�鶹��Ƶ Charlotte | Today at �鶹��Ƶ | �鶹��Ƶ

Queens board leadership installed on �鶹��Ƶ Board of Trustees

Eric Townsend — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:11:07 +0000

The �鶹��Ƶ Board of Trustees installed several new members on Oct. 23, 2026, welcoming a group of corporate, community, nonprofit and alumni leaders who served on the Queens University of Charlotte Board of Trustees.

The installation took place in Charlotte where �鶹��Ƶ’s trustees gathered for their Fall 2026 meeting where Board Secretary Dr. Kebbler M. Williams ’98 administered the oath of office. It represented another milestone in the integration of the two institutions, first announced in September 2025.

The Board of Trustees has ultimate corporate and fiduciary responsibility for �鶹��Ƶ. It oversees �鶹��Ƶ’s long-term health and strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and overall advancement of the university’s mission.

New Members of the �鶹��Ƶ Board of Trustees

(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

Tanya Stewart Blackmon ’00
President and Founder, Auspen Consulting

Tanya Blackmon formerly served as an executive with Novant Health. She attended NC A&T State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in social work, earned a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Business Administration from the McColl School of Business. Blackmon has served on the McColl School Board of Advisors. She has two children.

Sally Gambrell Bridgford ’87, P’23
Chief Executive Officer, The Gambrell Foundation and Belk Gambrell Enterprises

Sally Gambrell Bridgford has become a voice for closing the gaps of inequity and building communities that allow individuals to thrive and contribute. She attended Queens and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Bridgford has four children and she and her husband, Brian, live in Charlotte.

Nakesha Lopez
Executive Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer for Advocate Health

Nakesha Lopez brings more than two decades of experience in human resources to the Board of Trustees. She previously served as chief human resources officer for Baylor Scott & White Health. Lopez earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hunter College and a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. She and her husband, Terrence McAllister, have two children.

Susan McConnell ’83, ’13
Former Vice President and Director, Higher Education/Human Resources, The Duke Endowment

Susan McConnell joined the Queens Board of Trustees in 2019 after previously serving as an ex-officio member during her term as president of the Alumni Association. She received her bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Science in Executive Coaching from Queens.

Brandon D. Perry
Principal, Highmarket Properties LLC

A native Virginian, Brandon D. Perry moved to Charlotte in 1998 to join the financial services practice of the technology consultancy American Management Systems (now CGI) . In 2012, he launched his own firm to focus on commercial real estate investments full-time. Perry holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Virginia Tech. He and his wife, Karen, have been members of the Queens Board of Visitors since 2011, serving as co-chairs from 2014–2017, and are the parents of four children.

Elizabeth Persson ’00
Community Leader; Former Executive Vice President, Human Capital for Red Ventures

Elizabeth Persson has twice served Queens as a member of its Board of Trustees. She also has served as a member of Queens’ Board of Visitors and on the Alumni Association Board. Persson earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Queens. Prior to her work at Red Ventures, Persson was a vice president at Bank of America. She and her husband, Klas, have two children.

Robert “Bob” Salvin
Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Salvin Dental Specialties Inc.

In addition to seven years of service on the Queens Board of Trustees, Robert “Bob” Salvin has served on the Board of Trustees of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; is past president of the Metrolina Business Council and the Charlotte World Trade Association; and, with his wife Susan, has served on the Queens Board of Visitors. Salvin is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner and received his Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology from North Carolina State University.

Caroline Wannamaker Sink
Shareholder, Robinson Bradshaw

A partner with Robinson Bradshaw, Caroline Sink has been a longtime member of the Queens Board of Trustees. She also has served on the Board of Visitors of Salem College, is an emerita member of the Law Council of Washington and Lee University School of Law and served as board chair for Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region. Sink earned a bachelor’s degree from Salem College and received her law degree from Washington and Lee University. She and her husband, Bob, have one child.

A ninth member of the Queens University Board of Trustees, Charlotte community leader Audean H. Godehn ’97, was unable to attend the October meeting and will be installed by the �鶹��Ƶ board at a future date. A magna cum laude Queens graduate, Godehn served on the Queens Alumni Board from 2002-2005, is past president of Friends of the Library, and has been an active volunteer with the American Red Cross, Junior League of Charlotte, and Charlotte’s performing arts community.

She and her husband, Berkley, have been members of the Board of Visitors since 2014.

The �鶹��Ƶ Board of Trustees also installed Omari Emmanuel ’26 as youth trustee. Emmanuel, a 2026 graduate of Queens, was announced in July as the newest youth trustee selected for service on the board and the October meeting marked the official start of his three-year term.

Eric Sklut P’14 and Amy Muntner P’24, parents of two �鶹��Ƶ graduates, also took the oath of office following their election at the board’s 2026 spring meeting.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes center stage at Queens

Anna Pomaro — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:14:20 +0000

Queens University of Charlotte’s signature Learning Society event returned on Tuesday, Oct. 27, welcoming the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, to a sold-out crowd at the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Navigating Change, Empowering Progress: A Roadmap for Leaders Committed to Community and Democracy,” Trudeau shared insights from his time in office, emphasizing strategies for democratic resilience and inclusive leadership.

Made possible by a transformative gift from Bob and Susan Salvin through the Salvin Impact Fund, the event reinforced Queens’ legacy as a premier regional convener in Charlotte, serving as a hub of thought leadership, public programming, and civic engagement.

President Connie Ledoux Book moderates a discussion with Mr. Trudeau.

�鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book served as the moderator for the main evening program, guiding a thought-provoking discussion on global governance and civic discourse.

