1

Winter 2015

2

We’re Your Campus Connection!Hello, Niner Nation Family,

The Office of Parent and Family Services enjoys meeting, communicating, and working with you - our Niner Nation Family of more than 13,000 registered parent and family mem-bers. Each year, the Office of Parent and Family Services hosts events open to our Niner Nation Family. Last fall, Family Welcomed over 1,200 parent and family members to campus, while Fall Family Festival saw over 600 participants. This year, we look forward to hosting additional events and opportunities for our growing Niner Nation Family.

We also value your feedback on our communications and services throughout the year. We seek to provide you with an impactful image of UNC Charlotte through our Relatively Speaking newsletter and Niner Nation Family Magazine. In this edition of Niner Nation, we take an up-close look at the many colleges that make up the University. You can also see how our football team improved in its sophomore season, the men’s soccer team was nationally ranked, and how our other 49er teams fared this fall. And don’t miss our history feature, which shows how dramatically Atkins Library has changed since the early 1990s.

We hope you enjoy the issue, and best wishes for a great academic year!

Go Niners!

Christine Reed Davis

Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students UNC Charlotte

Contents

Niner Nation Family9201 University City Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28223-0001704-687-0341

parents.uncc.edu

Niner Nation Family Magazine is a publication of the UNC Charlotte Dean of Students Office.

Compiled by Tamara McNeill, Edited by Susan Shackelford.Contributors: Latricia Boone • Sarah Caron • Curtis Clark • Mike Hermann

Jenn Howe • LouAnn Lamb • Tamara McNeil • Alicia MorrisLynn Roberson • Amy Thompson • Meg Freeman Whalen • Tom Whitestone

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive parent communications from UNC Charlotte at an orientation session or

through our Web site. If you would like to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please email

parents@uncc.edu.For questions, comments or suggestions,

contact parents@uncc.edu.

About the cover

Dickson Gate is the main entrance to UNC Charlotte. Stone and brick pylons sentineled between University City Boulevard and main campus represent the University’s professional colleges.

Dickson Gate was dedicated in 2008. Photo credit: Wade Bruton.

The professional colleges:

Belk College of BusinessCollege of Arts + ArchitectureCollege of Computing and InformaticsCollege of EducationCollege of Health and Human ServicesCollege of Liberal Arts & SciencesWilliam States Lee College of Engineering

College Spotlight Series

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences . . 3

College of Arts + Architecture . . . . . . 6

College of Computing and Informatics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Belk College of Business . . . . . . . . 10

William States Lee College of Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

College of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

College of Health and Human Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Extended Academic Programs . . . . 20

49ers Sports Roundup . . . . . . . . . . 21

Atkins Library: ’90s to Now . . . . . . . 23

3 continued on page 4

COVER STORY: COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) are ex-

pected to leave behind the confines of their comfort zones and embrace unfamiliar concepts and think critically and creatively.

Students stretch their innate talents as they explore new ideas and gain a solid grounding in liberal arts and sciences and in emerging fields of study. By the time students graduate, they are prepared for leadership and civic engagement and equipped with the tools for success, wherever they choose to live and work.

Here are just a few examples of outstand-ing CLAS students.

Fulbright Winner Studies Health Issues in Ecuador

Celia Karp, a communication studies and public health major and a member of the inaugural class of Levine Scholars, received a Fulbright grant for 2014-15 to study maternal mortality in Ecuador from the perspectives of communication, culture and health issues.

Karp, who graduated from UNC Char-

lotte last spring, said she was thrilled to be able to spend a year “filled with research, exploration and Ecuadorian culture. Using the research skills I’ve acquired throughout my time at UNC Charlotte, I hope to learn valuable information about Ecuador’s approaches to maternal health.”

While an undergraduate student at the

University, Karp studied abroad in Seville, Spain and volunteered as a health educator at an orphanage in Costa Rica learning about cross-cultural health communication. She also interned at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. She has volunteered with a variety of organizations, including the Levine Cancer Institute, con-necting patients, families and caregivers with important cancer resources.

Jerusalem Research Inspires Religious Studies Student

Religious studies undergraduate Kevin Caldwell has been inspired by his research experiences the past two summers at the University’s Mt. Zion archaeological dig site in Jerusalem.

“To participate in that was perhaps the best, and I would have to say the greatest, intellectual exercise that I’ve been able to participate in thus far, and is a large reason as to why I’m going back,” Caldwell said before returning as a site supervisor for the excavation last summer.

The UNC Charlotte site, licensed by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Students Think Critically, Stretch Talents

Celia Karp

4

CLAS - Think Critically, Stretch Talents continued from page 3

Parks Authority, is the only archaeological excavation in Jerusalem currently being conducted by an American university.

The study-abroad experience provides students a way to study the historical, political, and cultural context of Jerusalem.

It is one of many opportunities offered to explore global context with faculty from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

“I’m very optimistic,” said Caldwell, a Levine Scholar. “I’ve received a fantastic education here. While I don’t know the specifics of where I’ll be in five, 10, 20 years from now, I know that I’m going to do something, and I’m going to impact the community in a positive way.”

