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24 from 2024: Scenes from the past year at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

Take a look back at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's achievements with a selection of 24 photos from 2024.

It was a big year for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Among many major moments, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was ranked #1 in the nation for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report for the fourth consecutive year; the Class of 2028, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s most diverse yet, was welcomed with open arms; Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Law School launched the Flex Law Program in Charlotte and plans for the new HealthEU center were announced.

A selection of 24 photos from the year offers a look at what the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ community accomplished in 2024.

Among the notable news from 2024:

  • The accolades continued to pour in for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. In addition to a #1 ranking for undergraduate teaching, U.S. News and World Report also ranked Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ #1 for learning communities and first-year experiences, and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was ranked in the top 12 in all eight U.S. News and World Report categories of “programs that enhance student experience.â€� The Princetown Review listed Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Law in its 2024 guidebook of “The Best 168 Law Schoolsâ€� and named Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s MBA program as one of the “Best Business Schools for 2024.â€�
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ welcomed several new and familiar faces to university leadership. Hilton Kelly began his role as dean of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Associate Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Haya Ajjan was named the next dean of the school. Anu Räisänen became the inaugural director of HealthEU Initiatives and Professor of Management Mustafa Akben was named Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s first director of artificial intelligence integration.
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ broke its record for study abroad participation with a 94% participation rate among doctoral institutions, according to the 2022-23 Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report.
  • In March, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ launched the Imagining the Digital Future Center, expanding upon the work during the past 20 years of The Imagining the Internet Center with scholar-in-residence Lee Rainie, with the Pew Research Center, now at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ as the new center’s director.
  • A new partnership with Novant Health will allow students in Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Physician Assistant Studies program to undertake hands-on clinical education in the Charlotte metro area.
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and eight other colleges and universities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania joined forces to bring an innovative, large-scale solar facility online in western Kentucky. The project is a significant step in Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s journey to carbon neutrality by 2037.
  • Several new facilities opened on campus including a new EcoVillage at Loy Farm and the East Neighborhood Commons. Final renovations were also completed at the Gerald L. Francis Center to include skills labs, classrooms, student study spaces and an interprofessional lab.
  • The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Medallion, the university’s highest honor for service, was awarded to four: Trustee Noel Allen ‘69 in April and three former university leaders in August: Provost Emeritx Steven House, former Senior Associate Athletics Director Kyle Wills and former Vice President for Access and Success Jean Rattigan-Rohr.
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ announced a $3 million fundraising campaign to expand and enhance training and practice facilities for the men’s and women’s golf teams, creating one of the golf facilities in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and college golf.
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ said farewell to the Class of 2024 with actor Ginna Claire Mason ’13, formerly Glinda in Broadway’s “Wicked,â€� delivering the 2024 commencement address, encouraging graduates to “dream big, keep going and sing out.â€�
  • Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s 17th annual Night of the Phoenix event set a new record, raising $521,923 for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Athletics.
  • The university welcomed several speakers to campus through the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Speaker Series including authors Herb Frazier, Bernard Powers and Marjory Wentworth; Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford; Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony La Russa; former presidential advisor David Gergen and his son Christopher Gergen; environmental activist and author Leah Thomas; Havard professor and bestselling author Arthur Brooks and retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint chiefs of staff, who delivered the inaugural Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship.