Patrick,聽affectionately known as 鈥淔uzzie,” worked in Environmental Services for five years, primarily聽in the Gerald Francis Center and the Carlton Building, and was also an associate minister at Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Pelham, North Carolina.聽She left the university in the spring of 2022 due to illness and died the same year.

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, led the dedication.

“The relationships that she built with her coworkers, with students, with faculty, with staff, were genuine, were warm and were woven through with kindness and with joy,” said Boswell. “I’ve been told that Angel was a woman of deep love. She was loving, she was compassionate, she was God-fearing, and she was grounded in a spirit that made people feel safe, made them feel welcomed and made them feel seen.”

Members of Patrick’s family attended the dedication ceremony, including her husband and older sister Sharon Holloway, who thanked the university for the memorial.

“We will always be indebted to you all. The life she lived in front of you all is what she lived. That’s what we knew her by. Her smile, her cooking, taking in people’s kids, just doing whatever she could for anybody. Always having an encouraging word,” said Holloway during the dedication. “We miss her to no end. Our life changed when she left, but because we know a man called Jesus, he can be your mother, he can be your sister. When you think you can’t make it, sometimes we felt that way, but because we know him, because I know him personally, I know the memory will always stay in mind, our minds and in our hearts.”

黑料不打烊 continues to honor the memory of staff and faculty members with benches throughout campus, including David Willis, plumbing supervisor, and Monte Markley, community service officer, in 2025.

For the administrators who are assessing the facilities and technology of both campuses, that work also has forged new friendships since September鈥檚 announcement of the intended merger. What began as a daunting assignment quickly became an opportunity for Brad Moore and Kenitra Horsley to learn from one another and imagine what a combined institution might offer its students.

Both leaders describe the sprint team as a place where intense work has produced genuine connections. They鈥檝e spent weeks comparing systems, walking campuses, studying student needs and exploring the physical and technological foundations that define their respective universities.

In the process, Moore 鈥� 黑料不打烊鈥檚 associate vice president for facilities and chief facilities officer 鈥� and Horsley 鈥� chief of staff and chief information officer at Queens 鈥� developed not only professional insight but a shared sense of possibility.

As the members of both boards of trustees continue to review the terms of the definitive merger agreement, which is expected to be finalized before the end of the calendar year, a recent conversation with Moore and Horsley offers a look at what it means to merge two complex organizations and how collaboration can spark both practical solutions and a new vision for what the future could hold.

Can you share very briefly your responsibilities with the sprint team and what you鈥檝e discovered since September in this role?

Kenitra Horsley: We鈥檝e been delving into the inventory of tools and technologies on both campuses to better understand our learning environments and overall campus landscapes. What I鈥檝e discovered is that each institution uses many applications and technologies, which is very common in higher education. However, we鈥檝e found very little overlap in the actual tools we use. Some of that may be due to scale, evaluation processes, or campus size, but the result is the same. We鈥檒l need to look closely at each application to decide what鈥檚 the right and best fit for the merged institution.

Brad Moore: The other members of the sprint team have been focused on people 鈥� students, faculty, and staff 鈥� and on purpose: the transformation and education of students. Kenitra and I have been focused on place. That includes the physical campuses but also how the campuses operate, whether that鈥檚 technology, auxiliary services, campus safety and police, facilities or grounds. We鈥檝e learned that some things we do very similarly and some we do very differently. It鈥檚 been a good exercise to stop, pause, and look at what we do, why we do it that way and whether there鈥檚 a better way.

Why are these discoveries valuable in the early stages of the merger?

KH: Our goal is to have a thriving merged institution. That means understanding our environments and how we enable teaching and learning. Our spaces, campus safety, technology and auxiliary services are all support components that help the institution thrive and deliver programming. It鈥檚 important that we have clear sight lines on our environments and how we can advance them.

BM: I would say the same. Our missions are similar, and people thrive when their basic needs are met: shelter, food, security, and safety. When we provide that experience, students can focus on their studies and well-being. It鈥檚 important to figure out what鈥檚 working and what鈥檚 not. Through this process, we鈥檝e seen things that are working well, things we can learn from each other, and things we can improve moving forward.

What might people not immediately recognize about the role of facilities and technology in the success of a university campus?

KH: Brad said it best. When people have the resources and environment to support them, they鈥檙e able to grow and do the exploration and transformation we want for our students.

BM: The campus fosters community and encourages enrollment. It鈥檚 a powerful tool for delivering the mission and vision of a university. At 黑料不打烊, we often say we all work for admissions 鈥� and the campus is a key player. There are students at both institutions who say 鈥淚 chose Queens鈥� or 鈥淚 chose 黑料不打烊鈥� because of the beautiful campuses. This is not by chance. Leaders at both institutions have invested in the grounds and buildings knowing the importance of the campus in enhancing the student experience.

KH: I鈥檇 echo that. In my role as interim VP for enrollment, I鈥檓 acutely aware that technology, dining, and campus services shape the very first impressions prospective students have. Their ability to connect easily, enjoy quality dining options, and experience a positive visual environment all directly influence both enrollment and retention.

Can you talk more about how campus systems are most visible when there鈥檚 a hiccup, but invisible when everything works as it should?

KH: Exactly. In the technology space, name recognition isn鈥檛 always a good thing鈥攊f people know your name, it could mean something isn鈥檛 working and they鈥檝e had to call you more than once. The best technology supports the work without becoming the focus. As we merge the campuses, our focus is ensuring the experience feels seamless to the entire community. It鈥檚 a job where success often goes unnoticed, because when everything works without disrupting your day, that鈥檚 the real win.

BM: That applies to facilities, too. You get calls when there are issues. Fortunately, we work with a campus community that also recognizes and appreciates the efforts to ensure that things work well.

What is the importance of the work you鈥檙e doing on the sprint teams for both campuses, independent of its impact on the merger process?

BM: It鈥檚 a great question. This is a good way to assess the work we鈥檙e doing. We鈥檙e all so busy that we鈥檙e constantly sprinting, both for the merger and in our daily jobs. Sometimes you have to stop and ask, 鈥淎m I going in the right direction?鈥� This has helped us do that.

KH: The real benefit is understanding how space impacts the student experience and whether we鈥檙e maximizing our spaces to their optimal level. It鈥檚 unbiased discovery 鈥� having conversations and sharing things we may not have talked about in a long time. You may have something in the back of your mind, but daily responsibilities prevent you from pausing to consider it.

BM: Being on Queens鈥� campus allows me to provide a third-party perspective on the campus. And the same is true when they visit our campus. That鈥檚 been helpful for identifying first impressions and the factors that drive enrollment and retention.

What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檝e discovered about the other campus that鈥檚 an innovative solution or idea you hadn鈥檛 considered before?

KH: The one innovative solution that impressed me is the solar flower outside 黑料不打烊鈥檚 engineering space. It was born out of a student project 鈥� creativity and exploration that produced a real solution. It鈥檚 impactful for sustainability, and it made me think more intentionally about sustainability in the context of facilities. Working alongside Brad has helped me look at these elements more holistically, considering not only what we can bring but what our students can create through their work.

BM: There鈥檚 a lot I鈥檝e learned working with Kenitra and the sprint team. Queens has strong connections to Uptown Charlotte and the businesses there. Their campus is different from ours. It鈥檚 more landlocked and compressed. They think about expansion upwards, where we have space to grow outward. Comparing those approaches has been interesting and beneficial for both institutions.

One final question to help the community understand who you are on a personal level: do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition as we head into the holiday season?

KH: For me, it鈥檚 cooking and baking. My husband loves to fry turkeys, and I love to bake. For Thanksgiving, we make cakes and fry turkeys for friends and our church family. Leading up to Thanksgiving, we鈥檝e fried as many as 5-6 turkeys and an equal number of cakes. It鈥檚 always fun.

BM: I don鈥檛 know that we have a particular tradition, but I love this season鈥攖he gathering of families, making memories, pausing, reflecting, and being thankful for our blessings. The food is great and trying new recipes is fun, but it鈥檚 really a time to stop, reflect, and make memories with your family.

I met Susan under 黑料不打烊鈥檚 oak trees, where quiet kindness bloomed in the most unexpected places. Susan worked in the landscaping department, hands in the soil, heart wide open. I was a wide-eyed international student from Cambodia, far from home and still learning how to belong. When many things still felt unfamiliar 鈥� the routines, the seasons, even the food 鈥� Susan was someone I could count on to be kind.

She greeted me like sunshine, radiant and grounding, unafraid to linger in real conversation. We shared stories, sometimes beside the Japanese Maple in the Meditation Garden, sometimes on my way to Alamance while she tended to the daffodils or pulled weeds by Fonville Fountain. I鈥檇 tell her about my hometown in Siem Reap, about the mangoes in my front yard, the rice paddies next to my house, and she鈥檇 tell me about her family and the early blooms in the garden. We traded cultural roots with curiosity and care. Our differences became bridges, not boundaries. With her, I began to feel less like I was passing through and more like I was part of the fabric of this campus.

We鈥檇 talk in passing about life and somehow, even in those brief moments, I鈥檇 walk away feeling a little more grounded. She carries wisdom the way flowers carry fragrance: naturally, generously, without expectation. Her calm presence and silent strength taught me the value of showing up consistently with kindness.

How far can a fragrance travel, you might ask? Continents, apparently. Years have passed, and yet the lessons she offered remain with me. Even from across the world, Susan continues to check in and I send her updates from Cambodia.

Today, working in a fast-paced and demanding environment, I often draw on Susan鈥檚 example, where I鈥檓 constantly reminded to lead with empathy and steadiness. Susan was a pivotal part of my college experience and continues to shape who I am as a coworker, a leader and a person.

There is something profoundly powerful about someone who simply radiates goodness. That is Susan. The campus is more beautiful not just in flowers and trees but in spirit, because of her.

Originally from Siem Reap, Cambodia, Thida Kim 鈥�21 now lives in Phnom Penh and serves as chief of staff at Baramey Production, Cambodia鈥檚 leading music label.

Acorn Academy

The psychology and human services studies building on south campus is (partially) going back to its roots. 黑料不打烊 has partnered with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care, early learning and summer camps at the new Acorn Academy. The child care facility will be located in the north wing of the building, which was originally used for 黑料不打烊 Children’s Home.

Renovations to the building are complete, and the first group of children (ages 0-2) will be welcomed on Monday, Aug. 4, and the second group (ages 3-5) will be welcomed in Jan. 2026.

McMichael Science Center

The McMichael Science Center is entering its fourth summer renovation. When Innovation and Founders’ Hall was completed, the physics and engineering departments moved out of the building, allowing the university to renovate and expand the science departments that remained (chemistry, biology and environmental Science).

Each summer 黑料不打烊 has renovated a little more of the building to update classrooms, labs, faculty offices, etc. This summer, the final areas will be renovated, with a focus on the first floor.

Remote Parking Lot

A new parking lot with 485 spaces will be available in fall 2025 for first-year students. The new lot is located to the northeast of the Francis Center.

Holland House

The Holland House, a 4,000-square-foot brick building that once served as the official residence of two 黑料不打烊 presidents, is being renovated for an expanded golf clubhouse, to include coaches’ offices, locker rooms and a place for athletes to gather. Work is expected to be complete in fall 2025.

HeathEU Center

Construction is underway on 黑料不打烊’s new HealthEU Center, a聽135,000-square-foot facility that will combine academics with recreation, health and wellness offerings along with support for the well-being of members of the university community. Crews have been placing foundations and footing, while steel arrives this summer as well. The building is expected to open in fall 2026.

Related Articles

• 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff recognized for excellence at 2025 awards luncheon

黑料不打烊 celebrated the dedication, innovation and service of its staff during 2025 Staff Appreciation Day on Friday, May 30, honoring individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the university鈥檚 mission and values.

鈥淲hether you directly support our students, contribute to our academic mission, care for our beautiful campus or ensure that our numerous services run smoothly, your exceptional efforts create an extraordinary environment for learning growth and success at 黑料不打烊,” said Chief Human Resource Office Melissa Clodfelter during her opening remarks Friday.

Clodfelter joined 黑料不打烊 in spring 2025 as Chief Human Resources Officer. She thanked the attendees for a warm welcome to the university in her first months and set the tone for the ceremony.

鈥淭his is a day to celebrate the whole, to recognize that it takes all of us, the ones who open the doors in the mornings, who prepare meals and classrooms, who teach and tend, who organize and uplift, who listen, who build, who clean, who care,” said Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, during the event’s invocation.

Phoenix Awards

Four Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding innovation, collaboration and dedication to the university鈥檚 mission.

Phoenix Innovation Award

Lasse Palomaki was named the 2025 Phoenix Innovation Award winner. The award is presented to a member of the 黑料不打烊 staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving and implementing a new idea or a program that benefits the university or the community.

As associate director of career services for alumni, Palomaki has redefined professional development at 黑料不打烊. From launching the Career Search Foundations course to leading the 黑料不打烊 in LA Bridges program, Palomaki鈥檚 work has expanded opportunities for alumni and aligned career services with the university鈥檚 strategic goals.

鈥淚n close collaboration with his supervisor and key campus partners, he has shaped the direction of alumni career services,鈥� one nominator wrote.

Phoenix Rising Award

Gia Pineda was named the 2025 Phoenix Rising Award winner. The award is presented to one newer member of 黑料不打烊’s staff who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of 黑料不打烊’s mission with an engaged mind in inspired leadership and global citizenship.

As director of short-term programs in the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, Pineda manages nearly 50 programs with clarity, compassion and creativity. From helping students secure funding to ensuring accessibility for students with disabilities, Pineda鈥檚 dedication is unwavering.

One nominator recalled her steady presence during a program disrupted by the Los Angeles fires: 鈥淪he helped us navigate urgent and difficult decisions regarding student safety and program continuity, always centering the health, well-being and dignity of our students.鈥�

Phoenix Collaboration Award

The Phoenix Collaboration award was presented to Nature RX, led by Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, and Tumi Shadreck, counselor/outreach coordinator. The team includes staff from Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability. The award is presented to an 黑料不打烊 staff team or group that has fostered cooperation, collaboration and open communication across two or more departments/offices/centers on campus.

Since 2019, Nature RX has coordinated programming that promotes mental and physical well-being through outdoor experiences. During this time, more than 750 people have participated in programming, such as mental health heights, staff training, classroom presentations, event series, the signature stargazing of mental health events, and other partnerships with student organizations, residential neighborhoods and academic departments.

The group will make mental health benefits even more accessible with a new app funded by an 黑料不打烊 Innovation Grant, which will launch in 2026 and connect students, faculty and staff with green spaces and across campus more effectively.

鈥淭he collaborative nature of this project is what has enabled it to be effective,鈥� one nominator wrote. 鈥淣ature Rx could not succeed if it was an individual staff member or department project.鈥�

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

The 2025 Blanche Garrison Memorial Award was presented to Susan Tripp, horticulturalist for 黑料不打烊. The award was established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an 黑料不打烊 Medallion awardee, who served the university with distinction as a staff member at Maynard House. This award was created through the generosity of President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Laurie Lambert and recognizes a staff member who has contributed significantly to shaping the student experience at 黑料不打烊 through their everyday commitments and actions to support, encourage, and mentor 黑料不打烊 students.

Tripp was recognized for her engagement with students in the Gender & LGBTQIA Center and the Phoenix Free Collegiate Recovery Program, meeting students for lunch and class projects, and for generally being a welcoming and friendly presence on campus.

鈥淔or young people that are discovering who they are and maybe who don鈥檛 always feel they have majority views 鈥� I just think it’s important to slow down and pay attention. And it’s what I do,” said Tripp after receiving the award.

Staff Member of the Year Awards

Three Staff Member of the Year Awards are presented annually to university non-teaching staff 鈥� one for each of the following categories: facilities management, professional hourly staff and administrative staff. 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book, announced the award winners.

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Professional Hourly

Elizabeth Bowen was honored as the professional hourly staff member of the year. She serves as the executive assistant to the vice president for enrollment and assistant vice president and dean of undergraduate admissions.

Described as the glue that holds her team together, Bowen brings foresight, flexibility and a spirit of service to every aspect of her work. In her role, Bowen manages a wide range of responsibilities鈥攆rom coordinating travel and overseeing safety plans to operating technology during meetings and to fielding questions from prospective students. One nominator even said that without her, counselors wouldn’t have enough publications for travel, cars wouldn’t be properly checked out, office supplies would run out and the admissions email account would be bogged down with thousands of emails.

Bowen addressed the audience after receiving the nomination to express gratitude for the award recognizing 鈥渢he little things that we do.鈥�

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is kind of like a ship聽鈥撀爓e are familiar with the captain and the wheel, but it鈥檚 what all the people in this room are, the little nuts and bolts, that you don鈥檛 see鈥ithout those, she ship would fall apart,” she said.

She ended the speech by saying, 鈥渇rom one nut to all the others, thank you!鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Administrative

Doug McIntyre was awarded the administrative staff member of the year. He serves as the ERP application architect.

Working at 黑料不打烊 for over 30 years, McIntyre was recognized for his historical institutional knowledge and profound understanding of university operations.

With more than three decades of service to 黑料不打烊, McIntyre has become a cornerstone of the university鈥檚 technological infrastructure. His role extends far beyond his title. Colleagues describe him as a historian, mentor, data integrator, system expert and developer鈥攕omeone whose deep institutional knowledge and collaborative spirit have shaped the university鈥檚 operations in profound ways.

Known for thriving under pressure and never settling for 鈥済ood enough,鈥� McIntyre approaches his work with a calm, thoughtful energy. He is often the first to respond to urgent system issues鈥攕ometimes before the rest of campus has even started the day.

“His sense of responsibility and care for the university鈥檚 operations never turns off,” one nominator noted.

Claudia Sparks, associate director of enterprise solutions, accepted the award on McIntyre鈥檚 behalf. She added a brief praise of her colleague, mentioning that he is dedicated, always figuring things out and generally a good person to work with.

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Facilities Management

Dee Fuller won the 2025 Facilities Management Staff Member of the Year award. She serves as a custodian for 黑料不打烊 and is responsible for the care of Alamance Building.

Fuller was recognized for being accommodating for people in the building and for creating a welcoming atmosphere that uplifts students, faculty and staff who interact with her. She was praised for routinely going above and beyond the scope of her job description and ensuring every detail is attended to with the utmost care and precision.

鈥淚 was not expecting this, but I am truly honored, and I thank everyone who who’s involved in this , and I’m just grateful and thankful,” said Fuller after receiving the award.

Gratitude Expressed Towards the Service of 黑料不打烊 Retirees

Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president for academic affairs, honored staff members who are retiring this year:

• Ann Flaherty, director of leadership & development
• Betty Garrison, business research librarian
• Marietta Herbin, custodian
• Annie Hester, program assistant for The Oaks
• Rene Sellers, student account specialist
• Cindy Sweeney, senior associate director of career services for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
• Rex Terrell, carpenter
• Karen Walter, senior associate director of financial aid and liaison to athletics

As of this spring, the newest saplings stand no more than three feet tall with green tape holding them to a bamboo stake and a mat of coconut grass surrounding the base. You can count on both hands their number of leaves.

What does every tree have in common in that emerging grove next to the university鈥檚 golf driving range? Each was carefully placed by an international student on the eve of graduation to signify their growth from 鈥渁corns鈥� to 鈥渙aks.鈥�

Established eight years ago, the university鈥檚 annual International Tree Planting celebrates the achievements of graduating international students, many of whom are prohibited from transporting plants across borders when they return home at the end of their collegiate studies.

That includes the university鈥檚 traditional gift of an oak sapling given to every graduate during Commencement week.

Fifteen students from around the globe were joined on the breezy morning of May 22, 2025, by family and friends when planting their saplings under a mostly cloudy sky. In attendance were landscaping crews and Hanna Smith, the university鈥檚 botanical garden coordinator, who instructed students on best practices for planting their saplings.

Opening remarks before the plantings described the grove’s history and the symbolism of the oak tree at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淎s we come together to celebrate this milestone, you are marking more than the end of an academic journey,鈥� said Denise Teeters, director of international student services in the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淵ou plant the beginnings of something lasting and you’re leaving your legacy on campus. Each tree stands on its own, yet it thrives because of the support and connection it shares with those around it. It’s a beautiful symbol of community.

鈥淥ur international community is much like a grove. Our community has brought together individuals from across the world, each unique yet growing side by side.鈥�

Our international community is much like a grove. Our community has brought together individuals from across the world, each unique yet growing side by side.

– Denise Teeters, 黑料不打烊’s director of international student services

黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book also reflected on the purpose of the tree planting and the legacy international students leave on campus.

鈥淚 hope you have a sense of how much we have enjoyed and valued your decision to study here at 黑料不打烊 and how much you brought to us,鈥� Book said. 鈥淚 also hope that in your future you tell stories about your time at 黑料不打烊, that you return to campus, and that your future families and friends hear about the experiences you had.鈥�

As students walked toward the grove from a nearby parking lot, saplings in hand, they faced a question: Where should we plant our saplings?

Some headed for the back of the grove, while others veered toward open space. A few selected spots in coordination with friends. Such was the case for Ichan Matsumoto 鈥�25, a dual-degree international student from Kansai Gaidi University in Japan, who planted her sapling three meters from where Rinka Nakamura 鈥�25 had dug already a hole in the soil for hers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to leave something at 黑料不打烊 as we鈥檙e about to leave the country for home,鈥� she said.

