The annual Alumni Awards Ceremony will be held during the Homecoming festivities at EUC Auditorium Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. Alumni Bobbi Osguthorpe, Marion Prescott Wray, James Barnhill, and Lasse Palomaki will be honored this year. These awards recognize devotion, leadership, service, exceptional contributions, and noteworthy career accomplishments.
Senior Vice Provost Randy Penfield, Ph.D., speaks at the Spring 2025 Affinity Group Information Session.
The Affinity Group Council (AGC) invites UNCG faculty and staff to its Fall Social. It will be held Nov. 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., in Shaw Residence Hall, Tillman-Smart Multipurpose Room.
Join the AGC in catching up with fellow affinity group members or come learn more about affinity groups at UNCG, including to create a new affinity group.
Anyone interested in attending the social should register ahead of time.
Current members of the Affinity Group Council of UNCG:
Alianza
Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus (APIC) UNCG Chapter
Black Faculty & Staff Association
International Faculty & Staff Network
Queer Caucus
UNCG NC American Council on Education (ACE) Women Leaders Network.
UNCG Launches Fist Bump Challenge to Boost Campus Connections
Posted on October 07, 2025
A fist bump is the universal sign of positive acknowledgement – simple and friendly, signifying, “I see you. You belong.” This small gesture will be even more prominent on UNC Greensboro’s campus thanks to a new pilot program, the 500 Fist Bump Challenge Coin Connection, that aims to prove a fist bump can make all the difference when it comes to purposefully creating community connections.
“Our mission is to see to it that everybody intentionally feels seen and connected and that they truly belong,” said Mike Perko, professor of public health education in UNC Greensboro’s School of Health and Human Sciences and founder of 500 Fist Bumps. “Connection is a human imperative, period.”
The origin of 500 Fist Bumps
Inspired by seeing how a lacrosse coach’s simple fist bump lifted the spirits of his young son Jack, making him immediately feel like a valued member of the team, Perko started 500 Fist Bumps in 2023. The non-profit initiative uses the fist bump as a connection point for organizations to build care, trust, and a supportive environment for kids.
“In 30 seconds, I watched Jack go from standing on the outside of this group to getting fist bumps left and right for everything that he tried,” says Perko. “But more importantly, he was giving fist bumps back to kids that were taller than him, older than him, and more experienced than him. My son was lucky to have this coach; my goal is to help organizations commit to this so that every coach, every teacher, every mentor to our kids get will be that person.”
Perko’s mission is well-timed. The stats on youth sports teams are stark.
For every team of 20 kids in youth sports
3
Live in “food Insecure” homes
4
are abused or neglected in their homes
7
are being bullied
10
feel depressed, stressed, or anxious
10
Are behind in grade level in at least one subject
20
have experienced active shooter drills in school
Now in its third year, 500 Fist Bumps has grown to include relationships with the Ragsdale YMCA, Southwest Guilford High School, and the Carolina Core professional soccer team. This August, during 500 Fist Bumps night at the Carolina Core soccer game, Perko saw his vision in action.
“During the game, more than 4,000 fans stood and fist bumped each other,” he says. “We created 12,000 intentional opportunities for human connection in 30 seconds.”
Bumping up the program
Perko knows the need for connectivity extends beyond youth.
He recently co-authored the forthcoming textbook “Worksite Health Promotion” which focuses on implementing employee worksite wellness programs among organizations. Perko says that the need for addressing issues such as loneliness, anxiety, isolation, and other physical and mental conditions in the workplace has never been more critical.
“We are excited to pilot this campus-wide effort designed to strengthen belonging and well-being,” Milroy says. “Social connection is a key driver of mental health, job satisfaction, and resilience. This initiative helps reduce burnout, boost morale, and create a supportive community.”
“This program is different than other wellness programs. We believe it’s the first of its kind geared toward connecting as humans,” Perko says.
By creating intentional moments of interaction, 500 Fist Bump Challenge Coin Connection turns small acts like a hallway hello, a kind message, or a fist bump into powerful symbols of belonging. Participants exchange a Connection Coin, start a conversation, and participate in a research study at the same time.
“The wooden coin is about the size of a quarter. The front of the coin has the UNCG emblem and the words ‘You Belong Here.’ The back is printed with a QR code that takes you to a quick, two-item survey that asks why did you receive a coin and how did it make you feel,” Perko says. “We’re asking folks to give coins to each other as often as possible and express gratitude and support for each other. The beauty of it is that through our survey, we will be able to build through testimonials what it really means to belong at UNCG.”
