Faculty and Administration

Michelle LaRoche, Peter Sherman, Marisa Porto and Shelvia Dancy each join the faculty of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media this semester.

'Exceptionally distinguished scholars': Meet four incoming Hussman professors

By Ira Wilder | Jan. 11

Four newcomers — Shelvia Dancy, Michelle LaRoche, Marisa Porto and Peter Sherman — bring a heap of interdisciplinary experience and enhance ongoing commitments to diversity within the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) demoted the School to provisional accreditation in April 2022, citing the school to be out of compliance with its standards for diversity and inclusiveness, specifically in faculty retention and recruitment.

President Biden is asking the Supreme Court to overrule two judges' decisions, thus reinstating student loan forgiveness.
Photo Courtesy of Ihsanyildizli/Getty Images/TNS.

Fate of student loan forgiveness is uncertain following federal blocks

By Brianna Atkinson | Nov. 30

After the initial announcement of the Biden administration's loan forgiveness program, lawsuits are currently blocking the potential funding for millions of college students. Many remain concerned with the blocks consequences and what this will mean for the future of their loans.

UNC Housekeepers gathered outside of the Carolina Inn on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.

Housekeepers ask for higher pay, backed by students

By Aisha Baiocchi | Nov. 16

Housekeepers employed by the University have been advocating for higher wages since early in the semester. Here's an update on their progress so far.

UNC's Faculty Council met on Sept. 9, 2022 in Karr Hall to discuss free speech on campus.

UNC Faculty Council hears research developments, supports stipend increases

By Celia Funderburk | Nov. 6

The UNC Faculty Council met Friday to discuss a new health research center, graduate student stipends, changes between online learning systems and affirmative action.

South Building is pictured on Oct. 10, 2022.

Employee Forum gives updates on salary caps, campus free speech

By Hannah Rosenberger | Nov. 3

A recent University memo asked employees not to speak directly to media and to refer all media inquiries to the relevant University offices. Provost Chris Clemens said at the Employee Forum meeting on Wednesday that this memo was not intended to prevent staff from speaking on campus issues.

The George Watts Hill Alumni Center is home to the General Alumni Association on UNC's campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Dibbert announces retirement, reflects on 40 years leading the GAA

By Natalie Varma | Oct. 25

Doug Dibbert has been president of the General Alumni Association since 1982. He announced his retirement in a Board of Directors meeting earlier this month and reflects on his time in the position.

UNC's provost, Chris Clemmons, speaks at the beginning of Friday's Faculty Council meeting on Sept. 9, 2022 in Karr Hall.

'Doing more for less,' FEC calls for more University support of faculty

By Ira Wilder | Oct. 19

The UNC Faculty Executive Committee spoke on the importance of faculty mental health and gave updates on the UNC System's return-on-investment study. The committee also discussed authority for University hiring approvals at their Monday meeting.

Professors Dr. Viji Sathy and Dr. Kelly Hogan showcase their new book on inclusive teaching outside of the Old Well on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

In new book, UNC professors aim to increase inclusion and equity in college education

By Keerthana Gotur | Oct. 9

Two UNC professors, Viji Sathy and Kelly Hogan, are the authors of "Inclusive Teaching: Strategies for Promoting Equity in the College Classroom." The recently published book discusses strategies that instructors can use to promote inclusivity and cater to all students.

Kerry McIntyre and Rohit Sharma, students of the MBA class of 2023, engage in conversation in the lobby of McColl Building on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. Hanging behind them are the portraits of Hugh L. McColl, Jr., Mary Lily Kenan, and Henry Flagler, the namesakes of  McColl Building and Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Allegations, administration, accountability: tensions at Kenan-Flagler Business School

By Preston Fore and Tania Tobaccowala | Oct. 5

This fall, Kenan-Flagler Business School has seen a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former doctoral student, as well as the co-leads of the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative leaving their positions. Douglas Shackelford, who had been serving as dean of the school since 2014, unexpectedly retired in September. In terms of diversity, Kenan-Flagler is 61st out of 81 ranked U.S. business schools, according to Bloomberg's 2022-2023 Diversity Index.

Protestors gather around Silent Sam on Aug. 20, 2018, hours before the statue was toppled.

University used social media monitoring in Silent Sam and pro-choice protests

By Aisha Baiocchi | Sep. 28

The University has been using Social Sentinel, an AI-based service, since 2016 to identify threatening or concerning public social media posts. The contract will end in October. Documents show that UNC used Social Sentinel to monitor campus protests through geofencing and pulled data from public posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Reddit.

UNC Geography Professor Diego Riveros-Iregui poses for a portrait on Sept. 12, 2022. Riveros-Iregui will work with N.C. teachers to facilitate global education in K-12 schools.

UNC World View's Teacher-Student Initiative connecting educators to the world

By Reagan Allen | Sep. 22

The UNC World View program has worked for over 20 years to connect K-12 and community college educators with the surrounding world to foster not only knowledge of global topics, but also collaborative professional development.

UNC Voices of Praise Gospel Choir performs "Everybody Clap Your Hands" at the Black Folk Could Fly event in Hill Hall on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022.

