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• 黑料不打烊 holds largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum
• Personal experience inspires 黑料不打烊 student鈥檚 research to help children experiencing homelessness

Dozens of students showcased research projects inspired by personal experiences and academic interests, guided by faculty mentorship, during the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The most recent SURE symposium featured more than 50 students from both 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte, marking the latest example of collaboration between two institutions in the process of merging into a united community.

鈥淪URE continues to be one of the flagship events of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Program. This poster session is a celebration of their dedication and growth as budding young scholars,鈥� said Justin Clar, director of undergraduate research and associate professor of chemistry. 鈥淚 was especially pleased that we were joined by amazing students from Queens who shared their work with the 黑料不打烊 community.鈥�

At 黑料不打烊, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience has for years provided student researchers with a stipend to spend eight weeks working full-time on a project in collaboration with a faculty mentor with substantial and recognized expertise in the discipline.

The program concludes every July with a symposium that deepens students鈥� knowledge of the research experience while offering an opportunity to grow their public speaking and presentation skills.

“It was a great opportunity for the students to share their summer research in a low-stakes environment,” said Kira McEntire, director of undergraduate research and creative work; and associate professor of biology at Queens. “It was also fun to see the 黑料不打烊 students sharing their summer projects and to learn about some of the interests of 黑料不打烊 colleagues.”

At Queens, the university holds its annual in the spring, a campus-wide celebration of academic inquiry and community impact. The day starts with oral and poster presentations, followed by service activities in the afternoon.

Personal connections

For many students at SURE, like 黑料不打烊 student听Thomas Gress 鈥�27, projects carried a deeply personal connection. Gress designed a four-week study comparing exercise approaches for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, inspired in part by his brother鈥檚 experience with the condition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition is a serious and often long-lasting illness that keeps people from doing their usual activities. It makes physical and mental exertion difficult, and symptoms include difficulty thinking, severe tiredness, and other issues.

鈥淏efore I started this project, (my brother had) been suffering for four years, and there seemed to be no end in sight. So, this was something small that I could do to be of use,鈥� said Gress, a biology major from Savannah, Georgia. 鈥淔or all of these patients, there鈥檚 no other option. There are no drugs available, only a few supplements with very little efficacy. So, it seems the best option is experimenting with lifestyle. And if not this, then there is nothing.鈥�

Queens student Isabella Sherman 鈥�27 has a love for nature that inspired her to explore plant communities at the Carolina Wildlands Foundation with mentor E. Davis Carter, assistant professor of biology at Queens.

鈥淚t was an excellent experience,鈥� said Sherman, a conservation biology major from Charlotte. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really close to what I want to do with my career. I love research, I love forestry, and every time I went out there, I was like, 鈥楾his is exactly what I want to do.鈥� This kind of information is what people take into consideration when they鈥檙e trying to develop land or provide an additional environment for fauna and flora.鈥�

Mentoring relationships

A common thread among many of the projects was the close relationship students developed with their faculty mentors.

Anna Grace Gilbert 鈥�27, an 黑料不打烊 psychology major from Knoxville, Tennessee, says Associate Professor of Psychology Sabrina Perkins 鈥渃ompletely changed鈥� her undergraduate experience through their work studying infant motor development.

鈥淚鈥檝e worked with (Professor Perkins) technically since the summer of my freshman year. I just reached out to her and was like, 鈥業 love babies. I鈥檇 love to work with you,鈥� Gilbert said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful. We鈥檝e really bonded over these almost three years.鈥�

For Jack VanValkenburg 鈥�27, a Queens student majoring in data analytics, undergraduate research provided an opportunity to apply his technical skills. He worked with Queens Assistant Professor of Biology Denni Einersson to develop a computerized system for organizing trash collected during community cleanup events.

鈥淚t was a great opportunity to work with people who know more than me. The coding that I鈥檝e done in the past is more analytical and this was more developmental,鈥� said VanValkenburg, who is from Atlanta. 鈥�(Clean-up crews) would go out with field cards, like pencil and paper, and just mark things down, which was super timely and it鈥檚 very inconvenient, and then that just led to a lot of data that wasn鈥檛 being used.”

Pushing through the learning process

黑料不打烊 business analytics major Chase Hannibal 鈥�28 examined the sense of belonging among Black business students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly White Institutions. It can sometimes feel isolating as a Black female business student, Hannibal said.