Francesco Valente 鈥�25 of Italy and his roommate from Germany, Eric Steiner 鈥�25, also planted their saplings just meters apart as families captured their smiles on video. Valente described a desire to easily locate his specific tree years from now. 鈥淪ince we鈥檙e international students we don鈥檛 know if we鈥檒l be back soon,鈥� he said. 鈥淧lanting our roots – literally! – is crazy!鈥�

Diego Coello de Portugal Magallon 鈥�25 of Spain summarized the mood for many of his fellow students: 鈥淎fter all my classes I get to plant a tree here, which makes me feel accomplished,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe in a few years I鈥檒l be able to get back and find it!鈥�

The last day of class is today 鈥� we鈥檙e entering the final stretch of the semester. Between final exams, moving out, and graduation celebrations, the next two weeks will be busy.

Here are five quick tips for exam prep:

1. Make a Plan 鈥� Create a study schedule that breaks material down into a manageable strategy 鈥� spread out your review sessions instead of cramming the night before (or the day of!).
2. Prioritize Your Exam Prep 鈥� Focus additional attention on the exams that are worth the most for your final grades and those you feel least prepared for.
3. Use Active Study Techniques 鈥� Don鈥檛 just reread notes 鈥� quiz yourself, teach the material to someone else, or use flashcards and practice problems to reinforce your learning.
4. Take Breaks and Get Sleep 鈥� Consider using a 50/10 rule: study for 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break; avoid all-nighters 鈥� your brain works better with proper rest.
5. Use Your Resources Now 鈥� Exams start in just a few days, so reach out now if you鈥檙e still unsure about anything; make the most of faculty office hours and Reading Day, and don鈥檛 wait until the last minute.

And the rest of this week鈥檚 Phoenix Five includes a few pre-finals stress-relievers and information to help you plan ahead for moving out at the end of the year.

Free Ice Cream & Swag with SPDC

Monday, May 12, 1-4 p.m., Student Professional Development Center, Moseley Center

Join the SPDC for free ice cream and swag while learning about the professional development resources that can help with securing internships, jobs and more. Visit for more information.

Paws and Relax

Monday, May 12, 3-5 p.m., Belk Library聽

Take a break from your books and unwind and destress with therapy dogs at the Belk Library! Whether you need a break or just puppy cuddles, Paws & Relax is a cozy way to pause before finals. Stop by Belk 113 for puppy love. Follow on Instagram for more information.

Cram Jam

Tuesday, May 13, 8 p.m., Moseley First Floor & Lakeside Dining Hall

Take a break from Reading Day studying and join SUB for Cram Jam while we celebrate all the emotions of INSIDE OUT! There will be food, games, giveaways, crafts, and live band karaoke. Visit for more information.

Housing Move-Out Reminders

Make your move-out process stress-free by checking the steps for check-out information. Visit the for a full guide and checklist. Here are some key reminders:

• Residence halls close Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m.
• University-owned apartments and houses close Saturday, May 31, at 10 a.m.
  Ask your RA, apartment manager, or house manager for further checkout instructions.

Don鈥檛 Trash It!

Don鈥檛 Trash It! is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 end-of-year move-out program that encourages students, faculty and staff to donate items at various donation stations throughout campus, rather than putting reusable items in the trash. For a list of what can be collected and drop-off locations on and off campus, visit on Instagram. to help volunteer at the collection stations.

Have a great week and good luck on your final exams. Later this afternoon, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life, will be on Young Commons (or Moseley first floor, if it鈥檚 raining) for a 鈥淟ast Day of Class鈥� pop-up with 黑料不打烊 Dining 鈥� stop by if you get a chance!

While the December weather brought frigid temperatures and dark skies on Dec. 3, the 黑料不打烊 campus was aglow with light and warmth as more than 50,000 luminaries created an opportunity for the community to shine brighter together at the Festival of Lights and Luminaries.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢肉�檚 Festival of Lights and Luminaries this year illuminated more than just our campus; it brought our community together in a radiant celebration of unity, hope, and the diverse traditions that guide us through the season,” said Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement.

