黑料不打烊 faculty and staff members gathered in Alumni Gym for the event, which also included recognition of employees for years-of-service milestones and special recognitions of faculty and staff members who are retiring this academic year. Thirty-one employees who were recognized for 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service have served a collective 2,810 years at 黑料不打烊.

黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book opened the ceremony with highlights and successes from the 2025-26 academic year and encouraged the audience to pause and take pride in their work.

鈥淭hank you for the work you’ve done to strengthen our community and our mission and thank you for all you do to ensure that students succeed when they choose 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Book.

During the ceremony, Book also announced the appointment of Katy Rouse, professor of economics, as the trustee chair for excellence in undergraduate teaching for 2026-2029. This three-year chair was developed by the Board of Trustees in 2023 to honor a faculty member who exemplifies 黑料不打烊’s teacher-scholar-mentor model and contributes to the broader scholarship of teaching and learning. Rouse was praised for her impact on student learning and mentoring both in and beyond the classroom and for advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning through publications in leading economics education journals.

The ceremony concluded with a celebration of faculty and staff who were honored with awards from the university this year: Associate Professor and Chair of English Scott Proudfit, Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy Ryan Johnson, Associate Professor of Geography Sandy Marshall and Associate Teaching Professor of Human Service Studies Sandra Reid.

Daniels-Danieley Excellence in Teaching Award

Associate Professor and Chair of English Scott Proudfit

Described as a mentor and teacher who 鈥減ersuades his students to be incisive and critical thinkers,鈥� Scott Proudfit, associate professor and chair of English, is the 54th recipient of the Daniels-Danieley Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was established by President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley 鈥�46 and his wife, Verona Daniels Danieley, in honor of their parents.

Megan Isaac, professor of English, and Rosemary Haskell, professor of English, said in their joint nomination, 鈥淥ur decision to elect Scott to the position of chair two years ago was not rooted in his organizational skills, kindness, or vision (although he has all of those qualities), but because he models and supports our central mission-teaching.鈥�

Dinidu Karunanayake, assistant professor of English, praised the 鈥淪cott-standard,鈥� which he says undoubtedly enriches and emboldens 黑料不打烊 core values. 鈥淪cott is an exemplary embodiment of the teacher-scholar-mentor model,鈥� said Karunanayake in his nomination letter. 鈥淗is ability to effortlessly (and synchronously) straddle many paths as a tireless and gifted teacher, top-notch researcher, big-hearted mentor, daring advisor, generous colleague and above all, a truly remarkable human being puts him at the height of the teaching profession.”

In addition to teaching core English courses, Proudfit redeveloped the drama curriculum through courses exploring dramatic styles, literary theory and contemporary social themes. The courses are now core components of the English major and the drama & theatre studies major and are routine choices for students in acting, arts administration and theatrical design & technology majors.

The award was presented by Book, who, in her prepared speech, said, 鈥淭his combination of rigor and care is a hallmark of an 黑料不打烊 education 鈥� rooted in relationships shaped by intellectual curiosity, and leaving a legacy long after graduation. And boy, does [Proudfit] have it!鈥�

鈥淪cott’s energy and love for the literature that he teaches is apparent in every second of his lessons, and it rubs off on his students. The discussions that he leads are student-centered, each one opening with one or two students bringing in prepared questions to kick off the day. 鈥�

鈥撀燗nnaliese Jaffe 鈥�18, high school English teacher and former student

Upon receiving the award, Proudfit told the crowd that he worries those who distrust higher education may have never had a good relationship with a teacher.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too bad,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause for me, the relationship between a teacher and a student is one of the most central relationships for a good life.鈥�

And, he noted, 鈥淚 have been lucky enough to have these kinds of relationships with students over and over again at 黑料不打烊.”

Proudfit ended his speech by naming former students who shaped his 黑料不打烊 experience.

Proudfit earned a Ph.D. in English from Northwestern University in 2008, where his major field of study was drama in English. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and theater, cum laude, from Columbia University in 1993 and joined 黑料不打烊 in 2010. Before completing his doctorate, Proudfit worked with theater groups in Los Angeles and New York, covered theater scenes in both cities as an editor for Back Stage and Back Stage West and worked as an assistant editor for a division of Marvel Comics. He has served as associate editor and co-editor on multiple publications and published multiple essays. Proudfit is the recipient of the Inspirational Ally Award (2017) and the 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award (2019).

