECTURER DURING MATH LITERACY WEEK

KRISTA TIPPETT & ISABEL WILKERSON

FAITH IN LITER ATU RE FE S TIVA L

For many years, I’ve been dreaming of organizing an event that would bring together a group of first-rate writers who deal seriously and honestly with the spiritual and religious life. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to feature the life of the spirit and literature in this festival.” Rick Chess Roy Carroll Professor of Honors Arts and Sciences Director of UNC Asheville’s Center for Jewish Studies

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TWO SOLD-OUT CONVERSATIONS with Krista Tippett, host of the public radio program On Being, headlined UNC Asheville’s first Faith in Literature Festival, jointly convened with the Wake Forest University School of Divinity with radio productions thanks to WCQS—Western North Carolina Public Radio. The two-day event from October 21-22 brought together 14 writers of the spirit, whose work deeply engages—by embracing, complicating, or wrestling with—a faith tradition or spiritual practice. The event included the live recording of an episode of On Being in front of a packed audience in the Humanities Lecture Hall. The conference was organized in partnership through the hard work of Rick Chess, Roy Carroll Professor of Honors Arts and Sciences and English Department chair, and Evan Gurney, Assistant Professor of English, along with many partners and supporters. Among the many authors, poets, and playwrights reading and discussing their work were poet Marilyn Nelson, a chancellor in The Academy of American Poets, and Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, who received the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Obama just a month before the event.

Listen to the podcast of the episode of On Being recorded at UNC Asheville by visiting www.onbeing.org/program/ isabel-wilkerson-the-heart-is-the-last-frontier/9043

COS TU M E AT TH E TU RN O F TH E CENTU RY COSTUME AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, curated by UNC Asheville Visiting Professor of Drama Igor Roussanoff, premiered in the United States in August 2016 at UNC Asheville in galleries and spaces across campus. It included work by artists from more than 30 countries and featured a special exhibition of works by UNC Asheville students. UNC ASHEVILLE ALUMNA TAYLOR RICO

Journalism’s job today is to cut through the rhetoric and help the public understand not just what was said but what was meant.” Keith Woods Vice President for Diversity in News and Operations at NPR

TH O UG HTFU L LI S TEN ING KEITH WOODS, VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY IN NEWS AND OPERATIONS AT NPR, came to campus just one month before the U.S. presidential election, at a moment full of headlines. Invited by WCQS—Western North Carolina Public Radio— and the UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education, Woods shared insights on the campaign coverage, including how matters of “difference” were amplified, as well as how NPR and its stations attempted to address issues in a serious and innovative fashion. During his visit, Woods also led workshops with UNC Asheville faculty and administrators, and with students and faculty in the university’s Department of Mass Communication.

INTERN ATIO N A L AC TIVI S T S AT A STANDING-ROOM-ONLY PANEL DISCUSSION in November 2016, members of the Russian feminist punk rock protest group Pussy Riot engaged campus and the community in a timely conversation about democracy, political activism, and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Pussy Riot formed in 2011 as a response to policies of Russian government. In 2012, three group members were charged with hooliganism and sentenced to two years imprisonment for protesting the ties between the Catholic Church and the Russian government. Their case garnered global attention from human rights groups, and all members were freed by December 2013. As they drew parallels between the U.S. and Russia’s governments during the discussion, their powerful charge to the audience was: become involved in your democracy. MARIA (MASHA) ALYOKHINA

H ERITAG E M O NTH S IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS continued throughout the spring semester and calendar year, as UNC Asheville observed heritage months, beginning in February with Black History Month. During March, Women’s History Month, UNC Asheville presented a variety of events with the theme, “Our History is Our Strength.” The discussions, documentaries, and more continued in April as part of PRIDE Month 2016. The fall semester began with Hispanic Heritage Month, spanning September and October. November showcased Native American culture, highlighted by exhibitions in two campus galleries and discussions of issues confronting Native Americans. 32 32

LEIGH ANN HENION

AWA RD -WIN N ING AUTH O R S O N C A M PUS NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR and UNC Asheville alumnus Wiley Cash was back in the classroom in fall 2016, as writerin-residence. He also hosted UNC Asheville’s Visiting Writers Series, bringing a variety of authors to campus for public readings and discussions. The series began with BEN FOUNTAIN & ALUMNUS WILEY CASH Ben Fountain, author of the novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, followed by author Leigh Ann Henion, also a UNC Asheville alumna. Poet Camille Dungy and novelist Chinelo Okparanta will visit campus during the spring semester. Bringing Cash back to UNC Asheville as writer-in-residence and inviting visiting writers to campus gave students the first-hand opportunity to learn from worldrenowned authors and have conversations with working professionals about the creative writing process. It also provided the Asheville community with an opportunity to hear award-winning authors speak about their latest work. Cash also aims to keep bringing writers to campus, by helping to create the Ramsey Library Community Author Award for a prose writer in Western North Carolina. The award provides a yearlong residency in UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library, with a courtesy faculty appointment that provides a library study carrel and other campus resources.

The Great Smokies Writing Program supports writers of all levels.

Statewide Missi

Since my first day on the job, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been talking about the need to broaden college access to better prepare a changing nation. Nowhere is that democratization of higher education more striking than at a public liberal arts university, a place that offers the kind of curriculum that used to be the province of a privileged few.â&#x20AC;? Margaret Spellings 34 34

UNC President

ARO U N D TH E S TATE IN 10 0 DAYS UNC SYSTEM PRESIDENT MARGARET SPELLINGS started her tenure with a tour of all 17 campuses in 100 days. She visited UNC Asheville in April 2016, taking in a preview of The Bacchae Transformed and learning how honors students constructed cardboard structures called “Plate Houses” to help refugees. In addition to meeting with students, faculty, and staff on campus, she toured the downtown offices of several university partners, including UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC) at The Collider and the Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center.

North Carolina Invest Health is a great opportunity for the City of Asheville to engage in the intersection of community development and public health. Through this vibrant and innovative community collaborative, we look forward to working with area partners to address health inequities in Asheville and creating long-term, sustainable solutions for our shared community.â&#x20AC;? Heather Dillashaw City of Asheville Community Development Manager

Connections IN V E S T H E A LTH UNC ASHEVILLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS serves as the anchor institution for an 18-month project, bringing together diverse leaders from mid-sized U.S. cities to improve health in low-income neighborhoods. Asheville is one of 50 cities nationwide to implement the programâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;called Invest Health, which is funded by a $60,000 Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The project came together thanks in large part to the dedication and leadership of Stacey Millett, executive director for community engagement and the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness (NCCHW) at UNC Asheville.

STACEY MILLETT

Through this project, the university will work directly with communities in Asheville to explore solutions and inform the national conversation about how to best invest to achieve health equity in more communities throughout the U.S. The City of Asheville and NCCHW are joined by Self-Help Credit Union, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), and the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville.

B RING ING B ROA DBA N D TO WN C UNC ASHEVILLE IS HELPING to lead the effort to bring gigabit internet service to Western North Carolina with the West Next Generation Network (WestNGN) which convened at UNC Asheville in December 2016. UNC Asheville Foundation Board Member Bill Sederburg is one of the individuals coordinating the effort along with the Land of Sky Regional Council, a community-based economic development agency that serves the western counties. Two UNC Asheville students, seniors William Clark and Darby McKnight, and one recent graduate, Matthew Ketchum, are also playing a major role in the effort. Under the leadership of Ed Katz, associate provost and dean of university programs, these undergraduate researchers have conducted a comprehensive survey to help determine the impact of the project. The purpose of the WestNGN initiative is to lower the cost of expanding high-speed fiber optic networks through a collaborative effort of six local communities (Asheville, Laurel Park, Biltmore Forest, Waynesville, Fletcher and Hendersonville). The six municipalities and UNC Asheville have agreed to a memorandum of understanding, committed to finance the initial work, and hired a project manager. These municipalities are preparing a request for proposals (RFP) for a broadband provider to serve the area with gigabit service. The project is modeled after the North Carolina Next Generation Network, connected regional initiatives focused on stimulating the deployment of next generation broadband networks in North Carolina, which started in the Research Triangle and Piedmont regions.

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CO N N EC T NC PROJ EC T S THE CONNECT NC BOND, passed by state voters in March 2016, brings $2 billion in statewide investments in education, parks, safety, recreation, and water and sewer infrastructure. With almost a billion dollars designated to UNC system universities, Connect NC has a project planned on each campus including $21.1 million for renovation of two buildings at UNC Asheville: Carmichael Hall and Owen Hall. These buildings—36-years-old and 49-years-old—have been in continuous use and are in need of a 21st century upgrade. This much-needed renovation, which entered the planning phase in the fall, will allow UNC Asheville to rethink and reinvent these spaces so that they combine to facilitate collaboration among multiple academic disciplines across campus, giving students a competitive advantage as they join a modern workforce dependent on innovation and flexibility across disciplines.

FI R S T RO BOTIC S IN JUST ITS FIRST YEAR of existence and after only three competitions, the UNC Asheville sponsored and hosted FIRST Robotics team for high schoolers, placed third out of 32 teams in the qualification rounds of the State Championship in Charlotte. It wasn’t always a smooth path for the team. Over the course of the three competitions, they evolved from their robot being unable to successfully navigate over the obstacles (finishing 23 out of 24 teams at Guilford) and having to be redesigned and rebuilt in two weeks, to achieving significant success at the UNC Asheville District Competition, culminating in their podium finish at the State Championship. The robot was developed by a team of high schoolers, UNC Asheville faculty members, college students, and volunteers, and is a 6-foot, 150-pound robot that can drive through rough terrain, navigate obstacles, and even shoot a ball through a hoop— all by itself. Based upon this remarkable level of success, their receipt of rookie awards at their first two competitions, and the special presentation that was created by the team for the championship competition, they were awarded the N.C. state-level Rookie All Star Award, and an invitation to the World Championships in St. Louis.

Achievements

FU LB RIG HT SCH O L A R S UNC Asheville is among the U.S. colleges and universities with the highest number of Fulbright Scholars in 2015-16, tied for second among bachelor’s institutions, with three scholars named that academic year. David Gillette, associate professor of environmental studies, was awarded a Fulbright research grant and spent the academic year in Nepal’s Gandaki River basin, where he had studied fish populations decades ago. Keya Maitra, chair and professor of philosophy, was awarded a Fulbright-Nehru Senior research grant and spent the fall semester at the Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi, India. Cara Gilpin, assistant director of UNC Asheville Study Abroad programs, was one of 20 American international education administrators to receive a Fulbright grant to attend a two-week seminar abroad. In addition, two graduates received the prestigious awards.

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Gray M. Barrett, a 2016 graduate in political science and international studies, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for research in Norway. He is completing the first year of a two-year master’s degree program in theory and practice of human rights at the University of Oslo. Erin Shaw, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies at UNC Asheville, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright grant to teach English in Malaysia.

INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD Juan Sanchez Martinez, assistant professor of modern languages and literatures, received the National Prize for Literature in Colombia for his book of poems, Altamar.

This Fulbright will be a continuation of my study of human rights, which I have cultivated through numerous courses here at UNC Asheville and through my work-study with Drs. Cornett and Gibney in the Political Science Department.â&#x20AC;?

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATION The Africana Studies Program at UNC Asheville has launched Moja, an online open-access scholarly journal of interdisciplinary Africana studies.

Gray M. Barrett 2016 graduate and Fulbright Scholar

WHITE HOUSE SINGERS The UNC Asheville Singers, directed by Associate Professor Melodie Galloway, celebrated 10 years of holiday performances in the White House.

45 UNC Asheville graduates have earned prestigious Fulbright grants.

FACULTY & STAFF AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Trey Adcock, Champion for Students Award David Clarke, Teaching Excellence in the Natural Sciences Brian Hart, Spirit of Innovation Award Anne Jansen, Teaching Excellence in University Programs Mila Lemaster, 2016 UNC Asheville Nominee for the Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award Marquis McGee, Don Locke Excellence in Diversity Award Wendy Mullis and Barb Svenson, Spirit of Sustainability Award

