Chancellor touts University’s benefits in South Iredell County visit

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois recently spoke to the South Iredell Developer’s Council, where he focused on how UNC Charlotte is a driving force of economic growth and intellectual capital for the region. Alumnus Brad Howard (’02), CEO of the Langtree Group, extended the invitation for the chancellor to deliver the keynote speech at the council meeting.

During his presentation, Dubois discussed how the University’s educational offerings and applied research endeavors were aligned with Iredell County’s major industries, such as advanced manufacturing, health care, retail, motorsports and energy. Fortune 500 employers Ingersoll Rand and Lowe’s are among the county’s top employers.

Dubois met with Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock (’84) and Bob Hull (’86, ‘88), the company’s CFO and member of the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees, and Michael Lamach, CEO of Ingersoll Rand, to discuss how University research, such as Big Data, energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing, can be leveraged to create jobs for the region, as well as internship opportunities for UNC Charlotte students.

The chancellor also visited Penske Motors the day after team member Joey Logano won the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

Besides discussions with key business leaders, Dubois spoke with Carol Stratton of the Mooresville Weekly and met with Mooresville Mayor Miles Atkins and Town Commissioner David Coble (’99).

In Iredell County’s health care arena, UNC Charlotte’s College of Health and Human Services is partnering with more than 20 agencies for internship/practicum experiences for undergraduate and graduate students at the University. In the realm of the county’s public schools system, more than 250 College of Education alumni are teaching or serving in administrative positions.

Iredell County high school graduates have a significant presence at UNC Charlotte. Of all students enrolled in UNC system institutions from Iredell County, 27 percent attend UNC Charlotte, which is more than any other campus in the system. Of the 900-plus Iredell County students at UNC Charlotte, 101 are first-time freshmen, and 104 are master’s or doctoral students.

“The visit to Mooresville was very successful, as it provided the opportunity to connect with leaders of two Fortune 500 companies, key alumni who are making a difference in the community and elected officials, all to reinforce how UNC Charlotte is committed to addressing the needs of the region,” said Dubois. “Plus, I had the chance to visit a winning NASCAR team.”

The Iredell County trip was the latest in an ongoing effort to build regional support for UNC Charlotte. The chancellor has visited Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincolnton, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties as part of this outreach initiative.