Distinguished Scholar Award

Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy Ryan Johnson

Described as an 鈥渦nstoppable force when it comes to research publications,鈥� Ryan Johnson produces the equivalent of 5.4 peer-reviewed articles or book chapters per year 鈥撀爋ver three times the amount of scholarship expected by a philosopher at an R1 institution. Johnson, associate professor and chair of philosophy, is the 27th recipient of the of the Distinguished Scholar Award, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top faculty research award, which recognizes a faculty member whose research has earned peer commendation and respect and who has made significant contributions to his or her field of study.

When Johnson arrived at 黑料不打烊 in 2015, his research brought together 20th-century French philosophy and ancient Hellenistic thought, of which he has several publications. Soon after, he grappled with what it meant to be a white man in the American South and began seeing his subject position and scholarship through new eyes.

鈥淎ll of this traced back to lessons I learned from my former teacher, George Yancy,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淪oon I realized how canonical European philosophers, especially Hegel and Nietzsche, must reckon with challenges posed by thinkers such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Audre Lorde.鈥�

Johnson鈥檚 research focuses on continental philosophy, African American philosophy and the history of philosophy, with particular attention to questions of race, liberation, democracy and the relationship between philosophy and everyday life. His scholarship explores thinkers including Hegel, Deleuze and the Stoics while examining how philosophical ideas shape contemporary political, cultural and ethical questions.

Rebecca E. Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs and professor of biology, who presented the award, described Johnson as a model of sustained intellectual engagement whose work 鈥渉as defined major segments of the discussions in current literature,鈥� noting that聽research is not insulated from teaching 鈥撀爄t is deeply integrated with it.

Addressing the crowd, Johnson expressed gratitude to his wife and colleagues. He alluded to the uniqueness of his research and said 黑料不打烊 is the only place he can imagine himself doing this work.

In a nomination letter, Thomas Nail, professor and chair of philosophy at Denver University, said that he continues to be impressed by Johnson鈥檚 work due to his originality and enthusiasm for new and experimental directions in research and teaching.

鈥淚 can honestly say with no hesitation that I do not know anyone else in our field who is as adventurous and forward looking as Ryan.鈥�

鈥撀燭homas Nail, professor and chair of philosophy at Denver University聽

Johnson has published nine books, with three others in various states of completion. He has also contributed 24 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 book chapters and edited a special issue of a professional journal, in addition to 58 conference presentations. Johnson is the author or co-author of several books, including Phenomenology of Black Spirit (2022), Deleuze, A Stoic (2020) and The Deleuze-Lucretius Encounter (2017), and has edited multiple scholarly collections in philosophy.

Stephen Bloch-Schulman, professor of philosophy at 黑料不打烊, said about Johnson, 鈥淗e recognizes and deepens the ways that scholarship, university service and teaching are necessarily interwoven practices that, for him, are united by the twin ethical demands of living life as a philosopher and creating community and connections around fighting racism.鈥�

Praising Johnson for his ongoing engagement to learn more about the African American philosophical tradition and the ways he inspires his students to think intensively and critically to the history of philosophy, Stephen C. Ferguson, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at North Carolina State University said, “By combining a creative impulse with a historically grounded approach to intellectual thought, Ryan鈥檚 work provides a window into what it means to be a great interdisciplinary scholar and thinker.鈥�

Johnson earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Duquesne University in 2014 and joined 黑料不打烊 in 2015. He served as an associate professor and chair of philosophy at 黑料不打烊. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award (2020), four Faculty Research and Development Summer Research Fellowships and external awards including a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend and the John William Miller Fellowship.

Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award

Associate Professor of Geography Sandy Marshall

Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography, has built a career at 黑料不打烊 defined by a sustained commitment to student mentoring, undergraduate research and community-engaged learning. Since joining the university in 2017, he has mentored students across disciplines and guided research exploring global regions, migration and lived experiences, helping students connect academic work with complex social and cultural contexts.

Marshall received the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award, which was endowed in 2020 by Provost Emeritus Steven House and Patricia House to honor faculty and staff who excel in student mentoring and reflect 黑料不打烊鈥檚 national recognition as a leader in engaged, experiential learning.

Marshall鈥檚 mentorship has shaped students who have gone on to careers in public service, law and global development, including a public defense attorney, a Harvard- and Yale-trained criminal justice attorney and a global development consultant who has worked with the United Nations and USAID. His mentees have also earned competitive achievements such as Fulbright fellowships, Critical Language Scholarships and publication in academic journals.

Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of English Deandra Little presented the award, saying about Marshall, 鈥淪tudent and alumni representatives consistently describe this awardee as a strong mentor whose guidance has shaped their academic path and broadened their understanding of what meaningful mentorship can look like, and whose mentoring persists long after graduation.”

Marshall encouraged the audience to surround themselves with people who see potential in them beyond what they themselves can see. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檝e tried to do for my students, and that鈥檚 what so many of you have done for me,鈥� he shared.

Amy Allocco, professor of religious studies, and Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society and professor of religious studies, praised Marshall鈥檚 mentoring approach, writing that 鈥渉is patience, kindness and generosity with his time has helped several students find success and feel proud of the work that they had completed by graduation.鈥� They noted that his mentorship is 鈥渄eep, context-sensitive, and enduring,鈥� often continuing long after students graduate.

Students echoed that impact in their nomination letters.聽Nicole Plante 鈥�20, now a JD candidate at Yale Law School, wrote that 鈥渇rom the very beginning of our work together, Dr. Marshall served as an amazing resource who gave me a lot of autonomy and encouraged me to take the lead of my project.鈥�

“Dr. Marshall pushed me to go further and put myself in situations that not only stretched my intellectual capacity, but also my moral convictions and future aspirations.鈥�
鈥撀燭aylor Garner 鈥�20, global development strategist

Kylee Marie Smith 鈥�21, assistant public defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, described the lasting influence of that mentorship, writing, 鈥淚n my almost five years since graduating from 黑料不打烊, I have continuously realized that my road always leads back to Dr. Marshall and the foundations, skills and knowledge that he taught me.鈥�

Marshall鈥檚 commitment to students extends beyond the classroom and across the globe. Alyssa Carney 鈥�26, who is double-majoring in international & global studies and history, noted that during her semester abroad, 鈥淒r. Marshall went so far as to travel from North Carolina to Sevilla during his own spring break to meet with me, check in on my research progress and provide guidance while I was in the field.” She added that his mentorship is defined by 鈥渉is belief in his students鈥� potential鈥� and his ability to create a space where 鈥渃uriosity, critical thinking, and genuine exchange thrive.鈥�

In addition to mentoring undergraduate researchers, Marshall has served as interim director of the Multifaith Scholars program and as faculty director in the Global Neighborhood, where he fosters student development through advising, programming and community-building. In 2020, he co-founded the Power and Place Collaborative, partnering with local nonprofits and municipal entities to engage students in oral history and storytelling projects that connect academic inquiry with community experience.

Across these roles, Marshall鈥檚 mentorship emphasizes long-term growth, global engagement and meaningful relationships.

Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

Associate Teaching Professor of Human Service Studies Sandra Reid

Sandra Reid, senior lecturer in human service studies, is the 24th recipient of the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, which recognizes a member of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty or staff whose service to the broader community exemplifies the ideals of Project Pericles, a national initiative that advocates for preparing students for socially responsible citizenship.

Through decades of work in juvenile justice, social work and higher education, Reid has built a career defined by civic engagement, community leadership and social responsibility. Her work reflects a deep commitment to helping students become engaged citizens and leaders in their communities.

At 黑料不打烊, Reid teaches courses including Juvenile Justice and The Black Family, helping students examine systemic inequalities through civic engagement and social justice frameworks. She also teaches interdisciplinary programs including Poverty and Social Justice and African and African American Studies.

Reid also leads 鈥淒isarming Justice,鈥� a Winter Term study away program in Alabama where students visit historic Civil Rights Movement sites and engage in conversations about systemic inequities that persist today.

Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence and professor of cinema and television arts, presented the award. She described Periclean awardees as 鈥渟mart service-minded leaders鈥� who use their experiences to leave the world better than they found it.

鈥淧ericlean awardees empower others to be engaged citizens and leaders in their communities 鈥� the personification of that ideal is Sandra Reid.鈥�

鈥� Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence and professor of cinema and television arts

Reid expressed surprise and gratitude for the recognition, telling the audience, 鈥淚 never imagined that I’d be back here teaching after being in juvenile justice, but it’s been one of the best things that I’ve done.鈥�

Faculty members in the Department of Human Service Studies praised Reid鈥檚 鈥済ift for facilitating what she calls 鈥榗ourageous conversations鈥� about justice, equity and difference鈥� in their nomination letter. They wrote that Reid encourages students to engage difficult topics thoughtfully and recognize that 鈥渓earning 鈥� and social justice work 鈥� is an ongoing process.鈥�

Beyond the classroom, Reid mentors students through programs including the 黑料不打烊 Academy, Renaissance Scholars and the 黑料不打烊 chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her community leadership includes chairing the Alamance County Community Services Agency, training law enforcement in cultural competency and community engagement, and serving on the Alamance County Coalition of Remembrance, helping memorialize local lynching victims.