鈥淚 just wanted to see if other students felt that way, and if it was a pattern, what could be fixed,鈥� Hannibal said. 鈥�(I wanted to) let other students know that you鈥檙e not alone.鈥�

Hannibal says her mentor, Shanetta Pendleton, assistant professor of strategic communications, pushed her to be better, even when she was at her 鈥渟topping point.鈥�

鈥淓ven when I felt at the worst of the worst, she supported me throughout everything,鈥� Hannibal said. 鈥淪he was great, and I鈥檓 very excited to work with her in the future.鈥�

Amelia Weaver 鈥�28 also explored the experiences of college students, particularly women. Her 黑料不打烊 Honors Fellows research examines the motivations of college-aged women who participate in sports betting after she noticed women were less vocal about the topic in class discussions.

鈥淚t made me think about why the women in the class weren鈥檛 as talkative or excited about their own experiences with sports betting,鈥� said Weaver, a sport management and media analytics double major with a minor in . 鈥淚 wondered if this was because they didn鈥檛 participate, didn鈥檛 care, or they just didn鈥檛 want to say anything.鈥�

Weaver said her mentor, Alex Traugutt, an assistant professor of sport management, has helped guide her through the process.

鈥淗e immediately said, 鈥楾his is going to be a partnership. We鈥檙e going to take steps together. We鈥檙e going to figure this out together. I鈥檓 not just going to throw you into everything,鈥欌�� said Weaver. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been really helpful in the learning process.鈥�

When sudden shutdowns canceled their in-person sessions at听, a Down syndrome achievement center, they quickly pivoted online, bringing interactive music therapy right into participants’ living rooms.听

During their sessions, Queens听alumnae听Yenchun听Ko 鈥�21, Gabrielle Frens 鈥�22 and Molli Smith 鈥�22 documented their findings, and听this past听June, their work was published in听听

Funded by a grant through the听James Rogers Summer Institute for Research and Creative Work听and听guided听by Varvara Pasiali, Livingstone Professor of Music Therapy at Queens, the team highlighted the core philosophy behind their听virtual听sessions,听a concept known as “musicking,” originally developed by musicologist Christopher Small.听

鈥�’Musicking鈥� is taking music as a noun and turning it into a verb,” Pasiali听said.听“It captures the idea that music exists in the act of actually making it.听Everyone participates in some way in a musical event; they aren’t just sitting passively receiving it.”听听

To turn that active concept into reality听virtually, the student-therapists played live instruments, used structured musical cues, and designed interactive movement prompts that kept participants engaged across the screen. At the same time, parents听joined in听as active co-facilitators,听rocking, swaying, and making music alongside their children to foster meaningful bonding directly in their living rooms.听

GiGi鈥檚 Playhouse Charlotte Executive Director Lori Keller has seen firsthand how that philosophy听impacted听the lives of children and individuals living with developmental disabilities.听

鈥淢usic brings us together as a community and engages parts of the brain in ways that no other therapy can,鈥� Keller said. 鈥淚t creates opportunities for cognitive and social growth, while also improving language and communication. I must admit that the most immediate benefit听I’ve听witnessed听has been expressions of joy. And that is priceless.”听

Seeing their hard work officially reach the broader clinical community through the peer-reviewed publication has been a deeply rewarding, full-circle moment for the former students.听

“It was surreal to learn that this study would be published,” Smith said. “I felt very proud of younger me for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.”听

Frens echoed that pride. “To have something published in my name feels like a very big deal,” she听said.听“The whole publishing process takes a long time, but I am especially proud of the team for how we collaborated and maintained the integrity of what we did.”听

Ko听shared in听that excitement when she learned the news. “When I was informed that it was going to be published, I was thrilled,” Ko said. “I learned a great deal from this opportunity, from session planning to collaborating with my classmates and composing therapeutic music.”听

After graduating from Queens, the听alumnae听found that their undergraduate research directly shaped their clinical success.听

“Participating in this study helped me prepare for a professional career in many ways,” Smith said. “Not only did I grow more confident in my writing skills and analytical thinking,听it听boosted my skills in observing and documenting client responses. As a professional, I听currently听treat an individual client virtually and I felt entirely equipped to deliver those telehealth services because of this project.”听

Smith currently works as a board-certified music therapist at Piedmont Music Therapy, a local nonprofit in Charlotte, where her caseload spans from early childhood to older adults in memory care. Frens is completing her graduate degree online through Duquesne University while working as a board-certified music therapist at Atrium Health Mercy. Ko recently completed her master’s degree at Molloy University as she prepares for the next step in her clinical career.听

“Having their work published by a peer-reviewed clinical journal builds their identity as scientists and their confidence in doing research,” Pasiali said, noting that the students also co-presented their findings at a regional music therapy conference and led a virtual continuing education seminar for music therapists in Cyprus.听

For all three听alumnae, the project was the ultimate reflection of the Queens motto, 鈥淣ot to be served, but to serve.鈥�听

鈥淭hat attitude of how to serve and care for others well really aligns with music therapy,鈥� Frens said听鈥淚 feel that music therapy in general, and especially in the work that I do, is in a position to serve others and not expect service back to ourselves.听“Smith agreed. “As a music therapist, I always aim to serve my clients in the best way I can鈥攎eeting them where they are, supporting their needs, and amplifying their individuality, creativity, and听successes,鈥� she said.听鈥淚t brings me such joy to do so.”听

For Ko, that spirit of service came to life in the quiet, musical moments shared between the children and their families.听

“When I played my violin during one of the sessions, I saw participants swaying back and forth with their parents,” Ko recalled. “Seeing that precious bond and their response through the music made me realize just how meaningful and impactful our work really was.”

The day started in the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement on July 16, 2026, with Queens鈥� first-ever College Coffee, an 黑料不打烊 tradition that offers students, faculty and staff weekly opportunities during the semester to connect over coffee and pastries.

鈥淭his is a powerful morning,鈥� Queens Acting President and CEO Jesse Cureton said in remarks to attendees. 鈥淵ou’re going to learn today a lot about Queens and the history of the university, but as I鈥檝e shared with so many, Queens is not just about this campus – it鈥檚 about a 170-year history, and it’s about this phenomenal city, one of the fastest-growing in the country. Sports, healthcare, manufacturing, energy – all these things are creating opportunities for our students.鈥�

Following a campus tour for 黑料不打烊 visitors, employees from both locations participated in an interactive professional development workshop, “Own the Moment: Practical Tools for Navigating Change with Confidence,” led by Rochelle Stojnic, director of the Office of Leadership and Professional Development at 黑料不打烊.

Grounded in the idea that the most meaningful moments during institutional transitions occur in ordinary, everyday interactions, the session provided attendees with strategies to approach organizational evolution with a curious and open perspective.

Employees were encouraged to serve as a steady, grounding presence for colleagues and students, and learned how to leverage personal and collective strengths to fuel community growth.

“This is a historic transition, and navigating it successfully requires an ‘all hands on deck’ approach,鈥� Stojnic said. 鈥淟eadership isn鈥檛 just for a few people at the top. Everyone needs to feel empowered to lead through this change, which starts with understanding how we handle transition personally.鈥�

鈥淎t 黑料不打烊, prioritizing professional development is a core value. We invest heavily in our people because we believe that for our universities to grow and get better, our employees must have the space to expand their skills, navigate uncertainty with balance, and feel genuinely supported along the way.”

Shawn Bowers, director of the General Education Program at Queens, attended the professional development session.

“As an educator, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I deeply appreciate how both institutions invest in us as holistic individuals. When resources and energy are poured into faculty and staff, it allows us to show up as the best versions of ourselves,鈥� she said. 鈥淯ltimately, that yields incredible dividends for our students, who are the main constituents we serve.”

The collaborative energy of the workshop and joint sessions highlighted a shared commitment to building a unified, resilient community.

Here鈥檚 what employees from both campuses had to say about the exchange:

• “When two universities have this much overlap, there’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another and adopt the best processes from both sides. It’s also a two-way street: both 黑料不打烊 and Queens share the benefit of communicating ideas and resources. The prospect of bettering our programs, becoming more efficient, and thriving together is not just rewarding, but exciting. I can’t wait to see where this road leads us.”
  Jackson Mair
  Coordinator, Vandiver Center for Career Development, Queens

• 鈥淭he professional development session provided us with practical tools for real-life change. The 鈥榳hy鈥� of this exchange became obvious when a Queens colleague and an 黑料不打烊 colleague from the same department shared their experiences navigating the merger. Watching them find comfort and laughter in their shared experience showed the true value of the exchange. It breaks down walls and helps us realize we are building on common ground.鈥�
  Loretta Evivie
  Professor of Practice of Leadership, Queens