Chem Student Gains Through Hands-On Experiences

Lizeth Hernandez’s interest in chemistry first took root in the summer of 2008 when she came to UNC Charlotte as a high school student to participate in the Project SEED summer program sponsored by the American Chemical Society.

Hernandez worked alongside chemistry professor Daniel Rabinovich and UNC Charlotte students in Rabinovich’s lab.

The seeds planted then continued to bear fruit through a long-standing mentoring relationship between Rabinovich and Hernandez that illustrates how students and faculty work together at UNC Charlotte in

undergraduate research and mentoring.Hernandez came back to Rabinovich’s

lab as a college student in her freshman year and continued to pursue her research interests under his mentorship. The lab fo-cuses on synthetic and structural inorganic, bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry, including the preparation of new copper-based antibacterial agents in collaboration with colleagues in biology.

Hernandez presented at numerous confer-ences on campus and nationwide. She also participated in the Charlotte Research Scholars program, an undergraduate research initiative in which UNC Charlotte undergraduates receive stipends while they work with faculty mentors on research projects.

“These experiences have all helped me to see what’s out there other than my studies,” Hernandez said. “In research, it doesn’t end in the lab. It’s not only the education that comes with it; it’s the skills, too. You meet interesting people, and these interest-ing people allow you to see things you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.”

Professor James Tabor (left) surveys the dig site with Titus Kennedy, excavation supervisor and British student Jonah Weiss. Photo by Rachel Ward.

Kevin Caldwell

continued on page 5

5

Pettee Develops Niner Nation Weather Display

UNC Charlotte meteorology students are showcasing their weather research online and in a new campus display unit in the front lobby of the McEniry building, thanks to meteorology student Warren Pettee’s Charlotte Research Scholars summer project.

Pettee completed his project, the Niner Nation Weather display, under the guidance of faculty mentors Matt Eastin and Brian Magi of the Geography & Earth Sciences Department.

When he learned about the project, Pettee knew he wanted to do it — and believed he could. “One motivation was my interest in modeling,” he said. “And the outreach side of things was another thing, so we can get more information out there. I thought it was a really good opportunity to get involved.”

A senior meteorology student, Pettee wants to attend graduate school after com-pleting his degree. He is heavily involved in UNC Charlotte meteorology and is the co-host of Skytalk on Radio Free Charlotte with fellow meteorology student Ricky Matthews, where they discuss Charlotte weather.

The Niner Nation Weather case and website use atmospheric data collected from a weather station recently installed atop the McEniry building, displaying weather research and forecasts provided by meteorology students and faculty.

“We’re basically creating a website that will have information that not only the campus can access but also the whole world,” Eastin said. “It’s a good way for students to learn by practicing their craft, rather than just sitting in a classroom.” u

CLAS - Think Critically, Stretch Talents continued from page 4

Lizeth Hernandez and Daniel Rabinovich

• Has approximately 7,500 undergraduate majors, 35 percent of UNC Charlotte total

• Most UNC Charlotte undergraduates take classes in the college, gaining a grounding in liberal arts and sciences and emerging fields of study.

• About 60 percent of Charlotte Research Scholars are in the college .

• Eight doctoral programs• More than 30 master’s degree programs and certificates• 20 academic departments, 25 interdisciplinary programs and

centers• Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence recipients

since 1968: nearly 70 percent were faculty in the college • UNC Charlotte recipients of the UNC Board of Governor’s

Award for Excellence in Teaching since 1994: 65 percent were faculty in the college

• First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal recipients since 1987: almost 75 percent were faculty in the college

• Fulbright Scholars since 1977: nearly 65 percent were faculty in the college

Above: Warren Pettee operating The Weather Research and Forecasting Model. Below: Pettee with Vantage Pro II weather station, which feeds information to the Niner Nation Weather display.

Go to weather.uncc.edu for current weather conditions on campus.

Quick Facts: CLAS

6

Even as a child, Alexandra Nelson noticed that buildings and spaces have a profound effect on peoples’ lives.

“The biggest motivation for the architectural field came from the feelings that overwhelmed me in different environments I visited, especially in cities that I was able to visit as a child,” said the senior. “I then realized that the architecture and design of these spaces that continually impact human experiences was something I wanted to spend my life being a part of.”

There were no architectural programs in her native West Virginia, so Nelson looked to UNC Charlotte’s School of Architecture. Her experi-ence has been rewarding.

In her first year, she joined the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and has been active in community projects through Freedom By Design, a community service branch of the AIAS. Her sophomore year, she led a student group in designing and building an outdoor classroom for Chantilly Montessori, a local public elementary school. “This year, we are in the process of designing a play house for that same school,” Nelson said. “It has been one of the best experiences I have had in my college career.”

Storrs Hall, where her architecture classes take place, is a lively place to work, she said. “The faculty and staff are so involved and excited about things happening within the school as well as with its students, that it’s hard not to feel the energy and inspiration that fills Storrs Hall.”

Despite demands of the architecture program, she still finds time to take advantage of the rich cultural community that makes up the Col-lege of Arts + Architecture (CoA+A).

Created in 2008, CoA+A is unique among universities in the Carolinas as an integrated collection of five disciplines: architecture, art/art history, dance, music and theatre. The vibrant community of artists and designers creates a stimulating environment where students enjoy interdisciplinary coursework and artistic projects and draw inspiration from their friends in other fields.

“When possible, I love going to concerts, shows, art exhibits and museums,” said Nelson. “I also enjoy playing guitar, singing, painting and photography.”

She has attended student music recitals and art exhibitions and seen UNC Charlotte dance students perform on stage with the renowned Martha Graham Dance Company in 2013. “I have been exposed to so

College of Arts + Architecture

Senior Alexandra Nelson Thrives in Rich Creative Environment

Alexandra Nelson

Storrs Hallcontinued on page 7

7

many types of arts,” she said. “I have seen so many collaborations among students. I get ideas for how to express different architectural ideas. I have a broader view of what the possibilities can be.”

When Nelson graduates in 2015 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, her passion for urban design and landscape architecture will be firmly supported by the expert skills, commit-ment to community and creative viewpoint that CoA+A has nurtured in her.

“My biggest hope,” she said, “is to be able to use what I learn about design to help shape our communi-ties and make our built world a more beautiful, happy and safe place to live.” u

CoA+A - Nelson continued from page 6

Martha Graham Dance Company

Quick Facts: College of Arts + Architecture

• The combination of visual arts, performing arts, architecture and design disciplines into a single college is rare . CoA+A is the only one of its kind in the Carolinas and one of only a handful in the nation .

• Five departments: architecture, art & art history, dance, music and theatre

• Nearly 1,000 students enrolled

• 104 full-time faculty

• Average number of 572 applicants per academic year, with an average of 59 percent admitted .

• Presents more than 100 public performances and exhibitions annually and supports three galleries of work by faculty, students and guest artists .

• In fall 2015, the Department of Music will field a marching band to coincide with the Charlotte 49ers ascent into the elite Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA .

College of liberal arts & sCienCes College of arts + arChiteCture

Students Speak

“I enjoy learning about the brain and how it functions, as well as learning about behavior and why we behave the way we do. I like how enthusiastic, knowledgeable and helpful the professors are.”Jessica Runnion, Psychology Major, Senior

The academic curriculum and studio space allow you to really grow with peers and learn from each other and the wonderful faculty.”

Ravine Mangala, Architecture Major, Dec. 2014 Graduate

8 continued on page 9

Yi Shen completed his doctoral degree in computer science in June 2013 at UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and

Informatics (CCI). Shortly thereafter, he went to work in Mountain View, Calif. for Internet indus-try giant Google.

He had forged a connection with Google a year earlier through his advisor at CCI, who helped him get an internship.

Shen spent the summer of 2012 as an intern at Google’s Mountain View headquarters working on “Search by Image” technology. At the end of the three-month internship, he applied for a full-time position and soon received an offer letter that included the signature of Google CEO Larry Page.

“During my internship I had the opportunity to work directly with the Search by Image corps team,” said Shen. “As a full-time employee I continue to work with that group. As for the in-ternship itself, it was wonderful. It is such a great working environment —there’s not a lot of stress, everyone was very kind and I really enjoyed the food there.”

College of Computing and Informatics

Computer Science Grad Lands Position at Google

Yi Shen at Google HQ

9

Students SpeakCCI - Shen continued from page 8

Shen joined Google to develop algorithms that are the brains of the search engine. According to a Google blog, “The technology behind Search by Image analyzes your image to find its most distinctive points, lines and textures and creates a mathematical model. We match that model against billions of images in our index, and page analysis helps us derive a best-guess text description of your im-age.”

Simply put, Search by Image allows users to find out information about a specific image without having to type in keywords. It’s as simple as a drag and drop or an upload from your personal computer. u

Quick Facts: CCI

• Largest technology program in North Carolina and one of the largest in the U .S .

• More than 100 faculty and staff; 2,000 students at bachelor, masters and doctoral levels; more than 440 graduates in 2013-14

• Competitive and innovative programs in computer science, software and information systems, bioinformatics, data science and business analytics and health informatics .

• Nationally competitive research program with projects rang-ing from fundamental discovery to society and industry-driven innovations

• Major research clusters in areas of large-scale data visualization and analytics, security and privacy, human-centric computing, bioinformatics and genomics

• 200 Ph.D.-level researchers, $20 million in active extramural research grants and contracts and more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications in 2013-14

• Top 100 computing program ranked by US News and World Report

• National leader in integrating computing education, diversity and leadership development

College of Computing and informatiCs

“I majored in software and information systems because I have always had an interest in design and technology; this major is the perfect combination of both. The best thing about CCI is its ability to allow you to adjust your path of study to ensure you are successful. For example, we must have a main concentration and an outside concentration. This gives CCI students the ability and advantage to be skilled in different fields. My outside concentration is Spanish.”Elizabeth Koehler, Software and Information Systems Major, Senior

September Thu. . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Georgia State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atlanta, Ga. Sat. . . 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presbyterian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson Stadium Sat . . . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Middle Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sat. . . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florida Atlantic . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson StadiumOctober Sat. . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson Stadium Sat . . . 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bye Sat . . . 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Old Dominion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norfolk, Va. Sat. . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Miss . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson Stadium Sat. . . 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson StadiumNovember Sat . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At FIU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miami, Fla. Sat. . . 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UTSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Richardson Stadium Sat . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lexington, Ky. Sat . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Houston, Texas

