The next week at the annual Org Fair, while visiting tables and, as he puts it, 鈥渇eeling kind of sarcastic,鈥� Jacob got out a piece of notebook paper, wrote at the top 鈥淢ilk Club Interest Form鈥� and began asking for support. Within two hours, he had 68 signatures.

The pressure was on. As president of the potential new group, Jacob had to create a fully formed concept and structure. That night he reconvened his friends. His suitemate and club vice president, exercise science major Jonathan Loeb 鈥�27, says people were drawn to the idea because it was 鈥渓ow stakes鈥� and invited people of all interests and backgrounds to come together.

鈥淢aybe what we鈥檙e doing is silly for a lot of people, but at the end of the day we鈥檙e giving a sense of belonging,鈥� Jonathan says, 鈥渋ncluding those who don鈥檛 fit into traditional campus organizations.鈥�

What began as whimsy has grown into one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most engaged student organizations, with more than 160 active members and recognition as the outstanding new student organization for 2025. The Milk Club has hosted trivia and karaoke nights, the 鈥淪pilled Milk Poetry Night,鈥� scavenger hunts, trips to Ran-Lew Dairy Farm and a formal 鈥淢ilk Soir茅e鈥� that drew about 300 students.

The group also collaborates with others across campus, organizing events like 鈥淭he Cownival,鈥� 鈥淢oovin鈥� to Beat Blood Cancer鈥� and 鈥淪ip of Sunnah鈥� during Ramadan.

Jacob and Jonathan love the fun nature of the group, but they鈥檝e also reflected on its impact.

鈥淸During COVID], students joined professional organizations for their careers, but sometimes forgot what was good for their mental and social well-being,鈥� Jacob says. 鈥淭his club helps people connect on a different level.鈥�

They are now using the experience as the basis for an undergraduate research project, 鈥淢ore Than a Glass of Milk: Building Belonging Through Joy.鈥� Associate Teaching Professor Marna Winter, the club鈥檚 adviser, says what started as a joke has a meaningful purpose.

鈥淢y research centers on relational and joy-centered pedagogy,鈥� Marna says. 鈥淲hen students feel like they belong, they have more resilience, more academic success and greater retention. There鈥檚 a direct correlation.鈥�

The spontaneous success of the Milk Club captures something essential about 黑料不打烊. Students can follow their passions with creativity and gusto, learn lessons about leadership and success, and practice joy alongside hard work. I am so proud of these students for showing us the whey to make our university healthier and more connected.

Connie Ledoux Book
President

Kari Taylor ’09 will be transitioning from her current role in the President’s Office to a new position as 黑料不打烊’s Deputy Chief Integration Officer, based in Charlotte. Beginning June 1, Kari will play a pivotal role in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 integration efforts, bringing the relationship-building expertise, collaborative efforts and strategic vision she has demonstrated through her extensive leadership at 黑料不打烊.

An 黑料不打烊 alumna who earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA, Kari joined the President’s staff in 2018 and has been instrumental in amplifying campus engagement through innovative strategies and meaningful initiatives, such as the 1923 Commemoration, fostering trust and building community.

Director of New Student Programs Emily Krechel will transition to the President’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff for Campus Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, also effective June 1. Emily joined the 黑料不打烊 community in 2017 and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UNC Greensboro, where her research focused on equity and student success, and her career includes leadership roles at UC Berkeley, Earlham College, and now 黑料不打烊.

As co-chair of the university’s Mentoring Initiative Design Team and former chair of Staff Advisory Council, Emily is a dedicated advocate for meaningful relationships on campus and embodies our commitment to student-centered excellence. Her deep belief in our mission, passion for student development, and proven ability to build transformative programs make her an outstanding addition to our team.

“These transitions reflect the strength of 黑料不打烊’s leadership pipeline and our commitment to positioning talented colleagues where they can have the greatest impact,” said President Connie Ledoux Book in an email to the university community. “Please join me in congratulating Kari on her new opportunity and welcoming Emily to her expanded role.”

The story focuses on how Alamance County is preparing for long-term economic shifts, including an aging workforce and the increasing integration of AI across industries. During the summit, Book emphasized the importance of taking a forward-looking approach to these challenges.

