The following 120 students contributed 50 or more hours of service through co-curricular opportunities and community-based learning or community-engaged learning courses during the spring 2026 semester:

Lillian Argabrite
Sofia Barnes
Ava Battaglia
Grayce Bechtel
Kate Becksvoort
Metasibya Behailu
Savanna Bell
Rachel Bergman
Sydney Blau
Mary Boyle
Abby Bradbury
Nick Brillo
尝别补丑听叠谤辞辞办别谤
Harper Brooks
Keeley Brown
Kaila Burke
Ava Campione
Camille Christeon
Maddie Cook
Sky Covino
Isabelle Cross
Lilly Cyprow
Julia DeGenova
Emma Del Savio
Maggie Dion
Maddy Donner
Paige Douglass
Audrey Drouin-Prou
Emily Ecker
Olivia Evener
Wiley Falter
Jordan Felice
Aidan Fishkind
Cat Gerst
Madelyn Gibson
Anna Grace Gilbert
Cami Glebocki
Mia Glickman
Maddie Goldberg
Daniela Gonzalez
Andrew Gronski
Stella Habashi
Harry Haber
Delaney Hanf
Caitlyn Harris
Ava Heestand
Diego Hernandez
Aileen Humphreys
Ariel Jaklin
Ava Jenkins
Diana Jimenez-Carreno
Cameron Johnson
Lily Karten
Jacob Karty
Abby Kee
Jonathan Kim
Lauren Klappholtz
Veronica Kowalewski
Nick Lachapelle
John Lagarde
Emily Lambert
Will Larkin
DJ Lem
Mari Lilla
Elinoa Loewenthal
Lexi Lopilato
Princess聽 Lorde
惭辞濒濒测听尝辞谤诲别苍
Abigail Lynch
Ramsay Mansuetto
Edward Massey
Marissa May
Lucy McAfee
Paige Melchiorre
Emily Menjivar
Julianna Millett
Caden Minnich
Lindsey Moore
Quincey Moreland
Anna Morelli
Lucy Morris
惭辞濒濒测听惭辞测濒补苍
Taryn Mularczyk
Gabriel Nagy
Audrey Nott
Sammy Olesen
Mallory Otten
Allyson Parent
Cassidy Parrish
Sadie Paulos
Elise Peele
础苍诲谤别补听笔别谤别锄
Hannah Peterson
Natalie Plamondon
Paige Postufka
Erin Price
Jackson Quispe
Krissy Randolph
Eden Redmond
Ashleigh Ribe
Anna Rodrigues
Graham Rogers
Allie Rooney
Phoebe Safian
Jackie Salas Rodriguez
Olivia Sandercock
Ella Sarluca
Karrie Scales
Carley Sgueglia
Sara Simpson
Maria Skiedzel
Gracyn Speter
Alex Strassberg
Rahv Tupac-Yupanqui
Kara Watral
Emily Wilson
Amanda Winchock
Alina Wolcott
Jordan Wolfe
Hailey Youngman

黑料不打烊 celebrated the dedication, innovation and service of its staff during Staff Appreciation Day on May 29, honoring individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the university鈥檚 mission and values.

鈥淓ach of you exemplifies the spirit of 黑料不打烊 through your passion, innovation and teamwork鈥揳ll of which has created an environment for excellence in learning, growth and success,鈥� Melissa Clodfelter, associate vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer, shared in her welcoming remarks to hundreds of university staff who had gathered for the celebration inside Schar Center.

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, 黑料不打烊’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement and an assistant professor of religious studies, followed with the invocation, where she encouraged staff to recognize and celebrate those who were honored during the ceremony, as well as those whose contributions often go unseen.

鈥淢ay we recognize the dignity in every role and the value in every contribution,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淎nd may all of us leave this gathering renewed in purpose, strengthened by community and grateful for the opportunity to contribute our gifts to something larger than ourselves.鈥�

President Connie Ledoux Book provided updates on several university priorities, including progress on the Slattery Center, the university鈥檚 new center for health and wellness; the Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 for children with dyslexia; the merger of 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte; and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification for community and civic engagement.

Book said Staff Appreciation Day is about sharing thanks with colleagues for helping one another accomplish goals. 鈥淚 really love the strength of this community,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淭oday is a day for us to pause and take a day of gratitude for us to say ‘thank you.’鈥�

Retirees

Two retirees elected to have someone speak on their behalf as part of the ceremony. Kelly Elliston retired on December 31 as the executive assistant to the president. In a pre-recorded video, Book thanked Elliston for her friendship, commitment, excellence and partnership.

Now retired, Elliston shared that she appreciates drinking coffee on the porch to the sounds of birds singing. She recalled Elizabeth Bowman鈥檚 acceptance speech after winning the 2025 professional hourly staff member of the year award, where Bowen described 黑料不打烊 as a ship with captains, wheels, nuts and bolts. 鈥淚鈥檝e been one of those nuts for a really long time!鈥� Elliston said to friendly laughter from the audience.

Julie Myers, assistant for information technology, was recognized in a prepared video by her supervisor, Pat Donohue, deputy CIO. Donohue said Myers played a key role in budgeting, personnel management, business efficiency, bringing structural, accountability and cost awareness and was so meticulous that she would have backup plans for plans. Myers thanked several staff members in the audience for their time worked together.

Myers encouraged the audience to continue to look forward and not back as they take on new challenges. 鈥淭hat is why the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror,鈥� she shared.

Read the stories of 2025-26 黑料不打烊 retirees in the Today at 黑料不打烊 story.

Phoenix Awards

Four Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding innovation, collaboration and dedication to the university鈥檚 mission. Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, announced the award winners.

Phoenix Innovation Award

Terrance Copling was named the 2026 Phoenix Innovation Award winner. The Phoenix Innovation Award is presented to a member of the 黑料不打烊 staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving or implementing a new idea or program that benefits the university or the community.

In his role as senior ERP application developer, Copling was recognized for designing a solution to allow 黑料不打烊 Benefits Hub, powered by PlanSource, to communicate directly with Colleague, a feat that was previously thought not possible. Copling鈥檚 innovation has eliminated manual data entry, which reduces errors, improves processing time and creates a smoother and more efficient experience for 黑料不打烊 employees.

Copling was described as someone who consistently demonstrates an ability to translate complex challenges into thoughtful and effective solutions 鈥撀爓hich he approaches with humility, patience and a palpable desire to help others succeed.

One nominator said about Copling, 鈥淗e is the person colleagues turn to when a challenge seems unsolvable because time and again, he proves that with enough creativity and persistence, nothing is out of reach.鈥�

When accepting the award, Copling shared his gratitude for the team effort, within his team and other partners on campus. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 do this with you,鈥� he shared.

Phoenix Rising Award

Andrew Moffa was named the 2026 Phoenix Rising Award winner. The award is presented to one newer member of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 staff who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission with an engaged mind in inspired leadership and global citizenship.

Moffa is the assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. He was described as the 鈥渕entor people dream of having鈥� and someone who 鈥渃reates an environment where students feel valued and empowered鈥� in several roles he plays, including advising students in 黑料不打烊 101, mentoring members of the 黑料不打烊 Votes! Team and supporting students who work in the office.

One nominator shared that Moffa 鈥渆mbodies the essence of allyship: showing up consistently, listening deeply and helping students bring their goals and ideas to life.鈥� Students said he is 鈥渁n amazing support to any student he comes across鈥� and 鈥渁n open space for us.鈥�

Moffa expressed gratitude towards the Kernodle Center and the Division of Student Life, as well the students he works with. 鈥淚t comes back to the students that we work with,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here, that鈥檚 why I love showing up to work 鈥� it wouldn鈥檛 be the same without them.鈥�

Phoenix Collaboration Award

The 2026 Phoenix Collaboration Award was presented to 黑料不打烊 Guided Reflection on Work Student Employment Mentoring Implementation Work Group, led by Alison Doherty, Jo-Rae Jennings, Emily Krechel, Noah Orr and Kameryn Taylor. 黑料不打烊GROW is a framework designed to help students connect what they鈥檙e learning in the classroom with the skills they are developing in their campus jobs. Through brief conversations with their supervisors, students reflect on how their work supports their academic, professional and personal growth.

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.

A nominator said about the group, 鈥淭he team modeled the very competencies it seeks to cultivate in students: communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism and adaptive thinking.鈥�

黑料不打烊GROW was designed to be the fabric of supervision and student employment university-wide. Due to the collaborative efforts, supervisors now have clearer expectations, stronger training and accessible tools to facilitate intentional developmental conversations, and student employees are more likely to recognize transferable skills, articulate growth and connect work to academics and future careers.

Emily Krechel, director of new student programs, addressed the audience with 黑料不打烊GROW members standing near the podium. As chair of the workgroup, she described the team as 鈥渢he most productive, efficient and collaborative people she has ever had the privilege of working with.鈥�

Phoenix Community Engagement Award

Tammy Hill, student health insurance and immunization compliance project manager, was named the 2026 Phoenix Community Engagement Award winner. The award recognizes a member of the 黑料不打烊 staff who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university, local or global community through their engagement in volunteer organizations.

Hill is a leader within the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and was described as someone who tirelessly contributes her time, expertise and energy to support cultural preservation, community engagement and organizational leadership.

Hill is profoundly dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of her tribal community鈥檚 history, culture and traditions. When she was 55, she pursued a degree in American history to deepen her understanding of Western expansion and the many successes of other tribes in the United States. She has served the OBSN as newsletter editor, a member of the Scholarship Committee and Tribal Secretary on the Tribal Council, and she is self-taught in the skills needed for her current role managing the tribal website, web store and trading post.

One nominator stated, 鈥淲hether supporting her tribal community, fostering cultural awareness or strengthening connections within the 黑料不打烊 community, she leads with humility, integrity and dedication. She demonstrates that service is not simply something she does 鈥� it is who she is.鈥�

Hill has been at 黑料不打烊 for more than two decades and leaves an indelible mark on students and colleagues alike who fondly reflect on her guidance, warmth and genuine care. She was not present at the ceremony and Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for Student Life/dean of Student Health & Well-Being/assistant professor, accepted on her behalf.

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

Drema Holder was named the 2026 Blanche Garrison Memorial Award recipient. 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.

Holder is the Moseley Center program assistant and was described as the epitome of graciousness and customer service, someone whose authentic kindheartedness, commitment and enthusiasm are vital to keeping her area of campus running effectively and making all who pass through its halls feel welcome.

One nominator shared that Holder 鈥渃ontinually puts others before herself, uplifting students and advocating for them to receive the recognition they deserve.鈥� Another nominator added, 鈥淚f Moseley is the heart of campus, then Drema is the heart of Moseley.鈥�

Holder shared that this is her 48th year in higher education and 鈥渁ll my students and all my coworkers have a special place in my heart.鈥�

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 鈥撀燩rofessional Hourly

Sharon Holmes was honored as the 2026 professional hourly staff member of the year. Holmes is a program assistant in the Office of Alumni Engagement and described as someone who goes above and beyond to facilitate events, manage student workers and make alumni feel welcome.

Nominators shared that Holmes is a 鈥渕om away from home鈥� for student workers and a valued source of support and friendship for her colleagues.鈥� Another team member added, whatever the team needs, she will do without question and with the biggest smile you will ever see.鈥�

She was further described as 鈥渢he welcoming voice on the phone, the smiling face when alumni stop by her office and the helpful hand when students have questions.”

Upon receiving the award, Holmes shared that working at 黑料不打烊 is meaningful to her because she is from Alamance County. She expressed her appreciation to her team members, saying, 鈥淭hey are truly a pleasure to be around, to work with and to collaborate with. It鈥檚 a joy to support them.鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Administrative

Ross Wade was named the 2026 administrative staff member of the year. He is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 interim associate vice president for the Student Professional Development Center.

Wade was recognized for steering his department through a period of critical transition with 鈥渞emarkable grace transparency and intentionality.鈥� He is described as having thoughtful, future-focused leadership and lauded for restoring a sense of direction and vigor to the team and introduced policies that have substantially improved workflow efficiency.

One nominator stated that 鈥淗e leads by example 鈥� rolling up his sleeves, staying engaged and demonstrating through his own actions what dedication to this work actually looks like.鈥�

Wade expressed the challenges of stepping into a leadership role during a time of transition for SPDC. 鈥淚 stumble through it every single day with the grace and the help from the SPDC team,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hank you so much for your patience, kindness and ideas.鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Facilities Management

Carol Pulliam received the facilities management staff member of the year award. She is the custodian for Sato Commons.