— Charlotte 49ers 2015 FBS Football Schedule —

10 continued on page 11

If you or someone in your family is interested in a business educa-tion, here’s a glimpse of what it

can be from student Austin Halbert.A senior from Shelby, N.C., he

describes the Belk College of Busi-ness as not only providing him solid fundamentals but allowing him to tailor a degree to his interests, goals

Belk College of Business

Austin Halbert Seizes Wide Range of Opportunities

and opportunities. Halbert is pursuing a degree in orga-

nizational management and minoring in economics. Through internships and other college experiences, he developed an interest in both brand management and organizational change, so studying organizational management was an ideal way to

wrap those two interests into a larger context. His study of economics was fostered by an interest in understand-ing consumer concepts at a macro and systematic level.

In deciding to attend UNC Charlotte, Halbert was drawn to the growth of both the University and the city. He arrived at a time when new ideas were welcomed and ambitious goals were encouraged, he said. Belk College had some great program offerings, particularly with the Business Honors Program, which allowed him enlarge upon the typical business education, he noted further.

His ambition and passion for busi-ness also allowed him to spend time abroad through the Global Business Semester. He took courses at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus during an interesting time in the nation’s economic history.

The program also involved visiting businesses across Europe, China and India to understand global industry dynamics. “I had never left the coun-try before this, so it was a defining moment in experiential education,” he said.

While his semester abroad was enriching and fulfilling, he looked forward to returning to Charlotte for a few of his favorite things and people. Among them: the Belk College Read-ing Room, Dressler’s restaurant in Charlotte’s Midtown and Carol Stiv-ender, who taught his favorite class, Economics of Poverty.

When not working and studying, he enjoys the people and diversity of extracurricular opportunities at the University. He is also involved with Enactus (formerly Students in Free Enterprise). Enactus creates

Austin Halbert

11

belk College of business

“I chose Belk College because UNC Charlotte has one of the best business programs in the country for anyone that is looking to go into banking. The professors in the college have real-world experience that is extremely valuable to me. Their insight into the industry and how they are able to connect it all inside a classroom is the best way for me to absorb the concepts.” Wesley Sites, Finance Major, Junior

COB - Halbert continued from page 10

Quick Facts: Belk College of Business

• Has more than 3,100 undergraduate students and nearly 700 graduate students

• 90 faculty members and more than 26,000 alumni

• Founded in 1970

Students Speak

• The first business school in the Charlotte region to offer an MBA and the first to attain the prestigious accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, best known as AACSB International .

• Signature programs include executive education, a speaker series, the Babson Capital/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast and The Center for Real Estate at UNC Charlotte.

opportunities for leadership development through social entrepreneurship engagements, which led him to connect with Unilever for two summer internships.

Additional involvement in the business world led to scholarships from the Coca-Cola, Golden Leaf and Ronald McDonald foundations for supplemental educational experiences.

Halbert is a member of the Levine Scholars Program, which has afforded him invaluable growth opportunities. “While the Levine program’s funding gave me the financial security that I needed to pursue postsecondary education, the experiences that the program offered were unparalleled in giving me the chance to craft a college experience that I could have never dreamed up before coming to UNC Charlotte.”

The advice he gives to those who may be interested in applying to the Belk College of Business is that it provides a strong framework that allows students to build a per-sonalized business education. “To really capitalize on the Belk College experience, I recommend that students take advantage of its professional advancement programs and get involved with its student organizations,” he said. u

12continued on page 13

The story of Charles Rose’s journey from his child-hood home in the Bahamas to graduating as a civil engineer from UNC Charlotte in 2014 is one of

perseverance, faith and family. And it has a happy ending.Rose was encouraged by his mother to leave his small is-

land and explore the rest of the world. “When I was young, my Mom put a map of the whole world on the table before me and my sister,” Rose said. “She said ‘Find the Bahamas.’ When we did, we saw how small it was and realized there is a whole world out there.”

With his mother’s inspiration to reach beyond the island, Rose set his sights on excelling academically so he could

one day attend college in the United States“Growing up I always took my school assignments seri-

ously, with the goal of going to college,” he said. “I loved math and science. I also like creating things and was always designing and making models of buildings and even an entire shopping mall. At first I thought I would like to be an architect. A friend encouraged me to look into civil engineering. I was able to do some job shadowing with a professional engineer, and I really liked it. So I decided that would be my major.”

First acceptance: UNC CharlotteRose kept working hard, both in school to keep his grades

William States Lee College of Engineering

From the Bahamas to UNC CharlotteOne student’s story of perseverance, faith and family

13

continued on page 14

up and at jobs to save money for college. He applied to engineering programs in the U.S. The first accep-tance letter he received was from UNC Charlotte, so that’s where he decided to go. Then came the challenge of rais-ing the money he would need to make his dreams come true.

“I was valedictorian at my high school graduation in June 2010,” he recalled. “At the ceremony I was awarded a $2,000 scholarship, which was great. But out-of-state tuition and fees were about $30,000, and I still had a long way to go.”