鈥淲e actually have five generations in the workplace working side by side for the first time in history right now in the United States,鈥� Book said. 鈥淚 believe that the businesses that thrive in the future will be the ones who can put a lot of brain power behind that and leverage it for the future of their business.鈥�

**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This new, customized workshop also presented an opportunity for 黑料不打烊 LA students to learn from and share the creative process with a group of students from other study-away LA colleges and universities, who, along with 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles, are members of a coalition of nearly 20 schools that offer semester-in-LA programs. Each semester, 黑料不打烊 LA and these other schools share professional development opportunities for students, allowing them to mix, mingle, network and learn together.

Each semester, 黑料不打烊 students explore and discover Los Angeles and the diversity of professional career opportunities that await them through academic classes with professors who work in the industries that align with their courses, immersive, site-based experiential learning, alumni engagement and community service.

Applications for the Study USA Los Angeles spring 2027 Creative Industries & Community Experience open on April 1. Students can visit the聽 to learn more and to begin the application process.

Originally a left-handed pitcher recruited to play baseball, Mooney鈥檚 plans shifted overnight when an injury sidelined him before he ever took the field. The setback pushed him into new experiences: student government, leadership fellows, Sigma Chi and a community of mentors who helped him recognize his potential beyond athletics.

鈥淚 was also very fortunate to have some amazing mentors on campus,” he said. “Whether that was, Fred Young and Ron Klepcyk, Gerald Gibson, Gerald Francis, Jana Lynn Patterson, Rex Waters, Dr. Jo Williams鈥� these were people that spoke into me that said, 鈥榃e want you to learn.鈥欌��

Mooney carried that growth mindset into motorsports, eventually working with agencies, global brands, race teams and major sponsors. His roles gave him a rare 360-degree view of the business behind the sport in communications, partnerships, crisis management, and team operations across more than 850 races. He describes motorsports as a living case study in teamwork and continuous improvement.

鈥淓ven if you won on Sunday, Monday morning was, 鈥極kay, what are we going to do differently? What are we going to improve on?鈥欌�� he said.

After 25 years, Mooney made another shift by leaving the constant travel of racing to launch Mooney Consulting Group and support the development of Pocono Organics. He describes the transition as both the most challenging and most necessary chapter of his life, driven by a need for sustainable pace, deeper family presence, and renewed purpose.

鈥淲hat if the last ten, 15, 20 years of your life were the setup for the next 20, 25 years of your life?鈥� he asked.

Much of Mooney鈥檚 current work centers on values-based leadership and proactive reputation building, themes that anchor his book鈥�淩eputation Shift.鈥� Drawing on years of crisis response inside motorsports, he encourages leaders to live their values out loud, strengthening reputation before it is tested.

鈥淚t hit me that, you know, reputation was always reactive. It was a, 鈥榃hat now?鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淚f we could live our values out loud, you probably wouldn鈥檛 have an issue with reputation because it鈥檚 coming from a place that鈥檚 truly yours.鈥�

President Book and Mooney also reflect on defining early experiences, which include their shared memories of working at Kmart as teenagers, and how small moments of integrity and decision-making become early milestones in a leadership journey.

This episode captures the energy, humility, and clarity that have guided Mooney鈥檚 work. His path from unexpected change to purposeful leadership serves as a reminder that transformation begins the moment you decide to change lanes.

Listen to the full episode on , or .

The Business Leaders Hall of Fame is hosted by the Junior Achievement of the Triad, a locally funded nonprofit within the global JA network. The organization partners with community investors and volunteers to bring real-world financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship education into K鈥�12 classrooms across the region. Through these partnerships, Junior Achievement works to inspire young people to dream big and equips them with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and beyond.

Each year, the Hall of Fame, presented by the DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation, recognizes distinguished leaders whose professional achievements, civic engagement and commitment to community impact have made a lasting difference in the Piedmon Triad and beyond. Honorees are selected not only for their business success, but also for their dedication to mentorship, leadership and service.

President Book will be formally recognized during the organization鈥檚 premier gala celebration on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. The event will take place at The Terrace at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro and will bring together business leaders, educators, community partners and supporters of Junior Achievement to celebrate the accomplishments of this year鈥檚 honorees.

Longtime 黑料不打烊 administrator Jeff Stein was reintroduced to the campus community this winter as the university鈥檚 new chief integration officer and executive vice president. A key advisor to 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book and a member of the university鈥檚 senior staff, Stein will collaborate with students, faculty and staff to support the creation of a fully integrated institution through the merger of 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte. Stein, who built a career at 黑料不打烊 and later served as president of Mary Baldwin University, answered questions about what drives his work and why he is excited for the historic merger.

Who is Jeff Stein and what are his responsibilities as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 chief integration officer and executive vice president?

I鈥檓 a product of this community 鈥� a passionate advocate for students and access to mentored opportunities that empower students to launch great lives. For 21 years, 黑料不打烊 provided me the opportunity to work in and out of the classroom with students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and local communities to design the residential campus, community-based learning, Jewish Life, Boldly 黑料不打烊 and more. This community has always supported [my wife] Chrissy and me and our kids, and I鈥檓 thrilled to be back to help guide this innovative merger.

You led the development of the Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan. How will that experience help inform your work in Charlotte and what are effective ways to build strong relationships and develop trust during this type of organizational change?

It鈥檚 all about listening. The voices of thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, 黑料不打烊 families and local community members were needed to shape the Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan. Similarly, the Queens and 黑料不打烊 communities 鈥� your questions, your ideas and your values 鈥� will be integral to shaping the future of the merger.

What are some of the pleasant surprises you鈥檝e encountered as you鈥檝e begun your role in Charlotte?

It鈥檚 been fun to reconnect with the 黑料不打烊 community and to begin getting to know members of the Queens community 鈥� smart, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, who put students first and believe in engaged and mentored learning. Charlotte is full of top-notch restaurants, arts, breweries, sports and rapidly expanding industry. Come visit 黑料不打烊鈥檚 beautiful Tremont building (thank you Holly Hodge and Jenny Gonzalez), and we鈥檒l show you around South End or Uptown.

What does success look like at 黑料不打烊 and at Queens one year from now?

Back in 2022, as part of Boldly 黑料不打烊 implementation, a group of us on the regional learning centers team worked to identify Charlotte as the next location in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 national campus work 鈥� for students, community, alumni and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 brand.

What鈥檚 exciting about how this groundbreaking merger accelerates that work 鈥� and the reason people all over the country are watching 鈥� is that two strong, world-class, student-centered institutions are engaging to expand opportunities for students, and for and with Charlotte.

While much of the next year鈥檚 tasks are regulated by guidelines from the federal government and accreditors, our success will come from planning for integration of our operations and services, imagining new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and developing relationships across 黑料不打烊 and Queens.

鈥淓xcellent public schools create meaningful opportunity for every North Carolinian to succeed,鈥澛爏aid Governor Josh Stein.聽鈥淭his commission represents a bipartisan commitment and an opportunity to make North Carolina鈥檚 public schools the best in the nation.鈥�

The Blue Ribbon Commission is tasked with examining teacher training and student advancement, administrative operations, educational leadership and accountability. Members of the Blue Ribbon Commission were jointly appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

“The educational opportunities in North Carolina open a world of possibilities for our citizens,”聽said Senate Leader Phil Berger.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative that we continue to work collaboratively to ensure North Carolinians have the skills they need to enter the workforce. We need everyone 鈥� business leaders, educators, and policymakers 鈥� to come together to meet the real-world needs of our students. I look forward to seeing the proposals this group suggests to improve educational outcomes for all students.鈥�

The gathering, held at The Belmont in West Hollywood, brought together an enthusiastic group of alumni, many of whom had participated in the 黑料不打烊 LA semester experience during their 黑料不打烊 academic journeys.

Current students shared internship and academic class experiences with their new 黑料不打烊 connections. Many took advantage of the opportunity to request meetings later this semester with individual alumni as a part of the 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles 鈥淐offee with an Alumnus鈥� program.

The immersive Study USA Los Angeles semester and summer experiences offer students opportunities for alumni engagement, community service, unique academic classes with industry professionals, and site-based experiential learning.聽 for Spring 2027 open April 1.