Nominate Outstanding Students for UNCG Golden Chain Honor Society
Posted on February 02, 2026
Faculty and staff are invited to nominate outstanding juniors and seniors for UNC Greensboro’s Golden Chain Honor Society, which was organized in 1948 to recognize students who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the university community.
“Golden” denotes excellence and rarity, and “chain” signifies linkage, a binding together of past generations of students who served the University with students of today and those generations yet to come. The organization is unique to the UNCG campus. Members embody the characteristics of leadership, scholarship, service, tolerance, judgement, magnanimity, and character.
Nominations are due March 16 before midnight. Nominations may be submitted by UNCG faculty, staff, Golden Chain alumni, and honorary members. Candidates must be juniors or seniors with a minimum 3.25 GPA. If you wish to nominate an eligible student, complete the Golden Chain Honor Society nomination form using your UNCG account.
Questions may be directed to Meredith Atchison at m_atchis@uncg.edu.
Solar Panels Serve Middle College with Clean Energy, New Educational Toolset
Posted on January 16, 2026
With the recent installation of a 20-kilowatt rooftop solar array, the Middle College at UNC Greensboro took a significant leap toward sustainability and hands-on STEM education.
For the Middle College’s students and faculty, the solar panels offer them much more than clean energy. The installation includes a weather station and data monitoring equipment, so they can integrate real-time energy production and weather data into their classrooms. Students will read and interpret energy data, compare weather scenarios, and learn about the science behind renewable energy.
Harnessing the Sun
“This is going to be an exciting time for both the students and teachers at the Middle College,” says Thomas Hefner, a retired teacher of the Middle College who co-authored the grant application and helped train other teachers to use them in curriculums. “From reducing the campus carbon footprint to saving tax dollars with a lower electricity bill for UNCG, what excites me the most is the multiple ways the teachers will be able to bring in the solar panels as part of the coursework across so many disciplines, and not just science classes.”
There are plenty of ways to bring all the data into Earth and Environmental classes,” says Hefner. “Physics has objectives involving the study of electricity. There is chemistry in the polymers. Outside of science, courses about budgets can look at real data to see how much electricity is being produced and how that changes during the changes of the seasons. Math classes involving geometry and trigonometry can examine the angle of the sun and how that affects electrical production. Spanish and Social Studies can look at how areas of the world without a reliable electrical grid can implement solar electrical production.”
Students shared their own excitement about the new addition for the new year, including the Go Green! club’s co-vice president Anuluck Nhouyvanisvong. “I think this project is a great step towards our school going green,” said Nhouyvanisvong. “As co-vice president of the “Go Green!” club here, “I really admire the school for trying to reduce their carbon footprint and hope this project inspires students to also do what they can to protect the earth no matter how small the action.”
The solar array is part of a statewide initiative by NC GreenPower to expand public knowledge and acceptance of cleaner energy technologies to all North Carolinians through local, community-based initiatives. The Middle College was one of nine North Carolina schools in 2024 to be awarded the construction funding for a 20-kilowatt solar installation.
I am proud of UNCG and the Middle College for taking the initiative to become more environmentally conscious, as this is vital for our future.
Arbree Ware, Middle College student
It is UNCG’s second solar panel array after the 34-kW installation on the Nursing Instructional Building. Electricity output depends on the climate and weather, but the two systems combined can produce enough electricity to power approximately a dozen homes a year in North Carolina. This new array is fully funded by the Solar+ Schools grant program, sponsored by the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation.
Partnerships for Sustainability
According to NC GreenPower, its recipients have saved more than $50,000 cumulatively in electricity expenses. More than 280 teachers and 62,000 students in North Carolina have participated in its Solar+ Schools’ STEM and solar curriculum training. As the installation powers on, it underscores UNCG’s commitment to sustainability, real-world impact, and creating new and innovative opportunities for all students.
“It’s exciting,” said Sean MacInnes, UNCG Sustainability specialist. “We’re very thankful to NC GreenPower and to NC Solar Now for their support in funding and installing the array, to Principal Brown and Thomas for their support, and our Facilities team, who were integral to managing the project with the State Construction Office.”