HealthyUNCG is currently recruiting volunteers to participate. They offer trainings for faculty and staff willing to help this giant social experiment take off.
“We want to decrease loneliness, anxiety, or social isolation through connection within the UNCG community,” Perko says. “We want everyone to feel like they belong here, which will help us all enjoy UNCG and be more connected.”
‘Cheers to 40 Years!’ Honors North Carolina’s Brewery History
Posted on October 07, 2025
UNCG alumni celebrate at a mixer hosted by Oden Brewery.
2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the legalization of craft beer brewing in North Carolina. University Libraries’ Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives partnered with Well Crafted NC and Weatherspoon Art Museum for exhibits and an event recognizing the history of this state’s multi-million dollar industry.
The Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives will display “Cheers to 40 Years,” a special exhibit with materials from the Well Crafted NC research project, available on Jackson Library, 2nd Floor.
On Oct. 23, Well Crafted NC will host a special event to continue the celebration. At 5 p.m., the exhibit curator and team guide visitors in a tour of the “Cheers to 40 Years” exhibit. At 6 p.m., guests are invited to the Weatherspoon Art Museum for a panel discussion about the early years of North Carolina craft beer. Three industry experts who were active in the North Carolina craft beer community during the period of 1985-2005 will discuss the ways in which these years continue to impact the industry today.
Those interested in attending are asked to register in advance and indicate whether they want to attend the tour, panel discussion, or both.
Meet the panelists
Kinney Baughman: The first professional brewer in Watauga County, Baughman brewed Boone’s first IPA and an early pumpkin spice beer. His Amber Framboise won a bronze medal in 1995 at the Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian-style Specialty Ales category, well before there was a GABF category for sour beers. Baughman ran his own company, Brewco, and is a retired adjunct professor of philosophy at Appalachian State University.
Bobby Bush: Author of hundreds of articles about U.S. beer and the brewing industry dating back to the early 1990s. Bush is also co-founder of the Hickory Hops Craft beer Festival, the third-oldest continuously running beer festival in North Carolina. Bush is an avid collector of breweriana with more than 400 t-shirts, hundreds of pint glasses and growlers, and thousands of coasters.
Julie Johnson: Former co-owner and editor of “All About Beer” magazine. She authored the an article for the Raleigh News and Observer in 2002, which helped launch the “Pop the Cap” movement that she went on to co-lead. This changed the craft beer landscape of North Carolina, jumpstarting a billion-dollar industry and creating hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs.
On Oct. 27, the School of Health and Human Sciences’ Speech and Hearing Center will provide screenings to anyone with UNCG or in the community. Appointments should take roughly 15 minutes, and registration is open now.
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Search Advisory Committee
To guide the search for our next vice chancellor, the chancellor has convened an advisory committee. The committee will work closely with our search partners at Isaacson, Miller to identify and recommend outstanding candidates. We thank them in advance for their service and thoughtful guidance during this important process.
Advisory Committee Members:
Alan Boyette, Provost (chair)
Joy Bhadury, Dean, Bryan School of Business and Economics
Beth Fischer, Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Donna Heath, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Services
Susan Letvak, Professor of Nursing; Past Chair, Faculty Senate Budget Committee
Sherine Obare, Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement
Zach Smith, Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Enterprises and Risk Management
Waiyi Tse, Chief of Staff
Interim Leadership
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, and until we have a new vice chancellor for finance and administration, leadership of the division will be shared by Scott Milman, associate vice chancellor for finance; and Zach Smith, associate vice chancellor for campus enterprises and risk management.
We are confident that they will provide steady leadership as we transition to our next permanent vice chancellor.
Please join us in thanking the advisory committee members for their service and in supporting Scott and Zach in their interim leadership roles.
Historias Espartanas: Latine Students Who Found Their Way Here
Posted on October 06, 2025
It’s no surprise that the kick-off for Hispanic Heritage Month events at UNC Greensboro was packed with students. The “Fiesta at the Fountain” began with organizations sharing their services with students arriving at Moran Commons, followed by performances by musicians and dancers around the fountain, and ended with the crowd joining in for one big dance party.
The event was symbolic of how quickly the Latine student body has grown on our campus. In recent years, the percentage of students identifying as Hispanic or Latine has increased steadily. Last year, UNCG was recognized as an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution when our Hispanic student body surpassed 15%. Today, Hispanic students make up 17.9% of our undergraduates. It’s the highest percentage among four-year institutions of the UNC system.
Scenes from the UNCG’s Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off event.
