She Built This City鈥檚 mission is to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women and marginalized communities.听In her role, Faustin听has launched key initiatives听for the听organization,听including Adult Workforce Development, and expanded youth programming through partnerships with local government and community organizations.

Faustin听received undergraduate听degrees in听corporate听communications and Spanish from 黑料不打烊,听before getting her听master鈥檚 in business administration from听the university听in 2010.听In 2016,听she received her master鈥檚 in听educational leadership and administration from Queens University, as well as a certification in听nonprofit/public/organizational management from Duke University听in 2022, and a听certification in Diversity,听Equity听and Inclusion 鈥� Building a Diverse Workplace from Cornell University听in 2023.

In 2023,听Faustin听was recognized听with the Charlotte Business Journal鈥檚 Power 100听award,听and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Service Award.听In 2024, she听received听Atrium Health鈥檚 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing the Dream Award.
Faustin is also听president-elect for the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board, and founder and managing听director of听Stay Ready Consulting Solutions.

Her听impact will be featured in the Most Admired CEO Special听Section published in the June 19 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

鈥淲hen I was a student, there weren鈥檛 a huge number of local alumni that I was able to connect with,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited that this is a way I can highlight that staying in the community is an option.鈥�

For Jensen Roll 鈥�16, the path to building a business began long before he ever stepped onto a construction site. His path started with service, leadership and a long-standing connection to North Carolina. Both of his parents were born and raised in North Carolina, and summers spent visiting grandparents made it feel like a second home. So, when he began looking at colleges, North Carolina topped his list. 黑料不打烊 stood out almost immediately.

鈥淚 discovered 黑料不打烊 while looking at multiple schools and immediately fell in love with the service opportunities, the Leadership Fellows program and the deep commitment to study abroad,鈥� he said.

The Leadership Fellows program was the primary motivation for his enrollment; he was accepted into the program before receiving his acceptance to the university.

Once on campus, Roll leaned into innovation. He designed a custom major in social entrepreneurship that bridged the gap between the business school, environmental studies and the humanities. He helped bring the University Innovation Fellowship program to 黑料不打烊. This experience introduced him to design thinking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley, including visits to Google and Stanford University.

Because his self-designed major didn’t fit into a standard study abroad box, Roll worked with Angela Llewellyn, now assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, to create a bespoke program. This journey took him to San Francisco and eventually to Cape Town, South Africa, for six months. It was there, while attending Jubilee Church through a connection from Emma Burress (then overseeing study abroad students), that he met his future wife, Mtende. After a year and a half of long-distance dating, she moved to North Carolina and today they are 50-50 partners in life and business.

While Jensen oversees the construction side as a licensed general contractor, Mtende is a licensed realtor who manages the investment and real estate side of their ventures.

鈥淲e co-own all of our companies together. Both of us have a very entrepreneurial and creative spirit,鈥� he explained, stating that their shared vision is the backbone of their company culture.

He credits a wide network of mentors for pushing him to think differently. In addition to Leon Williams, former director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), he points to Gary Palin, former executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, for challenging him to “be” an entrepreneur rather than just study it. He also highlights the influence of Steve Moore, a retired faculty member in environmental studies who shaped his views on urban sustainability. His growth was further guided by Phil Miller, a former lecturer in human services studies; Rex Waters, former dean of student development; and Steven Mencarini, former director of the Center for Leadership.

鈥淭he ability to work one-on-one with professors and attend national conferences gave me the confidence to launch initiatives like H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat),鈥� he said.

Perhaps the most significant application of this “Triple Bottom Line” education, focusing on people, profit, and planet, is a current project Roll is particularly proud of: building seven tiny homes for Benevolence Farm. The project provides housing for women and non-binary individuals transitioning out of incarceration.

鈥淎s a construction company, not every project we take on has that opportunity to provide that triple bottom line in a meaningful way,鈥� Roll said. 鈥淭his is going to increase their capacity to serve that population.鈥�

What鈥檚 been most rewarding, he said, is watching that impact accumulate.

鈥淐onstruction is unique because the results are tangible and lasting,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ears later, you can drive by something you worked on and see how it鈥檚 become part of someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

He credits 黑料不打烊 with giving him the freedom to experiment early, without the pressure of getting everything right.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� was the ultimate sandbox,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a place to try things, take risks and even fail safely.鈥�

He notes that while he didn’t graduate with a construction management degree, the problem-solving and systems-building skills he learned at 黑料不打烊 translated perfectly to the industry.