Reid鈥檚 work in juvenile justice, education and community leadership has shaped generations of students pursuing careers in public service, advocacy and social change.

鈥淚f you’re Asian American or from the motherland [Thailand] or from down south or up north, I feel something in common with you,鈥� he said.

Sartyoungkul鈥檚 experiences shape how he cooks and how he leads. As executive chef for 黑料不打烊 Dining, he focuses on creating meals that people recognize, enjoy and feel comfortable choosing.

鈥淚 love seeing people enjoy my food,鈥� he said.

Noppanit 鈥淢eena鈥� Monaghan shares the same excitement for creating an enjoyable meal. As chef de partie, she prepares meals at the international station in Lakeside Dining Hall. She is also Sartyoungkul鈥檚 mother and, together, they focus on getting the details right, from how a dish is prepared to how it lands with the people eating it.

鈥淚 work with students every day who are trying to make 黑料不打烊 a home away from home,鈥� Monaghan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important I try everything that goes out to make sure it is 100 percent right.鈥�

That attention to detail often means learning dishes that are new to them. Sartyoungkul said they spend time researching recipes, studying techniques and planning menus to authentically reflect the food where students come from.

For Monaghan, that care shows up in small, specific moments.

鈥淚 made arepas for a student from Colombia and she loved it,鈥� she said.

For Sartyoungkul, those moments explain why the work matters. A single meal can help one student feel familiar while introducing others to something new.

鈥淢any international students miss the food from home,鈥� he said. 鈥淧roviding familiar tastes helps students feel seen, valued and more at ease in their campus environment.鈥�

That belief carries into how he works with student groups across campus. During Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Sartyoungkul partnered with the Asian Pacific Student Association to plan dining hall takeovers featuring Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese cuisines. Students identified the cuisines and worked with him to shape the menus.

For him, the process is as important as the food itself. It ensures the meals reflect what students want to see and what they want to share with others.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want anyone to feel left out,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e vegan, from another country, have dietary preferences or religious needs or an allergy, we want to make sure there are options for everybody.鈥�

That sense of care is rooted in family. Sartyoungkul describes himself as a third-generation chef who learned alongside his mother in the kitchen.

鈥淢om beats me at Asian foods, especially with her great stir fries and Thai noodle dishes,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, I am trained on European cuisine and steaks, so I have her beat there.鈥�

Still, there are moments when their strengths meet in the middle. Those moments often bring people together.

At 黑料不打烊鈥檚 annual holiday party for employees, Monaghan manages a shrimp and grits station that regularly draws long lines of guests waiting for a plate. The dish reflects both comfort and confidence, with attention paid to technique as well as familiarity.

For Monaghan, the setting may change. The standards do not.

At work, their relationship is grounded in respect. They understand their roles and trust each other鈥檚 strengths.

鈥淢y mother and I are very close,鈥� Sartyoungkul said. 鈥淲hile she is my mother, I am also her campus executive chef, and we both clearly understand and respect those roles.鈥�

For Monaghan, the work always comes back to the people she serves each day.

鈥淚 work to make students smile,鈥� she said.

Together, Sartyoungkul and Monaghan prepare food that reflects a wide range of cultures. Their work is guided by care, connection and a desire to help others feel at home, one plate at a time.

黑料不打烊 honors Asian & Pacific Island Heritage Month

As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 黑料不打烊 is sharing stories through Today at 黑料不打烊 that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, 黑料不打烊 is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.

One of those teams, purchasing & technology, shows how sustainability can fit naturally into the work people already do by working towards 1) reducing the campus printing footprint by digitizing self-service options and encouraging electronic resources, 2) sourcing technology that uses environmentally conscious best practices and manage its lifecycle responsibly, and 3) educating and engaging the campus community about sustainable technology practices.

Those strategies might sound complex, but the team says most of the work builds on existing processes and collaborations. Adding sustainability often means asking one more question or making one small adjustment.

鈥淲e regularly partner with purchasing on contract management and business agreements,鈥� said Pat Donohue, one of the team leads and the university鈥檚 deputy chief information officer. 鈥淎dding a request for sustainability transparency from our vendors is a natural improvement of existing processes to align with university strategic objectives.聽 This is an example of how bold strategy can often be a minor adjustment in organizational behavior.鈥�

Patrick Schwartz is the assistant director of procure to pay at 黑料不打烊 and one of the team leads for the purchasing & technology implementation team. He added, 鈥淛ust by being part of this team, the collaboration between our two departments was already strong, and it strengthens every day.鈥�

When IT evaluates vendors, the team already asks about data security, storage and compliance. Now, they also ask vendors to disclose their carbon footprint and energy consumption. It is a simple step that helps 黑料不打烊 make informed decisions about the products and services it uses.

In addition, Schwartz said the purchasing team can see the purchasing trends on the backend and, leveraging their strong relationship with IT, work together to assure that vendors are providing products to campus that are environmentally and fiscally sustainable and responsible.

Collaboration creates momentum

Collaboration has been key to success. Conversations about sustainability often uncover other opportunities to improve processes, strengthen partnerships and share resources.

Edith Smith shared one of those ideas. She serves as a purchasing agent at 黑料不打烊 and is a member of the purchasing & technology implementation team. She worked with Amazon to ensure that the first products displayed when employees search for a product are those that have sustainable qualities. In addition to this, Smith and others are looking into ways to encourage the university to increase its partnership with local vendors to reduce environmental impact and support the local economy.

鈥淚t can be difficult to put a list of vendors together for a campus with decentralized purchasing, but for me, it鈥檚 important to ask how we can encourage our colleagues on campus to use local vendors more regularly and to work with vendors that will cut emissions,” said Smith.

鈥淭he focus on sustainability gave us a framework to accelerate improvements we were already pursuing,鈥� said Donohue. 鈥淚t has been a clear example of how bringing together diverse mindsets with a shared purpose can improve service delivery, streamline business processes and create long-term value for the university.

Schwartz agrees with this sentiment and adds that the team is educating people to consider which sustainable products are offered by vendors.

鈥淣one of us can do this work on our own,鈥� he added.

Fiscal responsibility meets sustainability

One of the most significant changes was extending the lifecycle of university-owned laptops and desktops to five years.

鈥淲e ensure an extended lifecycle by applying updates and doing necessary maintenance on the equipment throughout its usable lifecycle,” said Rebecca Black,聽director of campus technology support and member of the purchasing & technology implementation team.

When the lifecycle of the technology ends for us, it goes through a chain of disposal through an agreement with ethically responsible vendors, who repurpose the equipment or its components.

鈥淭he equipment we recover doesn鈥檛 just go into a waste facility. It has another, purposeful life afterward,鈥� she added.

Donohue added that the proceeds from selling depreciated equipment is reinvested to subsidize advanced support of 黑料不打烊 computers.

鈥淭his benefits our community through faster repairs and maintenance while allowing campus technology support specialists to focus on high-value service delivery than hardware break/fix efforts. It鈥檚 a win-win,鈥� he said.

The same principle applies to reducing the number of printers on campus. Fewer devices mean less energy consumption and less paper use, but the change also reflects a cultural shift. Convenience often competes with sustainability, and the team acknowledges that change takes time.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a fine line between doing what鈥檚 easy and convenient and making an extra, impactful effort towards sustainability,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the moment where this is a necessary priority.鈥�

Schwartz added, 鈥淭his is one of the best examples of how our work aligns together. We evaluated paper processes on campus and moved purchase card request forms and Adobe signatures to digital processes.鈥�

In addition to the paper and cost-savings, Schwartz and Smith say that these processes also simplify and better organize employee workflows.

鈥淲hen we thoughtfully scale technology resources in ways such as consolidating printers and encouraging digitization, we also reduce costs and free-up resources that can be reinvested into new innovations that benefit the university,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淭hese efforts will also help us operate more efficiently and enhance the quality of services for our 黑料不打烊 campuses.鈥�

About the Sustainability Master Plan

The Boldly 黑料不打烊 Strategic Plan calls on 黑料不打烊 to 鈥淓ngage the campus in sustainable practices to become carbon neutral by 2037 鈥� invest in renewable energy, reduce campus energy consumption 20 percent, purchase offsets to make the global study program carbon neutral and continue to build LEED certified buildings 鈥� and prepare students to lead lives that build a sustainable future.鈥� The 10-year Sustainability Master Plan 2025 is a roadmap for that bold commitment.

Acorn Academy was awarded a five-star rating by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education following a comprehensive evaluation of the program. The on-site child care and early learning facility opened in August 2025 and has expanded to offer a summer camp, classrooms for pre-schoolers and backup care.

The rating affirms the care, intention and dedication that define Acorn Academy. 鈥淓arning a five-star rating required consistent commitment from our entire team, ongoing professional development, strong classroom practices, thoughtful curriculum implementation and a shared belief in doing what鈥檚 best for children,鈥� said Cherelle Sharpe, head of school for the child care facility.

Jason Husser, professor of political science and public policy and director of the 黑料不打烊 Poll, said, “黑料不打烊 cares about people being able to work while not worrying about whether their child is safe and growing and learning.”

Sharpe said that, for families, the rating provides reassurance that their children are in a program that prioritizes safety, growth and meaningful relationships every day. Children are learning and growing in a nurturing, high-quality environment designed to support their development.

鈥淐hildren deserve the highest quality care during their most critical developmental years,鈥� said Sharpe. The new child care benefit for employees offers excellence in early childhood education that supports children鈥檚 growth and the families鈥� peace of mind.

鈥淲hen parents know their children are safe, valued and thriving, they are better able to focus on their work and responsibilities with confidence,鈥� added Sharpe.

Ty Goss, program assistant for Arts and Music, says that having an onsite child care facility eases the burdens of drop-off and pickup times to the work commute. “Just knowing that [my daughter is] right across campus… I can focus on my work knowing that she is safe.”

Acorn Academy offers both year-round child care and early learning for ages six week to five years and summer camp for ages five through 12 during 黑料不打烊’s Planning Week. Visit the to learn more and enroll.

Longtime 黑料不打烊 administrator Jeff Stein was reintroduced to the campus community this winter as the university鈥檚 new chief integration officer and executive vice president. A key advisor to 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book and a member of the university鈥檚 senior staff, Stein will collaborate with students, faculty and staff to support the creation of a fully integrated institution through the merger of 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte. Stein, who built a career at 黑料不打烊 and later served as president of Mary Baldwin University, answered questions about what drives his work and why he is excited for the historic merger.

Who is Jeff Stein and what are his responsibilities as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 chief integration officer and executive vice president?

I鈥檓 a product of this community 鈥� a passionate advocate for students and access to mentored opportunities that empower students to launch great lives. For 21 years, 黑料不打烊 provided me the opportunity to work in and out of the classroom with students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and local communities to design the residential campus, community-based learning, Jewish Life, Boldly 黑料不打烊 and more. This community has always supported [my wife] Chrissy and me and our kids, and I鈥檓 thrilled to be back to help guide this innovative merger.

You led the development of the Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan. How will that experience help inform your work in Charlotte and what are effective ways to build strong relationships and develop trust during this type of organizational change?

It鈥檚 all about listening. The voices of thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, 黑料不打烊 families and local community members were needed to shape the Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan. Similarly, the Queens and 黑料不打烊 communities 鈥� your questions, your ideas and your values 鈥� will be integral to shaping the future of the merger.

What are some of the pleasant surprises you鈥檝e encountered as you鈥檝e begun your role in Charlotte?

It鈥檚 been fun to reconnect with the 黑料不打烊 community and to begin getting to know members of the Queens community 鈥� smart, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, who put students first and believe in engaged and mentored learning. Charlotte is full of top-notch restaurants, arts, breweries, sports and rapidly expanding industry. Come visit 黑料不打烊鈥檚 beautiful Tremont building (thank you Holly Hodge and Jenny Gonzalez), and we鈥檒l show you around South End or Uptown.

What does success look like at 黑料不打烊 and at Queens one year from now?

Back in 2022, as part of Boldly 黑料不打烊 implementation, a group of us on the regional learning centers team worked to identify Charlotte as the next location in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 national campus work 鈥� for students, community, alumni and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 brand.

What鈥檚 exciting about how this groundbreaking merger accelerates that work 鈥� and the reason people all over the country are watching 鈥� is that two strong, world-class, student-centered institutions are engaging to expand opportunities for students, and for and with Charlotte.

While much of the next year鈥檚 tasks are regulated by guidelines from the federal government and accreditors, our success will come from planning for integration of our operations and services, imagining new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and developing relationships across 黑料不打烊 and Queens.

黑料不打烊 Campus Safety and Police earned a rare dual accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Fewer than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country have earned dual accreditations. The department has held accreditation through IALEA since 2018 and earned accreditation through CALEA in 2025.

Joe LeMire, chief of Campus Safety and Police, said the recognition reflects years of work completed by members of the department and the high level of professionalism for department policies and procedures.