• 鈥淭he thing that really struck me during my visit is the way in which 黑料不打烊 and Queens share an approach to education. The two student tour guides said many of the same things I鈥檝e told prospective 黑料不打烊 students: small classes, faculty who are available and dedicated to students, a focus on hands-on learning, and even classrooms arranged so that the students can work together. I had the opportunity to meet some of the physics/math faculty, and we talked about ways we can support each other. We鈥檙e hopeful that we can develop programs that take advantages of our shared strengths.鈥�
  Jonathan Su
  Associate Professor of Engineering, 黑料不打烊

• 鈥淚 still have many questions about the merger, but I am excited by the prospect of internship pipelines for our students in key sectors like professional sports, medicine, finance, and the arts. I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely Myers Park neighborhood and the look and feel of the campus, which is quite similar to 黑料不打烊’s. Many thanks to the entire 黑料不打烊-Queens team for setting things up for our first College Coffee there!鈥�
  Pamela Winfield
  Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Director of International & Global Studies, 黑料不打烊

• 鈥淏y offering College Coffee at Queens, it creates a bridge between our two cultures. Queens has a really nice location for College Coffee in the summer, which is very similar to what 黑料不打烊 offers at Moseley Center. Both places are a great way to escape the heat, grab something to drink or eat, and have a conversation with someone on campus that you don鈥檛 get to see in person.鈥�
  Doug Purnell
  Assistant Director of Data Architecture and听Reporting, 黑料不打烊

Students and alumni in Washington, D.C., visited American University’s School of Public Affairs, where they learned about graduate education, careers in public service, and the many opportunities available through advanced study in law, business, and public and international service.

In New York City, students and alums were welcomed by Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business for an evening exploring graduate programs across multiple disciplines, including social service and the humanities. A highlight of both programs was the meaningful engagement with 黑料不打烊 alumni living and working in the city, who shared candid reflections about the transition from college to career, pursuing graduate education, and building fulfilling professional lives. Together, the university partners and alumni provided students with both practical information and authentic perspectives that encouraged them to imagine new possibilities for life after 黑料不打烊.

The experiences reflect 黑料不打烊’s commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose through intentional collaboration across campus. By bringing together the career expertise of the Student Professional Development Center, the immersive learning opportunities offered through Study USA and National Campus Programs, and the lifelong connections fostered by Alumni Engagement, students were able to explore graduate education while strengthening their professional networks and broadening their vision for the future.

The 鈥淣ever Be at a Loss for Words鈥� workshop idea was created through a partnership between 黑料不打烊 and The Groundlings, an industry improv training leader in Los Angeles. The workshop was led by actor, improv performer and The Groundlings improv coach Andres Parada. Parada has spent many years teaching actors critical communication skills that prepare them for anything that comes up in an audition, in a live performance or on a film set. Actors Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph and Lisa Kudrow are among the many well-known alumni of The Groundlings.

Now, 黑料不打烊 LA students have learned how to apply those techniques to benefit them along both their career and personal journeys ahead.

黑料不打烊 Los Angeles, offered by 黑料不打烊鈥檚听听and听National Campus Programs, offers spring and summer immersive experiences for students that feature academic courses taught by instructors who are working professionals in their fields and on-site experiential learning at internship sites across the city. The 黑料不打烊 LA experience also includes alumni engagement, community service and unique professional development opportunities.

Based in historic Hollywood, applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Students arriving for Move-In Day will notice big changes under the oaks following summer renovations at Queens that include refreshed campus landscaping, restored building exteriors and updated finishes in Wireman Residence Hall.

Inside Wireman, student rooms are being updated with fresh paint and new furniture. The customizable loft beds, wardrobes, desks and dressers will allow students to easily personalize their spaces.

The building’s shared common areas are also getting a modern, multi-functional makeover. A mix of soft seating and high-low tables will fill these spaces, giving students a flexible environment to study, eat, or relax together.

“Student living spaces are where they spend a great deal of their time. These improvements will help create more comfortable and fresh spaces for students,” said Amber Slack, vice president for student affairs and dean of campus life. “As we continue updating common areas and lobbies across campus, our ultimate goal is to design inviting spaces that naturally bring students together and strengthen our community.”

In line with Queens’ commitment to sustainability and its motto, “Not to be served, but to serve,” the university found new homes for Wireman鈥檚 furniture by partnering with Hildrup Moving Companies, Habitat for Humanity and Beds for Kids.

“We knew from the beginning that we didn鈥檛 want to send usable furniture to a landfill,” said Leigh Hicks, Queens鈥� director of capital projects. “We were thrilled to partner with local non-profits to donate these items directly to families in need.”

Student Government Association President Jessica Paredes ’27 lived in Wireman for two years and served on the Campus Improvement Committee, working closely with Slack last year in discussing renovations in Wireman and across campus.

“I am so excited and grateful for the new feel Wireman will have and know that many students will see it as a fresh start for an exciting year ahead,” said Paredes. “Returning Royals will be glad to see their newly renovated 鈥榟omes away from home.'”

Queens Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus, is also undergoing a complete stairwell restorations.

“The three classical stone entrances to Queens Hall are being repaired and refreshed with brand-new, uniform light fixtures and hand railings to give the historic building a clean, consistent look,” said David Haught, senior director of facilities for 黑料不打烊’s Charlotte properties. “These renovations are aimed at beautifying and returning the splendor of a grand entrance to this historic campus in the heart of Myers Park, one of the first planned suburbs of Charlotte.”

Nearby, the columns at Sykes Learning Center, the hub of the McColl School of Business, are being replaced with a durable material designed to match the original architecture, while the surrounding brick plaza is being leveled and refreshed.

The summer renovations are on track for completion by late July, well before Royals return to their refreshed campus for the 2026-27 academic year.

That question brought together students, professionals, community members and local government leaders for the Charlotte Decision Challenge, hosted through 黑料不打烊’s Master of Science in Business Analytics Flex program in partnership with the City of Charlotte.

Guided throughout the day by Lakeisha Vance, assistant teaching professor of business analytics, and Vinayaka Gude, assistant professor of business analytics, participants worked in teams using real data and a custom analytics platform to explore potential impacts along the proposed Red Line corridor and develop recommendations aimed at supporting businesses and communities as growth continues across the region.

“One of the strengths of the MSBA Flex program is the opportunity to bring together industry partners, community leaders and learners from a variety of backgrounds to tackle real challenges,” said Mark Kurt, associate dean of curriculum and academic programming at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. “Partnerships like this allow us to apply analytics in ways that extend beyond the classroom and support the communities we serve.”

For city leaders, the challenge offered an opportunity to bring new voices into conversations that will help shape Charlotte’s future.

“As city leaders, we have to constantly ask ourselves who’s not here and who’s impacted by the decisions we’re making,鈥� said Charlitta Hatch, deputy chief information officer and chief data and analytics officer for the City of Charlotte. 鈥淏ringing students, professionals and community members into that process helps us see challenges from new perspectives.”

Between July 2024 and July 2025, Charlotte added more residents than any other city in the nation. 听Transportation infrastructure will play an important role in supporting that growth. As city leaders look toward future transit investments, they are also looking closely at lessons learned from previous transit projects and how those experiences can inform future decisions.

The proposed Red Line will bring commuter rail service to communities north of Charlotte, including Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. Throughout the challenge, participants looked to experiences from Charlotte’s existing Blue Line light rail system and explored themes including business ownership, entrepreneurship and economic mobility.

For Jackie Tynan, data analytics manager for the City of Charlotte, that combination of perspectives is exactly what makes partnerships like this valuable.

“The students here today are a different generation than those in leadership making the decisions,” Tynan said. “By including the voices of our future in the decisions, we can build stronger outcomes that reflect what matters most to them and better prepare them for what鈥檚 ahead. ”

Hatch described universities as “community think tanks” and emphasized the value of collaboration between higher education and local government.

“The partnerships are critical because we are limited in what we know and what we can do,” Hatch said. “The breadth that you have, from researchers to practitioners to emerging talent, really helps us make sure we are recommending the best solutions for our community.”

By the end of the event, participants had transformed publicly available data into recommendations for one of Charlotte’s most important future infrastructure projects, demonstrating the role collaboration can play in shaping stronger communities.

“It makes me hopeful about what a larger group can do over a longer period of time,” Tynan said.

Los Angeles has been serving as one of the key U.S. locations for the FIFA World Cup 2026; Skladan鈥檚 work responsibilities have brought her to LA for the duration of the games this summer.

Students and alumni guests had the opportunity to learn about her impressive career in sports so far and her journeyposition to her current . 鈥淚t is wonderful to be back at 黑料不打烊 LA鈥檚 home base at The Preserve, in the same space where my classes were held and from where I began the journey to launch my post-graduation professional career,鈥� Skladan told the gathered group.