鈥淲hat I spent four years learning at 黑料不打烊 had much more to do with the problem-solving, the engaged learning, the building of systems,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is what we are doing in the real world.鈥�

His advice to current students interested in entrepreneurship mirrors that mindset.

鈥淪tart now,鈥� he said. 鈥淪pend time with business owners. Read. Build something. Use your four years to experiment while you still have that safety net. The best way to learn is by doing.鈥�

Looking ahead, Roll is eager to take on larger, more complex and more creative projects. He thrives on unique builds and clients with distinct design visions. At the same time, he sees affordable housing as an area where his background in both entrepreneurship and service naturally converges.

鈥淥ur goal is to build a community that we want to live in,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he company is so closely aligned with the things that we care about.鈥�

From building a tiny house as a student to shaping the built environment of his community, Roll鈥檚 journey highlights the combination of service and entrepreneurship, a foundation strengthened at 黑料不打烊 and carried forward through every project he takes on.

What began as a joke 鈥� a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department 鈥� spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of 鈥淐rime & Parody,鈥� a new documentary co-produced by 黑料不打烊 graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, 鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds 鈥� eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court 鈥� the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film鈥檚 narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

鈥�’Crime & Parody鈥� is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,鈥� said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.鈥�

The film鈥檚 balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more 鈥� a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

鈥淭his felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,鈥� they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at 黑料不打烊, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at 黑料不打烊. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting 鈥淐hildren of the Underground,鈥� a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The 黑料不打烊 graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche鈥檚 documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking 鈥� and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man鈥檚 arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

Moeller has made a name for听herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment听Television,听who now听works听as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

鈥淏ack in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew 黑料不打烊 had one of the best schools for communications in the country.鈥�

Recognizing that 黑料不打烊 was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to 黑料不打烊 helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers 黑料不打烊 asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With 黑料不打烊鈥檚 help, she secured exactly what she鈥檇 hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

鈥淚 kept in touch with the London office, so when I did 黑料不打烊’s inaugural ‘黑料不打烊 in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,鈥� she explained. 鈥淥ne week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.鈥�

Moeller听made the听switch听from听the听international听department听to听the听domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer.听Over听her听15听years at听E!听News,听she听was nominated for five Emmy Awards,听and听interviewed people听like听Steve Carell,听Charlize Theron and听50 Cent. She also had the听privilege听of听working听on听the听red carpet at the听Oscars and Golden Globes.

鈥淚 think one thing听that’s听gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are听just normal听people too, and they want to be treated that way,鈥� she explained.听听鈥淲hen working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts,听I’ve听always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.听听They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally听and听give them honest feedback, good or bad.鈥�

Moeller听credits听her continued success听to听strong relationships with her coworkers,听interviewees, and听former hosts,听always听keeping in听contact听with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the听biggest听pop听culture stages as a top moment.

“I听recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars,听like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,听and听Leslie Mann,听to name a few.鈥�

This听unforgettable听experience solidified for听her听that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for听Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples听Center.

鈥淚t was just me, my host Will听Marfuggi, and听a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.听听It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,鈥� she said.

Moeller鈥檚听journey听at听E! News was marked by steady growth听in听leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and听opportunity.

“One听meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell,听who at the time was听hosting 鈥楾he Talk.鈥� After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in听September,听we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,鈥澨齭aid Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position听in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

黑料不打烊鈥檚听top-notch听curriculum and amazing professors helped听her听feel听prepared听for the real听world, knowing she听could succeed outside the classroom.听黑料不打烊鈥檚 study abroad center helped many students,听including听Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller听has come a long way听through听courage and perseverance,听and now she works听for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide听show.

鈥淭his business,听especially听out听in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it鈥檚 how good you do that听is what听keeps you there,鈥� she听explained.

鈥淢y main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always听keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou never know who’s听going to听end up where and who can help you down the line. And when听you’re听on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you,听as听one day you may be working for them.鈥�

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to听share your feedback or those stories online.

They stood poised with their hands raised, breathing steady, before their fists began to fly. Jab, cross, right hook, left upper cut.

They noticed the sensations in their body as childhood memories raced through their mind, allowing themself to feel every feeling that remained with them from a time when they didn鈥檛 have a voice. With every punch, they stepped closer to regaining their power, closer to a deeper understanding of their full self.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor 鈥�12 says the physical movement often allows clients to recognize and begin healing younger parts of themselves that were never fully seen or supported. 鈥淭hrough the movement, through fighting back against that, they were able to trust themself more.鈥�

A licensed professional counselor, Martinelli-Taylor centers her Denver practice, Animo Counseling and Coaching, on healing the whole person. Among the approaches she uses is somatic boxing, a method that connects mind and body to help clients process trauma and strengthen their overall well-being.

鈥淲e鈥檙e interconnected beings,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.鈥�

A Non-Linear Path

Martinelli-Taylor鈥檚 journey toward counseling wasn鈥檛 straightforward, but every step helped develop the empathy, critical thinking and global perspective that shapes her work. The Massachusetts native wasn鈥檛 familiar with 黑料不打烊 before stumbling upon it while touring colleges along the East Coast. She was immediately drawn to its arts and sciences foundation, small class sizes and study abroad program.

She enrolled Early Decision, planning to study education, but soon found that teaching wasn鈥檛 her passion. She did, however, have a knack for fostering strong one-on-one connections, and she found other ways to build those skills through a strategic communications major and religious studies minor.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of psychology in strategic communications, learning what are people鈥檚 needs, what do they want, why do they do what they do. I loved that aspect,鈥� Martinell-Taylor says. 鈥淭hen my religious studies minor was just a window to the world of what other people believe, why they believe it and how that directs their decisions, hopes and dreams.鈥�

But it was her semester abroad in London that influenced her most, broadening her worldview and clarifying what she did and didn鈥檛 want to pursue post-graduation. She interned for a fashion supplier on Oxford Street but didn鈥檛 feel a strong connection to the work. She loved London, though, and wanted to use her communications skills in service of something she cared about deeply.

After graduating, she returned to London for two years, working with an international mission organization that supported churches and other spiritual communities. Martinelli-Taylor spent much of her time connecting with South Asian women, children and teens and found their conversations about life and struggle deeply meaningful. On weekends, she volunteered with a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, a cause that first sparked her interest through an 黑料不打烊 course examining slavery in the Bible, in American history and in modern times. Again and again, she found herself drawn to work that offered support to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

鈥淚 was hearing people鈥檚 trauma, hearing really difficult life journeys and feeling this pull,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淚f people have gone through these really awful things, forced into things they had no control over, how do I step into that world?鈥�

That realization ignited Martinelli-Taylor鈥檚 calling to be a counselor. She moved back to the U.S. and earned her master鈥檚 degree in clinical mental health counseling from Denver Seminary in 2019. Her communications, religious studies and study abroad experience from her time at 黑料不打烊 remained foundational as she forged this new path.

L.D. Russell, senior lecturer emeritus of religious studies at 黑料不打烊, remembers Martinelli-Taylor as open-minded, eager to learn and deeply committed to helping others. Her unique counseling approach feels like a natural extension of that spirit. 鈥淥ne of the truest values of an 黑料不打烊 education,鈥� he says, 鈥渋s gaining a clearer sense of how others live and move through the world, and how our own gifts can be used to foster the public good.鈥�

The Mind-Body Connection

After obtaining her master鈥檚 degree, Martinelli-Taylor again used her skills to support human trafficking victims, providing counseling to survivors with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She later moved to a group practice, helping clients with a broader range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

In graduate school, she began to learn how physical movement, education and preventative work can help set clients up for a healthier life and resiliency amid difficult challenges. That idea coupled with her own personal experience with boxing prompted her to try bilateral boxing as a technique with some clients at the group practice. 鈥淚t was starting to help people break out of dissociation and get into their body,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淲e used it as a tool when they felt stuck or overwhelmed with talk therapy.鈥�

As she saw the approach resonate with more clients, Martinelli-Taylor set out to develop it further and open her own practice. Drawing on her strategic communications background, she built the foundation for her business while consulting with counselors who use somatic therapies that link breath, body and mental health. In 2024 she founded Animo Counseling and Coaching, where she offers treatments such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and her own style of somatic boxing therapy.

Animo means 鈥渕ind鈥� in Latin, 鈥渟oul鈥� and 鈥渃ourage鈥� in Italian and 鈥渆ncouragement鈥� in Spanish. 鈥淭he practice reflects that intentionality, that purposefulness,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t represents the embodiment of the brain and body鈥檚 role in learning about yourself.鈥�

Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.听鈥� Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12

Martinelli-Taylor first teaches her clients the basics of non-contact boxing, using the bilateral movements of boxing but no sparring, just hitting boxing gloves to mitts as the whole body engages. She focuses on proper form and breathwork, guiding clients to concentrate on each motion. The practice becomes a type of moving meditation, stimulating both sides of the body and both hemispheres of the brain.

For many clients, the approach offers another avenue for healing, especially for those who may not feel ready to talk through difficult experiences right away. By focusing on the rhythm of movement and breath, clients begin to notice what their bodies and minds are holding, and shift it out.

Once clients feel comfortable with the technique, she introduces strategies for building courage, managing stress and emotions, and processing difficult memories. The approach encourages people to tune in to the physical sensations that often accompany mental health struggles, opening the door to more holistic healing. Movement and breathwork, Martinelli-Taylor says, can help move through distress, regulate mood and ground the body to allow clients to face and work through deeper challenges.

In addition to continuing to grow her practice, Martinelli-Taylor hopes to conduct larger studies on the impact of somatic boxing on mental health. And while she is there to support her clients in the 鈥渞ing鈥� when they need it, she doesn鈥檛 expect them to rely on a coach forever. Her goal is to help people build the awareness and tools to continue the work on their own 鈥� to trust their bodies, their instincts and their capacity to heal.

鈥淚 want them to feel like they鈥檙e equipped to learn and grow,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淭hey can take this work, try it out in the world and know that they鈥檙e resilient.鈥�

Through the 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellows program, these recent graduates are spending a year working with local organizations across Alamance County, contributing to efforts that strengthen health, education and economic opportunity. Along the way, they鈥檙e gaining hands-on experience, mentorship and a deeper understanding of the community just beyond 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus.

The 2025鈥�26 fellows are putting their 黑料不打烊 education into action and helping build a stronger future for Alamance County.

Sam Hinton 鈥�25

Advancing Community Health

By Avery Craine Powell

When Sam Hinton 鈥�25 decided to pursue the Year of Service Fellows program, she saw it as an opportunity to deepen her connection to a community she had already come to care about.

鈥淚 really wanted to get the opportunity to have a more hands-on role here as opposed to research, which is a little bit more like a bird鈥檚-eye view,鈥� Hinton says.

Hinton, who earned a degree in public health studies and political science with minors in Spanish, Latin American studies, and peace and conflict studies, now works with the Alamance County Health Department through the fellows program.

Although she didn鈥檛 grow up in Alamance County, Hinton says the area feels like home. Her grandparents and extended family live nearby, and her academic work at 黑料不打烊 strengthened those ties. As a Lumen Scholar, she studied how immigration policy and discrimination in Alamance County influence how members of the Latino community access health care and social services.

鈥淚 was interviewing health care and social service providers from across the county on where they were seeing gaps in their ability to provide care,鈥� she explains. 鈥淭hrough that research, I got to meet a lot of the people that I work with now and familiarized myself with the different service provision organizations throughout Alamance County.鈥�

That familiarity helped ease her transition into the fellowship. At the health department, Hinton鈥檚 responsibilities range from administrative and event planning work to engaging directly with community partners. She primarily works with the Behavioral Health and Substance Use Division, which focuses on addressing the opioid crisis and expanding addiction services.

It鈥檚 been really great to see how deeply everyone there is motivated by the mission of providing health care and improving the lives of people in Alamance County.听鈥� Sam Hinton ’25

The experience has given her a deeper appreciation for the people committed to this work.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really great to see how deeply everyone there is motivated by the mission of providing health care and improving the lives of people in Alamance County,鈥� she says. 鈥淒espite the fact that everyone there has so much work to do and is incredibly busy, people are really committed to improving conditions for people across different communities.鈥�

Hinton credits 黑料不打烊鈥檚 public health studies program, including its required practicum, for preparing her to step confidently into the role. The program, she says, ensures students graduate with a strong understanding of the broader forces shaping health and equity.

鈥淭hey make sure students leave 黑料不打烊 aware of the disparities and inequalities that exist and really gear the program toward a health equity lens.鈥�

For Hinton, the fellowship represents both a continuation of her academic work and a new beginning.

鈥淚 feel like the hands-on nature of all of my education at 黑料不打烊 has really come in handy as I鈥檓 transitioning into the workforce,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 feel really adequately prepared for whatever projects are being thrown my way.鈥�

Anna Matawaran 鈥�25

Strengthening Community Partnerships

By Avery Craine Powell

Community engagement has been central to Anna Matawaran鈥檚 黑料不打烊 experience, and it continues to guide her work after graduation.