Just prior to the evening lecture, Trudeau participated in a student-led discussion moderated by Queens student Sana Konar ’28, a biology major from Charlotte. Alongside three student co-panelists, Trudeau emphasized the importance of youth engagement in shaping the future of their communities.

“We don’t need you to be leaders tomorrow, we need you to be leaders today,” Trudeau said. “We need you to understand the choices you make now, how you choose to spend your time, how you choose to spend your money, how you choose to vote, how you choose to engage, matter deeply and can shape the world.”

Trudeau’s message struck a powerful, immediate chord with Konar, founder and president of the Queens Health Equity Alliance. The student group created a community resource map piloted across local organizations, connecting underserved populations directly with vital healthcare accessibility tools.

For Konar, Trudeau’s call to action gave fresh purpose to her own career path as she prepares to apply to medical school this coming spring.

“I don’t have to wait until I’m a doctor to help bridge healthcare equity gaps,” Konar shared. “I want to work right now to progress healthcare equity and bridge those gaps to make an impact today.”

Redefining True Leadership

Reflecting on his decade in office navigating international diplomacy and domestic policy, Trudeau challenged traditional notions of authority.

“Real leadership isn’t about being the boss and telling everyone how it’s going to be,” Trudeau said. “Real leadership is empowering everyone around you to be the very best version of themselves. Leadership is about lifting up all those around you to try and create the maximum impact.”

A Uniquely Transformative Experience for Queens

For Konar and her fellow student panelists, the opportunity to sit down with a former head of state highlighted the unique value of the Queens student experience. Reflecting on the event, Konar emphasized how moments like these inspire students to think bigger about their own potential.

Mr. Trudeau engages with Queens students at The Learning Society event on Oct. 27, 2026.

“It’s incredibly important to have global leaders come and speak in Charlotte. It helps us imagine what is possible, how big our dreams can be,” Konar said. “It gives us an opportunity to interact with global leaders that we wouldn’t be able to otherwise if it weren’t for the Learning Society.”

In closing, Trudeau left the Charlotte audience with an empowering note of hope for the future of global democracy and youth engagement.

“I remain optimistic because I’ve seen just how many good people throughout political systems around the world are leaning in on trying to do right by their people and right by the future that we borrow from our grandchildren rather than inherit from our parents.”

Focus forward: Ally Financial CEO Michael Rhodes shares leadership insights at Queens

Anna Pomaro — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 21:15:19 +0000

Drawing on a career spanning mechanical engineering, technology, and global banking, the chief executive officer of a leading digital financial services company recounted his leadership journey with a Queens audience hosted this fall by the university’s McColl School of Business.

Michael Rhodes, CEO of Ally Financial, Inc., delivered his remarks on Oct. 21 as part of the Peter and Kathy Browning Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture Series, which connects members of the campus community with regional corporate executives.

Rhodes shared with his audience in Ketner Auditorium his candid reflections on leading the nation’s largest all-digital bank, his unconventional career trajectory, and the core philosophies guiding his executive leadership.

Building High-Performing Teams

Drawing on executive roles across Bank of America, TD Bank Group, Discover Financial Services, and Ally Financial, Rhodes emphasized that individual heroics cannot scale an enterprise. Early line-management advice shaped his foundational approach: know your team members’ stories, protect their schedules, and support their incentive plans.

To scale leadership effectively across complex organizations, Rhodes relies on his “Four L’s” framework: listening to cultivate transparency and trust, learning as a dedicated student of the business, leading by translating vision into execution, and honoring legacy by respecting organizational history.

“Honoring the legacy of an organization is incredibly important,” Rhodes said. “Organizations have a lot of institutional pride, and taking the time to understand and respect that history before launching the next chapter is essential.”

When evaluating and assembling top-tier talent, Rhodes looks across four core dimensions: head (curiosity), heart (genuine care), hands (execution), and guts (courage under pressure).

Importance of Student Impact

Emphasizing the value of engaging directly with students, Rhodes highlighted adaptability and curiosity as essential drivers of career growth.

“Careers rarely follow a straight line,” Rhodes shared. “The most important opportunities often come from being curious, raising your hand for challenges that stretch you, and staying open to paths you didn’t expect. Adaptability, relationships, and continuous learning matter just as much as any career plan, and those qualities often make the difference when opportunities arise that you never could have anticipated.”

The conversation was moderated by Will Sparks, executive director of the Center for Leadership and Executive Education, and students said that Rhodes’s messages deeply resonated with them.

“Hearing the CEO of Ally Financial speak freely about his love for learning and simply not taking ‘no’ for an answer was incredibly inspiring,” said Allie Bostic ’27, a senior sport management major from Monroe, North Carolina. “It was validating to realize how much of that mindset I share.”

For Catherine Stewart ’27, a senior international studies and business major from Jersey, United Kingdom, Rhodes’ emphasis on human-centered management mirrored her coursework at Queens.

“In my classes, we’ve been studying how crucial relationships are in leadership,” Stewart said. “Hearing Mr. Rhodes emphasized the importance of backing your people and building relationships on trust and transparency really stood out to me.”

Addressing emerging technologies, Rhodes cautioned against adopting artificial intelligence without a clear purpose. “At Ally, we anchor our AI approaches strictly in what business problem we are trying to solve,” Rhodes said, citing current use cases in contact centers and software development.

Closing the event, Rhodes spoke enthusiastically about Charlotte’s recent growth, hailing the Queen City as an unparalleled hub for business and innovation. Having worked across major global financial centers throughout the country, Rhodes praised the region’s extraordinary economic momentum, collaborative corporate community, and vibrant quality of life.

“The energy, the collaborative business community, and the quality of life here make Charlotte an extraordinary place for companies like Ally to grow and for the next generation of leaders to build their careers,” said Rhodes.

Michael Rhodes, CEO of Ally Financial (center) joins members of the Senior Leadership Team at the Peter & Kathy Browning Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture Series.

Sport Management Internship Forum puts student learning in the spotlight

Tommy Kopetskie — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:07:24 +0000

Skyler Cook ’28 (from left), Sydney Moore ’27, Jack Gill ’27 and Zach Smith ’27 look on as Anthony Bamford ’25 delivers the keynote address at the Sport Management Internship Forum on Oct. 12. The four students later participated in a panel discussion highlighting internships and career opportunities in the sport industry.

On his first day working guest services during FIFA soccer matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, discovered that he didn’t know the sprawling venue’s layout all that well.

With only a brief stadium tour during his internship training, the sport management major struggled to locate certain sections while helping fans find their seats. Determined to be better prepared, Smith arrived an hour early for his next shift to explore the stadium and familiarize himself with its layout.

Gill (with the microphone) discusses his internship with NASCAR Productions during a student panel on Oct. 12, sharing how the opportunity strengthened his production skills and helped prepare him for a career in motorsports media.

That initiative became one of the most valuable lessons of his summer internship.

“In my experience, I was kind of expected to learn as I go, or even teach myself a lot of things,” Smith said. “It was a lot less structured. There wasn’t a professor, you know, telling me you have to turn this in at this time.”

Smith shared his story during the Sport Management Internship Forum on Oct. 12, joining fellow students and for a panel discussion about navigating the sport industry, overcoming workplace challenges, and building professional relationships. To view photos from the forum, .

Held in Turner Theatre and the Snow Family Grand Atrium, the annual forum brought together students and faculty to discuss internships and explore potential career paths. Moderated by , the student panel offered a firsthand look at working behind the scenes for prominent sport organizations.

Learning beyond the classroom

For Gill, a senior from Frederick, Maryland, an internship with NASCAR Productions allowed him to combine his interests in motorsports and media.

Gill secured the position while participating in The Sport Experience in Charlotte, drawing on his relationship with Associate Dean Tony Weaver and his involvement in campus media activities.

Once at NASCAR, he quickly recognized that the expectations of a professional production environment differed from those of the classroom.

While his coursework had introduced him to Adobe Premiere Pro, Gill needed to sharpen his editing skills to meet the demands of the position. He learned that asking questions and seeking guidance from colleagues were essential parts of professional growth.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re at your job, at your internship, because there’s no shame in it,” Gill said.

Ryan Nedwed ’27 shares insights from his internship with the Burlington Sock Puppets during the forum’s informal networking session.

The internship reinforced the importance of punctuality, preparation and accountability. Gill has since expanded his motorsports journalism work, including covering a NASCAR race in Richmond, Virginia, where he interviewed drivers alongside established industry reporters.

Moore, a sport management and psychology double major from Wellesley, Massachusetts, spent the summer working in community relations for the Boston Red Sox.

Her responsibilities ranged from hosting community groups before games at Fenway Park to participating in events around Boston. Some workdays stretched from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., a significant adjustment from the predictable schedule of college classes.

Still, Moore found that some of her most rewarding moments came when she volunteered for assignments outside her regular duties. She assisted with ticketing, marketing, concerts and the organization’s charitable foundation, gaining a broader understanding of the many career paths available to her.

“Those were honestly like the best moments I have for my entire summer because it not only introduced me to so many other people that I got to work with, but also like it really connected me to the other interns in my program who are still some of my best friends,” Moore said.

Zoey Hayes ’29 (right) discusses her internship with the Atlantic Coast Conference with Lindsay Pieper, assistant professor of sport management, during the Sport Management Internship Forum on Oct. 12.

Finding direction through internships

The forum opened with a keynote address from Anthony Bamford ’25, coordinating producer for �鶹��Ƶ Sports Vision, who reflected on how internships helped shape his career interests.

Before returning to his alma mater, Bamford interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference and Durham Bulls, gaining exposure to different areas of the sport industry, from game operations and event management to live production.

Anthony Bamford ’25, coordinating producer for �鶹��Ƶ Sports Vision, delivers the keynote address, sharing lessons from his internships with the Atlantic Coast Conference and Durham Bulls and how they helped shape his career path.

During his time with the ACC, Bamford helped coordinate officiating logistics and game-day operations. One of his biggest responsibilities involved leading approximately 30 volunteers for activities at the ACC Football Championship. The assignment challenged him to become a more confident leader, particularly when directing volunteers who were older and more experienced.

Bamford encouraged students to look beyond the résumé-building benefits of internships, noting that they can also open doors to research, networking and career exploration.

“Just because your internship ends doesn’t mean what you’re doing as an intern has to end,” Bamford said. “It’s all stuff you can carry over and keep moving forward.”

Following the presentations in Turner Theatre, students gathered in the Snow Family Grand Atrium for an informal networking session featuring internship presentations.

Nearly 50 student interns were listed as participants, representing organizations across professional and collegiate sports, media, marketing, community recreation and event management. Their placements included the Cincinnati Reds, FOX Sports, Atlantic Coast Conference, D.C. United, PGA Tour Live and numerous other organizations.

Student Interns

Caleb Albert – American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)
Laila Anderson – Baller Sports Agency
Henry Anning – Cincinnati Reds
Grace Carabillo – Northside Youth Organization
Brodie Carroll – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Hannah Chandler – Danville Otterbots
Andrew Cox – Element 78 Experiences
Tyler Craig – Richmond Kickers
Seth Cushinsky – Gastonia Ghost Peppers
John Drape – Octagon, FIFA World Cup
Maddie Engelkraut – Fox Sports NYC
Jack Farmer – Bourne Braves
Luke Forrester – Nike Tennis Camp/Pepperdine University
Madi Galindo – Peak Sport Management, Wofford College
Jack Griffin – Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
Jonah Grossman – SunBelt Baseball League
Tone Hart – Alamance County YMCA
Jack Hayes – Queen City SC
Zoey Hayes – Atlantic Coast Conference
Eric Jones – Alamance Community College Youth Summer Camp
Owen Kelley – Salvation Army Burlington
Nhycer Kelly – Salvation Army Burlington
Wynne Kenna – Joe Favorito
Nate Kennedy – RBC Wealth Management
Martin Kozak – Hickory FC
Ari Lloyd-Farber – Brewster Whitecaps
Jackson Marcus – WAVY 10
Kaitlin Mariani – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Emma Mayo – Breezemont Summer Camp
Justin Miles – PGA Tour Live
Logan Miller – FIFA World Cup/NAPA Auto
Sydney Moore – Boston Red Sox
Ryan Nedwed – Burlington Sock Puppets
Alex Neuman – IMG Licensing
Anna Pfeiffer – High Point Rockers
Lincoln Proops – Prospect Select Baseball
Will Riggs – Zawyer Sports
Liv Roellke – Burlington United FC
Lily Rosenberg – Danbury Westerners
Ryan Shorten – Durham Bulls
Noah Stephenson – The Sports and Entertainment Group
Nate Sterling – All the Smoke Productions
Aiden Stuart – Foundation Management & Pro-productions Inc.
Jack Taggard – Danville Otterbots
Joe Taylor – Salem City FC
Abby Waeltz – Flex Works Sports
Holden Warsham – Lake Norman Harbor Hippos
Zimere Winston – �鶹��Ƶ Athletics
Mia Zebley – DC United
Jacob Zik – Body Focus Performance
Carena Ziolkowski – Danvers Indoor Sports

Bridging design and community: How Queens graphic design students are shaping the next generation of local Latinx businesses

Anna Pomaro — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:38:00 +0000

When Melissa Gamez, associate professor of design at Queens University of Charlotte, connected with the over the summer, she saw an opportunity that aligned seamlessly with the university’s motto: “Not to be served, but to serve.”

The LINK Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to leveraging technology to equalize access to resources for immigrants and vulnerable communities, was preparing to launch its this fall to support emerging Hispanic entrepreneurs across Charlotte.

Gamez knew immediately where this partnership belonged: her senior graphic design capstone course, and this fall all 14 students in the capstone class are putting their years of visual design and strategic thinking into practice by building complete visual identities for Hispanic entrepreneurs in the community.

Through an intensive three-week sprint, each student is paired directly with a business owner to deliver a comprehensive brand identity package including logo variations, brand guidelines, usage rules and collateral mockups which will then be handed off to LINK’s web development team to launch live client websites.

Experiential Learning with Real-World Impact

For these senior design students, the project moves beyond the typical classroom assignment. It introduces live clients, firm deadlines, and the real-world responsibility of helping a local business build its identity.

“We give them projects in the classroom all the time, but when they’re working with a live human being who has a business and a deadline to get to the next step, it actualizes that for them in a different way,” Gamez said. “This type of project also provides a great opportunity to take care of your community. We teach out students the importance of giving back. This is experiential learning built around a culturally rich heritage.”

The collaboration also offers students a chance to refine their professional communication skills and navigate cross-cultural collaboration. Because not all participating entrepreneurs are native English speakers, students utilize digital translation tools during virtual meetings on Google Meet to ensure seamless communication.

Building Bridges and Cultural Connections

During a recent classroom visit to observe initial concept creation presentations, Pedro Cordido, technology director at the LINK Foundation, highlighted the deeper purpose behind the partnership.

“We are here to build bridges and create new paths,” Cordido told the students. “You are in the final lap of your academic career, about to work in the real world. And today, before even graduating from Queens, you are helping people in the Charlotte community build their dreams, and at the same time, you are building your own dream.”

For two students in the class who identify with the Latinx community, the capstone project represents a deeply personal opportunity to bridge creative talent and cultural advocacy.

Queens student Anahi Maciel ’27 presents graphic design concepts to the class.

Anahi Maciel ’27, a double major in graphic design and business who was born in Mexico and raised in Charlotte, felt an immediate connection to the initiative.

“When I heard about the project, I thought it was a great opportunity for us as a stepping stone to the outside professional world,” Maciel shared. “Being able to help my own community allows me to ‘pay it forward’ and lets me do what I love.”

Maciel is paired with entrepreneur Camila Cruz, who is launching a holistic wellness center focused on spiritual growth, empowerment and personal transformation.

Queens student Mandy Gutierrez ’27 presents design concepts to the class.

For Mandy Gutierrez ’27, a transfer student from Voorhees, New Jersey, and a student-athlete on Queens’ women’s rugby team, the initiative offered a chance to make an immediate impact in her new city. The daughter of Puerto Rican and Nicaraguan parents, Gutierrez felt a deep connection to the project’s mission.

“I originally went into art therapy because I love helping people, but I realized graphic design allowed me to create even more,” Gutierrez said. “Using my passion and skills to give back to the community is so important to me. When I spoke with my client, she said she was thrilled to work with someone who truly understood her—without worrying about anything getting lost in translation.”

Gutierrez is collaborating with Willeny Figuera, a Venezuelan entrepreneur behind Valery’s Cakes, a custom bakery named after Figuera’s daughter, specializing in cakes for quinceañeras, weddings and community events.

A Full-Circle Journey

For Gamez, watching her students lead client consultations and guide real-world brand strategy is the culmination of a four-year journey. Having taught many of these same students during their first year at Queens, she has seen them transform from timid beginners into self-assured, creative problem solvers.