WELCOME NEW FACULTY UNC ASHEVILLE WELCOMED 19 NEW FACULTY MEMBERS IN FALL 2016: Mildred Barya, Assistant Professor of English; Kenneth Bogert, Assistant Professor of Computer Science; Victoria Bradbury, Assistant Professor of New Media; Laura Jones, Assistant Professor of Health and Wellness; Angel Kaur, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies; William Koprowski, Professor of Management and Accountancy; Andrew Laughlin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies; Laura Meadows, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication; William Revere, Assistant Professor of English; Juan Sanchez Martinez, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures; Ryan Steed, Assistant Professor of Chemistry; Megan Underhill, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology; Jonathan Brown, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics; Wiley Cash, Writer-In-Residence; Richard Turpen, Visiting Professor of Management and Accountancy; Jane Mader, Lecturer in Modern Languages and Literatures; Renuka Gusain, Lecturer in Humanities; David Hayes, Lecturer in Management and Accountancy; and Scott Branson, Lecturer in the Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences program.

Karin Peterson, 2017 Academic Affairs Fellow Aubrianne Rote, Teaching Excellence in the Social Sciences Eric Roubinek, Teaching Excellence Tiece Ruffin, NC West Education Policy Fellow Lorena Russell, Distinguished Teacher of the Year Shelly Sellers, Distinguished Staff Award for Service Excellence Brook Thompson, NC West Education Policy Fellow Sally Wasileski, Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching Katherine Zubko, Teaching Excellence in the Humanities

His contributions to our community extended far beyond our campus. Don Locke was a caring and devoted mentor to so many and gave generously of his time and resources to support important community organizations.â&#x20AC;? Mary K. Grant Chancellor, UNC Asheville

NEW FACULTY MEMBERS

HONORING A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

DON LOCKE

UNC ASHEVILLE HONORED AND REMEMBERED DON LOCKE THIS YEAR, establishing the Don Locke Excellence in Diversity Award and planting a tree in memory of his service to campus and to Asheville. Locke, an author, education advocate, and longtime champion for diversity, served as director of Diversity and Multiculturalism at UNC Asheville. He also served as director of the Asheville Graduate Center and director of the NC State University doctoral program in Adult and Community College Education at the Asheville Graduate Center. He passed away in June 2016.

Bulldogs for Lif FALL HOMECOMING UNC ASHEVILLE’S HOMECOMING moved to the fall in 2016 as alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the university came together October 21-22 to celebrate. The weekend kicked off with the Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night where Kevin Martin ’99, Tanya Harris-Fleming ’06, and Emily Langill ’06 were proudly inducted as part of the class of 2016. Following the ceremony, alumni came together for a welcome reception at the Hyatt Place hotel where they were able to catch up with friends and fellow Bulldogs. Saturday was a day full of activities beginning with an alumni breakfast followed by a homecoming parade and tailgate as fans got ready for a little football, UNC Asheville style, as the men’s soccer team took on Winthrop for the Homecoming soccer game. The night was capped off with a performance by celebrity comedian Michael Ian Black. Save the date for the 2017 Homecoming celebration on September 22 and 23, 2017.

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HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: KEVIN MARTIN, TANYA HARRIS-FLEMING, AND EMILY LANGILL

ALUMNI REUNION UNC ASHEVILLE HELD ITS FIRST ALUMNI REUNION in summer 2016, with a special celebration for the Class of 1966—the first graduating class of baccalaureate degree recipients from UNC Asheville—and an opportunity for alumni of all decades to come home to campus.

ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE REUNION DINNER: Jennifer Forsyth ’90, deputy editor, investigations, The Wall Street Journal—Roy A. Taylor Distinguished Alumnus or Alumna Award Jacquelyn Hallum, director of health careers and diversity education, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)—Francine Delany Alumni Award for Service to the Community John Noor ’07, attorney, Roberts and Stevens, P.A.—Thomas D. Reynolds Alumni Award for Service to the University Dee James ’73, professor of English and director of the First-Year Writing Program— Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award Cristina Alonso ’97, attorney, Alonso Appeals—2016 Order of Pisgah Award for Alumni Achievement Lakesha McDay ’09, director of diversity and inclusion, Mission Health—2016 Order of Pisgah Award for Alumni Achievement

ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES

By the Numbers COMMUNITY IMPACT University Employees

785

Estimated Annual Employee Contributions to Local Economy

$24,085,250

Employee Volunteer Hours

700+ hours

University Students

3,715

Estimated Annual Undergraduate Students Contribution to Local Economy

$13,842,600

Student Volunteer Hours

11,315 hours

GIVING AND FUNDRAISING University Advancement Secured Cash & Pledges in FY 2017

$3,379,923

Alumni Donors

558

Alumni Giving

$213,844

Giving Tuesday Total Raised

$30,450

Annual Scholarship Fundraising

$527,307

New Planned Gifts Secured so far in FY 2017

$586,000

Total Grants & Contracts Awards in FY 2016

$3,331,486

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In addition to our national impact as one of the nation’s premier public liberal arts universities, UNC Asheville makes a significant impact on the Asheville community and the region as an employer, an engine for innovation, and a nexus for major events and conferences. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research is just one example of how UNC Asheville brings visitors, not only to campus, but to Asheville and Western North Carolina.” Carla Willis Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH UNC ASHEVILLE STUDENTS WERE JOINED BY 4,200 COLLEAGUES from across the country in a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), hosted by UNC Asheville in April 2016. Conference visitors contributed to a sell-out weekend in Asheville, bringing over $3 million into the local economy.

DIRECT SPENDING

$1,851,229 $645,000

$483,750

TOTAL ATTENDEES

TOTAL STATE & LOCAL TAXES

4,242

$413,649

$322,500

$161,250

Re cr ea t

Re t

Tr an sp or ta tio Bu n sin es s & Se Re rv nt ice al s

Fo od

Lo d

gi n

Be ve ra ge

TOTAL JOBS SUPPORTED

TOTAL ROOM NIGHTS

1,399

5,079

Total Business Spending generated by NCUR

3,147,513

UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CHANCELLOR Mary K. Grant

SENIOR STAFF

DEANS

Luke Bukoski Chief Communication and Marketing Officer

Edward Katz Associate Provost, Dean of University Programs, and Professor of English

Janet Cone Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Athletics Director

Jeffrey Konz Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of Economics

Shannon Earle Chief of Staff

Keith Krumpe Dean of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry

Bill Haggard Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Wiebke Strehl Dean of Humanities and Professor of German

Stacey Millett Executive Director for Community Engagement and the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

John G. Pierce Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Joseph Urgo Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Darin Waters Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Outreach and Engagement Clifton Williams General Counsel Carla S. Willis Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

Pat Smith Chair Kennon Briggs Vice Chair Rick Lutovsky Secretary J.W. Davis Robert Long Jr. Piyush Patel Ronald A. Paulus N. King Prather Robby Russell Wilma M. Sherrill Cissie Stevens Charles White â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17 Student Government Association President Oscar Wong

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UNC PRESIDENT Margaret Spellings

BOARD OF GOVERNORS W. Louis Bissette Jr. Chair

Steven B. Long

Roger Aiken Vice Chair

Mary Ann Maxwell

Joan Templeton Perry Secretary

W. G. Champion Mitchell

Pearl Burris-Floyd C. Philip Byers Walter C. Davenport Madeline Finnegan Hannah D. Gage (emeritus) Thom Goolsby H. Frank Grainger Henry W. Hinton James L. Holmes Jr. Joe Knott W. Marty Kotis III Scott Lampe

Joan G. MacNeill

J. Alex Mitchell

Anna Spangler Nelson R. Doyle Parrish Therence O. Pickett David M. Powers Robert S. Rippy O. Temple Sloan III Harry Leo Smith Jr. J. Craig Souza George A. Sywassink William Webb Laura I. Wiley Michael Williford

2016 ANNUAL REPORT MANAGING EDITOR: Luke Bukoski CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Amy Jessee, Casey Hulme ’05 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Hannah Epperson ’11, Sarah Humphries MLAS ’17, Steve Plever GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Mary Ann Lawrence, Hanna Trussler ’13 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: David Allen ’13, Adrian Etheridge ’15, Leslie Frempong ’16, Peter Lorenz

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed to equality of educational experiences for students and is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. UNC Asheville will not discriminate against students, applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or any other legally protected status.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ASHEVILLE, NC PERMIT NO. 31 Office of the Chancellor CPO 1400 UNC Asheville One University Heights Asheville, NC 28804-8503