The story behind this growth is bigger than recruitment and enrollment statistics. It reflects a culture of care and success that UNCG fosters for its students of Hispanic heritage. Resources help students succeed academically, while organizations allow them to learn more about their heritage and find ways to express and celebrate it. Staff keep Spanish-speaking family members informed with the help of translators. And students find mentors that look like them in campus student leaders, faculty, and alumni groups.
All of these efforts work together to make Latine students feel at home at UNCG. Their journeys, or “Historias Espartanas,” are shared below.
Emeli Hernandez-Urena
Major: English, with event planning and Spanish minors Hometown: Santiago de Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic and Greensboro, North Carolina Class of 2027
I first experienced UNCG through CHANCE camp when I was in high school. It immediately made me feel welcome and supported and showed me the kind of community I would find here.
UNCG has given me the space to celebrate who I am and learn from others’ stories as well. I’ve learned that heritage isn’t measured by how much blood you have, but by how you embrace your culture, values, and experiences.
Kelvin Hernandez
Major: Accounting Hometown: Gurabo, Puerto Rico Class of 2027
UNCG feels like home because there are many Latinos on campus, and when I see my friends, I can go up to them and talk in Spanish. That connection makes me feel comfortable and reminds me of home.
I’ve recently been trying to teach Spanish to my teammates on the golf team. Sharing my language and other parts of my heritage makes me proud of where I come from.
I don’t think I would be who I am today without the incredible individuals who have mentored and inspired me throughout my involvements at UNCG. Marisa Gonzalez wears many hats, but my favorite is her position as advisor of ALPFA UNCG. Julia Goren, Bryan School PD pProgram sSpecialist, has made me feel so seen as a growing leader and helped me in my professional development. I met Dante Evans and Jarrett Strickland in my first year when I joined the Spartan Guide team. They have provided many laughs, mentorship, and the confidence to take on public speaking in welcoming perspective students.
Natalie Richardson-Hernandez
Major: Communication studies with a psychology minor Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina Class of 2027
There was something about the campus and the energy here that drew me in. It felt like UNCG was calling me. As someone who is both Mexican and Black, I grew up feeling like I had to choose one part of my identity over the other, but here I’ve been able to embrace all aspects of who I am.
At UNCG, there’s no shame in not knowing something. Instead, there’s always someone willing to help you expand your knowledge, whether academically or personally. I’m planning to pursue a master’s degree in higher education so I can help future students navigate college the way UNCG has guided me, with support, encouragement, and resources to grow and thrive.
Santino Inkpen
Major: Kinesiology Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia Class of 2028
I decided to come to UNCG for several reasons: the kinesiology program, the great soccer program with staff to support the players, and the beautiful campus. I love being on a team with so many people from different countries. It makes it easy to be who you are without thinking you are different.
UNCG offered me the opportunity to combine academics with athletics. The international business program is strong and being able to play soccer at a competitive level while studying in the U.S. was the perfect combination for me.
I hope to use my degree in international business to create opportunities and to connect businesses across countries. My goal is to support my family and contribute to building bridges between communities through trade, culture, and education.
Fatima Galvan-Ruiz
Major: Media studies, with business and Spanish minors Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina Class of 2026
One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been helping Herencia grow from an idea into a space where students connect with their heritage and community. It has brought me joy to be part of someone else’s self-discovery as they experience their culture through a new lens, as I did here at UNCG.
I hope to use my degree to create and share impactful stories and give a platform to voices and news that deserve to be heard. As a first-generation student, it is a privilege to be in college pursuing a creative field. Entering the media industry, where there aren’t many people who look like me, I know I can uplift both my family and future communities by giving even the quietest voices a space that inspires and empowers.
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications. Athletes’ photos were submitted by UNCG Athletic Department.
Historias Espartanas: Marisa González Inspires the Next Generation
Posted on September 29, 2025
Many UNC Greensboro alumni stick around to work for the University, finding ways to give back by serving the students who come after them.
One of those, Marisa González ’16, ’19 M.A., has worn many hats, and often many at once. Right now, she’s a student, alumna, staff member, and lecturer.
She embraces so many different roles, she says, because sometimes the key to a student’s success is a change of perspective. She knows first-hand that a conversation or a moment of encouragement can be the spark that helps someone reach their goals.
Encontrando su camino aquí
When González arrived at UNCG as a first-generation student, the cultural shift toward earning a college degree had not yet taken root within her family or community. In her first semester, she began to have doubts. That all changed, however, thanks to a little encouragement from Carmen Sotomayor, Ph.D., now professor emerita of the languages, literatures, and culture (LLC) department.
“Her class Spanish 302, that one class, kept me here,” says González. “She was the first one to see something in me. I like to say she was my angel in my first semester.”