“They arrive at Queens with little knowledge of graphic design — and that’s expected — so they’re naturally nervous,” Gamez said. “But by their senior year, they’ve transformed into independent strategic thinkers and creative problem solvers. Seeing that growth is my favorite part of teaching.”

Elevating Local Latinx Leaders

As the design sprint progresses, moving from initial sketches and class critiques to polished, final brand guidelines, the students gain more than just course credit. They walk away with a published, professional case study to add to their portfolios upon graduation, while local Latinx entrepreneurs receive high-caliber branding assets to launch and grow their businesses.

“Our students love these experiences and having real work that’s going to be out there in the world,” Gamez said. “This is a fantastic benefit for them, and it shows the power of giving back to the community you live in.”

�鶹��Ƶ Law partners with Charlotte organizations for ‘Public Square’ conversation series

Michael Abernethy — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:24:22 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ School of Law is joining prominent Charlotte organizations to bring residents together for conversations about democracy, civic responsibility and the importance of engaging with different perspectives.

The law school is a programming partner for , a new civic conversation series produced by the . The inaugural event, “Freedom and Responsibility: What We Owe Each Other,” will take place Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Carolina Theatre at Belk Place in Charlotte.

Event details

“Freedom and Responsibility: What We Owe Each Other”

A moderated conversation featuring Carol Quillen, John Hood and Melissa Murray

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Carolina Theatre at Belk Place, 230 N Tryon, Charlotte, NC 28202

General admission is $35. Student admissions is $15.

“At �鶹��Ƶ Law, we prepare students to listen carefully, think critically and consider opposing views. Public Square brings people together to ask tough questions, debate ideas and learn from each other in pursuit of a stronger democracy,” said Dean Zak Kramer. “That makes this a natural partnership. As the law school grows in Charlotte, we’re excited to contribute even more to the civic life of this community.”

�鶹��Ƶ Law’s participation in Public Square comes as the university expands its presence in Charlotte through a merger with Queens University of Charlotte. The law school launched its part-time Flex Program there in 2024, and will welcome its first full-time Charlotte J.D. class in fall 2027. Beginning next fall, both programs will operate on the historic Myers Park campus.

A conversation about freedom and responsibility

The inaugural Public Square conversation will explore the relationship between individual liberty, shared responsibility and the obligations Americans have to one another.

Carol Quillen, former president of Davidson College and former CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will moderate a discussion between John Hood, president of the John William Pope Foundation, and Melissa Murray, the Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at New York University.

Hood will explore individual liberty and personal responsibility, while Murray will address collective investment and the conditions necessary for meaningful freedom.

Quillen recently discussed the series and the importance of respectful disagreement in , Charlotte’s public radio station and a partner of the event.

The series seeks to encourage conversations across differences, model respectful civic discourse and create opportunities for Charlotte residents to consider questions that shape their communities and the nation.

“I am so grateful to our donors and partners for joining CMLF on this journey to gather our diverse community for conversations that matter to our personal lives and collective well-being,” said Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation Executive Director Jenni Gaisbauer. “This series aligns with the Library’s commitment to protecting the First Amendment’s guarantee of free and open access to information and ideas – a principle vital to our democracy and to each individual’s search for knowledge.”

�鶹��Ƶ Law students contribute to the conversation

�鶹��Ƶ Law students will play a distinctive role in bringing that civic engagement to life.

Four students from the law school’s Greensboro and Charlotte programs will serve as content navigators, contributing legal and constitutional context to the discussion, engaging with audience questions and making complex issues more accessible to participants.

�鶹��Ƶ Law students Stellarose Emery L’27, Ashley Holmes L’26, Mandy Mead LF’29 and Jeremy Yagoda LF’29 will serve as content navigators for Public Square audiences Oct. 29.

The students are:

Stellarose Emery L’27, Greensboro full-time J.D. program
Ashley Holmes L’26, Greensboro full-time J.D. program
Mandy Mead LF’29, Charlotte Flex Program
Jeremy Yagoda LF’29, Charlotte Flex Program

“So much of how we talk about politics now happens on a screen, in short bursts, with people who already agree with us. That isn’t how self-government is supposed to work,” said Yagoda, whose full-time job is as board and grant specialist at the Foundation For The Carolinas — also a partner of Public Square. “Charlotte is growing and changing quickly, and a city like ours needs places where neighbors can sit in the same room, disagree, and still take each other seriously. The whole experiment only works if people keep arguing in good faith, and that doesn’t happen by accident. You have to practice it.”

For Holmes, the importance of participating in conversations across differences is also personal.

“Growing up, my family did not participate much in politics; however, my parents instilled in me the importance of doing my best to do the right thing and the courage to stand up for ideals I believe in,” Holmes said. “I’m excited to participate in this event because ‘doing the right thing’ in a modern democracy requires us to step out of our comfort zones. It means recognizing that our own ideals are tested, sharpened, and ultimately improved when they meet different perspectives.”

Building a community conversation

Public Square events will examine the ideas, disagreements and responsibilities that have shaped American democracy.

is producing the series with programming partners including the , and �鶹��Ƶ Law. The Durham and Morton families are supporting partners.

The Oct. 29 discussion marks the beginning of a continuing series intended to bring Charlotte residents together around questions of civic life, democratic participation and the nation’s future.

Additional Public Square dialogues planned for 2027 include:

Spring 2027: The Art of Compromise
Fall 2027: Truth and Trust

Strategic priorities for 2026-27 outlined for Queens faculty and staff at campus forum

Anna Pomaro — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:25:00 +0000

A campus-wide forum at Queens University of Charlotte on Oct. 9 brought faculty and staff together for a conversation on the university’s future, laying out institutional priorities for the 2026–27 academic year and detailing ongoing integration efforts with �鶹��Ƶ.