鈥淭he program stood out to me because of that piece of civic engagement and making a difference in a community that I鈥檝e already lived in and gotten to know for the last four years,鈥� she says.

Matawaran, who graduated with a degree in sociology and a minor in communications, now works with Impact Alamance, a community health legacy foundation created from the merger of Alamance Regional Medical Center and Cone Health.

Impact Alamance focuses on improving community health, strengthening education and building partnerships across Alamance County. Matawaran serves on the organization鈥檚 鈥渟tronger鈥� team as a program assistant.

One of the projects she has enjoyed most is the For Alamance initiative, a partnership with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation that encourages residents to take action on issues that matter to them.

鈥淭hat has been really rewarding,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e met so many different people through that, which I鈥檝e really enjoyed, folks from all parts of the county that I didn鈥檛 know existed before the fellowship.鈥�

Community was also what first drew Matawaran to 黑料不打烊 from her hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

鈥淭hat small community feel was so unique from all the other colleges I looked at, and I knew I wanted a liberal arts education and loved that 黑料不打烊 offered all the resources that it does for undergraduates specifically,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful campus. How can you not love it?鈥�

Her path to sociology began unexpectedly.

鈥淥n a whim, I signed up for a sociology course my first semester here,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was a class on how sociology can look at housing and unhoused people, and that class stood out to me above all my other courses. I fell in love with the way that sociologists think about the world and the problems that it can solve.鈥�

Matawaran credits 黑料不打烊鈥檚 liberal arts approach for preparing her to work in the nonprofit sector.

鈥淢y 黑料不打烊 education gave me the liberal arts background that I needed to step into the nonprofit sphere,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y degree gave me a lot of the building blocks to understand what I鈥檓 hearing from community members and what issues Alamance County is facing.鈥�

Now, her fellowship continues to deepen the understanding of community she discovered at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淪omething that my mentor always says is that community is messy,鈥� Matawaran says. 鈥淚 love how rich and diverse the community here is; it brings this authenticity to the work.鈥�

Jasmine Walker 鈥�25

Supporting Local Students

By Avery Craine Powell

Giving back to her hometown is what drew Jasmine Walker 鈥�25 to the 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellows program.

She now works with Alamance Achieves, an organization focused on improving education outcomes from 鈥渃radle to career,鈥� while also collaborating with Impact Alamance to promote educational equity across the county.

鈥淲hen I found out it was through the Alamance-Burlington School System, which I鈥檓 a product of, I wanted to help the school system since they helped me become who I am,鈥� says Walker, who earned a degree in human service studies with a minor in poverty and social justice.

Walker began her fellowship in June 2025 and quickly found herself immersed in the work, helping lead 鈥淩eady Freddy,鈥� a three-week summer program that prepares students for kindergarten.

She also assists with the Teachers Leadership Academy, which helps educators develop leadership skills, and supports 鈥淭he Basics Alamance,鈥� a countywide initiative that provides caregivers with evidence-based strategies to promote healthy brain development in young children.

I don鈥檛 think I realized how many
organizations and partnerships there are to make Alamance County continue to thrive.听鈥� Jasmine Walker ’25

Walker鈥檚 passion for helping others guided her to choose human service studies as her major.

鈥淚 wanted to help people, and I鈥檝e always been passionate about supporting others,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 grew up volunteering and doing different things with my church. When I was a freshman, I met a senior in the program, and I took the intro course and really liked it. I liked how personable the department was.鈥�

A native of 黑料不打烊, Walker attended the 黑料不打烊 Academy in high school before enrolling at the university as an Odyssey Program scholar and later joining the Periclean Scholars program.

鈥淭he Odyssey Program really changed my life,鈥� Walker says. 鈥淚 was able to study abroad in Florence, Italy, during my junior year, and I was there for three and a half months. That was cool; I never thought I was going to be able to leave the country because of finances.鈥�

Through Periclean Scholars, she also traveled to Costa Rica during Winter Term to study the needs of a partner community.

鈥淲e studied Costa Rica as a whole and looked at what the specific community that we were going to travel to needed,鈥� she says.

Even though she grew up in Alamance County, Walker says the fellowship has helped her see her hometown in new ways.

鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to be able to meet different leaders and partners in the community, and hear what they do,鈥� Walker says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I realized how many organizations and partnerships there are to make Alamance County continue to thrive.鈥�

Abby Lee 鈥�25

Expanding Community Wellness

By Olivia Grady ’26

Abby Lee 鈥�25 arrived at 黑料不打烊 with a strong interest in civic engagement. The 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellows program gave her the opportunity to continue that work after graduation.

鈥淟iving in Alamance County for four years, I just thought it would be really beneficial to give back to the community that gave me so much,鈥� Lee says. 鈥淭his position sounded exactly like what I wanted to do.鈥�

Lee, who earned a degree in public health studies and political science, works with Impact Alamance鈥檚 鈥渉ealthier鈥� team on a range of grant-funded initiatives that support community wellness.

Her projects have included helping install a new basketball court in Mebane, supporting a mobile recreation unit that brings activities to neighborhoods across the county and assisting with planning Impact Alamance鈥檚 annual wellness summit.

鈥淚鈥檝e worked on smaller projects, but it means so much to the people that we help,鈥� Lee says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably my favorite part, just seeing how much Impact Alamance truly does.鈥�

Lee says her experiences at 黑料不打烊 helped prepare her for the work, particularly her public health practicum with the Women鈥檚 Resource Center of Alamance County.

鈥淭hat was my first local internship and really shaped my path, showing how great it was to work for and help the people of Alamance,鈥� Lee says. 鈥淚 think ultimately that鈥檚 what led me to decide and apply.鈥�

She also credits 黑料不打烊 faculty members with shaping her academic interests and encouraging her to pursue a broader view of public health.

鈥淵anica Faustin was the reason I decided to double major in public health after taking one of her courses, Reproductive Justice,鈥� Lee says. 鈥淪he definitely shaped my time at 黑料不打烊, as well as Stephanie Baker, who was my senior seminar professor for public health. She really showed me that this is what I wanted to do.鈥�

Now working with Impact Alamance, Lee is able to see firsthand how community partnerships and targeted investments can improve health outcomes across the county.

The fellowship has allowed her to build on the experiences she gained at 黑料不打烊 while making a direct impact in the community she called home during college.

Juliana Buter 鈥�25

Supporting Local Businesses

By Jordan Armstead ’28

Local government work has quickly become a passion for Juliana Buter 鈥�25.

Through the 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellows program, Buter works with the City of Burlington鈥檚 Economic Development Office, supporting initiatives designed to strengthen the local economy and improve quality of life across the community.

In the role, she helps coordinate projects that attract new investment, support existing businesses and promote Burlington as a place where people want to live, work and visit.

鈥淭his fellowship has helped me a lot because it taught me about my strengths and areas where I need to grow,鈥� Buter says.

One of her primary responsibilities is serving as a liaison with the Burlington Downtown Corporation, helping coordinate communication between city officials and local businesses and ensuring that information flows smoothly between partners working to strengthen the downtown area.

Originally from Atlanta, Buter chose 黑料不打烊 because of its small class sizes and opportunities to build relationships with professors. She majored in political science and minored in communications, a combination that has helped her analyze policy decisions while communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences.

During summer 2024, Buter participated in Campus Alamance, a program that connects 黑料不打烊 students with internships at local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. She interned with the Alamance Chamber of Commerce, where she gained a broader understanding of the community beyond 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus and developed an interest in the region鈥檚 economic development efforts.

That experience introduced her to the Year of Service Fellows program and encouraged her to apply.

Buter credits her political science degree with helping her understand how public decisions shape communities and influence the people who live and work within them.

鈥淭here is a misconception about political science simply being about politics, parties and government,鈥� Buter says. 鈥淚 think the science aspect has taught me how people interact with one another and with groups.鈥�

Through her work with the City of Burlington, she has developed a deeper appreciation for local government and the people working behind the scenes to strengthen their communities.

鈥淚 have absolutely fallen in love with local government, just watching the behind-the-scenes of people working hard for their community,鈥� she says.

The fellowship has also helped her clarify the type of work she hopes to pursue long term 鈥� community-focused roles where she can see the tangible impact of public initiatives and partnerships.

Aniya Scott 鈥�25

Improving Patient Access

By Avery Craine Powell

Aniya Scott 鈥�25 describes her year as an 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Fellow as a 鈥済ap year,鈥� but the experience is bringing her closer to her long-term goal of becoming a physical therapist.

Through the program, Scott works with Alamance Regional Medical Center, where she supports operational initiatives that help the hospital serve patients more effectively.

鈥淓ven though I鈥檓 not currently working on the clinical side, gaining experience with the hospital鈥檚 backend operations has been incredibly valuable,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淯nderstanding how operations work helps me anticipate what patients may go through to access care in the future.鈥�

Her work includes assisting with project management, supporting philanthropy initiatives and helping improve campus signage.

Scott earned a degree in biology from 黑料不打烊 and says many parts of her 黑料不打烊 experience prepared her for the community-focused nature of the work.

I鈥檝e learned that much of community work involves engaging with underrepresented populations. This fellowship really allows us to get outside of that 黑料不打烊 bubble and explore issues affecting Alamance County residents.听鈥� Aniya Scott ’25

As an Honors Fellow and Lumen Scholar, she conducted research on PFAS contamination and how to help residents in Pittsboro, North Carolina, better understand and reduce exposure to forever chemicals.

鈥淩esidents may not be able to change how they access water or the presence of PFAS in their water, but we can help identify and educate them on day-to-day practices that can reduce their exposure,鈥� Scott says.

Beyond research, Scott served as a statistics learning assistant and worked with the Center for Access and Success while also holding leadership roles with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Council of Negro Women.

鈥淭hrough my experiences, I鈥檝e learned that much of community work involves engaging with underrepresented populations,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淭his fellowship really allows us to get outside of that 黑料不打烊 bubble and explore issues affecting Alamance County residents.鈥�

The experience has also given Scott a broader perspective on how health care systems operate and the many factors that shape patient care. Seeing the operational side of the hospital has helped her better understand how decisions behind the scenes affect the experiences patients have every day.

鈥淏efore this fellowship, most of my experience in health care was on the clinical side,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his fellowship opened my eyes to how administrative decisions and operational processes directly impact frontline care.鈥�

The 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board (EAB) acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

Katie Corrigan 鈥�02

Katie is a Vice President at MKI Global Partners, an advisory firm focused on how policy, politics and regulation shape financial markets and corporate transactions.听She graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2002 and values the strong community and network it continues to provide. Her younger sister is also an 黑料不打烊 alum, Class of 2003.

Katie lives in South Burlington, VT, with her husband, Dan, and their two sons, James (12) and Thomas (9). Outside of work, she enjoys taking full advantage of Vermont鈥檚 seasons, from lake days in the summer to skiing and hiking with her family.

Lauren Ludlow 鈥�13

Lauren is the founder of听, a New York鈥揵ased consultancy helping brands and creators build influencer marketing programs that drive long-term growth. She has partnered with leading CPG and retail brands including Sephora, P&G Beauty, Nike, Meta, and No7 Beauty Company.

She is also the co-founder of听, a community and networking event series built on the belief that meaningful connection drives better ideas, stronger businesses, and a more collaborative beauty industry. Lauren previously served on the New York 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board for four years.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel like my career trajectory post-graduation is the norm for an MBA graduate,鈥� Dudash said. 鈥淚 had to do some soul searching and pursued something different that aligns with my values.鈥�

Before enrolling in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 MBA program, Dudash worked at Duke Regional Hospital as communications manager, serving as the only communicator on site for the entire hospital and supporting more than 2,000 employees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped support emergency preparedness efforts, including a command center that operated for months, and later supported community vaccination clinics.

鈥淚 learned so much throughout that experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 saw the best of the best and the worst of the worst and saw health care workers give their all.鈥�

As the pandemic unfolded, mentors encouraged her to return to school. A nurse manager would ask her regularly, 鈥淲hen are you going back to school?鈥� Dudash also had two mentors who recommended 黑料不打烊鈥檚 MBA program.

鈥淪he would say, 鈥業t鈥檚 never a good time to go back to school,鈥欌�� Dudash said. 鈥淭hey encouraged me to take the step.鈥�

For Dudash, the MBA offered the flexibility to build leadership skills while keeping her options open.

鈥淚 can apply it across industries,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to strengthen my leadership skills and get a broader view of how organizations operate.鈥�

She started the program in September 2020, a decade after graduating from the University of Florida with a journalism degree. Returning to school felt like a significant transition.

鈥淚 remember being nervous,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was 10 years out of school and didn鈥檛 know how it would feel to be a student again.鈥�

Rather than rushing through, Dudash took one class at a time and completed the program over four years, graduating in May 2024.

鈥淚 wanted to fully immerse myself in each course and build relationships with my classmates and professors,鈥� she said.

She also described the program as a place where she could participate fully and grow, especially in courses that challenged students to share ideas and respond to feedback.

鈥淚t opened up my confidence in pursuing new ideas,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our ideas are valid.鈥�

As graduation approached, Dudash began thinking more intentionally about what kind of work would be fulfilling.

That summer became an opportunity to reflect. Dudash leaned into theater, a longtime passion through improv, including teaching improv comedy and pursuing operations work in the arts nonprofit space.

This past year, she balanced roles between Durham arts nonprofit Mettlesome Theater and nationally recognized DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) while also serving as chair of the Meals on Wheels Durham board.

But most recently, she was appointed Mettlesome Theater鈥檚 first full-time operations director.

鈥淢y 黑料不打烊 MBA gave me the confidence to say, 鈥業 want to help with this, and I want to pursue this,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淢y dream job was to be an operations director or executive director of an arts nonprofit, and the program gave me the high-level perspective to lead that work.鈥�

The article was published in “Action in Teacher Education,” by Associate Professor of Education Heidi Hollingsworth, Associate Professor of Education Lisa Buchanan, Abigail Maclean Wilson ’21, Felicia Robinson ’21, and William S. Long Professor and Professor of Education Jeffrey Carpenter.

The research focuses on the impact of a course-based community asset mapping project on undergraduate students’ capacity for identifying and understanding assets within communities surrounding specific schools.

“Action in Teacher Education is a journal that I find relevant to my work in the undergraduate Teacher Education and M.Ed. programs here at 黑料不打烊, and I have attended and presented at the ATE Annual Meeting conference in the past, so it was exciting for our article to be recognized in this way,” said Heidi Hollingsworth, associate professor of education, and one of the authors. “Huge thanks to my co-authors who were integral in the conceptualization and implementation of the project and the analyses that led to this publication.”

“The best part of this multi-year project was working with faculty colleagues and graduates. It is an honor write together and to share this award with them,” said Lisa Buchanan, associate professor of education and one of the authors.

Sponsored by the Robert Schuck Fund, this award recognizes and promotes exceptional research that makes a substantial contribution to the improvement of teacher education. Established in honor of Robert F. Schuck, the award reflects his enduring commitment to rigorous scholarship that strengthens the field. Through this recognition, ATE seeks to encourage research that advances teacher education, supports the national and international dissemination of impactful findings, and expands the knowledge base that informs our profession.

About the Authors

Heidi Hollingsworth听is an associate professor of education at 黑料不打烊. Her research focuses on teacher preparation that involves policy and advocacy, community-based learning, academic service-learning, community asset mapping and study abroad.

Lisa Buchanan听is an associate professor of education at 黑料不打烊. Her research in teacher education is focused on preservice and in service teachers鈥� beliefs and decision making, social studies education and the use of children鈥檚 literature and media to teach difficult topics.

Jeffrey Carpenter听is a professor of education at 黑料不打烊. His research focuses on self-directed and collaborative teacher learning.

Abigail Maclean Wilson 鈥�21听graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2021 with a major in elementary education and a minor in early childhood education. She recently spent two years in Zambia working with a university ministry.

Felicia Robinson 鈥�21听graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2021 with a major in elementary education and a minor in African and African American studies. She is an educator and a program assistant for the Intercultural Learning Certificate Program at 黑料不打烊.

黑料不打烊 student Rony Dahdal ’26, and his brother, alumnus听Rafi Dahdal 鈥�24 G鈥�24听were highlighted in a The Assembly article chronicling their family鈥檚 journey from war-torn Syria to North Carolina in search of educational opportunity.

The story, details how the Dahdal family鈥檚 commitment to learning endured despite the dangers of civil war and the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the United States.听

After fleeing Damascus in 2012 amid escalating violence, the Dahdal family settled in North Carolina, where education remained central to their long-term goals.听Rafi Dahdal is听an 黑料不打烊 graduate through the Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program in business administration and business analytics. He has gone on to serve as a Youth Trustee for the university.

At 黑料不打烊, Rony Dahdal has distinguished himself as a Lumen Scholar and Goldwater Scholar, conducting innovative research using LiDAR technology to explore noninvasive ways to detect vital signs 鈥� work aimed at improving health outcomes through emerging technologies.

鈥淚 felt so encouraged to continue research because I鈥檝e seen my parents value higher education,鈥� said Rony. 鈥淚t was very hard to deal with as a little kid, but I look back on it now, and I鈥檓 grateful.鈥