Rose kept applying for and waiting on scholarships and grants. “I was still waiting in July and orientation was coming soon. I always had strong faith in God, and I felt like this was a test of my faith. So, I bought a one-way ticket to Charlotte.”

His community in the Bahamas is a small, close-knit one, and Rose has a large extended family with many aunts, uncles and cousins. “The people at home care a lot for me, but most of them kept telling me I was crazy and a fool. I did have supporters too, and one was Carol Rolle, a Rotar-ian who told me I should try applying to area businesses for help. So I did, but still I waited and waited and didn’t hear anything.”

Rose understands and appreciates his culture’s laid-back philosophy of life. But at times like these in the Bahamas, where nothing happens fast, it can be frustrating.

“You have to remember, in the Bahamas everyone always waits until the last moment. The day I left, I was at the airport and Mrs. Rolle gave me a book about having faith in the Lord and then things will work out. As I was getting ready to board the flight, I was called back to the ticket counter. They had an envelope for me, and I could see it had a check in it. I thought ‘at last this is it.’ The check was for $1,000, and I appreciated it, but I was still short a lot of money.”

Starting Class, Lacking TuitionRose did have enough money to pay his minimum

university fees and was admitted to UNC Charlotte. He still hadn’t paid tuition, though, which would be due in two weeks. He started classes, not knowing if he would ever get the chance to finish them.

“People at home were still telling me to come back, but I had faith. On the final day that tuition was due, there was a note under my door saying I had to pay that day or be out of my dorm room by midnight. I was distraught. How would I explain to my family that I had lost my dream? I still went to class that day, and when I got out I had a voice-mail from my Mom saying I had gotten a $7,500 grant from the Bahamas government. I didn’t have the money yet, but my Mom sent an email with a copy of the grant letter. I printed that out and took it to student accounts and they said, ‘OK, you’re in.’”

Rose laminated the note that had been under his door

COE - Rose continued from page 12

Charles Rose

telling him he had to leave, and now carries it in his pocket every day as a reminder of the power of his faith.

Through his college career, Rose continually relied on his perseverance and faith. When he was home for his first Christmas break, Mrs. Rolle arranged for him to do a televi-sion interview with her daughter, who was a local news anchor. The interview aired on New Year’s Eve, and Rose talked about his dreams and struggles and encouraged others to never give up on their dreams. Many people who saw the show called the station and asked how they could help. Their contributions were enough to pay Rose’s tuition and fees for the upcoming spring semester.

Grassroots FinancingRose eventually had a group of more than 30 people who

consistently helped him financially. He kept a spreadsheet with all their names, wrote them all letters about his aca-demic progress and visited them during his college breaks.

“It’s amazing how it all happened,” Rose said just months before his graduation in spring 2014. “I’m here today through a true grassroots effort. A lot of people now have many high expectations of me. Failure is not an option.”

Rose was active in the University’s International Club

14

CONNECT EVEN MORE WITH NATION FAMILY ON FACEBOOK!

https://www.facebook.com/ninernationfamily

COE - Rose continued from page 13

UNC Charlotte was a great experience. In addition to his academic work, he was a member of the University’s International Club and became active in a local church.

“There have been some really tough classes,” he said before graduation, “but the professors’ doors have always been open to help. When I have stumbled, there has always been a solution.”

When he received his diploma last May, Rose had a group cheering him as he walked across the commence-ment stage. His family bought airline tickets, and about 40 people, including some of his financial supporters, were planning to attend.

Today, Rose plans to work in the United States for a few years and then would like to get his professional engineer’s license and perhaps go abroad.

“I’d like to be able use engineering to help others,” he said. “I want people to benefit from what I have learned and the skills I have. Engineering is a tool, and I want to use it along with my faith and my dreams to make this a better world.” u

Quick Facts: COE

• Second largest engineering college in North Carolina with more than 3,000 students

• Enrollment expected to reach 4,000 in 2015, with most growth occurring in energy engineering

• 172 faculty and staff

• Leader in precision engineering and metrology, optics, commu-nications, transportation, structures, lean logistics, energy and motorsports

• Approximately 10 percent of NASCAR engineers are UNC Charlotte graduates .

• Departments and degrees: civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and engineering science, systems engineering and engineering management, engineering technology and construction.

Students SpeakWilliam states lee College of engineering

“When I discovered systems engineering, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. It is the ultimate mix of applying math, analytical skills and business practices to solve problems and improve processes. I love the friendly atmosphere of

the college and particularly my experience with systems engineering. Having classes with familiar, friendly people who really do care about each other makes my experience at UNC Charlotte that much more.”Kelsey Hedspeth, Systems Engineering Major, Senior

The Charlotte Research Institute campus is where engineering happens at UNC Charlotte.

15

The Story of a Teacher: Shannon Michelsen

Everyone has a story. Teachers, however, often have countless stories. They are stories about

children who have forever changed their lives or stories about children who accom-plished more than ever thought imaginable. Shannon Michelsen, a future teacher, is no exception. She has a story to tell: a story of a special little girl named Gianna, who made life indescribably sweet, paving Michelsen’s way into special education.