Led by members of the Queens senior leadership team, the event focused on the year’s institutional priorities organized under four pillars of the strategic plan: Learn, Thrive, Connect, and Rise. Going forward, the development of annual departmental, divisional, and institutional priorities will align faculty and staff across the university in advancing these themes.

“These four pillars represent the foundational roadmap for our merged institution,” said Acting President Jesse Cureton. “Bringing faculty and staff together for these forums allows us to be intentional about our shared progress, ensure transparency and keep our momentum moving forward across both campuses.”

Strategic framework: The four pillars

Learn (Innovative Teaching, Engaged Learning, and Mentoring): Focuses on experiential learning expansion, academic alignment between �鶹��Ƶ and Queens, and accelerated pathways and pipelines.
Thrive (An Inclusive, Healthy Community Where All Belong): Prioritizes employee experience and culture, institutional integration across people, systems, and services, campus and student experience modernization, and student well-being and belonging.
Connect (Partnerships: Alumni, Community, Athletics): Focuses on Charlotte strategic partnership and engagement to position the institution as a regional hub for talent, innovation and impact.
Rise (Future-Focused Growth & Excellence): Encompasses philanthropy growth and campaign readiness, undergraduate enrollment growth, graduate enrollment expansion, financial sustainability and performance, and brand visibility.

Learn: Calendar alignment and academic innovations

Provost Sarah Fatherly detailed operational shifts designed to enable academic collaborations between the two campuses, beginning with undergraduate academic calendar alignment in January 2027. The shift introduces a three-week Winter Term course, leading into a synchronized spring semester.

Fatherly also shared encouraging news on student retention, noting that undergraduate retention has rebounded to approximately 76%. The university has already launched new academic cohorts in nursing, business, communications and a re-envisioned honors fellows program that will build on this momentum.

Fatherly noted that purposeful cohorts create a sense of belonging by surrounding incoming students with dedicated mentors and peers from day one.

“You’re connected with a peer set, and you’re connected with a staff or faculty member who knows you,” Fatherly said. “This is one way we can help accelerate retention in a way that’ll continue to improve our results.”

Thrive: Enhancing the student experience

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Campus Life Amber Perrell Slack detailed plans to adopt �鶹��Ƶ’s HealthEU framework to support student well-being, belonging and overall campus life. The initiative brings together programs, resources, and six dimensions of well-being to empower the campus community and foster a healthier, more connected experience.

Turning to campus facilities, Slack highlighted the initial steps being made by the Campus Master Plan Committee to modernize the physical student spaces on campus.

“We’ve already started looking at ways that we can improve facilities for our residence halls and create more spaces for our students to have opportunities to connect with each other,” said Slack.

Connect: Positioning Queens as a strategic partner in Charlotte

Chief Integration Officer Jeff Stein emphasized that the university’s future growth relies on expanding deep civic, cultural and workforce development across the region. The primary focus under this theme is positioning the merged institution as a strategic partner and gateway for opportunity in Charlotte by strengthening employer relationships and talent development, advancing experiential learning opportunities for students in the community, and serving as an intellectual and cultural hub through programs like the Queens Learning Society.

“For the university to be strong, we have to be engaged in Charlotte, and Charlotte has to be engaged with the university,” said Stein.

Rise: Growth through philanthropy

Queens’ Vice President for University Advancement Lori Ann Summers outlined how strategic philanthropy will fuel the university’s academic and operational ambitions, pointing to the importance of support through the Queens Fund and expanding programs and corporate partnerships as critical drivers.

Summers emphasized that feasibility studies are already underway to lay the groundwork for a historic capital campaign with �鶹��Ƶ designed to build long-term scholarship support, capital improvements and endowment capacity.

COO Kenitra Horsley speaks about the four pillars to the campus community.

Looking ahead: Sustaining campus dialogue

Closing the forum, university leaders emphasized that ongoing communication remains essential as Queens and �鶹��Ƶ continue aligning their academic, operational and philanthropic goals. Campus leadership plans to host regular forums and town halls throughout the academic year to keep faculty and staff informed on key integration milestones and gather feedback as initiatives progress.

“Feedback’s a gift and we get a lot of it, but I welcome it so that we can be responsive to our campus community,” said Chief Operating Officer Kenitra Horsley. “We want to make sure this dialogue continues as we do this work together.”

�鶹��Ƶ students see Charlotte’s housing and economic history firsthand

Diane Swenson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:29:19 +0000

Students from the Center for Humanity in Business 3+Co-op Leaders Program, the Accelerated 3+1 Business Dual-Degree Program and the Entrepreneurship for the Greater Good course spent the day learning from community historian and author Tom Hanchett; Fred Dodson, chief operating officer of DreamKey Partners; and Kevin Trapani P’07, P’23, P’24, executive in residence and founding director of the Center for Humanity in Business.

The annual experience uses Charlotte as a classroom, helping students connect business education with the economic and social forces shaping the city.

Thomas Flaherty ’27, an entrepreneurship and innovation major, said the tour challenged some of his assumptions about affordable housing.

“The bus tour really changed my perception because the housing was actually really nice, clean and friendly-looking,” Flaherty said. “There were lots of trees and people walking around, so it showed how the housing met people’s living needs.”

Ian Knarr ’30, an economics major, came away with a different perspective on the city itself.

“Usually, when you see a city, you only see one part of it, but we got to see so many parts and how every part is different from each other,” Knarr said.

Trapani encouraged students to think about how understanding a place can shape the way they engage with its challenges.