Gonzalez speaks at a UNCG Affinity Group Council meet-up.Selfie time for CHANCE Camp staff and volunteers.Students learn more about campus offerings during Fall Kickoff.
González changed majors to Spanish education with K-12 teacher licensure. After finishing her degree, she stayed to earn a master of arts in languages, literature, and culture for Spanish at the urging of another mentor, Department Associate Head Ignacio Lopez, Ph.D.
“I found a space where I could grow and really thrive,” she says. “I also felt like I could make an impact by teaching about culture and language.”
Graduate school introduced her to new ways to give back to the University that had served her. The University Teaching and Learning Commons (UTLC) offered her a graduate assistantship, which eventually led to a full-time job offer.
La Voz de la Comunidad
All those experiences inspired her to serve students facing the same doubts she overcame. She says, “When I started my Ph.D., I felt something change in me. I wanted to connect with my identity and my culture a little bit more and in other capacities on campus.” To that end, González moved into the admissions office to provide bilingual services, then into the Office of Intercultural Engagement (OIE). She began teaching introductory Spanish courses.
Gonzalez shares wellness resources during “Be Well Stay Well.”Undergraduate Admissions Open House.
Over the years, she observed a demographic shift. Today, UNCG is an emerging Hispanic-serving institution, with those students comprising 22% of the first-year class.
“The growth in our Latine-Hispanic community really caught my attention,” says González. “When I started here, I think we were at 4%. I was seeing a need in admissions. We started asking, ‘Where is the space for them to build community once they are at UNCG?'”
González helped start a focus group with students and other employees. “Some of the things that came up a lot were unity, feeling represented, community, support in navigating the University,” she recalls. “They wanted to know that they’re not alone, that there’s spaces that they can come back to and feel like they have a family here.”
OIE’s VOISES panel holds a Valentine’s Day-themed talent show.A panel discussion during the Alianza Symposium.Best quinceañera dress contest.
With this feedback, she helped launch OIE’s Herencia, a collective to build and support community. Through this and other programs, she’s become a familiar face among students looking for academic resources or social events that emphasize their shared heritage.
Círculo Completo
UNCG continues to change under her watch, and it remains deeply personal to González in many ways. More than a decade since her first semester, several of her younger relatives have come to UNCG.
Her own education continues to evolve so that she can reach even more students. She is now pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership and cultural foundations. She returned to UTLC this year as an educational developer, helping faculty identify and improve students’ sense of belonging in the classroom. “I hope to be a voice for students,” she says. “Having the perspective of a student, staff, a teacher, and now a Ph.D. student, I bring all the different roles that I’ve played at UNCG and put that into faculty development.”
With each step of her academic journey, faculty and staff encouragement has made a difference. “The people in UTLC were the ones that actually pushed me to want to get a Ph.D. They said, ‘You can do this.’ They believed in me so much.”
Maintaining community takes place every day, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month, she says. “Sure, we come together, like we say, ‘Let’s have a fiesta at the fountain.’ But that’s not everything. I want to know people’s names, where they come from. I want them to feel they can come to me with a question, or if they have a challenge at home that we can figure it out together.”
No matter what she does, a part of every job is building relationships. “That’s how it starts,” she says. “Building trust. Building community. It’s about helping one more person get across the finish line.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona and David Lee Row, University Communications
The Benefits of an Undergraduate Research Experience
Posted on October 03, 2025
URSCO Director Mitch Croatt, Ph.D., discusses the world of opportunities that open up to students who engage in undergraduate research and shares a list of new workshops for them to learn more.
Food, Fundraisers, and More for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Posted on October 03, 2025
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October, UNCG departments and student organizations hold events to raise money and help everyone put more focus on their health.
These events are open to anyone interested in learning more:
Think Pink Through Nov. 13 Kaplan Center
Sweat for a good cause or cheer on your friends. Recwell’s Intramural Sports will hold pink-themed challenges.
As part of Homecoming Weekend, join nursing’s two-mile walk around campus in partnership with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. All are welcome, and there is no registration fee. It starts and ends at the Nursing Instructional Building.
Student group HerFlora Collective Network presents this as part of its Cycle of Care series, combining wellness, education, and community connection. Students and community members are invited to enjoy refreshing pink-themed agua frescas while learning about breast health, menstrual equity, and preventive care. The program will include interactive education on breast self-exams and resources for reproductive and overall wellness.
Zeta Phil Beta invites all to their Breast Cancer Awareness party, an uplifting and informative event dedicated to education, empowerment, and honor. They will have food and talks about prevention, early detection, and survivors’ stories.
