As work continues toward a proposed merger between 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte, get to know more about Queens and how the two universities are aligned in values and mission.
When 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte announced in September an intent to merge, the message conveyed by leaders of both institutions was simple and powerful: We are two institutions with aligned purposes and a singular vision to enhance educational opportunities for students.
Founded in 1889 and 1857, respectively, both 黑料不打烊 and Queens have histories that emphasize engaged learning, community service and student-centered innovation. With a merger, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 national reputation for experiential education and undergraduate teaching excellence will meet Queens鈥 nearly 170-year legacy in Charlotte鈥檚 civic and academic ecosystem. The merger is described as 鈥渃ombining complementary strengths, shared values and a deep commitment to Charlotte.鈥
At the conclusion of the merger, 黑料不打烊 will operate Queens. For students, the benefits are tangible. A combined institution promises expanded academic pathways, enhanced connections with regional employers and deeper integration of hands-on learning with real-world impact. And for Charlotte, the union signals a bold investment in local higher education, anchoring both campuses in a vibrant metropolitan region that is expected to grow in population by more than 50% by 2050.
The combined vision will preserve the traditions of both institutions while advancing a modern model of scale, opportunity and regional engagement.
A Landmark Meeting
In a historic gathering and a major step forward in the intended merger between 黑料不打烊 and Queens, the Boards of Trustees of both institutions 鈥 joined by dozens of faculty and senior leaders 鈥 gathered in October on the 黑料不打烊 campus for a daylong review of progress and collaborative planning.
The working session marked a significant milestone in the shared vision to create a merged institution positioned for academic excellence, operational strength and exceptional student outcomes.
During the session, leaders outlined a timeline for key regulatory and legal steps. The gathering included an 黑料不打烊 campus tour for the guests from Queens as well as a series of roundtable discussions in which board members provided feedback on each of the core integration areas.
Prominent Queens Alumni
Vi Lyles 鈥73
Mayor of Charlotte (2017-present)
Shirley Fulton MBA 鈥88
First African American woman to serve as a judge in the Superior Court of North Carolina
Malek Jandali 鈥97
Composer and pianist, founder of Pianos for Peace
Conrad Ricamora 鈥01
Actor
JB Brown MBA 鈥03
President of Hendrick Automotive Group
Maxwell Millington 鈥16
Entertainment reporter for Axios
Meg Rosenthal 鈥19
Author of 鈥淭he Wingman鈥 and 鈥淭he Right Words鈥
Hannah Aspden 鈥22
Paralympic Gold Medalist
Dillon Lewis 鈥25
Drafted by the New York Yankees (currently at Hudson Valley Renegades)
Quick Facts About Queens
Campus
- 30 acres in the Myers Park neighborhood of Charlotte
Students
- Nearly 1,600 combined enrollment (undergraduate and graduate)
- 44 states and 50 countries represented
Academics
- 51 undergraduate majors
- 9 pre-professional programs and 9 master鈥檚 programs
Athletics
- 23 Division i NCAA Teams
- Mascot: Rex the Lion
- Name: The Royals
Timline
Queens University
1857: Founded as Charlotte Female Institute in uptown Charlotte
1891: Renamed Seminary for Girls
1896: Renamed Presbyterian Female College, located at North College & Ninth streets
1912: Renamed Queens College and moves to Myers Park
1930: Merges with Chicora College for Women to become Queens鈥 Chicora College
1948: Begins admitting men to new co-ed evening college
1987: Becomes fully coeducational
2001-02: Trustees approve (2001) and implement (2002) the name Queens University of Charlotte
2025: Gains full NCAA Division I status and championship eligibility; Queens and 黑料不打烊 announce intent to merge
黑料不打烊
1889: 黑料不打烊 College founded by the Christian Church (now the United Church of Christ) as a co-ed institution
1890: First classes held; original administrative and academic buildings constructed
1920: Toshio Sato, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first international student, graduates
1923: A fire destroys 黑料不打烊鈥檚 main building, sparking a campus rebuild
1963: 黑料不打烊 admits its first Black student, Glenda Phillips Hightower, marking a major shift toward racial integration
2000:听Official name changes to 黑料不打烊, signaling a rising national identity and expanded academic scope
2019: Named a Top-100 National University by U.S. News & World Report for the first time
2023: Announces expansion of national campus program to Charlotte, joining established initiatives in Los Angeles and New York
2025: Queens University of Charlotte and 黑料不打烊 announce intent to merge
To learn more about the merger, visit