While in high school, Michelsen was so excited to welcome her precious cousin, Gianna, into the world. Despite being a bundle of joy, Gianna was different. Her life was character-ized by seizures,

blindness and a disconnect between the right and left lobes of her brain. Gianna’s life was a short three years, but her impact on the world cannot be measured.

While watching Gianna grow, Michelsen knew that her life would never be the same. She knew that she had to choose a career where she could make a difference, where she could positively impact the lives of those less fortunate. Teaching became her choice.

“I don’t want to just be any teacher,” Michelsen said. “I want to be a teacher good enough for Gianna — one who will love her but also one who will encourage her to be the best she can be.”

And it goes further than the Gianna’s of the world; it extends to their families. “I know the stress that it puts on a family to have a child with special needs,” Mi-chelsen said. “Whether it’s sleepless nights, overwhelming doctor visits or indescrib-able financial hardship, families cannot take much more. For that reason, I want to be a passionate educator who creates a safe environment for the child, and who has empathy for the struggles the family faces on a daily basis.”

Through the College of Education (COE), Michelsen is making her goals a reality. As a junior, she is set to begin her yearlong internship in the fall. COE offers internship experiences beginning as

College of Education

a freshman, extending through the sopho-more and junior years and ending with a full-time experience as a senior. Michelsen is excited to start her internship process this fall, but even more thrilled to meet the students in her class.

Michelsen’s story is being written because of Gianna’s story. Gianna’s story is told daily by Michelsen’s passion for those with disabilities. We’re proud COE is helping write and tell meaningful stories, one student at a time. u

Shannon Michelsen

Gianna

Quick Facts: CoEd

• Five departments: educational leader-ship, special education and child development, reading and elementary education, counseling and middle, secondary and K-12 education

• More than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled

• In fall 2014, COE hosted its first Teacher-to-Teacher Conference, where teachers learned from other teachers . A huge success, it will continue in the future .

• Faculty, staff and students are active in schools around the area and be-yond . Public school partners are directly benefiting from the work done within the college .

16

Students SpeakCollege of eduCation

“I will graduate with a degree in both special and elementary education because of dual licensure. This program has afforded me opportunities to work with all different types of children and discover ways to help all students achieve. My heart is in helping children, no matter what their differences may be.”

Anna Asprongiannis, Dual Licensure Education Major, Junior

February 14 is the day when it's perfectly acceptable (maybe even expected) to express affection, and we can't help it, we love Norm! In fact, we want the traditional red and pink of Valentine's Day to make room for Charlotte GREEN.

So here's a PDF of valentines featuring our beloved mascot. Just download, print and cut on the dotted lines to yield 4 different Valentines for giving.

More ways to share the love:

REPROS copy center (lower level, Prospector) has the paper valentines already printed, cut and packaged in sets of 8, FREE as long as they last.

Mail & Package Services (lower level, Prospector) has "I pick you" Valentine's postcards, FREE while they last. They also have LOVE Forever stamps for sale.

Union Station (main level, Student Union) is offering a Valentine's Day balloon bouquet special; get one mylar and two latex balloons for only $3.25; balloon selection. Union Station also has the "I pick you" postcards, FREE for the

asking!

Go to the Auxiliary Services at UNC Charlotte Facebook page for jpeg images you can download for social sharing.

Enjoy!

Share the LOVE Niner Nation!

17

Faculty, Students Achieve Array of Accomplishments

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) consists of two schools and two departments — the Schools of Nursing and Social Work and the Depart-

ments of Public Health Sciences and Kinesiology. You’re invited to read on to learn recent highlights at the college.

Faculty Spotlight: Mark DeHaven

Mark DeHaven, Colvard Distinguished Professor, leads the Academy for Research on Community Health, Engagement, and Services at CHHS.

The academy brings together interdisciplinary teams of UNC Charlotte faculty to develop active partnerships with com-munity health and human service agencies, as well as local and state government.

The goal is to improve health outcomes and quality of life and reduce health disparities, especially among tradition-ally vulnerable populations. An internationally known community health researcher, DeHaven has directed dozens of global community health initiatives related to chronic disease reduction in the U.S., Mexico, Peru, China and South Sudan.

Social Work Program Increases StatureUNC Charlotte’s social work program has swiftly grown

from its origins within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the 1970s to a bachelor’s and master’s program accredited by the Council on Social Work Educa-tion and acclaimed for its excellence and value. This year, the Department of Social Work became the School of Social Work.

College of Health and Human Services

continued on page 18

School of Social Work

18

CHHS continued from page 15

continued on page 19

Welcoming, Aiding StudentsStudent success is a top priority at CHHS. During the

first week of classes, the college welcomes new freshmen and transfer students by hosting a pizza party with Norm the Niner, where students can meet and chat with faculty, administrators and fellow students.

Nursing Graduates Exceed National Pass RateThe School of Nursing achieved a 96 percent pass rate on

the National Council Licensure Examination for its most recent graduates, exceeding the national average.

Big Data, Big CommitmentBuilding capacity around big data is important at CHHS.

The study of big data has been part of the college’s DNA for quite some time, most notably through the innovative analytical work of Jim Studnicki, Belk Endowed Professor in Public Health Sciences.