For homeowners nationwide who are curious about installing solar for their homes, UNCG’s Office of Sustainability is now collaborating with EnergySage to help UNCG employees, alumni, and community members compare offers for rooftop solar installations for their homes and businesses. EnergySage is a free, 100% online comparison-shopping marketplace that connects people with vetted local installers.
The solar panels on our building have made us more environmentally friendly and have made us feel more self-conscious that we treat our planet the best we can.
Hadia Rashid, Middle College student
MacInnes says the Office of Sustainability is also promoting solar panel opportunities for local homeowners. Duke Energy is currently offering a limited time “PowerPair” pilot program that provides up to a $9,000 rebate.
This means a lot to me because when I heard we were getting solar panels, I immediately thought of my former teacher Thomas Hefner, who always advocated for people to be more eco-conscious and for a more sustainable earth.
Barack Aduwa, Middle College student
We believe this change represents an important step toward an eco-friendlier UNCG and most importantly an eco-friendly world.
Genny Arocho, Middle College student
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
Global Symposium and More Opportunities for International Engagement
Posted on January 22, 2026
2025 Global Symposium
The Global Engagement Office (GEO) invites everyone to its second Global Symposium on Apr. 8, with a pre-event Open Mic Night on Apr. 7. Now is the time to submit ideas for topics and nominations for the Global Excellence Awards, which will be presented at the symposium.
Save the Date
The Global Symposium will last all day on Apr. 8. A schedule of events is in the works. UNCG faculty and staff can submit their ideas for sessions this year. GEO like to them to gather ideas and co-presenters and submit proposals for sessions that highlight global learning success stories and research. All proposals must be submitted by March 1.
GEO also sponsors the Global Excellence Awards, recognizing impactful work of UNCG faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and community organizations.
Global Engagement Champion Award: This accolade honors individuals, including UNCG staff, friends and alumni, who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to global engagement and have exhibited leadership in supporting the University’s global engagement, reputation, and excellence.
Faculty Global Excellence Award: Presented to a faculty member or a group of faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in advancing global engagement through innovative projects, programs, or other internationally focused activities.
Student Global Impact Award: This recognition celebrates students, including undergraduates, graduates, international students, and visiting scholars, who have made significant contributions to our local and international communities through their studies, internships, or other forms of global community engagement activities.
On Apr. 7, mark you calendars for a new addition to this year’s symposium: the Global Arts Open Mic Night. This showcase of art and talent from around the globe will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Elliott University Center’s Claxton Room. The host this year is renowned local poet laureate Josephus III.
Anyone who would like to perform is encouraged to come early and sign up.
Apply for funding initiatives
GEO also shares two funding opportunities for UNCG faculty and staff to take advantage of this year and advance their own related research.
The Kohler Endowment is dedicated to the support of comprehensive internationalization efforts at UNCG, made possible by the generous support of Phyllis Penn Kohler and her husband, U.S. Ambassador Foy D. Kohler. GEO allocates annually a set amount of money from the Kohler Fund for awards to faculty and staff global engagement activities. The next deadline for spring applications for projects supporting international research, special projects, student programs, and internationalization of the curriculum is March 15.
The International Travel Fund, created by the Provost’s Office, supports faculty attending international conferences, presenting their work to an international audience, and interacting with colleagues from other countries. These professional conferences must be outside of North America. Applications for funding to attend international conferences for the spring and summer months are still available on a first-come first-served basis.
Mentorship Provides Immeasurable Value to Faculty Members and Advances the Science
Posted on December 18, 2025
Hannah Koch and Jessica McNeil
Dr. Laurie Wideman, Safrit-Ennis Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology, knows how much time, energy, and money goes into recruiting faculty members at UNC Greensboro. She believes those same resources should go into keeping them. At the School of Health and Human Sciences, that’s where mentoring comes in.
“The way that you keep them here is by helping them be successful,” says Wideman.
The Department of Kinesiology and Department of Human Development and Family Studies have intentionally developed a program to ensure faculty mentoring for the success and retention of junior faculty.
Early support leads to early success
When Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Jessica McNeil was hired in January 2021, Wideman eagerly agreed to mentor her. They were both Canadian and likely to collaborate because of their complementary research areas. The match made sense.
Just as McNeil was getting settled, she became Hannah Koch’s primary doctoral adviser. With the guidance of Wideman, they were able to navigate some of the ins and outs together.
When there was a grant call from the National Institutes of Health about McNeil’s area of expertise, sleep and cardiovascular risk in African Americans, Wideman encouraged her to apply.
She told McNeil, “I will help you all the way along. I will go through the entire process with you.” Despite skepticism about first-year faculty members entering an R01 to NIH, Wideman knew McNeil was capable.
“If I didn’t think she was ready, I wouldn’t have encouraged her,” says Wideman. “And it was great. She got funded in the second round.”
McNeil believes Wideman’s help was vital to securing the five-year award she’s working on today. “That was a pivotal moment early on for me,” McNeil says. “It definitely set me up for rapid success as a junior faculty here in the department.”
McNeil, in turn, encouraged Koch. She pushed her to do more publications and conference presentations, to take more opportunities for teaching, and to apply for travel awards to other labs.
In the last year of her doctorate, Koch became the project coordinator for McNeil’s NIH study. “I don’t know many students that get that opportunity,” Koch says.
“I think it’s always a success when you have a doctoral student who goes into academics shortly after they graduate, and I think it’s even more rewarding when it’s your first doctoral student,” says McNeil of Koch. “I am extremely proud of her, and I’m happy to continue to work with her now that she’s on our faculty.”
Graduation in December 2023, Dr. Laurie Wideman with her doctoral students Dr. Samantha Goldenstein and Dr. Emily Bechke. Faculty and students in kinesiology. Kinesiology Professor Dr. Jessica McNeil’s students conduct research for their R01 class.
Research to relationships
Dr. Jocelyn Smith Lee, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, underscores the kind of support that propels junior faculty forward. As a mentor to visiting assistant professor Dr. Indya Walker since she arrived as graduate student in 2019, Smith Lee leveraged her network.
Part of Smith Lee’s method of building relationships was developed during the William T. Grant Scholars Program. A huge component of the research-based program was mentoring.
“We were really socialized to think about how to connect, and also thinking about paying it forward,” says Smith Lee. “At the heart of it all, mentoring is about relationships. I work hard to see my mentees as people first.”
Walker noted this as part of her connection with Smith Lee when the two met.
“We connected on the research level in terms of our interests, and her mentorship style,” she says. “She made sure that I connected to the people and resources that would advance me, and training that enhances my skillset.”
More than mentorship
Smith Lee’s primary mentor has been Professor Heather Helms, who recruited Smith Lee to UNCG in 2017 during a professional conference.
“Heather has been a champion for me, in rooms that I’ve been in, rooms that I haven’t been in, but most of all, in my ear, reminding me of who I am, of what I’m capable of,” says Smith Lee. “There are a lot of real reasons for Black women in academia to have doubts. Tenured Black professors make up about just 2% of all tenured faculty.”
Smith Lee, who also gave birth during her tenure, concurs that having Helms as a mentor who had had that experience was instrumental.
“I was up for mid-tenure review in the same semester that I was going to give birth, and I spoke very much like someone who had never delivered a baby before, saying ‘Oh, I can finish this after Cypress is born,’” laughs Smith Lee. “Dr. Helms said, ‘No, I think you really want to…just go ahead and get this in.’”
The emphasis on finding balance goes beyond work and family.
“Work-life balance is really about rejuvenating and regenerating your brain,” says Wideman. “If you work all the time, you can’t be creative. Science requires creativity.”
In 2000, when Wideman arrived in the Department of Kinesiology, formal mentorship did not exist. She serendipitously found an adviser in Dr. Cheryl Lovelady, faculty emeritus in the nutrition department, when the two taught and did research together.
“She took me under her wing and helped me navigate the process of academics and being a mom and what that looked like,” says Wideman.
Wideman currently has four mentees, but her reach extends beyond those relationships.
Koch cites her as a significant influence. Wideman served on her dissertation committee, and Koch notes that she’s been extremely helpful especially because she’s been here so long, and “she’s an awesome scientist as well.”
Smith Lee names Wideman as one of her informal mentors too, even though they are in different departments, because Wideman inhabited that role during a summer grant-writing program.
“She always makes it a point to send me notes and check in. If she sees a news story about something that I’ve done with my work, she writes to congratulate me on those things and just always reminds me that she’s available,” says Smith Lee.
“As a senior faculty member, my role is to help junior faculty to be the best version of themselves,” Wideman says. “I’m here to help the next generation of scientists be successful.”
Story by Alexis Richardson Photography courtesy of Laurie Wideman, Ph.D., and Jessica McNeil, Ph.D., School of Health and Human Sciences
Conway Gift Paves the Way for First Class of Scholars
Posted on January 15, 2026
A $3 million scholarship, supported by the Bedford Falls Foundation donor-advised fund, helps ease financial barriers for students as the University’s new Direct Admit program works to address North Carolina’s projected nursing shortage.
UNCG continues to advance student success with higher on-time graduation rates and lower student debt, all while navigating the challenges of a global pandemic.
Jeff Milroy conducts a focus group as part of his research.
Partnering with national and local organizations, the UNCG Center of Athlete Well-Being keeps the focus on the whole person
The benefits of sports and physical activity are well-documented catalysts for improving mood, physical fitness, and even prolonging life. However, up to 35% of elite athletes in college and professional leagues have expressed mental health concerns. The top issues reported by athletes included feelings of burnout, depression, and anxiety.
Since 2013, Milroy and other researchers at the Center have been researching factors that impact the well-being of athletes. He and his colleagues have become proficient at building science-based resources aimed at incorporating prevention science into sports culture to ensure that supporting athletes not only includes improving their performance but also develops character and overall well-being.
“Our goal is to ensure the athlete is getting all of the benefits sport participation can offer—social-emotional learning, how to conduct themselves with their peers, and how to develop a good coach-athlete relationship—and to prevent negative impacts to their health,” Milroy says. “We want athletes of all levels to know that sports are not just about performance; they are about developing as a human.”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
The Center for Athlete Well-being develops programming that specifically target known risk factors and protective factors for well-being. It takes a multifaceted approach to promote well-being and prevent bodily harm among student-athletes of all ages.
“We do a lot of work in alcohol and other drug prevention where there are risk factors like social norms, attitudes, and expectancies related to that behavior,” Milroy says.
One output of the work is an online prevention program developed by the center known as myPlaybook, which addresses heavy drinking among college student-athletes.
“This behavior jeopardizes athletes’ general health and academic standing, and negatively impacts athletic performance,” Milroy says. “Effective prevention programming reduces these risks by tailoring content to college student-athletes and using theory-based factors shown to reduce future alcohol misuse.”
A June 2016 study co-authored by Milroy and published in The Sport Psychologist evaluated the effects of myPlaybook on student athletes from 60 NCAA Division II institutions, and found the program significantly impacted college student-athlete social norms to positively prevent or reduce future alcohol-related harm.
“Interventions, including myPlaybook, are an example of how we use research to be data-informed and help athletic organizations,” Milroy says. “When they know more about their athletes, they can make shifts and adjustments to create a space in which the athletes can be excellent athletes while they develop as human beings.”
Partnering for change
The Center scales its research to bring its data-based solutions to sports and beyond. To-date, they have researched a variety of topics, including alcohol misuse, the win-at-all-costs mindset, and athlete mental health.
“Wherever there are societal issues related to athletes within the health realm, that’s our area,” Milroy says. “We owe our success to our interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with public health educators, clinical and licensed counselors, sport psychologists, and social workers.”
The Center uses a collaborative approach that includes coaches, athletes, educators, and students to maximize its success.
The NCAA has adopted the Coaches Assist training developed by the Center of Athlete Well-Being. Building upon the principles of health coaching, prevention science, and motivational interviewing, the interactive workshop prepares coaches to become facilitators of student-athlete well-being. “It includes empathetic communication training to help make sure their athletes are seen and heard outside of training,” Milroy says.
The work of the Center also caught the attention of the National Football League Foundation’s InSideOut Initiative. The Initiative combats the professionalized win-at-all-cost sports culture by redefining the purpose of sports in the school community: connecting students to transformational coaches and creating culture of belonging to encourage student growth and character development.
“Our evaluation is investigating how that win-at-all-cost mentality can be detrimental across a variety of groups, including athletes, coaches, and administrators,” Milroy says. “The evaluation of the InSideOut Initiative is uncovering that intentional leadership, transformational coaches, and well-defined learning outcomes to ensure sports participation results in the development of the student’s human potential.”
Milroy is also a consultant with Prevention Strategies, founded by UNCG’s former chief innovation officer David Wyrick, Ph.D.. Prevention Strategies shares the Center’s ethos and mission, developing evidence-based programs for the health and well-being of young adults, especially athletes.
Other collaborations include working with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, The McCrae Williams Foundations and, most recently, Beyond Sports, a Greensboro based non-profit organization devoted to addressing the disparities in access and equity for youth sports, particularly in Title 1 schools.
Collaborating with other UNCG faculty and local and national sports organizations, Milroy hopes to continue to expand the Center’s impact.
“Developing a culture of care for athletes and coaches is the goal,” he says.
The Divisions of Student Success and Student Affairs invites all colleagues to save the date for UNCG Wellness Takeover Day on April 8.
The UNCG Wellness Takeover Day Planning Group is preparing a campus-wide event focused on lifting up student well-being and mental health in a visible, approachable way. This will unite the great work already happening across UNCG and reinforce our identity of creating a culture of care. While classes will be in session, this all-day event is intended to engage students, faculty, and staff in a variety of planned wellness experiences and build community connections throughout the day in person and online.
All units can submit a wellness event or program to participate, no later than Feb. 20.
What we’re building
Th planning group is working on “distributed model” where colleges/schools, student groups/organizations, and campus units host wellness experiences across the physical and virtual campus. Think of it as a choose-your-own-path wellness day where students can drop into activities that fit their schedules, interests, and needs.
The planning group will compile a unified schedule and provide a ready-to-use communications toolkit — social graphics, monitor slides, language you can copy/paste, and a landing page — to help you promote your activity.
Your unit’s contribution can be:
Big or small (examples include a wellbeing workshop, group walk, healthy snacks pick-up station)
Active or passive (examples include a yoga class, quiet reset space, or social media engagement)
A new or a repeat program
In a classroom, office suite, auditorium, outdoor space, or virtual
A one-time activity or something you already do with a wellness focus
UNCG Wellness Takeover Day is for all students, wherever they are on campus, online, working, caregiving, or commuting. Here are a few examples of virtual and in-person activities to spark ideas and we know your unit will bring creativity and possibilities we haven’t even imagined yet.
Targeted Inflammation Treatment: UNCG’s Wu Awarded NCInnovation Grant
Posted on January 06, 2026
Assistant professor of nanoscienceKerui Wu has received a grant from NCInnovation to advance his work on targeted treatments for inflammation with fewer harsh side effects.
Many chronic diseases—like arthritis, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders—are driven by inflammation deep inside the body. But today’s anti-inflammatory drugs often affect the whole system, leading to side effects that make long-term use difficult. Dr. Wu’s project focuses on delivering medicine directly to the immune cells most responsible for inflammation, called macrophages.
Think of it like a targeted delivery service: instead of flooding the entire body, the treatment goes straight to the cells causing the problem. This approach could make medications work better at lower doses and with fewer risks.
For patients living with chronic inflammatory conditions, that could mean better quality of life. For healthcare providers, it could mean more effective tools that avoid some of the complications of current therapies.
“Dr. Wu’s work has the potential to change how we treat chronic inflammatory diseases while improving the quality of life for tens of millions of Americans,” said UNCG Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
“This NCInnovation grant recognizes UNCG’s strength in translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions.”
With NCInnovation support, the team will continue developing and testing this delivery platform, building a foundation for future treatments that are safer, more precise, and more responsive to patients’ real needs.
“Dr. Wu’s research into a new method for delivering anti-inflammatory medicines to the body could prove transformative,” said Michelle Bolas, NCInnovation’s interim CEO. “NCInnovation helps universities advance discoveries with just this kind of real-world application, strengthening the university-to-industry pipeline that’s central to American competitiveness.”
NCInnovation helps university innovations advance toward commercialization by supporting university applied research through the critical research and development phase between proof of concept and readiness for the private market. This December, NCInnovation approved $10 million to support 13 university research projects across 11 UNC System campuses. NCInnovation’s grant funding is part of a larger effort to support the development and commercialization of university research in North Carolina.
Photography by Sean Norona Adapted from an announcement by NCInnovation