The Festival of Lights and Luminaries is an annual tradition at 黑料不打烊, offering a time for the campus community to come together and learn about different religious, spiritual, ethical and cultural traditions. This year鈥檚 event featured the largest number of interactive stations in the event鈥檚 history, with stations for cultural clubs, crafts and entertainment. The Asian and Pacific Islander Community offered people the opportunity to write their wishes, hopes and messages on floating lanterns, a tradition in many Asian cultures and festivals, and place them in Fonville Fountain.聽Holden Baris 鈥�27 was enjoying the lights at Scott Plaza, including the floating lanterns, a first for the festival.

鈥淭he Festival of Lights and Luminaries is a great time for the gathering of the community, and one of the reasons I chose 黑料不打烊 was because of how close-knit the community is and how it really just felt like home,鈥� said Baris. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is a multifaith campus so there鈥檚 more to it than just one religion. It鈥檚 truly a place where you鈥檙e able to learn a lot about different backgrounds. Being able to see that on the campus is a beautiful thing.鈥�

The 2024 theme, 鈥淲e Shine Brighter Together,鈥� highlights the connections people build through shared traditions, conversations and creative expressions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not every day that the entire campus is all in one place,鈥� said Murph Lennemann 鈥�27. 鈥淚 walked around and I鈥檝e seen a million people. Just in the time I鈥檝e been standing here, I鈥檝e seen five people that I know. One of the nice things about being on a somewhat smaller campus is that you get to know so many people.鈥�

Originally a Christmas celebration, the event has evolved over the years to celebrate a multitude of faiths and identities 鈥� something Hillary Zaken, director of multifaith programming and engagement, says is reflective of the university.

鈥淭he Festival of Lights and Luminaries is a great opportunity to bring everyone on campus together around what matters to them. People are here sharing what matters to them, and I think people carry those stories and that knowledge away with them,鈥� said Zaken. 鈥淭here are students who, before they came to 黑料不打烊, never knew anyone who is Hindu or Muslim or Jewish, or from other cultures from their own, and this is a way to see it in a fun way. It鈥檚 a low bar to developing religious literacy.鈥�

For the 10th year, and with the festival coinciding with Giving Tuesday, the luminaries featured the names of university donors spread throughout the Historic Neighborhood, the Lambert Academic Village and Under the Oaks. As a first-year student, Lilly Cyprow 鈥�28 was taking in the festival with fresh eyes and even got to see her name on a luminary Under the Oaks, thanks to a gift from her mother.

鈥淲hen I saw that my mom put my name on a luminary, I was really happy,鈥� said Cyprow. 鈥淵ou get to feel included as part of the community in a bigger sense.鈥�

Aubrey Kocsis 鈥�27 was released early from cheerleading practice to attend the festival, taking photos with friends in front of Fonville Fountain.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so special to see all these cultures in one place and learn about the world around us a little bit more,鈥� said Kosis. 鈥淚 love how beautiful it is too. I love the holiday spirit and all of the lights being up. It鈥檚 just exciting and beautiful.鈥�

The festival鈥檚 success is a collaborative effort, with contributions from the Truitt Center, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Facilities Management, Technology Services, Catering, Student Involvement, University Advancement, University Communications and the Office of the Vice President for Student Life.

Members of the university community gathered at East Neighborhood Commons on the first day of classes to add meaningful items to the time capsule, which will be stored in the building until it is reopened in 2034, and to tour the new addition to East Neighborhood. Those in attendance were offered the chance to snap a Polaroid of themselves to contribute and to write a note to future members of the university community before the capsule was sealed and stored away.

The three-story, 45,000-square-foot East Neighborhood Commons has 90 residential rooms primarily for first-year students along with faculty/staff apartments and office space. Central to the new commons building is the 鈥渇orum,鈥� a large multipurpose room for class, meetings and social events.

“Truly it was engagement we were thinking about when we aspired to build this building,” President Connie Ledoux Book said to those gathered around the building’s main entrance Monday afternoon. “Today we’re celebrating the commitment to relationships that we know start here and change students’ lives. … It’s a great addition to our vision of what residence life here at 黑料不打烊 can accomplish.”

The East Neighborhood, which opened in 2018 with three residential buildings, is the residential hub for civic engagement and social innovation where students gain a greater awareness of social, cultural and political issues through engagement with faculty and staff. It’s home to Paideia, the politics and active citizenship living-learning community and is where first-year Change Makers Scholars live. Associate Professor Jane O’Boyle and Assistant Professor Karen Lindsay serve as faculty directors for the neighborhood, with Lindsay serving as faculty-in-residence at East Neighborhood Commons and living in the building. The commons building is home to the main neighborhood office, with Jasmine Hill Evans serving as community director.