Studnicki’s research team created a software solution that has been used by several states and health systems across the country to analyze data associated with the health of their markets and to develop priorities for improving the health of their communities. Recently, his work has led to a new partnership with industry innovator, Premier Inc.

Kulkarni Focuses on Violence PreventionShanti Kulkarni, associate

professor of social work, is actively engaged in violence prevention efforts, both lo-cally and internationally. Her research focuses on the impact of trauma, violence and abuse on vulnerable populations and seeks to positively influence practitioner behavior, service delivery systems and policies to

promote survivor healing.

Kinesiology Dept. to Get New Home in GymBelk Gym is undergoing extensive renovations that are

expected to be unveiled in fall 2015. The new home of the Department of Kinesiology, the gym will feature more than 8,000 square feet of dedicated fitness space, state-of-the-art clinical training and research laboratories, refinished basketball courts and high-tech lecture halls.

New student welcome

School of Nursing licensure exam pass rates recently exceed the national average.

Jim Studnicki

Shanti Kulkarni

19

Coffman Leads Student Trips to CubaMaren Coffman, associate professor in nursing, contin-

ues to break ground with outstanding experiences in Cuba. Under her guidance, students from a variety of disciplines spend their spring break in Cuba learning about the coun-try’s culture and Cuban health care system.

CHHS continued from page 16

Coffnab leads student experiences to learn about Cuba’s culture and health care system.

Students SpeakCollege of health and human serviCes

“I chose to major in kinesiology because in the long term I plan on going to medical school. The best thing about CHHS is the amazing professors I have been able to work with, specifically, Linda Probst. She inspires students with relentless optimism and humor and infuses them with a zest and passion for kinesiology and its applications.”Amanda Payne, Kinesiology Major, Senior

New Academy Targets Veterans, Military HealthCHHS has recently established the Academy for Veterans

and Military Family Health, a collaboration with the Divi-sion of Student Affairs, ROTC and veteran-serving orga-nizations from the community. The academy will provide a structure to offer learning and research experiences for students wishing to work with veterans and their families upon graduation. u

Quick Facts: College of Health and

Human Services

• Four units: School of Nursing, School of Social Work, Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology

• 3,432 enrolled, fall 2014

• 84 full-time faculty

• 86 percent of first-year grads say their current work position is directly related to their major field of study.

20

EXTENDED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Continuing education at UNC Charlotte is part of Extended Academic Programs — which helps indi-

viduals and employers achieve their personal, professional and organizational goals by offering high quality programs with practical applications.

Continuing education courses include certificates, exam preparation and professional development short courses delivered to individuals in the classroom, online or both. Extended Academic Programs also provides corporate and custom on-site training for organizations.

Courses and training sessions are taught in an inviting learning environment by UNC Charlotte faculty, subject-matter experts and industry practitioners. Extended Academic Programs is located at UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. Ninth St., in uptown Charlotte.

Programs that may interest you and your student:

Graduate School Test PreparationUNC Charlotte has teamed up with The Princeton Review

to offer quality and affordable test-preparation classes for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT. The price of classes includes materials. We also free programs, which include strategy sessions, practice tests, verbal boot camps and math boot camps.

Project Management Certificate Project management has become one of the world’s most

in-demand skills. Whether you are a project manager look-ing to improve your skills or a professional in another field who wishes to transition into project management, the certificate is designed to provide you with the skills needed to accelerate your career.

Invest in Your Future through Continuing Education

Quick Facts: Extended Academic Programs

• More than 5,500 people took advantage of continuing-education programs in the 2014 fiscal year

• 14 certificate programs and 12 exam-prep courses• Summer camps for children in grades 1-12• Located in UNC Charlotte Center City in uptown Charlotte• 17 full-time staff members

Six two-day courses are required to earn the certificate, and courses are based on the Project Management Institute’s “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge,” Fifth Edition. Our certificate meets the project management education requirements to take the Project Management Professional exam.

Online Courses via ed2goUNC Charlotte has partnered with ed2go to offer more

than 300 courses taught entirely online. Most courses are affordably priced, beginning as low as $95, and include six weeks of 24/7 access to course content. Major topic areas include: accounting and finance, business, computer applications, design and composition, health care and medical, language and arts, law and legal, personal devel-opment, teaching and education, technology, and writing and publishing.

For a complete listing of certificate programs, exam-prep-aration programs, online courses, professional develop-ment courses and corporate and custom training options, please visit continuinged.uncc.edu or call 704-687-8900. u

21

FootballThe 49ers put together a 5-6 record in their second season

to match the record of the inaugural year. 2014 was the 49ers last year as an independent in the Football Champi-onship Subdivision (FCS). Charlotte moves to the Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA in 2015.

Behind the potent offensive punch of running back Kalif Phillips, a sophomore, and slot receiver Austin Duke, a red-shirt sophomore, the 49ers showed significant improve-ment on the field.

They played eight common opponents in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, the 49ers went 4-4 in those eight games with three losses by just one score, including an overtime loss. In 2013, they went 3-5, with four losses of 20 or more points.