UNC professor Randall Kenan remembered in launch of "Black Folk Could Fly" story collection

By Zoe Frederick | Sep. 12

On Sunday, Sept. 11, UNC professor Randall Kenan’s friends and former colleagues held a book launch for a compilation of Kenan’s work from before he passed, titled “Black Folk Could Fly.” The book contains 21 works of non-fiction pieces, some of his most personal writings and was made available for sale last month.

UNC Faculty Council passes free speech resolution at monthly meeting

By Brooke Elliott | Sep. 12

In the first meeting of the UNC Faculty Council this school year, faculty members voted on a resolution regarding the faculty's free speech under the First Amendment, and to what lengths they could expect to be supported by the University.

Mimi Chapman, chairperson of the Faculty Executive Committee, listens to a presentation by the Office of Student Affairs during the committee's meeting on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022.

Faculty Executive Committee plans for the upcoming academic year

By Abby Pender | Aug. 31

As the University community settles into the fall 2022 semester, the UNC Faculty Executive Committee gave updates on campus efforts toward mental health, the removal of The Daily Tar Heel’s recent op-ed and changes to the position of chairperson of the faculty.

Senior psychology major Juliet Alegria "double masks" to study in Davis Library on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

UNC announces updated COVID-19 policies for fall semester return

By Elizabeth Egan and Liv Reilly | Jul. 29

UNC announced updated COVID-19 policies for the fall 2022 semester in a campus-wide email Friday. The University will not have any testing requirements for asymptomatic individuals on campus and will no longer provide voluntary asymptomatic testing. Students who test positive for COVID and are living in residence halls can isolate at home or in their residence hall room. The University is not requiring vaccine attestation or re-entry testing, but both are encouraged.

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and MacArthur Fellow Nikole Hannah-Jones, poses for a portrait. Photo courtesy of John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

UNC and Nikole Hannah-Jones reach settlement over last year's tenure controversy

By Madi Kirkman | Jul. 18

On Friday, the University reached an agreement with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones to resolve legal matters related to her application for a tenured position in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The settlement required three key provisions for UNC: an inclusive search process, mental health counseling and reserved funds in the provost's office, according to a statement by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Gregory Paul Copenhaver poses for a portrait in a lab in the Genome Science Building on Monday, June 20, 2022. Copenhaver was recently named director of UNC's Institute for Convergent Science.

Director of Institute for Convergent Science aims to solve real-world problems through research

By Joelle Adeleke | Jun. 21

Greg Copenhaver, a UNC faculty member since 2001, was promoted to director of the Institute for Convergent Science, which focuses on problem-solving in science.

UNC's Adams School of Dentistry. Photo courtesy of Chris Pope, the school’s creative media specialist.

Janet Guthmiller named dean of Adams School of Dentistry

By Madi Kirkman | May. 11

Dr. Janet Guthmiller was named the dean of the Adams School of Dentistry on Wednesday, according to a campus-wide email from the University. She will start her role on Oct. 15 and will hold the Claude A. Adams Distinguished Professorship.

Carroll Hall, home of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, as pictured on March 9, 2021.

Column: Hussman’s provisional accreditation is not “unexpected”

By Caitlyn Yaede | May. 4

"Despite immediate, and understandable, outrage at the profoundly irresponsible administration that allowed this to happen, we shouldn’t be surprised that the program’s priorities are so maligned. It’s nothing that the journalism school – and UNC as a whole – hasn’t demonstrated to us before."

Patricia Rosenmeyer is the new director of the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies. Photo courtesy of Patricia Rosenmeyer.

Patricia Rosenmeyer named director for the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies

By Keerthana Gotur | May. 3

Effective July 1, UNC classics professor Patricia Rosenmeyer will be the director of the Carolina Center for Jewish studies.

Serving the students and the University community since 1893

'Exceptionally distinguished scholars': Meet four incoming Hussman professors

Fate of student loan forgiveness is uncertain following federal blocks

Housekeepers ask for higher pay, backed by students

UNC Faculty Council hears research developments, supports stipend increases

Employee Forum gives updates on salary caps, campus free speech

Dibbert announces retirement, reflects on 40 years leading the GAA

'Doing more for less,' FEC calls for more University support of faculty

In new book, UNC professors aim to increase inclusion and equity in college education

Allegations, administration, accountability: tensions at Kenan-Flagler Business School

University used social media monitoring in Silent Sam and pro-choice protests

UNC World View's Teacher-Student Initiative connecting educators to the world

UNC professor Randall Kenan remembered in launch of "Black Folk Could Fly" story collection

UNC Faculty Council passes free speech resolution at monthly meeting

Faculty Executive Committee plans for the upcoming academic year

UNC announces updated COVID-19 policies for fall semester return

UNC and Nikole Hannah-Jones reach settlement over last year's tenure controversy

Director of Institute for Convergent Science aims to solve real-world problems through research

Janet Guthmiller named dean of Adams School of Dentistry

Column: Hussman’s provisional accreditation is not “unexpected”

Patricia Rosenmeyer named director for the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies