The introductory meeting, to be held via Zoom on April 24, will focus on relationship-building and information sharing between the two student government associations. Conversations will include a discussion of how both associations are structured, how often they meet, and how they鈥痳epresent鈥痵tudent interests on their campuses.

Leaders鈥痺ill also鈥痚xchange perspectives on campus traditions, highlighting the events and experiences that define student life at each university. The discussion is expected to聽begin the process of聽identifying鈥痮pportunities for honoring and sharing those traditions across both communities.

The meeting聽is聽serves聽as an early step in aligning student leadership efforts.
Michael Swartz鈥��27, president of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Student Government Association, and鈥疛essica Paredes鈥��27, president of Queens University鈥檚 Student Government Association, answered questions this week in the lead-up to their first meeting.

The duo described their expectations ahead of the conversation and the role of student leadership in shaping what comes next for students on both campuses as the merger progresses.

Describe the role you envision for your Student Government Association as both universities begin to merge operations over the next several months.鈥�

Michael Swartz:鈥�I see SGA as being鈥痑n important鈥痓ridge between the decisions happening at the highest levels of the university and 黑料不打烊 students. Students sometimes feel a little聽uninformed,聽and at both institutions,聽SGA can be a part of that solution, as well as sharing with administrators and faculty what students think.

Jessica Paredes:鈥�The role I envision for Queens University’s Student Government Association is to reflect our motto of “Not to be served, but to serve.”鈥疘 want to help lay the foundation of service so that when we progress in our relationship with 黑料不打烊, it goes beyond our campuses into our cities.

Can you share some of the ideas鈥痽ou鈥檝e鈥痟eard from classmates when鈥痶hey鈥檝e鈥痶alked about the merger that鈥痚xcite鈥痽ou as a student leader?鈥�

闯别蝉蝉颈肠补:鈥�One of the things that I’ve heard from my peers that really excited me is the possibility of being able to take classes on either campus.鈥疘 think this鈥痠s an awesome idea that can allow for even more networking,鈥痗areer鈥痑nd friendship opportunities for both Queens and 黑料不打烊鈥痵tudents. Another idea that is exciting is being able to cheer for 黑料不打烊’s football team! Through organized field trips to 黑料不打烊’s campus, Queens students can support a team they have close ties to!

Michael:鈥疶here’s鈥痑 lot of curiosity I hear from friends and peers.鈥疶hey鈥檙e鈥痶hinking about locations and spaces and potentially taking classes at a different location or pursuing their degree in a place that might make more sense, whether that be in Charlotte for 黑料不打烊 students, or for Queens students in Charlotte to come to 黑料不打烊.鈥疕aving options, I think, is a鈥痭ew,鈥痸aluable asset.

What opportunities for collaboration between the SGAs do you already see that you want to explore first?鈥�

Michael:鈥疘t makes sense to not plan any huge steps this first year.鈥疻e鈥檒l鈥痺ant to start a little smaller and think about how we can interact via Zoom, like鈥痺e’re鈥痙oing Friday, and really meet the people that are spearheading the change on our campuses. Going from there, hosting retreats together and getting connected in person as soon as possible is a great idea.

闯别蝉蝉颈肠补:鈥�Between Queens University’s SGA and 黑料不打烊’s SGA, I foresee collaborative opportunities such as creating new traditions, whether that is taking regularly scheduled trips to each other’s institutions, hosting joint listening sessions for all students鈥痑nd inviting each other to participate in select board of trustee meetings so that they are hearing from both student populations.

What are the most important qualities or traits of your campus culture that may be important for the other SGA to understand when you work together?

惭颈肠丑补别濒:鈥�A lot of things at 黑料不打烊 are聽relationship-driven.鈥疘鈥檓鈥痶hinking about our small class sizes.鈥疶hat’s鈥痯robably not鈥痷nique to 黑料不打烊, but鈥痠t’s鈥痵omething that is so defining about the student experience here, having those connections. Understanding how鈥痠nvolved students are鈥痠n a lot of different things is also important. Many students鈥痙on鈥檛鈥痟ave one passion or place where they spend all their time.鈥疶hey鈥檙e鈥痠nvolved in many activities and in diverse parts of campus.

闯别蝉蝉颈肠补:鈥�Queens is unique in the connections it has with its community and throughout the鈥痗ity鈥痮f Charlotte.鈥疘 think it’s very crucial to understand that Queens is career readiness聽driven.鈥疧ur SGAs can discuss what our jobs are when it comes to connecting 黑料不打烊 students to Charlotte, and Charlotte to 黑料不打烊.

Define 鈥榮uccess鈥� in the context of collaboration. Where do you want your SGAs to be a year from now?鈥�

Michael:鈥疐or me, success means things feeling more normal than they do now, and this merger鈥痭ot being鈥痵omething鈥痶hat’s鈥痟appening to students, but something that鈥痶hey’re鈥痑 part of. I think that collaboration a year from now will also feel more natural.

闯别蝉蝉颈肠补:鈥�Success to me looks like being on the same鈥痯age,鈥痑nd everyone feels their ideas have been heard or even acted on! I want Queens University’s SGA to be in a space where our student body feels鈥痗onfidence鈥痑nd pride in being a part of our mission. I hope the same thing goes for 黑料不打烊.

A fun question to end the interview: What might surprise your SGA counterpart to learn about you?鈥�

闯别蝉蝉颈肠补:鈥�I am鈥痑 very open鈥痓ook and have built connections with most of the people in our SGA. However, I think a surprising thing about me is that I am always learning from them. The President title bears a lot of weight, but if聽it鈥痺eren鈥檛鈥痜or the Senate showing up and giving new perspectives, my job would be鈥痺ay less鈥痜un.

惭颈肠丑补别濒:鈥�I’ve鈥痓een on the Queens campus more times than I can count because my mom went there as a鈥痵tudent鈥痑nd she currently works there in their advancement department. I spent my childhood traveling from Davidson, North Carolina, to Charlotte, hanging out around Queens and seeing it grow in its own way before I had any idea at all I was going to end up at 黑料不打烊. I used to say that I鈥痙idn’t鈥痺ant to go to鈥痑 school鈥痺here my mom works.鈥疘t鈥檚鈥痜unny that, one way or another, that happened.

It鈥檚 a question often asked himself in the early days of his ongoing fight against cancer. It wasn鈥檛 until initial treatment proved futile that Chakrabarty, who delivered keynote remarks on April 17, 2026, at a Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony for dozens of top 黑料不打烊 students, better understood the praise.

Bravery, simply put, can also be persistence. 鈥淲hen people tell someone battling an illness that they are brave, it鈥檚 because they鈥檙e continuing to fight – despite the odds, and despite the pain and suffering,鈥� Chakrabarty said.

Drawing on lessons from his career, Chakrabarty emphasized for his audience in the Lakeside Meeting Rooms that both professional and personal success is often shaped by more than intellect. Habits, perspective, relationships – and, yes, courage – can lead to a wondrous and fulfilling life. He offered five strategies for students to consider:

• Act with efficiency: Address small tasks immediately to avoid unnecessary stress.
• Remain open to place and possibility: Career paths are often unpredictable and shaped by unexpected opportunities.
• Prioritize energy over time: Success depends less on hours available and more on how energy is directed.
• Redefine wealth and contentment: Financial pursuit alone does not lead to fulfillment.
• Invest in relationships: Simple gestures can strengthen meaningful connections.

Chakrabarty concluded his remarks with a charge for inductees to use their knowledge and their courage to improve the human condition.

鈥淔ind a way to be brave, fight evil, and injustice, and fight your own demons, whether they be cancer or mental health struggles,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tand up for nature or for a cause, or for anything that you care about. Stand up for those who can’t. Stand up for yourself, and remember, not only to be smart, but to be also brave.鈥�

Chakrabarty is the E.K. Hunter Chair for Communication in Science Research, professor and curator of fishes at the Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University. He studies the natural history of fishes to better understand Earth history and evolution and has traveled to more than 30 countries to conduct that research.

Chakrabarty is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a national fellow of the Explorers Club, a fellow of the Linnean Society and a TED senior fellow. He is past president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and is on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Science Education and the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Sixty 黑料不打烊 students were candidates for induction, and many attended the program accompanied by family members.

Phi Beta Kappa has established chapters at nearly 300 colleges and universities in the United States, representing only 10% of the nation鈥檚 institutions of higher learning. Each year, the top 10% of arts and sciences graduates at these institutions are selected for membership.聽黑料不打烊鈥檚 Eta Chapter of North Carolina was installed on April 13, 2010.

Inductees also heard from Associate Professor Anthony Rizzuto, president of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; Associate Librarian Shannon Tennant, the Eta Chapter鈥檚 historian, who shared the history, origins and traditions of Phi Beta Kappa; and Hilton Kelly, dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of sociology.

鈥淭onight is a celebration of excellence, a recognition of your remarkable achievements, and a testament to your dedication to academic pursuits,鈥� Rizzuto said. 鈥淭his induction is not merely a reflection of your intellect, but also your unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and understanding.

鈥淧hi Beta Kappa is not merely a recognition of past achievements, it is a charge to continue striving for excellence, to embrace intellectual curiosity, and to use your knowledge for the better manner of society. Indeed, as members of Phi Beta Kappa, you are not only scholars but also stewards of knowledge entrusted with the responsibility to shape the future. In a world filled with complex challenges, your intellect, dedication, and perhaps, most importantly, creativity will be indispensable.鈥�

Indeed, as members of Phi Beta Kappa, you are not only scholars but also stewards of knowledge entrusted with the responsibility to shape the future.

– Associate Professor Anthony Rizzuto

Kelly’s closing remarks underscored Rizzuto’s points.

鈥淵our induction affirms not only your academic achievements, but also your commitment to engaging in the breadth and depth of learning that can transform worlds, asking hard questions, engaging diverse perspectives, pursuing truth, or multiple truths, and applying what you learn to real world problems,” he said. “In laboratories, in libraries, studios, and stages, classrooms, and communities, you have demonstrated what it means to think critically and to engage deeply in the liberal arts and sciences.

鈥淚t is your responsibility to continue embracing complexity through problem posing, and problem solving, to remain lifelong, disciplinary, and interdisciplinary learners, and to use your education not only for personal success, but for the common good.鈥�

2026 Inductees into the Eta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society

Leah Alberga ’26
Psychology

Ella Allen ’26
Mathematics

Faith Almond ’26
English

Nicolas Alvarez ’27
Engineering and Mathematics

Lauren Bedell ’26
Political Science and Policy Studies

Kiersten Bergman ’26
Strategic Communications

Jo Bogart ’26
English and Classical Studies

Mary Boyd ’26
English

Anya Bratic ’26
International & Global Studies and Public Policy

Rebecca Bravman ’26
Psychology

Julia Bromfeld ’26
Human Service Studies

Nick Brown ’26
Psychology

Emma Call ’26
Exercise Science

Conter Cornwell ’26
Biochemistry

Margaret Crawford ’26
Human Service Studies

Maggie Dion ’26
Engineering

Maya Duarte Cherry ’26
Political Science and Philosophy

Emily Ecker ’26
Public Health Studies and International & Global Studies

Katherine Evans ’26
Biology

Reese Garrity ’26
Biochemistry

Nicole Genzink ’26
Biology

Jinelle Gonzalez ’27
International & Global Studies and Policy Studies

Izzy Greenstein ’26
Human Service Studies and Spanish

Olivia Guarino ’26
Psychology

Marykate Hart ’26
Environmental & Sustainability Studies

Ava Hellner ’26
Psychology

Diego Hernandez ’26
Engineering

Madeline Hewgley ’26
Music Theatre and Political Science

Fiona Hodge ’26
Psychology

Katie Hull ’26
Political Science and International & Global Studies

Brady Jackson ’26
Policy Studies and Political Science

Haley Johnson ’26
Psychology

Emma Kenney ’26
Environmental and Ecological Science

Ella Kinman ’26
English and Political Science

Maddie Kippe ’26
Exercise Science

Sam Kupka ’26
International & Global Studies and Religious Studies

Tori Layton ’26
History and German Studies

Murilo Lopes ’27
Computer Science

Annika Lotsch’26
Psychology

Abigail Manning ’26
Environmental and Ecological Science

Archie Meskhidze ’26
Philosophy and International & Global Studies

Gavin Michaud ’26
Psychology and Sociology

Molly Moylan ’26
Biochemistry

Pagnapech Ngoun ’26
Engineering

Anna Orlando ’26
Psychology

Allyson Parent ’26
Psychology

Mackenzie Perry ’26
Political Science

Braetan Peters ’26
Biology

Erin Pitman ’26
Biochemistry

Ruby Radis ’26
Human Service Studies

Caroline Reich ’26
Exercise Science

Zoe Richardson ’26
International & Global Studies and Philosophy

Matthew Rostan ’26
Political Science and History

Kailey Stark ’26
Public Health Studies and Psychology

Fayrah Stylianopoulos ’26
Psychology

Rahv Tupac-Yupanqui ’26
Engineering and Physics

Noelle Vaught ’26
History

Athena Vizuete ’26
History

Mia Webdell ’26
Biochemistry

Lawson Wheeler ’26
Exercise Science

The top-seeded Phoenix took the doubles point over the No. 2 seeded Tribe with wins on Courts 1 and 3.聽Simone Bergeron聽and聽Mariana Reding聽won at the top spot to set up the clinching victory by Kranec and聽Cornelia Kack聽on Court 3. 黑料不打烊 then then won three singles matches, with victories from Kack, Reding and Kranec, who clinched at the No. 5 spot.

黑料不打烊 has won back-to-back CAA championships, with both championship match victories coming against William & Mary.聽With the win, 黑料不打烊 secured the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship.

The Rundown

• 黑料不打烊 won a crucial doubles point with victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots.
• On Court 1, Bergeron and Reding went down an early break but stormed back for a 6-2 triumph against the Tribe’s top tandem of Sia Chaudry and聽Francesca Davis. It was their fifth straight win together and their 13th of the season. The duo improved to 4-0 together in the last two CAA Tournaments.
• Kack and Kranec聽seized early control of their match on Court 3 on the way to a decisive 6-2 win that clinched the opening point for the Phoenix. The pairing is 14-5 together this spring and won matches in both of 黑料不打烊’s CAA Tournament victories.
• This was the second time Kack and Kranec clinched the doubles point for 黑料不打烊 against William & Mary this season, as they also did so on April 3 in Williamsburg.
  Madison Cordisco聽and聽Alexis Nyborg聽trailed 5-3 on Court 2 when the doubles point was clinched.
• The Tribe evened the score with a win at the No. 4 spot.
• Kack nudged the Phoenix back in front with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 result over Chaudry on Court 1. It was Kack’s 13th win of the spring, 10 of which have come in straight sets. Kack is 6-1 since moving to the No. 1 singles position and went 4-0 against conference opponents this spring.
• William & Mary again pulled even with a victory on Court 6.
• In a back-and-forth battle on Court 3, Reding won the final four games in a final set to deliver a crucial point for the Phoenix. Reding came from an early break down to win the opening set against Tilda Larsson but found herself in a deciding frame. Reding fell behind 4-2 in the final set but broke back for 4-3 in the next game.
• Looking to consolidate the break, Reding fell behind 0-40 in her next service game. However, she dug her way out of the hole and won a deuce point to hold for 4-4.
• Reding broke in the next game to go ahead 5-4 and successfully served out a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the ensuing service game. The win extended Reding’s winning streak to 12 matches as her 15 singles victories lead the Phoenix this season.
• This was just Reding’s second completed match to reach a third set this season and was the second three-set victory of her CAA Tournament career.
• Bergeron fought back to force a deciding set after dropping the first on Court 2 against Davis, breaking serve in the final game of the second set to push the match into a third. The match stayed on serve with Bergeron missing on a break point chance at 4-4. With Bergeron serving to stay in the contest in the next game, Davis won another deuce point to close out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 for the Tribe that leveled the match at 3-3.
• While Bergeron’s match was finishing, Kranec was engaged in a dramatic tussle on Court 5 that proved to be the final match on court. Kranec dropped the opening set against聽Rebeka Svabikova but held serve four times in the second to get the score聽to 4-4. In the ninth game, Kranec won a deuce point to break聽Svabikova’s serve and then served out the set to sent the tilt into a third.
• Kranec took early control聽in the decider, going ahead 3-0 after a hold, break and another hold. However,聽Svabikova got the break back and pushed the match set to 5-5. In the 11th game, Kranec manufactured a crucial hold of serve to go ahead 6-5 and force聽Svabikova to serve for a tiebreak.聽Svabikova successfully held to force the contest into a championship-deciding tiebreak.
• In the tiebreak, Kranec sprinted out of the gates, winning the first point on her own serve before winning the next two points on聽Svabikova’s serve. Kranec then won both of her next two service points and took a 6-0 lead into the change of ends.聽Svabikova saved the first of six championship points but missed wide on a ground stroke on the second as Kranec secured the clinching 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) win for the Phoenix.
• The win was Kranec’s second of the spring to come in a third set and the first of her career in a third-set tiebreak. The sophomore improved to 3-0 in completed CAA Tournament matches with the triumph.
• It was Kranec’s聽10th victory of the spring and the eighth to come at the No. 5 spot. She has now won two dual singles matches in her career after dropping the opening set, both coming in CAA championship matches against William & Mary.
• This was 黑料不打烊’s second 4-3 victory over the Tribe in Williamsburg this season, as the Phoenix also defeated William & Mary by that scoreline on April 3.
• The Phoenix has now won four straight matches against the Tribe, a streak that started in the 2025 regular season. 黑料不打烊 won both matches against the Tribe in Williamsburg this season after losing its first five road matches in the sereis.
• The victory was 黑料不打烊’s first to come by a 4-3 score in a CAA Tournament match since 2022 in the semifinals against College of Charleston.
• 黑料不打烊 has now won back-to-back conference championships for the first time as a Division I program.聽The title was 黑料不打烊’s third under head coach聽Elizabeth Anderson, who also guided the Phoenix to the 2014 SoCon championship.
• The match was played indoors due to afternoon rain in Williamsburg.

Up Next

黑料不打烊 will return to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season and for the third time as a Division I program. The NCAA Selection Show is set for April 27.

Results

Singles
1.聽Cornelia Kack聽(黑料不打烊) def. Sia Chaudry (W&M) 6-1, 6-1
2. Francesca Davis (W&M) def.聽Simone Bergeron聽(黑料不打烊) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3.聽Mariana Reding聽(黑料不打烊) def. Tilda Larsson (W&M) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
4. Mira Kernagis (W&M) def.聽Alexis Nyborg聽(黑料不打烊) 6-1, 6-0
5.聽Lisa Kranec聽(黑料不打烊) def,聽Rebeka Svabikova (W&M) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1)
6.聽Ale Gonzalez-Galino (W&M) def.聽Madison Cordisco聽(黑料不打烊) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
1.聽Simone Bergeron/Mariana Reding聽(黑料不打烊) def.聽Sia Chaudry/Francesca Davis (W&M) 6-2
2.聽Ale Gonzalez-Galino/Mira Kernagis (W&M) vs.聽Madison Cordisco/Alexis Nyborg聽(黑料不打烊) 5-3, unfinished
3.聽Cornelia Kack/Lisa Kranec聽(黑料不打烊) def.聽Emma Pell/Yaelle Vaissaud (W&M) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,1,6,3,2,5)

The Phoenix took the doubles point with a pair of tiebreak wins on Courts 1 and 3. 黑料不打烊 then won three singles courts, with victories by聽Oskar Antinheimo,聽Jack Curtis聽and聽Rafael Ymer聽to clinch the match. Ymer clinched the title with a three-set victory on Court 2.

The conference title was 黑料不打烊’s first since 2019, when the Phoenix also took down UNCW. This was 黑料不打烊’s fifth-straight CAA championship match, all of which were against the Seahawks. With the victory, 黑料不打烊 secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship.

The Rundown

• For the second straight day, 黑料不打烊 made an escape in doubles, coming from a break down at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots to win both courts in tiebreaks.
• The Seahawks took the first doubles match to finish on Court 2, forcing the Phoenix to win the last two courts.
• On Court 1,聽Veljko Krstic聽and聽Nikola Parichkov聽overcame an early break deficit against聽Brady Hussey and Alex de Gabriele, getting the match back on serve and eventually into a tiebreak. 黑料不打烊’s top tandem fell behind 3-0, but rallied to level the score at 3-3 at the change of ends. They took their first lead at 4-3 and never looked back, winning the next three points to take the tiebreak, 7-3.
• The tiebreak win was the second in as many days for Krstic and Parichkov, who clinched the doubles point in yesterday’s semifinal victory against William & Mary by coming through a breaker. It was the pairing’s fourth tiebreak win of its seven triumphs this spring.
• The doubles point came down to聽Oskar Antinheimo聽and聽Nick Fisk聽on Court 3, who went down a break on two occasions, including a break that allowed UNCW’s team of聽Jordi Domenech and Tomas Marin to serve for the match at 5-3. However, Antinheimo and Fisk broke serve and then held to level the contest at 5-5. Both teams added another hold to send the contest into a decisive tiebreak.
• Antinheimo and Fisk raced out to a 4-0 lead and led 4-2 at the changeover. 黑料不打烊 again pulled away after the change of ends, winning the next three points to secure the match and a 1-0 lead. It was the first victory of the season for Antinheimo and Fisk in their third appearance together.
• This was the first time the Phoenix won the doubles point against the Seahawks in the CAA title match in any of the last five years.
• Antinheimo put the Phoenix up 2-0 with a 6-2, 7-5 victory on Court 4 against Oscar Baumgartner. Antinheimo聽cruised through the first set but trailed by an early break in the second. He quickly got the match back on serve and held a 6-5 lead in the frame entering the final game. The senior took a 15-40 advantage in聽Baumgartner’s service game and won the next point to clinch the match.
• The victory was Antinheimo’s聽seventh of the spring and his first in four CAA championship match appearances.
• UNCW pulled back within one with a victory at the top singles spot.
• Curtis moved 黑料不打烊 to within a point of the title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Domenech on Court 3. Curtis led by a break early in the second set but Domenech got the score back to 5-5. Curtis responded, breaking Domenech for a 6-5 lead before serving out the win in the ensuing game. It was the second straight season Curtis has won in singles in the CAA title match. The junior now has six singles wins this spring.
• For the second straight match, Ymer clinched victory聽for the Phoenix, coming from a set down against de Gabriele to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. It extended the junior’s winning streak to nine matches as he has won 16 singles contests on the season. The sophomore improved to 6-1 in deciding sets this season with the victory, with three of those triumphs coming from a set down.
• Parichkov also led 4-1 in a third set when his match was halted on Court 5, with聽Charles Pilet聽up a break in his third set at the No. 6 spot.
• 黑料不打烊 has now won two CAA championships, with both coming via wins in the final against UNCW. It is 黑料不打烊’s first conference title.

Up Next

黑料不打烊 will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019 and its fourth as a Division I program. The NCAA Selection Show is set for April 27.

Results

Singles
1. Lukas Steffen (UNCW) def.聽Veljko Krstic聽(黑料不打烊) 7-5, 6-2
2.聽Rafael Ymer聽(黑料不打烊) def. Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
3.聽Jack Curtis聽(黑料不打烊) def. Jordi Domenech (UNCW) 6-2, 7-5
4.聽Oskar Antinheimo聽(黑料不打烊) def. Oscar Baumgartner (UNCW) 6-2, 7-5
5.聽Nikola Parichkov聽(黑料不打烊) vs. Tomas Marin (UNCW) 6-2, 5-7, 4-1, unfinished
6.聽Charles Pilet聽(黑料不打烊) vs. Brady Hussey (UNCW) 6-7 (3), 6-4, 1-0, unfinished

Doubles
1.聽Veljko Krstic/Nikola Parichkov聽(黑料不打烊) def. Brady Hussey/Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 7-6 (2)
2. Lukas Steffen/William Dean (UNCW) def.聽Jack Curtis/Rafael Ymer聽(黑料不打烊) 6-1
3.聽Oskar Antinheimo/Nick Fisk聽(黑料不打烊) def. Jordi Domenech/Tomas Marin (UNCW) 7-6 (2)

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,3,2)

Members of the Board of Trustees joined with President Connie Ledoux Book and Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley on April 10, 2026, to rededicate a building that has served multiple purposes for more than half a century and two separate locations on campus.

Alumni, parents and friends have contributed $3 million to the expansion of the university鈥檚 golf complex, which also includes the W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center. The expansion represents a significant investment in the future of both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf and places the university鈥檚 training facilities among the best in collegiate golf.

Holland House now provides student-athletes with a premier clubhouse environment to learn, train and compete, with new practice and team spaces, and state-of-the-art technology that allows students to pursue excellence academically and athletically.

The complex expansion project also encompassed renovations to the driving range, including the creation of a 17,000-square-foot tee box, and renovation of the short-game area with reconstruction of the bunkers.

Holland House was renovated to create a centralized home base for the golf program. The clubhouse includes locker rooms, coaches鈥� offices, quiet spaces for academic study, team engagement spaces and player meeting rooms, strengthening team culture and promoting student growth off the course.

The final phase of the project includes upgrades to the existing W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center, a dedicated indoor practice facility that allows players to train in adverse weather conditions. The center opened in 2009 and includes multiple indoor heated hitting bays, a computerized swing analysis center, indoor putting facility and an outdoor lighted driving range.

Worsley, a 1986 黑料不打烊 graduate and former member of the golf team, served on the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023. He and his wife, alumna JoAnna Sutton Worsley 鈥�87, are the parents of W. Cecil Worsley IV, a 2014 黑料不打烊 graduate.

Another critical component of the project was the addition of Trackman Range, a technology that tracks every shot hit by a golfer, giving coaches and student-athletes immediate access to data to improve performance and create greater practice efficiency.

“The repurposing of Holland House marks a transformational moment for 黑料不打烊 Athletics. It is special to take a building rich with institutional history and create a best-in-class home for our golf student-athletes that honors our past while boldly investing in our future,鈥� Strawley said. “Facilities like this represent our aspirations brought to life, and they only become possible through the generosity of many. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who made this possible, and equally excited for the impact this will have for our golf student-athletes.鈥�

Built in 1963 as the official residence for President Earl Danieley and his family, Holland House stood along Haggard Avenue as a symbol of leadership, hospitality and community at 黑料不打烊. The home quickly became part of campus lore, including a memorable student protest led by Student Government Association President and future 黑料不打烊 Trustee Noel Allen 鈥�69 and joined by Danieley himself.

In 1973, President Fred Young and his family continued the tradition of welcoming students, alumni and distinguished guests, making the house a center of connection and celebration. In 1985, trustees honored longtime supporter Shirley Thomas Holland by naming the building in his memory, cementing its place in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 history.

After the presidential residence moved in 1988 to today鈥檚 Maynard House, Holland House entered a new phase, serving a variety of campus needs, from development and alumni relations to academic programs and student engagement. In 2009, the building was carefully relocated across campus, where it served as home to the Catholic Campus Ministries Newman Center. Work is now under way to build a new Newman Center.

鈥淭oday is a wonderful moment for 黑料不打烊, for Phoenix Athletics, and for our investment in golf and the futures of these student-athletes,鈥� Book said in her dedication remarks. 鈥淎nd it holds a special distinction: this is the first new athletics facility opened under Athletics Director Jenn Strawley.鈥�

Book described the renovated Holland House as a testament to the strength of the programs built by men鈥檚 head coach Don Hill and women鈥檚 head coach Chris Dockrill.

鈥淎nd to our student-athletes: I know that every donor agrees that this is for you,鈥� Book said. 鈥淓very locker, every building, every asset here was about creating a championship home for Phoenix golf, and we鈥檙e very excited for the next chapter to unfold and to cheer you on as you make history.鈥�

Jennings Glenn 鈥�25 G鈥�26, a member of the men’s golf team, and 黑料不打烊 Trustee Debra Del Vecchio P鈥�22 P鈥�24 also delivered remarks during the ceremony, which was held on the front lawn of Holland House.

鈥淭hese past five years have been super special to me. I鈥檝e met so many incredible people and built such lasting relationships and created memories I鈥檒l carry with me for the rest of my life,鈥� said Glenn, who thanked donors on behalf of the team. 鈥淭his is really the best place in the world to be a student-athlete and that鈥檚 because of you. Thank you. It鈥檚 been amazing to watch this program grow and for me to be a part of it all.鈥�

Del Vecchio thanked Book and the Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment to students and for an institutional decisiveness that led to the expansion project. She then praised the golf teams for their dedication to the sport and to the university.

鈥淚t is all or nothing, a commitment and true discipline needed to be a student-athlete,鈥澛� Del Vecchio said. 鈥淎t times I’m sure it can be quite challenging, juggling classes, assignments, and a rigorous playing schedule. But here you are. Know that we recognize and are extremely proud of all of you. You are the face of 黑料不打烊, especially when you walk out on the golf course. You are not only representing yourself but 黑料不打烊 as well.鈥�

Women鈥檚 team captain Ashley Lafontaine 鈥�26 of Ottawa, Canada, delivered remarks during a dinner program that followed the ribbon-cutting.

鈥淭his space gives us something we鈥檝e never truly had before: a home that鈥檚 entirely our own,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a space where we can train, study, connect, and grow together all under one roof. It creates an environment where everything we need to succeed, both as athletes and as people, exists in one place.

鈥淏ut more importantly, it sends a message. It tells every current and future 黑料不打烊 holder that they are valued. That their experience matters. That this program is worth investing in. And for future players, I hope this becomes more than just a facility. I hope it becomes their safe space. Their meeting place. Their place to celebrate wins, work through losses, and build the kind of relationships that last far beyond their four years here.鈥�

Renovations have started on what once was a small residence hall but will soon serve as the temporary location for Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊, an all-day private school for children with dyslexia that opens in August.

The top priority for the designers working on those renovations? Create a space where children will learn, grow, and thrive in their confidence as young readers.

鈥淥ur team did a wonderful job of thinking through which spaces will be for which purpose, the furniture we鈥檙e selecting, how we鈥檙e setting up classrooms, and the technology we鈥檒l use,鈥� said Ann Bullock, dean of the university鈥檚 Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. 鈥淎ll of those things will make for an engaged, active, multisensory school. It鈥檚 going to be great.鈥�

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple also supported at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

Each academy employs the Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach to reading instruction. The goal is to return students to their community schools as confident readers after 2-3 years of immersive, hands-on instruction in all core subjects.

The Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 will welcome third and fourth graders this fall to Trollinger House as construction begins on a permanent site along East Haggard Avenue. That location will open for to grades 1-6 starting in Fall 2028.

Bullock was joined on April 9, 2026, for a site visit to Trollinger House where several staff members wore hard hats on their stroll through the building on West Trollinger Avenue. Led by Holly Hodge, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 director of interior design, staff had a chance to see for themselves what, until then, had only been conceptual.

Hodge highlighted some of the features that, once installed, will nurture students who attend the school: flexible furniture for smaller groups in classrooms with no more than 12 students, desks with writable surfaces, and expansive wall space intended to be layered with student work and their art on display.

鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 a blank canvas,鈥� Hodge said afterward. 鈥淲alking through the space and showing that blank canvas helps imagine a piece of art in the making. I can鈥檛 wait for students to then come in and have teachers make the space their own.鈥�

Hodge identified another question for her team: How do you 鈥渄efine鈥� or tell the story of dyslexia? How do you celebrate the amazing talents and strengths of students in addition to their classroom learning?

One thing is certain, she concluded: 鈥淓very kid deserves to be confident.鈥�

***

聽Families interested in learning more can visit the Roberts Academy website at聽www.elon.edu/robertsacademy.

Tracy Roof, who retired from Guilford County Schools in 2025, said she鈥檚 excited about her new opportunity to help start North Carolina鈥檚 first university-based, all-day private elementary school for children with dyslexia.

The Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 will use the multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction once it launches in August to third- and fourth-grade students in a temporary location on West Trollinger Avenue.

The academy will expand to grades 1-6 when a new building opens for the 2028-2029 academic year on East Haggard Avenue near the university鈥檚 Danieley Neighborhood. Each classroom will be capped at 12 students.

鈥淭he Roberts Academy model offers a meaningful opportunity to help students with dyslexia become confident, capable readers so they can truly thrive in school,鈥� Roof said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to welcome our first students and families, build our inaugural classes and establish strong systems that will support both teaching and learning from day one.鈥�

“The Roberts Academy model offers a meaningful opportunity to help students with dyslexia become confident, capable readers so they can truly thrive in school.”

– Tracy Roof, director of business and school operations, Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊

Roof joins Assistant Professor Alicia Tate, acting director of the Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊, as a founding administrator at the school.

鈥淭racy鈥檚 career achievements and her experience working closely with students with a variety of needs made her an ideal candidate for this position,鈥� Tate said. 鈥淗aving her on the Roberts Academy team will ensure early success for a school with such promise for so many children and their families.鈥�

Over the past 15 years, Roof has served in school leadership roles as both an assistant principal and principal at the elementary and middle school levels, leading efforts to improve student outcomes and overall school performance. Earlier in her career, she spent 12 years teaching math, science, and social studies, followed by six years as a curriculum facilitator, where she supported instructional improvement and teacher development.

Throughout her career, Roof has worked closely with students and families to develop effective Individualized Education Plans, helping ensure each child receives the support needed to succeed.

Beyond her professional roles, Roof has been an active community volunteer supporting individuals with special needs and disabilities.

Her involvement includes聽supporting聽the聽launch聽of聽 that employs individuals with special needs, as well as volunteering with Night to Shine, an inclusive prom experience, and the Special Olympics.

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple established at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

Families interested in learning more can visit the Roberts Academy website at www.elon.edu/robertsacademy.

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams received the 2026 Rising Star Award from the during the association鈥檚 annual conference held this year in Philadelphia.

The Rising Star Award is presented to a NADOHE member in good standing who has served as a chief or senior diversity officer for at least three years, but no more than 10 total years at a higher educational institution.

Nominees are considered for their 鈥渆xceptional contributions to research, administration, practice, advocacy and/or policy informs and advances the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence in higher education.鈥�

鈥淩eceiving the Rising Star Award at this point in my career reminds me that I am, and always will be, a lifelong learner, continually striving to grow and improve,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 am also grateful to NADOHE for its support of the many professionals dedicated to creating high-quality learning environments for all students, faculty, and staff.

鈥淏ecause awards are rarely earned alone, I share this recognition with my 黑料不打烊 colleagues, who prioritize inclusive excellence every day.鈥�

Since his promotion to his current role in July 2020, Williams has led wide-ranging efforts to advance inclusive excellence at 黑料不打烊, driving measurable gains in faculty and staff diversity, student belonging and institutional accountability.

He has helped embed equity-focused practices across the university through initiatives such as a Shared Equity Leadership national research project and through guided reforms to faculty development and student services that have addressed structural barriers.

Colleagues credit Williams with fostering a collaborative, campuswide approach that positions inclusive excellence as a shared responsibility with leadership that contributed to national research partnerships and programs now serving as models for other institutions.

Beyond campus, Williams has strengthened community partnerships and helped shape institutional responses to social issues, extending the university鈥檚 impact regionally and nationally.

Lak茅 Laosebikan-Buggs, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional education, nominated Williams for the award.

鈥淲hat distinguishes Dr. Williams is not just his expertise but his bold, forward-thinking leadership,鈥� she wrote in her nomination. 鈥淗is ability to navigate institutional complexity, including the shifting winds of public opinion, while inspiring broad engagement, and implementing systems-level change, positions him as a future national leader in higher education equity and inclusion work.鈥�

**

I am deeply saddened to share news of the death of Janice J. Ratliff, a beloved former staff member whose life and work shaped the heart of this institution for more than three decades. She died Wednesday, March 25 at the age of 82. A native of 黑料不打烊, Janice served the university with insight, affection, and unwavering dedication for 35 years, leaving an enduring legacy of care, mentorship, and service.

Janice joined the 黑料不打烊 community in 1981 as an administrative assistant in the Office of Cooperative Education. Over the course of her career, she went on to serve in the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students, the Office of Student Development, the Office of Auxiliary Services, and ultimately the Office of Student Health and Wellness. In every role she held, Janice brought compassion, professionalism and a listening ear鈥攑roviding essential support to faculty and staff while offering reassurance and comfort to students and their families, often far from home.

With her ever-present smile and gentle strength, Janice was a trusted mentor and role model, particularly for Black students and first-generation students. At a time when there were few Black staff members on campus, she became a vital and visible source of encouragement, belonging and advocacy. She served as a devoted adviser to the Black Cultural Society (now the Black Student Union), the Gospel Choir, and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Finest, and she was an indispensable presence at the Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards Celebration, serving on its awards committee and faithfully supporting the annual event. Her commitment also extended to more than a decade of service to the Student Government Association, further reflecting her belief in empowering students and helping them thrive.

In 1999, she received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, followed by recognition as Professional Hourly Staff Member of the Year in 2006. In 2010, the 黑料不打烊 Black Alumni Network honored her for her dedication to the success of Black students. Student organizations further ensured her legacy by naming two awards in her honor: the Black Student Union Janice Ratliff Community Service Award and the Student Government Association鈥檚 Janice J. Ratliff Award for Organization Volunteer of the Year.

Janice retired in 2016 and in 2017 she received the 黑料不打烊 Medallion, the university鈥檚 highest honor. One of the most profound tributes to Janice鈥檚 impact came with the naming of the Janice Ratliff Building in 2021, making her the first Black staff member in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 history to have a campus building named in her honor.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Ratliff, who passed away in 2005. She is survived by her daughters, Karla Leath and Kandace Wright, granddaughters Aiesha Leath and Imani Leath and great-granddaughter, Niyah Deberry.

Services will be held on the 黑料不打烊 campus in the Alumni Gym in the Koury Center on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Service arrangements are being handled by聽Sharpe Funeral Home聽and are as follows:

• Funeral Services will begin at 12:30 p.m.
• Burial will be in Alamance Memorial Park immediately following the service
• Parking is available in the Oaks Parking Lot on Williamson Avenue

Cards and condolences may be sent to:
The Family of Janice Ratliff
Office of the University Chaplain
Campus Box 2960
黑料不打烊, NC 27244

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded to a select group of U.S. colleges and universities, affirms 黑料不打烊鈥檚 integration of community-based experiences into teaching, research and campus life.

The classification recognizes the university鈥檚 deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming 黑料不打烊 second in the nation for service-learning.

In her remarks at an afternoon reception in the Koury Athletic Center, 黑料不打烊 President Connie Book said the Carnegie designation reflects extensive and coordinated effort across disciplines and divisions. She noted that 黑料不打烊 has expanded community-engaged courses by more than 30% in the past decade, with faculty participation rising nearly 50%, and she highlighted partnerships ranging from local schools and health clinics to nonprofit and civic organizations.

Book described community engagement as 鈥渁 brave space,鈥� where outcomes are not always predictable, but where collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for students and partners alike.

As the university looks ahead, Book said, the designation sets a new benchmark for impact. 鈥淲e want to improve the quality of life for all people in our community,鈥� she added.

In welcoming remarks, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley labeled the recognition 鈥渁 reflection of our strong collaboration between Student Life, Academic Affairs and community partners,鈥� and Associate Provost Jen Platania said the honor was one that acknowledges the intentional integration of community engagement into teaching and campus life.

鈥淚t reflects the work of faculty who designed meaningful community-based learning experiences,鈥﹖he staff who support sustaining those efforts, and community partners who collaborate with us in ways that enrich our students and strengthen our shared work,鈥� Platania said. 鈥淭his recognition belongs to all of you. It affirms the culture of engagement that defines 黑料不打烊, where our students connect knowledge and purpose, and develop as thoughtful and engaged citizens.鈥