Each semester, 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles brings together alumni and students for conversations that benefit emerging young professionals in a wide variety of career fields. The program offers an exciting, immersive and robust spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through 黑料不打烊鈥檚听听and National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Engle, who graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2022 and currently serves as company manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company, said the Washington, D.C. community has embraced theatre and arts culture.

鈥淚 think that when a lot of people think of DC, they think of Capitol Hill and politicians and different lobbying organizations or aid organizations, things that are more visible from the outside perspective and how DC is represented in media,鈥� Engle said. 鈥淏ut DC as a whole has been so welcoming as a theater community; we’re very lucky to have some incredible regional theaters.鈥�

Faculty Director for Study USA D.C., and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Joel Shelton, echoed Engle, noting that theater is just one part of the arts culture in D.C.

鈥淚 think the most important context is that Washington, D.C., is often thought of as a place where politics happens, but culture in the capital is a really fundamental aspect of community here,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淭here are so many different manifestations of popular culture in the city, whether that be art, literature, or museums, and especially theater, because, of course, Washington, D.C. is not New York, and it’s not Los Angeles.鈥�

Shelton also said choosing to attend Othello was to show students both the political and artistic parts of the play.

鈥淭o me, when we were dreaming of this course, I thought that Othello was a wonderful place to see the linkages between political meaning and cultural production in Washington,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淪o you have the arts and culture, but also a play that is deeply political and deeply concerned with contemporary questions around race, gender, power, identity.鈥�

Engle, who earned a degree in arts administration, said that the program introduced her to students with different experiences.

鈥淭he program is made up of people who have life experiences and a lot to teach, and you’re coming together with students who are not taking all of the same classes with you, but have different experiences within the school,鈥� Engle said.

黑料不打烊 junior Kallie Latham, who has a background in dance, said being in the theater had a sense of reminiscence.

鈥淭his program has a lot of people with different musical theater interests. We all felt pretty happy and nostalgic,鈥� Latham said.

Latham said the tour gave her a sense of understanding when watching Othello later in the day.

鈥淚t’s even better because I think we get to understand the acting and the theater production that goes into all of it, and how all the settings and the background were changing,鈥� Latham said. 鈥淭hat was really cool.鈥�

Engle also highlighted the out-of-the-classroom experiences 黑料不打烊 offers to its students.

鈥淭hey encourage you to join clubs and travel abroad and to experience the world outside the classroom as well.鈥� Engle said. 鈥淚 think that ties into the really cool nature of moving beyond the classroom and then into the professional world, and so much of what you do comes down to the relationships you build, and the way you’re able to engage with the world around you.鈥�

Students interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.

Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn鈥檛 have to follow a single path.

鈥淚 intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,鈥� said Austin.

In a way, 黑料不打烊 found her. Alumnus Royall Spence 鈥�42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin鈥檚 extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.

鈥淗e always spoke so fondly of his experience at 黑料不打烊 and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,鈥� she said.

The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. 鈥淲hen I visited 黑料不打烊, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.鈥�

She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but 黑料不打烊 had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew 黑料不打烊 was the place for her.

As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in 黑料不打烊 in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.

鈥淥ne of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I鈥檇 track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,鈥� she said.

One opportunity at 黑料不打烊 that greatly impacted Austin鈥檚 career was her experience with 黑料不打烊 in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.

鈥淒uring the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,鈥� said Austin.

Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.

鈥淟ike many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I鈥檝e built,鈥� she explained.

She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.

In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region鈥檚 rapidly growing entertainment industry.

鈥淚 joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including 鈥極uter Banks鈥�, 鈥楾he Summer I Turned Pretty鈥�, 鈥楾he Righteous Gemstones鈥�, 鈥楾he Walking Dead鈥� and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,鈥� said Austin.

One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

鈥淒uring the introduction, the production assistant announced me as 鈥楯enny Austin from CBS Sacramento,鈥� and Will Ferrell immediately joked, 鈥楯enny Sacramento from Austin.鈥� It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,鈥� Austin said.

She鈥檚 also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.

Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They鈥檝e titled the platform . While it鈥檚 still a new project and they鈥檝e already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.

Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she鈥檚 been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at 黑料不打烊, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.

鈥淣early every major opportunity I鈥檝e had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,鈥� she explained.

She credits 黑料不打烊鈥檚 experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I鈥檇 dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,鈥� she said.

It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was 鈥渞ealizing that I didn鈥檛 have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.鈥�

Austin encourages 黑料不打烊 students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I love most about 黑料不打烊. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,鈥� she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn鈥檛 followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.鈥