鈥淚 could not be more proud of this department and the professionalism they display every day to meet the needs of all students, staff, faculty and visitors,鈥� LeMire said. 鈥淭he true benefit is for the campus community, which can trust that its police and security services meet these standards and continue to improve.鈥�

Doug Dotson, assistant chief of Campus Safety and Police, oversees the accreditation process. He said both accrediting bodies establish standards based on best practices for law enforcement agencies. Assessors visit each agency to conduct interviews with personnel and review policies and documentation to confirm that the level of service provided aligns with those established standards.

鈥淭hese processes require you to closely examine your day-to-day operations and the ways they measure against best practices,鈥� Dotson said.

The accreditation process has allowed the department to strengthen policies and improve training and equipment, ensuring officers have the tools necessary to successfully meet these standards.

Dotson added that annual reviews for the commission and four-year reviews for IALEA help the department maintain a high level of professionalism.

Royal鈥檚 office is warm and welcoming and offers a window into her past, present and future. Her space honors the values she carries and the people and milestones that have shaped her journey.

Royal serves as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education, where she brings faculty, staff and students of all backgrounds together through workshop facilitation and mentorship.

After graduating from 黑料不打烊 in 2017 with a psychology degree, Royal taught fourth and fifth grade at a charter school in Washington, D.C., where she discovered her favorite part of teaching was building trust with students and their families and supporting their academic, social and emotional growth. In 2021, she returned to Alamance County and reconnected with 黑料不打烊 staff she had worked with as a student.

As an undergraduate, Royal worked four years with the dean of students and three years with CREDE, sung in the 黑料不打烊 Gospel Choir and served as an executive intern in admissions. She proudly displays her 黑料不打烊 graduation cap framed in her office next to one she wore from her master鈥檚 graduation at George Washington University.

These experiences, along with others in childhood, shaped Royal鈥檚 understanding of self and built her confidence. At age nine, she became the youngest person in North Carolina to earn a black belt in karate and later won national championships in sparring. Royal鈥檚 mother enrolled her in the sport when she was only four years old and it proved to be an outlet for her to develop and grow when her mother tragically passed when Royal was only five.

Royal鈥檚 formative years instilled in her a dynamic understanding of relationships, families and identity, all of which she leverages in her work today.

Royal offers members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 community workshops, mentorships and events that help others grow their self-confidence and understand their values. She offers a variety of workshops to help students, faculty and staff identify and understand the core and unique identities each participant holds.

鈥淧articipants are offered an hour in their day to think about who they are and how they show up in spaces,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese moments are hard to come by and are so rewarding.鈥�

Royal is also a passionate mentor and a champion of student success, as evidenced by her collection of photos in her office.

One student she is currently working with is Madison McCrainey 鈥�26, a cinema and television arts major.

鈥淭hroughout every interaction, Simone has been someone who has encouraged me to be more involved within the Black community and pushed for me to become more confident,鈥� McCrainey said.

Royal said that many of her connections with students have extended past their graduation. 鈥淚 love continuing relationships with students from undergrad to postgrad. I think it shows how strong the relationships are and how mentorship can be carried over through the years.鈥�

Blake Mobley 鈥�27, a sports management major, is appreciative that Royal is someone he can confide in and who can keep him grounded. Royal is someone he could look up to as a professor in the 1010 class, an 黑料不打烊 alumna and a former member of Greek life.

鈥淪imone has helped and guided me and was one of the first people to really listen to how I was feeling and what I had to say,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he will never truly know the positive impact that she has had on my college experience and on my life.鈥�

Royal says that people are more similar than different and that it is her mission to open the door for everyone to feel comfortable sharing their heritage, culture and personal self.

鈥淲e all are here to help each other in some way or format,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to contribute to making the world a greater place to live in.鈥�

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 黑料不打烊 is sharing stories through Today at 黑料不打烊 that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, 黑料不打烊 is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

The expansion will leverage聽黑料不打烊’s聽commitment to relationship-rich education and聽will聽strengthen health sciences programs to expand聽the impact of 黑料不打烊 graduates in聽health care. This expansion is supported by institutional investment.聽Over the next year, 黑料不打烊 will add a total of six new聽faculty聽to the 黑料不打烊 PA Program, ensuring the continued delivery of an exceptional, student-centered education.

Advancing Workforce Capacity in a Critical Moment

Demand for Physician Assistants continues to rise across the United States as health care systems work to address provider shortages and expand access to high-quality care. By increasing its cohort size, 黑料不打烊 is accelerating the preparation of new PAs who will enter the workforce ready to meet these pressing needs.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is deeply committed to educating compassionate, skilled Physician Assistants who can make an immediate impact聽in聽their communities,鈥� said Dr. Maha Lund,聽dean of the School of Health Sciences at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淭his expansion underscores our responsibility to the profession and to the patients our graduates will one day serve.鈥�

High-Touch, High-Quality Education

As enrollment grows, the 黑料不打烊 PA Program continues to focus on its hallmark personalized learning environment that is central to the student experience.聽This approach includes:

• Engaged learning
• Hands-on practice
• Close faculty engagement
• Access to diverse, high-quality clinical rotation sites

Students will also聽benefit聽from an enhanced focus on critical reasoning when collecting clinical data through history and physical exams, intentional application of diagnostic evaluation and reasoning in laboratory courses and strengthened clinical placement infrastructure.

The larger cohort will also bring expanded perspectives, stronger collaboration, and a broader professional network.

Preparing the Next Generation of PA Leaders

As聽the next cohort prepares to begin their training, faculty and staff聽remain聽committed to guiding and supporting students through every stage of their academic and professional journey.

鈥淲e are excited to welcome the next cohort of vibrant, future PAs who will help shape the future of health care,鈥� said Kim Stokes, 黑料不打烊 PA program director and chair. 鈥淭his moment represents an important step forward, not only for 黑料不打烊, but for the communities our graduates will serve throughout their careers.鈥�

For the past 12 years, the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic聽has聽organized聽a challenge聽for聽黑料不打烊 employees each fall to walk a聽set distance聽of miles to build community, have fun and win prizes. A spring challenge was recently added. Each challenge is themed and, in聽fall聽2025, the theme was, 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go Racing 黑料不打烊 200,鈥� inspired by NASCAR.

The challenges are organized by Belinda Day, wellness coordinator for the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic. She loves聽coming up with聽new themes for the challenges and being creative with the prizes.

鈥淚 do the Fall and Spring聽walking聽challenge because it keeps me moving, keeps me accountable and reminds me to take time for myself聽amidst聽the hustle and bustle of daily life,” she said.

Day added that the challenge聽provides聽employees聽an easy way聽to聽practice wellness,聽both聽mentally and physically.聽She coordinates with leadership to schedule the challenges and to ensure the events are aligned with overall wellness goals to foster a more active and engaged work environment while fostering team collaboration and reducing stress.

鈥淚 put on the聽spring and聽fall聽walking聽challenge to give our employees a simple, fun and accessible way to support their health, reduce stress聽and stay connected as a team.”

-Belinda Day,聽wellness coordinator for the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic

In spring 2025, the walking challenge theme was 鈥淕rand Slam Tennis,鈥� which saw a similar number of walkers聽participating聽in聽teams. This year, 118 teams out of the 151 who entered completed 180 cumulative miles. An聽additional聽71 teams finished the challenge with each team reporting a minimum of 360 miles walked.

鈥淚t’s a fun and simple way for everyone to step away from their screens and connect with each other,鈥� said Day.聽鈥淧lus, I love seeing how these programs not only improve physical health but also build a sense of community in the workplace.鈥�

A new walking challenge will be announced during the spring semester.

Auxiliary Services at 黑料不打烊 is raising the bar for professional excellence through the achievements of Carrie Ryan, assistant vice president for auxiliary services, and Chad Conville, director of auxiliary services. Both recently earned the Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) credential from the National Association of College Auxiliary Services.

For Ryan and Conville, the certification recognizes years of experience and a commitment to continuous learning.

鈥淓arning the certification was a great way to challenge myself and measure my experience and abilities gained over nearly 18 years in Auxiliary Services,鈥� Conville said.

鈥淲ith 23 years in higher education, earning the CASP designation is a meaningful milestone,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淐ASP is the premier certification in our field, recognizing expertise in operational

excellence, strategic leadership and student-centered services. It reflects my commitment to advancing 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission through innovative and student-focused operations.鈥�

Ryan said the certification process deepened her understanding of campus operations and strengthened relationships that shape 黑料不打烊鈥檚 student experience.

鈥淚t brings value to the work we do and helps us see where we can deepen the work we鈥檙e already doing,鈥� she said.

Since earning the credential, she has developed a departmental vision grounded in the theme “One Team, One Purpose,” while also adopting five value pillars for Auxiliary Services: excellence, connection, progress, pride and leadership. These new values guide and align Auxiliary Services to the university strategic plan and strengthen partnerships with athletics, admissions, student life, Loy Farm and more.

鈥淵ou can work for a partner, you can work at 黑料不打烊, but ultimately we are here for one reason: the students,鈥澛�

-Carrie Ryan, assistant vice president for auxillary services