But until the opening of the commons building, the neighborhood had not central gathering space for its residents, noted Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley. He expressed his optimism that the residents of the commons building and the neighborhood will “jump in and bring this space to life” this semester with their own plans for programming and activities on top of those planned by the university.

“This new facility will really be an important hub for the neighborhood,” Dooley said. “We really want where you live to be more than just a place where you sleep, but to be a thriving residential community that is marked by meaningful interactions with faculty and staff.”

Loy Farm Living-Learning Community EcoVillage

The first phase of the Loy Farm Living-Learning Community (LLC) EcoVillage will be completed this summer, including six sustainable houses set to open in Fall 2024.

The LLC will offer an opportunity for hands-on learning through horticulture, agriculture and research with the . It will eventually include 12 sustainable homes along with a renovated ranch house that will serve as a common area. Students designed the first home alongside Robert Charest, associate professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, with input from University Planning Design and Construction Management. The remaining 11 homes are being designed and built by outside firms.

鈥淓ach of the houses were designed by a different designer that gave us their solution for what sustainable living looks like, so each house has a different focus,鈥� said Brad Moore, associate vice president for facilities and chief facilities officer. 鈥淭his is an educational project because the students have been intimately involved in the design and construction processes and now, they will continue to learn firsthand about the benefits of sustainable design as they live in the houses.鈥�

Each house is about 600 square feet and includes two bedrooms, a shared bathroom and common areas. The 12 students living in the houses during the 2024-25 academic year will have the opportunity to try them out before the university starts the second phase of the project. After the 2024-25 academic year, the university will search for six new designers for the remaining homes.

Hook, Brannock and Barney Halls

The final renovations of the Historic Neighborhood residence halls will be completed this summer with the finishing touches being put on Hook, Brannock and Barney Halls. Over the last seven years, work has been completed on Sloan, West, Virginia, Smith and Carolina. This summer, crews are updating the furniture and finishes in the residential rooms of Hook, Brannock and Barney in time for Move-In Day.

鈥淟ast year we did the bathroom upgrades, the year before we did window replacements,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淭o keep that building occupied during the school year, we鈥檝e had to do the renovations in multiple phases.鈥�

Gerald L. Francis Center

The fourth and final renovation of the Gerald L. Francis Center will be completed this summer with the addition of an office suite for nursing faculty and an update to the commons space. The building houses

The university has been updating the Francis Center over the last several years by adding skills labs, classrooms, student study spaces and a interprofessional lab equipped with augmented, virtual and mixed reality technology. Previous renovations added a new entry garden dedicated to those who have donated their bodies to science.

East Neighborhood Commons

The new East Neighborhood Commons will be finished just in time for Fall 2024 Move-In Day. The three-story, 45,000-square-foot building will have 90 residential rooms (primarily for first-year students), faculty/staff apartments and office space. The commons will also include a 鈥渇orum,鈥� a large multipurpose room for class, meetings and social events.

East Neighborhood Commons under construction. The area serves as a residential hub for Civic Engagement and Social Innovation where students gain a greater awareness of social, cultural and political issues through engagement with faculty and staff. The East Neighborhood currently has more than 300 beds, but this new building will bring the neighborhood closer to the 500 to 600 beds that other neighborhoods have.

鈥淭he East Neighborhood provides a dynamic place for first-year students to begin their journey at 黑料不打烊,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淭he building will provide a range of new amenities and features that will help the residents of East Neighborhood grow to be active global citizens.鈥�

This university hopes this space will become an 鈥渆astern gateway鈥� to main campus, denoting to travelers that they have arrived at 黑料不打烊.

McMichael Science Center

For the past three summers, renovations have been ongoing in the McMichael Science Center to enhance the classrooms, labs and classrooms for the biology, chemistry and environmental science departments. The work this summer updates a major teaching lab. Another renovation phase, scheduled for Summer 2025, will focus on the common areas of the building.

Ropes Course Relocation

The 黑料不打烊 Challenge Course, currently at The Lodge property, is being relocated closer to the Phoenix Activities and Recreation Center (PARC). The 黑料不打烊 Challenge Course features both high and low elements and requires Campus Recreation & Wellness facilitators. The course is scheduled to open by Fall 2024.