Dr. Suzanne Altobello named Belk Distinguished Professor for the College of Business and Economics
Dr. Suzanne Altobello has been named the William Henry Belk Distinguished Professor Chair in Business Administration at UNC Pembroke. Altobello returns to UNCP after serving three years as a business faculty member from 2015 to 2018. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education, including internationally.
UNCP nursing student wins a $25,000 scholarship
Dekiah Parson, a junior nursing student at UNC Pembroke, has won a $25,000 scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation. Parson, an employee of Taco Bell in Fayetteville, was among 26 students nationwide to receive the full scholarship amount. She plans to use the money toward graduate school. Parson discovered her passion for medicine after her godsister, London, was born prematurely. Her birth led to several health issues.
Lynch, Walton named Udall Scholars
Aiyana Lynch and Sonny Walton have been named 2021 Udall Scholars–marking the first time two UNC Pembroke students were honored in the same year.
UNCP honors local icon establishing the Dr. Adolph L. Dial Endowed Professorship of American Indian Studies
Dr. Adolph L. Dial was once described as “a man for all seasons” largely due to his vast and varied life experiences which he readily shared with both students at UNC Pembroke and his community. His goal was always to inspire and make his world better than he found it. A key figure in the history of the university and Lumbee Tribe, Dial founded the American Indian Studies department and served 30 years as a faculty member directly influencing generations of students—an impact evidenced in the region’s leaders of today who called him a mentor, teacher and scholar.
Dr. Laura Staal wins Board of Governors 2021 Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hannah Middleton reached a crossroads during her sophomore year at UNCP. She began questioning whether a career in teaching was in her future. “I began having doubts about whether teaching was for me. I was actually about to talk to my advisor about getting out of the teaching program altogether,” she said. After taking Dr. Laura Staal’s Foundations of Reading course, Middleton rediscovered her passion. Rejuvenated, she went on to earn her degree and is weeks away from completing her first year as a special education teacher in Robeson County.
UNCP pair admitted to School of Veterinary Medicine at NC State
Alexis High is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a veterinarian. High will become the first graduate of UNCP’s Veterinary Education Access Scholars Program, a pathway initiative formed four years ago granting a select number of biology students guaranteed acceptance into N.C. State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine program. She is on track to complete her biology degree in May and begin the veterinary program this summer.
UNCP research scientist Ben Bahr earns top mentoring award
UNC Pembroke neuroscientist Ben Bahr has received the 2021 Outstanding Mentor Award from the health sciences division of the Council on Undergraduate Research. The award is a testament to Dr. Bahr’s passion for teaching the next generation of scientists and researchers. The award honors exceptional mentoring and advising by higher education faculty across all subdivisions of health sciences. Bahr joined the UNCP faculty in 2009 as the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
Bahr Lab’s Paper on Traumatic Brain Injury Makes Headline News
Ben Bahr’s lab has made dramatic and award-winning progress in understanding and addressing the underlying causes and risk factors with regard to Alzheimer’s disease. In collaboration with researchers at the U.S.
Two graduate counseling programs earn re-accreditation
UNC Pembroke has been granted extension of accreditation of two of its graduate counseling programs. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling programs received accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Both programs received an eight-year extension through March 2029. Both programs offer a hybrid approach to course delivery which combines face-to-face classroom instruction with online activities.