UNCP celebrates 136 years of history on Founders’ Day
UNC Pembroke marked Founders’ Day with a ceremony celebrating its remarkable history, sharing stories of the institution’s founders and their commitment to providing access to education.
UNCP alumnus among first Peace Corps volunteers to return overseas
UNC Pembroke alumnus Cedric Turner-Kopa is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ph.D. candidate Garrett Chavis returns to alma mater, offers advice to UNCP undergraduates
UNC Pembroke graduate Garrett Chavis admits he was unsure how his academic credentials would stack up to that of other first-year Ph.D. students at the University of Michigan Medical School––home to one of the top research medical programs in the country. “I was extremely intimidated, coming from a smaller institute to a world-wide recognized institute where there are the top scientists in their field,” he said.
UNCP professor, alumna named as 2022 AASHE Sustainability Award finalists
UNC Pembroke professor Scott Hicks and alumna Olivia Sadler are finalists for a 2022 AASHE Sustainability Award recognizing outstanding scholarship in higher education. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) announced that “A Survey of Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge of University Undergraduate Students for the Purpose of Faculty Development in Teaching and Learning for Sustainability” is among the finalists in the Campus Sustainability Research category.
UNCP celebrates opening of The Curt and Catherine Locklear American Indian Heritage Center
Kaloni Walton felt a sense of belonging after meeting with the American Indian Heritage Center at UNC Pembroke as a high school senior two years ago. It was this unique connection that impacted her decision to enroll. Walton was among the guest speakers during the grand opening of The Curt and Catherine Locklear American Indian Heritage Center before an overflow crowd in front of the steps of Old Main on Tuesday. Walton, now a sophomore, shared how the center has impacted her academic journey.
UNCP recognizes distinguished alumni, Hall of Fame inductees
Four distinguished UNC Pembroke alumni were honored at the 54th annual Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, October 28. This year’s recipients are Vanessa Gonzalez (Distinguished Alumni Award), Paul Willoughby Jr. (Outstanding Alumnus), Dr. Ethan Sanford (Young Alumni Award) and Dr. Kennedi Stewart Henry (Young Alumni Award). The late Hampton Brayboy and his wife, Pattie, were posthumously recognized during a special presentation. The ceremony was held at the Upchurch Auditorium at James A. Thomas Hall.
Former elite student-athletes to headline Fall Speaker Series
A star-studded alumni panel of former standout student-athletes will kick off a new speaker series presented by Campus Engagement and Leadership at UNC Pembroke on October 20. Pardon Ndhlovu, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of UNCP cross country, will join former All-American volleyball player Melanie Grooms Garrett and Air Force Colonel and former baseball star Carlos Berdecia for the first of several engaging, thought-provoking discussions.
UNCP alumnus, FAEL participant appointed director of federal programs
Philip Oxendine, 2021 First Americans’ Educational Leadership (FAEL) cohort alumnus, was recently appointed as the director of federal programs with the Public Schools of Robeson County. In his role, Oxendine will be responsible for making recommendations for assisting schools within the district to develop federal programs and services for continuous improvement. Additionally, he will help to provide school leaders with developments in curriculum, research-based instructional strategies and professional development. Oxendine is a two-time graduate of UNCP.
Alumna Cheyenne Lee offers advice to UNCP undergraduate researchers
As a fourth-year doctoral candidate researching the genetic factors behind Clostridioides difficile infections at one of the nation’s top research universities, there’s not much free time carved out in Cheyenne Lee's schedule these days. When Lee managed to block off a day recently, she made the five-hour trek to her alma mater to advise current UNCP undergraduate students considering the graduate school path. It was important for Lee to give back to the institution that helped ease her transition to the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics program at Emory University.
UNCP welcomes new Board of Visitors members
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke recently announced five new members of the Board of Visitors. The appointees are Trey Allen, Faline Locklear Dial, Don Hall, Dr. Kennedi Henry, and Ramón Zepeda. The 26-member board, appointed by Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, is comprised of alumni and non-alumni members from across the region and state, representing major stakeholders in education, legal, health services, industry and public sector.