Nominators used an array of sentiments to describe why Pulliam is, as they describe, one of the most important members of her building鈥檚 team: exceptionally detail-oriented, proud of her work and orderly. 鈥淪he ensures every facet of the physical space reflects the excellence for which 黑料不打烊 is known,鈥� a nominator said.

Pulliam was not only recognized for her immaculate work, but also her willingness to submit FixIt requests and helping students set up research posters.

Another nominator shared that her genuine warmth truly sets her apart. 鈥淗er willingness to engage people on the floor in meaningful conversations helps make our floor more connected and caring.鈥�

Addressing her staff peers, she expressed, 鈥渢hank you, God, and thank you to all the people that made this possible 鈥撀營 love each and every one of you.鈥�

During the next three years, the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029 will work with faculty mentor Vanessa Drew-Branch, associate professor in the Department of Human Service Studies.

During an event on April 30 in Sato Commons, Drew-Branch, welcomed the Class of 2029 by introducing the cohort鈥檚 theme of food sovereignty at 黑料不打烊 and in St. Kitts and Nevis. Drawing connections between local and global food systems, Drew-Branch encouraged Scholars to think critically about issues of food insecurity, food apartheid, justice, dignity and sustainability. She highlighted how colonial legacies, climate change and inequitable systems continue to shape access to healthy and culturally appropriate food while emphasizing the importance of community-centered, sustainable agricultural practices. Through her remarks, students were challenged to approach this work with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to building authentic partnerships rooted in reciprocity and social justice.

The newly inducted members of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029:

• Melanie Alarcon
• Katherine Banker
• Autumn Boyce
• Kimara delRosario
• Willow Evans
• Travis Greene
• Simone Lewis-Abdeen
• Mason Marks
• Tia Nelson
• Jazline Rogel Sanchez
• Ally Rotenberg
• Kylie Rukavina
• Gabriella Shew
• Hazel Silverstein
• Shukri Siraji
• Caleb Slosberg

The Periclean Scholars Program provides students with a distinctive three-year educational experience focused on global engagement, interdisciplinary learning and ethical community partnership. Each cohort studies a specific country or region, collaborating with local and global partners to gain a deeper understanding of complex social challenges and develop sustainable, justice-centered initiatives.

Throughout the program, acholars complete 18 semester hours of coursework during their sophomore, junior, and senior years under the guidance of their faculty mentor. Through these courses and experiential learning opportunities, students explore best practices in community engagement, examine the critical distinction between charity and partnership, and learn to approach social change through collaboration, reciprocity, and long-term relationship building.

As the Periclean Scholars Class of 2026 prepares to graduate, the induction of the Class of 2029 reflects the continued legacy of student leadership, ethical partnership, and community-engaged global learning that defines the program.

Related Articles

• Strategic multifaith engagement shapes the 黑料不打烊 campus experience
• Across disciplines, 黑料不打烊 faculty integrate multifaith understanding into the classroom

Campus organizations and programs at 黑料不打烊 extend multifaith engagement beyond the classroom and into the community, a primary goal of the university鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan, which strives to 鈥渟upport opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the academic community.鈥�

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has done incredible work in enfranchising multifaith as an academic as well as a student affairs initiative, aligning and even blending those areas in meaningful ways that enhance the student experience,鈥� said Amy Allocco, director of the Multifaith Scholars Program and a professor of religious studies.

The Multifaith Scholars Program, a two-year program founded in 2016, emphasizes interdisciplinary learning as student scholars undertake original research projects and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multireligious societies.

Learning by teaching

The scholars program also includes aspects of community engagement. For example, students help with youth nights, work in the community garden and teach English as a second language at the Burlington Masjid.

鈥淪tudents are learning how to ethically engage in communities across lines of religious, cultural, and linguistic differences and to engage with cultural humility, like going to a space where you need to learn the appropriate ways of dressing and behaving,鈥� said Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography, who works with the scholars at the Masjid. 鈥淎ll those types of intercultural learning skills are invaluable for students.鈥�

The goal of the English language classes, the multifaith scholars say, is to get people from an elementary English level to a place where they can have conversations and take more advanced courses. They held their first graduation from the classes in 2025. Marshall says that over the last several years, the language classes have grown, particularly due to the initiative of scholars like Alyssa Carney 鈥�26, an international & global studies and religious studies double major from Allendale, New Jersey.