Phillips became the 49ers’ first 1,000-yard rusher, scoring a school-record 20 touchdowns and achieving six games of 150 or more yards rushing. Duke became the school’s first 1,000-yard receiver, scoring a record nine receiving touchdowns and posting 100 or more receiving yards in six games. Duke also caught seven touchdown passes of 50 or more yards, while Phillips had three touchdown runs of 50 or more yards.

In the start-up program’s first two years, Charlotte went 10-12 and faced six ranked FCS opponents and three ranked opponents from others divisions. Of the 22 starting positions in the first two seasons, more than two thirds of the players were freshmen or sophomores.

Men’s SoccerThe 49ers national-caliber men’s soccer team won the

Conference USA regular season and spent the bulk of the fall in the nation’s top 10, peaking at No. 4 in the national polls and No. 1 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), in October. The men’s soccer program is the 49ers’ first to reach the top spot in the nation’s RPI.

Charlotte finished the season 14-4-1 and earned a fourth straight bid to the NCAA Division 1 tournament. The 49ers earned a 10th seed before falling in the second round. It was the 49ers’ fifth NCAA appearance in the last six years.

During the regular season, the 49ers went 4-1 against top 25 competition, including wins over No. 5 New Mexico, No. 13 Kentucky and No. 22 Wake Forest

Conference USA Co-Offensive MVP Kyle Parker led the 49ers with 9 goals and 7 assists, while all-conference first teamer Brandt Bronico had 5 goals and 6 assists. Dominic Bonilla led the team with 8 assists.

Charlotte goalkeeper Austin Pack posted 8 shutouts on the season, while junior defender Biko Bradnock-Brennan earned first team all-conference honors.

Women’s SoccerThe 49ers put together an 8-8-2 season and earned the

No. 4 seed in the Conference USA tournament, which the University hosted at Transamerica Field.

Charlotte’s Conference USA Freshman of the Year Martha Thomas led the team with 11 goals with 6 assists. Defender Taylor Dulaney earned first team all-conference honors, while second-team choice Amanda Jones added 4 goals and 3 assists for head coach John Cullen.

FALL SPORTS ROUNDUP

Football Team Gains Ground, Men’s Soccer on National Stage

continued page 22

22

49ers Fall Sports Roundup continued from page 21

VolleyballUnder first-year head coach Gohkan

Yilmaz, the 49ers earned a bid to the conference tournament for the first time since 2010 and picked up the program’s most wins, at 17-17, since 2006.

Charlotte won four straight matches to end the regular season and grab the eighth and final spot in the Confer-ence USA tournament with a 6-10 record in league play. The 49ers’ last trip to the conference tournament came in 2010 as a member of the Atlantic 10.

Leading the 49ers were Savannah Gaster, who posted 2.17 kills per set and 24 solo blocks for the season; Irem Asci, who topped the squad with 383 kills; and Claire Kreusz, who had 291 kills. Setter Britney Leigh Held had 1,245 assists and was twice named C-USA Setter of the Week.

Cross CountryThe men placed sixth and the

women eighth at the Conference USA Championships under first-year head coach Alex Gibby. Getisso Dentamo earned all-conference honors for the men’s team with a 17th-place finish at the championships, while senior Jen Molke earned all-conference honors after placing 21st in the women’s race. u

49ers Host NCAA Rounds March 20-22 The 49ers will once again be hosting March Madness at Time Warner Cable Arena in uptown Charlotte. NCAA

men’s basketball second and third rounds will be played March 20-22. Eight teams will visit the Queen City to pursue their dream of reaching the Final Four. Four games will be

played Friday, March 20, with two more games on Sunday, March 22. The winners of Sunday’s games will advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.

23

In the early 1990s, library space at the University was at a premium. The 1992 report of the University of North Carolina Commission on Higher Education Facilities

noted that UNC Charlotte was last in the UNC system in both classroom and library space per student.

Yet, when people saw the library’s 10-story tower at the time, it was sometimes difficult to convince them of the problem. The height made them think there was plenty of room. National standards suggested providing 2,500 library seats for an enrollment the size of UNC Charlotte’s at the time, but the library only seated less than a third of that at 700.

After much discussion and evidence of need, the plan-ning for the expansion of J. Murrey Atkins library began in 1995. The 110,000-square-foot addition increased the library from 180,000 square feet to almost 300,000 square feet. The library expanded to 1.3 million books (or more), the level needed by a major university.

As years have passed, Atkins Library has continued to grow to meet campus needs. In 2007, the University added The Information Commons and its five sections: The In-formation Desk, Reference Services, Presentation Support Services, Research Data Services and Instructional Services.

The Information Commons provides information about resources in the library. It is open to both students and faculty. Services include loaning laptops, projectors, books, etc. as well as focusing on library security issues, moni-toring print and photocopying machine problems and booking group study rooms.

In 2012, Atkins Library opened the North Entrance, which allows students easier access to the library and greater

UNC CHARLOTTE HISTORY

Atkins Library: From the ’90s to Now

technological capabilities for studying. Upon entering the North Entrance, you see an all-glass conference room equipped with a flat-screen monitor for group studying and projects. The area also includes tables that have built-in touch screens that can be spilt into four screens, allow-ing up to four students to work on the same document at once.

Atkins’ formidable presence on campus is still there, but thanks to planning and expansion over the years, it meets the demands of a growing university. u