“Things don’t just change. You have to change them,” Trapani told students. “It is important in order for you to become a full member of society to understand what you deeply care about and fight for it.”

Hanchett discussed how federal and local policies shaped Charlotte’s neighborhoods and development patterns and why understanding that history matters for future business and community leaders.

“The stories that I’m telling are stories that you will find everywhere in the U.S.,” Hanchett said. “It is hard sometimes to see them, but it shapes who we are.”

Dodson introduced students to DreamKey Partners’ work in affordable and mixed-income housing, including the Brightwalk development near uptown Charlotte. Students learned about the financing, partnerships and long-term planning involved in developing mixed-income communities and how those projects can affect surrounding neighborhoods.

“It is not just about housing,” Dodson said. “By building this community, we became an economic catalyst.”

Amarina Beard-Galati ’28, an entrepreneurship and innovation major, said traveling along Central Avenue highlighted another dimension of the city.

“Seeing all these shops and all these cultures that people have created is a sign that people want to come together and create a community that embraces us all,” Beard-Galati said.

For students in the Center for Humanity in Business program, Charlotte will become an even larger part of their �鶹��Ƶ experience when they spend their fourth year living in the city and completing a co-op experience tied to responsible management practices and their career interests.

Meira Flavin ’30, a marketing major, said the visit shifted her understanding of Charlotte.

“Coming into this experience, I had a preconceived notion of what Charlotte was,” Flavin said. “That changed today.”

�鶹��Ƶ and Queens announce four pledges to Charlotte; unveil Queens College name and structure

Eric Townsend — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:52:17 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte have announced four long-term pledges to Charlotte that will guide the combined institution’s work with students, employees, employers, civic organizations and educational partners.

Rooted in the early strategic planning of internal working groups and refined through community research and conversations, the pledges provide a framework for the work ahead and include public accountability for the progress made and the investments that support it.

The university leaders also unveiled �鶹��Ƶ | Queens College as the planned undergraduate academic unit of �鶹��Ƶ in Charlotte following completion of the merger and required regulatory approvals.

The announcements were shared during a Sept. 23, 2026, campus update at Queens’ historic Myers Park campus, marking one year since the universities announced their intention to merge.

“The value of this merger will not be measured by whether it creates a larger university. It will be measured by whether it creates better opportunities for students, stronger connections to employers and communities, and greater capacity to serve Charlotte for generations,” said �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “Queens College will carry forward the Queens name, residential experience, Royals tradition and deep relationship with Charlotte while drawing on the reach and resources of the broader �鶹��Ƶ community.”

“For generations, Queens has been woven into Charlotte through its students, faculty, staff and alumni and through an enduring commitment to service,” said Queens University of Charlotte Acting President Jesse Cureton. “Queens College is intended to preserve that legacy as a living academic community – with students learning on this campus, faculty mentoring them, Royals competing and longstanding traditions continuing for generations to come.”

Queens College and the future of the Myers Park campus

Queens College will carry forward Queens’ nearly 170-year tradition of close-knit residential undergraduate education on the Myers Park campus. The Queens name, the Royals tradition, the residential experience and the institution’s historic commitment to service will remain central to the campus’ future.

A vibrant undergraduate community will remain at the heart of the campus, with students studying across the arts and sciences and professional fields, living and learning together, participating in campus traditions and competing as the Royals. Athletics will remain an important part of the undergraduate experience and Queens tradition as the broader merger advances.

The Myers Park campus will also remain an important home for graduate and professional education in areas including law, health sciences, counseling and business. The longer-term strategy and structure for individual programs are still being developed.

Four pledges to Charlotte

The four pledges are rooted in the early strategic planning work completed through SOAR and reflect priorities identified through research and conversations with Charlotte-area leaders and residents, including career preparation, internships, employer partnerships and broader access to educational opportunity. Together, they provide a framework for the work ahead.

To be the national leader in engaged learning. Queens has long required every undergraduate to complete an internship. We will build on that foundation, making Charlotte a classroom without walls, deepening the quality and mentorship of every internship, co-op, research and service experience, and bringing students from �鶹��Ƶ’s campus to Charlotte for signature academic and professional experiences.
To be a true partner to Charlotte’s employers, schools and civic organizations. We will listen to regional needs and connect students, programs and university expertise with Charlotte’s changing workforce priorities in business, health care, technology and education. We will work with schools, community colleges, universities, employers and nonprofits to build stronger pathways into higher education and expand opportunity for Charlotte-area students.
To be an intellectual, cultural and civic resource. We will build on Queens’ legacy of thought leadership, arts, public programs and civic engagement, keeping the campus’ theaters, galleries, classrooms and gathering spaces active parts of Charlotte.
To make the necessary investments in people and long-term strength. We will become a top talent destination and employer of choice through competitive compensation and benefits, professional development, and a culture in which expertise is respected and employees from both campuses shape new ways of working. And we will secure the campus’ future through disciplined planning, enrollment strategy, philanthropy, responsible budgets and sustained investment in students, programs, facilities and people.

“Pledges made publicly should be measured publicly,” Book said. “We intend to return to the Charlotte community with evidence of progress – the experiences students complete, the partnerships we build, the people we serve and the investments we make in this campus and its future.”

Progress during the first year

During the first year, the merger moved from intention to implementation. In June, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved the substantive change for the merger, the most significant accreditation milestone in the process to date. An expanded governance structure is in place, and the first phase of shared services began this summer in admissions, facilities, human resources and career services.

Academic initiatives are also advancing. �鶹��Ƶ Law’s full-time Charlotte program plans to welcome its first cohort in 2027 on the Myers Park campus. The university’s clinical mental health counseling master’s program has expanded to Charlotte, and Charlotte’s first graduate physician assistant program is preparing to welcome its inaugural class in January. Faculty and academic leaders from both institutions are also exploring new pathways connecting the residential undergraduate experience at Queens with �鶹��Ƶ’s broader academic network and Charlotte-based graduate and professional education.

