UNC Charlotte professor honored for contributions for business diversity

CHARLOTTE - Aug. 24, 2006 - Teresa Dahlberg, an associate professor of computer science at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is one of this year's winners of the Charlotte Business Journal's Diversity in Business Award. She was nominated by the university and will be honored at an annual award luncheon on Sept. 13.

First awarded in 2004, the Diversity in Business Award is given to those companies and individuals deemed by the Charlotte Business Journal as embodying inclusiveness and respect for the uniqueness and differences of all employees. The winners are identified as catalysts for diversity initiatives throughout the Charlotte region.

"As technology plays an increasing role in our collective quality of life, the demand for professionals who can apply technology to a broad range of disciplines increases dramatically," said Dahlberg.

At UNC Charlotte, Dahlberg directs the Diversity in Information Technology Institute (DITI), which houses the university's organized efforts to attract diverse populations to enter and succeed in computing and information technology (IT) disciplines.

"The DITI programs reach out to people who might not otherwise consider entering computing or IT fields," stated Dahlberg.

Additionally, Dahlberg and Tiffany Barnes, an assistant professor, also in the computer science department were instrumental in creating the Students & Technology in Academia, Research and Service (STARS) Alliance, the aim of which is to encourage more people, especially women, underrepresented minorities and people with disabilities, to pursue higher education leading to careers in computing and information technology.

As the lead university in a 10-member consortium, UNC Charlotte's College of Information Technology recently won a $2 million National Science Foundation grant to develop the STARS initiatives by UNC Charlotte and its allied universities: Auburn, Florida A&M;, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Landmark College, Meredith College, North Carolina State, Spelman College and the University of South Florida-Lakeland.

Media contact: Jemi Johnson, (704) 687-2262