Marshall asked Carney to lead the class, which has now grown to 15-25 people per session.

Realizing the extent of the work, Carney leaned on her cohort in the Multifaith Scholars Program to help, noting that it turned into an experience she never expected.

鈥淚t’s a vulnerable part of somebody’s life, because I know that isn’t easy for them to come to a bunch of young college students, as older adults, and not know the language and ask for help,鈥� said Carney. 鈥淚 also love the exchange of all of it. They teach me probably way more than I teach them. I learn not only Arabic words, but also about their lives.鈥�

Owen Hayes 鈥�26, a history major from Holly Springs, North Carolina, minoring in and 聽is one of the Multifaith Scholars helping Carney at the Masjid.

鈥淭he most impactful part for me is seeing their improvement and them being happy with themselves, that they are achieving their goals, just being a small part of that,鈥� he said.

Community celebration

黑料不打烊鈥檚 connection to the Masjid also includes celebratory events like Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan, a month during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and gather for nightly meals known as iftars. It includes members of the 黑料不打烊 community and members of the Burlington Masjid and is part of the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life鈥檚 festival series, religious programs that create space not only to mark holidays, but to deepen understanding of culture, meaning, traditions and values.

Behind the festival series are multifaith interns, 黑料不打烊 students who work to create space, build and cultivate relationships, lead programs and facilitate learning opportunities about religious and spiritual identities and experiences on campus and beyond.

鈥淥ne of the learning outcomes of the internship is for students to learn to curate spaces for religious and spiritual celebrations that are authentic expressions of those traditions, as well as spaces for education and community building,鈥� said Hillary Zaken, director of multifaith programming and engagement.

Lizeth Torres-Tomas 鈥�27, a political science and sociology double major with minors in and Latin American studies, is one of the multifaith interns who says the program has helped her understand and nurture her own purpose.

鈥淩eligion is taboo for a lot of people,鈥� said Torres-Tomas, who is from Hendersonville, North Carolina. 鈥淏ut when we create spaces where people can talk about their faith or uncertainty, we鈥檙e contributing to their well-being.鈥�

In the clinic and kitchen

Multifaith community work extends across religions for 黑料不打烊 students. Students in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Department of Nursing can work clinical hours with a nurse in Cone Health鈥檚 , which supports people of all faiths and community organizations. Students have completed clinical hours with Freedom鈥檚 Hope, Salvation Army and SAFE 鈥� Southern Alamance Family Empowerment.

Campus Kitchen, a program through the Kernodle Center for Civic Life was founded in 2011 and focuses on providing meals to Allied Churches of Alamance County. Students work in three shifts: harvesting produce at Loy Farm, cooking the food at Lakeside Dining and then serving the meals at the church. The program provides about 100 meals per week.

Megan DeMarco 鈥�26, a human service studies major from Midland Park, New Jersey, is the director of Campus Kitchen and says the goal is to address food insecurity in areas around college campuses.

鈥淲hen I did my first Allied Churches shift, it was definitely more of an impact on me seeing the actual people and clientele that were helping,鈥� DeMarco said. 鈥淭hat’s why a big thing that we push is for our volunteers to go to all three shifts.鈥�

Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society, says that 黑料不打烊鈥檚 multifaith strategic planning and implementation process has achieved a level of integration that helps set a new national standard.

鈥淲hen an institution can engage students thoughtfully on questions of meaning, purpose, faith and doubt at the same time that it asks them to think critically about religion as a powerful force that impacts history, society, and politics, it is really doing the hard work of training leaders for a future that looks increasingly complex,鈥� Pennington said.

This story is the third in a series of stories focusing on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan.聽

Beginning this fall, Queens will align its undergraduate academic calendar with 黑料不打烊’s undergraduate calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

鈥淛-Term gave Queens students something rare 鈥� three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,鈥� said Queens alumna Staci McBride 鈥�92. 鈥淲e forged lifelong memories while living our motto, 鈥楴ot to be served, but to serve.鈥� I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can鈥檛 wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.鈥�

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 nationally ranked participation rate to .

鈥淛-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,鈥� said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淓xpanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.鈥�

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. 鈥淭he John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens undergraduate experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淨ueens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our 黑料不打烊 colleagues.鈥�

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens undergraduates to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at 黑料不打烊

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and 黑料不打烊 share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

鈥淭he DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,鈥� said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淎ctive listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our 黑料不打烊 colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.鈥�

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. 鈥淪tudents who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,鈥� Clark added.

The 黑料不打烊 team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won鈥檛 be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of 黑料不打烊.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits 鈥� along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats 鈥� open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to 黑料不打烊 employees as well.

鈥淢ergers are hard work,鈥� Stein said. 鈥淵et it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and 黑料不打烊 have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students 鈥� an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.鈥�

Attendees connected with members of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Charlotte campus team members to learn more about 黑料不打烊’s engagement with area non-profits.

Since 黑料不打烊 Charlotte was established in the fall of 2023, the campus has worked to learn about the needs of the Charlotte metro area and support the community through student volunteering and donation drives. Associate Director of 黑料不打烊 Charlotte Karen Neff, partners with Roof Above, a shelter for unhoused men, each semester, and arranges for Study USA Charlotte students to serve dinner there. Human Service Studies practicum students spent part of a winter term volunteering at Beds for Kids, Roof Above, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and Gigi鈥檚 Playhouse, and heard from representatives from Abara: Beyond Borders and Wayfinders about their organizations.

This past winter, Lavette Shirley, assistant program director for physician assistant studies in Charlotte, led efforts to support the Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM). CRM serves men and women at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. 黑料不打烊 donated two large bins of coats, clothing, toothpaste, lotion, soap, shampoo, menstrual pads and other toiletries to the women at this facility. The Women’s Law Association, an 黑料不打烊 law student organization, also collected women’s hygiene supplies to support Safe Alliance, a nonprofit agency providing hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Law students have also been active as volunteers in the community, supporting organizations such as the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the Mecklenburg Council of Elders and more.

Elena Kennedy, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty fellow for community-based learning, spoke to the group at the event and shared that last year the 黑料不打烊 community invested over 85,000 service hours in community organizations, about half of which were in the context of community-engaged courses.聽 Other 黑料不打烊 community members highlighted several opportunities for community organizations to engage with the campus, including partnering with classes, hosting interns, developing tailored lunch and learn sessions for professional development and participating in deliberative dialogues.

Learn more about the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Alumni can stay informed of upcoming events in Charlotte through the alumni calendar.

鈥淪ustainability, health and wellness are deeply connected because the health of people is inseparable from the health of the environments we live in,鈥� said Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach. 鈥淐lean air, safe water, nutritious food systems and access to green spaces all support both environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.鈥�

A group of 黑料不打烊 students learned firsthand how these connections can come to life during an alternative break experience.

Alternative breaks, coordinated by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, provide students with opportunities to engage in experiential learning while serving the community. Each experience is student-led, with coordinators playing a key role in shaping the experience, including selecting the location, theme and building relationships with community partners. Additionally, two faculty or staff members are a part of each program and serve as learning partners with the student leaders.

“Alternative break experiences immerse students in communities and allow them to understand a place through its history and culture, while also allowing them to learn from and work alongside community leaders and residents,鈥� said Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of Kernodle Center for Civic Life. 鈥淭hat combination is a truly powerful community-based engaged learning opportunity.”

For the recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, Betsy Knapp 鈥�28 and Nivea Millner 鈥�26 served as student coordinators, with support from Kaylee Hudson G鈥�26 and Kassidy Puckett ’24 G鈥�26. When Knapp and Millner met last spring to plan the experience, one interest quickly emerged: sustainability.

鈥淲e recognized that many students on campus are passionate about environmental issues, further reinforcing our decision,鈥� Knapp said. 鈥淎s I learned more about the environmental challenges facing Savannah and the work local organizations are doing to address them, it confirmed that sustainability would be a meaningful and relevant focus.鈥�

Knapp and Millner鈥檚 perspectives were also reflected among the students on the trip.

鈥淎lmost all of the participants on our trip had an existing connection with sustainability either through service or their major,鈥� Millner said. 鈥淭he experience became less about understanding the issue itself and more about connecting with the community we are seeking to serve and strengthening connections with other students at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

This shared foundation shaped how students approached their work throughout the week.

Sustainability in action

Through partnerships with organizations, such as Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Re: Purpose Savannah and the Ocean Discovery Center, students engaged in hands-on work addressing food insecurity, environmental conservation and community education.

But beyond the service itself, students began to see sustainability not just as environmental action, but as a reflection of everyday choices and their impact on others.

For some, that realization began with access to food. One student reflected on the privilege of choosing what to eat – something that became more apparent while working with Second Harvest, where even slightly damaged food could make a meaningful difference to someone else.

鈥淚t got me thinking that I am one of the people who is privileged enough to choose the box that is 鈥榩retty enough鈥� to eat, Mealnie Alarcon 鈥�29 said. 鈥淪ome people just don鈥檛 have that privilege.鈥�

Others were struck by how small actions can create a large-scale impact.

鈥淚n just two hours at Second Harvest, we were able to make 4,100 meals,鈥� Knapp shared enthusiastically. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 such a small time commitment, but it really makes a big difference in the community.鈥�

On Tybee Island, the connection between environmental health and community well-being came into focus. As students began collecting trash around the beach, the sheer number of items they collected became evidence of how individual behavior can affect entire ecosystems.

鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to see how much of an issue trash is, just looking at all that we picked up today,鈥� Knapp said.

This reflection led students to rethink not only how they engage in cleanup efforts, but how they can prevent harm in the first place.

鈥淲henever you put effort into trying to make an impact, you can see a greater impact,鈥� Millner said. 鈥� You should also make sure you鈥檙e not contributing to the problem.鈥�

Service enhancing well-being

These experiences also shaped students鈥� own well-being. For some, the trip provided a mental reset.

鈥淚 have a lot of things going on right now, Alarcon expressed. 鈥淭his trip was an escape. I got a mental break from these things going on campus.鈥�

For others, it created opportunities to build new relationships, strengthen leadership skills and engage more deeply with the communities around them.

鈥淚t lets people meet other people,鈥� Millner said. 鈥淔orcing you to talk to each other and figure things out together.鈥�

That sense of connection expanded beyond undergraduate students. Hodson and Puckett both noted how the experience supported their professional growth and deepened their engagement with students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 allowed me to build more relationships with students outside of my office,鈥� Puckett said.

鈥淭he experience has given me different ways and tools to get out in the community and meet and talk to other people,鈥� Hodson added.

By the end of the week, sustainability was no longer just about protecting the planet. It became a way of thinking 鈥� one rooted in care for people, places and the environment.

鈥淏y spending a week immersed in a community working closely with community partners, students get to see how these organizations play a crucial role in creating healthy and sustainable communities,鈥� said Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center.

Anya Brati膰 ’26, an international & global studies major, has completed her service term as a North Carolina Civic Impact Fellow.

The North Carolina Civic Impact Fellowship (NC-CIF) is a statewide civic leadership program through North Carolina Campus Engagement that equips exceptional student leaders to build a stronger civic life on their campus. Fellows are nominated by their institution鈥檚 president or chancellor and campus administrators, and selected based on their outstanding civic leadership potential.

During her fellowship year, Brati膰 collaborated with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Student Government Association to advance an initiative that strengthened campus-community connections and student civic participation. Bob Frigo, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, served as Brati膰鈥檚 mentor for the project.

Brati膰 began her fellowship by assessing 黑料不打烊鈥檚 civic engagement efforts and identifying opportunities to fill gaps in awareness, access, or participation. Guided by her findings, Brati膰 organized a campus-wide Town Hall through the Student Government Association (SGA), where students heard directly from local community leaders and changemarkers about pathways into service. This event helped students visualize their own trajectory into a life and career of service. Brati膰 then institutionalized SGA鈥檚 commitment to service by advancing SGA bylaw amendments that formally require a Civic Engagement Senator to lead at least one substantive civic initiative for the student body during their term.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the number of students from diverse groups and backgrounds who demonstrated a genuine commitment to learn more from civic, business and educational leaders in Alamance County,鈥� said Brati膰, 鈥淐ollege students are uniquely positioned and equipped with the resources of their campuses to make tangible changes in their communities. A space like this provides a platform for students to exercise their strengths and creativity that will last beyond their four years in college.鈥�

Brati膰 presented the outcomes of her fellowship project and offered recommendations to sustain the work during a capstone presentation to several project stakeholders and local community partners.

The Employee Volunteer Program was created to allow 黑料不打烊 staff to receive paid leave to volunteer with community organizations, a benefit now formalized through Human Resources. Today, full-time staff working 30 or more hours per week can take up to 16 hours of paid leave annually to support causes that positively impact the quality of life within communities. Beyond the policy itself, the program reflects something deeper.

鈥淎llowing 黑料不打烊 employees to have paid volunteer leave is symbolic of 黑料不打烊’s commitment to supporting local communities,鈥� said Bob Frigo, director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and assistant dean of campus life.

He emphasizes that engagement is not just a student responsibility, but 鈥渋t is important for staff and faculty to model the way in terms of being active citizens in our communities.鈥�

For many employees, these hours open doors to experiences that might otherwise be difficult to access during a busy workweek. Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, used her volunteer time to work the polls during a local primary election.

鈥淰olunteering is something I鈥檝e been doing my entire life, and I鈥檓 so thankful that 黑料不打烊 gives us the opportunity to volunteer during work hours,鈥� she said. Her role involved guiding voters through the process, but the experience became more personal than procedural.

鈥淚 volunteered in my own voting precinct; it was lovely to chat with folks that live near me that I might not otherwise get to know,” said Harer.

Nicole Bergen, program assistant for the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, also participated in an experience that highlights the variety and flexibility the program offers. From reading with first graders to participating in Haw River cleanups, she has used her hours to connect with the Alamance County community in multiple ways.

鈥淚 am always amazed at what a group of working volunteers can accomplish in such a short time,鈥� she reflected. Whether collecting bags of trash or seeing 鈥渁 student partner smiling at you the second you appear in the doorway,鈥� Bergen has found both purpose and connection.

For Bergen, who does not live in the county, the program has been especially meaningful.

鈥淚t has felt like a lovely adventure to discover the area outside work,鈥� she said, adding that it has reshaped her understanding of her role in the community.

鈥淭he mission of the Open Door Clinic is to promote good health and wellbeing by supporting patients through comprehensive and equitable health care,鈥� said Volunteer Coordinator Makenna Grozis ’27. “For many patients, this care is essential, and without it, small health concerns can escalate into costly emergencies. This clinic aims to help the uninsured stay healthy and reduce potential emergency medical costs and other burdens on families through preventative care.”

The Open Door Clinic relies heavily on grants and operates with minimal paid staff, making volunteers the backbone of patient care.

鈥淰olunteers play a huge role, acting as the primary liaison between the patients and the medical staff,鈥� Grozis noted.

From the moment a patient walks in, student volunteers are there to greet them, check them in, answer questions and ensure the clinic runs smoothly. Beyond medical services, the clinic addresses broader disparities tied to financial and social barriers. Patients have access to free or low-cost medications, labs, vaccines, and even specialty care. The clinic also houses the 鈥淐loset of Hope,鈥� providing clothing and toiletries at no cost. Together, these resources create what Grozis describes as 鈥渁n equitable space where vulnerable populations can have an opportunity to achieve better health outcomes.鈥�

For 黑料不打烊 students, the experience is both practical and deeply personal. Most begin in clerk roles, but even these positions carry meaningful responsibility.

鈥淭hey are the first faces our patients see when they walk through the door,鈥� Grozis said.

Over time, these repeated weekly shifts foster a special connection and much-needed consistency.

鈥淯nlike many volunteer positions where students may go once a semester, volunteers at the clinic get to know the patients, staff, providers, and other volunteers,” Grozis said.

Grozis鈥檚 own experience reflects this sense of growth and initiative. Recognizing a language barrier among many Spanish-speaking patients, she enrolled in a medical Spanish course at 黑料不打烊. That decision led her to help create a collaboration between the class and the clinic.

鈥淭he student volunteers as interpreters where they facilitate communication between the providers and the patient,鈥� she explained.

This effort not only improved patient care but also expanded opportunities for students to engage more directly in the clinical setting. After nearly three years at the clinic, Grozis has witnessed both patient progress and volunteer dedication firsthand.

鈥淚 have seen numerous volunteers go out of their way to make sure patients feel heard and informed,鈥� she said.

For her, and for many others, the Open Door Clinic is more than a place of service; it is a community. Even when language barriers exist, connection persists.

鈥淢any of the staff members know almost every single patient by name,鈥� Grozis shared. 鈥淎 smile can carry a great deal of compassion and understanding.鈥