The U.S. Department of Education review is continuing, and additional academic, operational and organizational decisions require further planning. Until all required approvals are complete, �鶹��Ƶ and Queens will continue operating in coordinated but legally distinct ways. The universities will communicate directly with students, employees and alumni as implementation milestones are finalized.

�鶹��Ƶ the Merger

�鶹��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte announced their intention to merge in September 2025. The long-term vision brings together Queens’ deep history and relationships in Charlotte with �鶹��Ƶ’s national leadership in engaged learning and record of strong student outcomes. The institutions are working toward a combined university that preserves distinctive campus identities while expanding opportunities for students and increasing the capacity to serve Charlotte and the region.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is the nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At �鶹��Ƶ, approximately 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The �鶹��Ƶ curriculum is grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences with an emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. �鶹��Ƶ is ranked among the Top 100 national universities by U.S. News & World Report, with a No. 1 ranking for excellence in undergraduate teaching for six consecutive years.

�鶹��Ƶ Queens University of Charlotte

Queens University of Charlotte is located in one of America’s fastest-growing cities, offering an extended classroom to students and a direct pipeline to meaningful careers for graduates. Queens University serves around 2,000 students in undergraduate and master’s-level programs across the liberal arts and sciences as well as the professional fields of business, communication, nursing, health and education. Queens’ unique General Education model teaches students to think critically about some of the world’s biggest problems, beyond the boundaries of what’s expected in a college classroom.

New leadership team announced to guide Charlotte Journalism Collaborative’s next chapter at Queens

Anna Pomaro — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:47:04 +0000

A new leadership team for the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC) initiative at Queens University of Charlotte has been named, marking a new chapter for the CJC, reaffirming the university’s long-term commitment to strengthening local journalism, civic engagement and journalism education.

Shardae Brown has been named director of the CJC, while Sana Silvera-Roy will serve as the inaugural Charlotte documenters program manager. Together, they will lead the CJC’s continued work connecting local news organizations, community institutions and residents while expanding opportunities for civic participation.

Chris Rudisill, who has led the CJC since 2020, will transition into a Senior Advisor role to support the leadership transition and ensure continuity as the new team assumes responsibility for the collaborative’s growing programs and partnerships.

“This is an exciting moment, not only because of two outstanding hires, but because it reflects our continued investment in the CJC’s work and its impact in the community,” said Sarah Fatherly, provost at Queens University. “The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative has become an essential part of Charlotte’s local news ecosystem, and we’re thrilled to welcome Shardae and Sana as they help lead its next chapter.”

Since its launch in 2019, the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative has grown into one of the nation’s most respected local journalism collaborations. Bringing together local news organizations, universities, libraries, and community organizations, the CJC has expanded collaborative reporting, convened community conversations through the annual Local News Impact Summit, developed innovative civic information resources, strengthened student journalism, and recently launched Charlotte Documenters – a resident-powered initiative that trains and pays community members to document local government meetings.

The creation of a full-time director position through Queens University’s Knight School of Communication reflects the university’s commitment to making the CJC an important part of its journalism and civic engagement mission.

�鶹��Ƶ the New Leadership
CJC Director Shardae Brown brings more than 15 years of experience leading projects, programs and teams across the corporate, nonprofit, government and community sectors. Her work is rooted in a human-centered approach that recognizes the power of personal narrative to strengthen organizations and communities. Brown is the co-founder of the community-based production company Epoch Tribe, which has put Charlotte’s Black stories at the forefront of the stage, including through “I Am Queen: Charlotte” where hundreds of women have shared their stories.

Brown studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before earning a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Education from Northeastern University. She is passionate about history, culture and community, and says her love of legacy is the driving force behind both her personal and professional life.

“As someone who believes deeply in the power of community, collaboration and storytelling, I’m honored to join the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative,” Brown said. “The CJC has built an extraordinary foundation, and I look forward to working alongside our partners to strengthen local journalism, expand civic participation and ensure every resident has access to trusted local information.”

Charlotte Documenters Program Manager Sana Silvera-Roy joins the CJC with more than 25 years of experience in journalism, strategic communications, higher education, media relations and community engagement.

Most recently serving as media relations specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Silvera-Roy has also held communication roles with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, WXII 12 News and was an assignment desk editor at WSOC Channel 9. She currently teaches communications as an adjunct instructor at Central Piedmont Community College.

She holds a Master of Science in Strategic Communication from Troy University, a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Trinity University and is an AI Champion Ambassador.

“Charlotte Documenters is about empowering residents to better understand and engage with local government,” Silvera-Roy said. “I’m excited to help build a network of community members who are invested in strengthening civic participation while supporting local journalism.”

A Thoughtful Transition
Rudisill will continue serving as senior advisor during the transition, providing strategic guidance while supporting Brown, Silvera-Roy and Queens as they continue expanding the CJC’s work.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our partners have built together over the past six years,” Rudisill said. “Seeing Queens deepen its commitment to the CJC and welcome leaders like Shardae and Sana gives me tremendous confidence in its future.”

Today, the CJC includes Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, The Charlotte Observer, the Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte, La Noticia, QCity Metro, QNotes, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, WCNC Charlotte, and WFAE, alongside dozens of community partners working together to strengthen Charlotte’s local news ecosystem.

“The CJC has always been built on the belief that no single newsroom, university or community organization can meet today’s information challenges alone,” Brown said. “That belief remains unchanged, and I’m excited to continue building on that shared commitment.”