Academic Affairs

Charlotte Engineering Early College, located on the Charlotte Research Institute campus near CRI Deck 1, will open Monday, Aug. 25. The high school’s initial enrollment of 100 freshmen will be dropped off in personal vehicles or in one of six buses operated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Classes get under way Monday, Aug. 25, at the new Charlotte Engineering Early College, located in the shadow of EPIC. It is the first of its kind for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).
The inaugural class of 100 ninth-graders from across Mecklenburg County will delve into a curriculum that focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses, with a special emphasis on energy and engineering. A new school building was constructed near CRI Deck 1 for this collaboration between CMS and UNC Charlotte.

Jonathan Crane, associate professor in the Communication Studies Department, is one of five finalists for a prestigious UNC Charlotte honor – the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. Prior to the official ceremony to name the award recipient, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 5, Inside UNC Charlotte will profile the other finalists: Fumie Kato, associate professor, languages and culture studies; Tracy Rock, associate professor, reading and elementary education; and Debra Smith, associate professor, Africana studies.

Fumie Kato, associate professor in the Department of Languages and Culture Studies, is the 2014 recipient of the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship for Teaching. Her selection was announced during the annual University Convocation Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Provost Joan Lorden, in revealing the honor, said, “Kato uses her expertise in applied linguistics with emphases on language pedagogy, student motivation and learning strategies to strengthen the degree program and inspire her colleagues.” 

The Washington Center has named UNC Charlotte its New Affiliate of the Year for 2014. The honor recognizes the University’s consistent and exceptional support of and partnership with the Washington Center.
Mike Smith, president of the Washington Center, stated UNC Charlotte and other center award recipients are shining examples of higher education institutions and organizations that place a priority on experiential learning.

Watch a live webcast of today’s University Convocation starting at 9:30 a.m. Chancellor Philip L. Dubois and Provost Joan Lorden will address faculty, staff and students at this yearly event.

Anita Blowers, associate professor of criminal justice and criminology, is among the five finalists for the 2014 Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the University’s highest honors.

While new to the University Honors Program, Jennifer Warner is a veteran UNC Charlotte faculty member. In assuming the UHP directorship, Warner brings a STEM perspective to the program.
Warner first arrived on campus as a graduate student 20 years ago to pursue a master’s degree in biology. While a full-time faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences, Warner completed a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at UNC Greensboro.

Gina Ramoz recently joined UNC Charlotte as biosafety director in the Office of Research and Economic Development.
With nearly 30 years of scientific experience working in clinical, research and academic laboratories, Ramoz will manage the biosafety program for the University’s rapidly growing and evolving research and academic environment.

UNC Charlotte chemistry major Alexis Brown is spending her summer participating in a groundbreaking program at the North Carolina Research Campus, exploring the plant pathways of food crops such as blueberries, oats and strawberries.  And more.
“We are trying to create the super broccoli,” she said.