Posted on July 21, 2025

UNCG mascot Spiro surrounded by dance team.

Each year the Southern Conference recognizes members of the faculty and staff who have made a significant impact in the lives of students and served their institution in significant ways. Honorees receives a plaque at a UNCG men’s basketball game from the SoCon Commissioner or their designee.

One faculty and one staff award are presented each year. Awards will be made based on the nominee’s career at UNCG, with particular emphasis placed on the most recent academic year.

Malcolm Schug and Kristy Howell receive awards with UNCG Chancellor Gilliam, Provost Boyette, and Spiro beside them on the basketball court.
Read about last year’s winners, Dr. Malcolm Schug and Dr. Kristy Howell.

Staff Nomination Process

This award complements the University Staff Excellence Award. For more information on Staff nominations, please visit the Staff Senate learn more page. To nominate a staff member, please complete the Staff Senate nomination form. The deadline to nominate for the 2025-2026 awards is Aug. 29.

Faculty Nomination Process

To nominate a faculty member for the All-Southern Conference Faculty Award, click here to find the InfoReady Review nomination submission form. Each nomination packet must include a letter of nomination that addresses the relevant review criteria and a curriculum vitae. Self-nominations are allowed, but the nomination letter must be signed by the relevant Dean or Unit Director. All materials must be submitted electronically as a single PDF document via InfoReady Review. The deadline to nominate for 2025-2026 awards is Aug. 29.

Criteria

The All-Southern Conference Staff Awards are managed by the Staff Senate Recognition Committee, and nominees for the All-Southern Conference Faculty Awards are reviewed by a faculty committee. The respective committees make a final recommendation to the Provost for approval. The Faculty and Staff Award recipients will be invited to attend a home men’s basketball game to be presented their plaque.

Faculty Award

At UNCG, the All-Southern Conference Faculty Award recognizes a faculty member who has made important contributions in all three areas of faculty responsibilities: teaching, research, and service. Unlike other awards at UNCG that focus specifically on research or teaching, the All-Southern Conference Faculty Award recognizes the total contributions of faculty members. Award criteria are:

  1. Demonstrated impactful service to UNCG or the academic profession.
  2. Excellence in research or creative activity as demonstrated through high-visibility or otherwise impactful research or creative activity.
  3. Meaningful contributions to student life through pedagogy, student advising, or other student-facing activities.
  4. Tangible and beneficial impacts on the local community through leadership, service, research, or creative activity.

Staff Award

At UNCG, the All-Southern Conference Staff Award recognizes a SHRA or EHRA staff member who has had a meaningful and positive impact on the University community. This award complements the University Staff Excellence Award, providing another opportunity to recognize outstanding contributions made by a UNCG staff member. Award criteria are:

  1. Consistent record of service to the UNCG yielding tangible and documented benefits to the UNCG community.
  2. Demonstrated ability to bring out the best in others and create conditions for success.
  3. Tangible and beneficial impacts on student life and the local community through leadership and service.

Awardees for faculty and staff need not be outstanding on all criteria, but excellence in at least one area and meaningful contributions in all areas are required.

If you have any questions about either award, please direct them to Jeremy Bray at jwbray@uncg.edu. Questions about the staff award may also be sent to staffsenate@uncg.edu.

UNCG is excited to celebrate those who make this University great!

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Posted on July 17, 2025

UNCG Procurement staff hold an award outside at the Minerva Statue.

UNCG Procurement Services has been nationally recognized for its transformative efforts to modernize procurement operations across campus. Through strategic upgrades to the JAGGAER eProcurement platform and resilient teamwork during a time of transition, the department has significantly improved efficiency, user adoption, and campuswide engagement.

Led by Director of Procurement Michael Logan, the team undertook a campuswide initiative to streamline outdated workflows and enhance procurement visibility. The COVID-19 pandemic brought staffing reductions and leadership transitions, leaving the department with only four members at one point. Despite these challenges, Procurement Services doubled down on innovating.

Advancing with AI and Automation

JAEGGER trophy won by UNCG Procurement Services.

Starting in July 2023, the department expanded JAGGAER’s capabilities by implementing the “JAGGAER Adopt & Assist” and “Contracts AI” modules – tools that help automate tasks, strengthen compliance, and improve the user experience. 

Business Systems Analyst Allysa Robinson, who joined the team during this critical period, played a key role in launching and optimizing these new technologies. Her contributions were recognized at the 2025 JAGGAER REV Conference, where she received two “Pro to Know” Awards, spotlighting her leadership in AI implementation and user training. 

Key improvements included: 

  • A simplified contract request form and automated approval workflow 
  • Guided buying for high-volume goods 
  • Centralized document storage within JAGGAER 
  • Custom dashboards and enhanced contract records 

Results That Matter 

Thanks to these upgrades and strong leadership, Procurement Services achieved: 

  • A reduction in average contract processing time from 48 to 14 hours 
  • A dramatic increase in user adoption from 49% to 97% 
  • More time for staff to focus on strategic procurement functions and planning 

The team collaborated with Groves & Company, a higher education consulting group, to optimize processes and align with best practices. UNCG’s Contracts transformation was featured in a Groves & Company Success Story.

UNCG Procurement Services received three nominations at JAGGAER REV2025

  • Procure-to-Pay Achievement Award (nominated)
  • Industry Leadership in ESG Practices (nominated)
  • Excellence in AI-Driven Procurement Award (won)

The Team Behind the Transformation 

This success story wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the entire team:

Michael Logan, director 
Anthony Kilar, assistant director 
Jim Riedel, buyer 
Valerie Nall, PCard administrator 
Allysa Robinson, business systems analyst 
Lori Krise, buyer 
Cindy Nicholson, contract administrator
Sergio Moreno, purchasing assistant  

What’s Next? 

Procurement Services continues to build on its success – integrating new tools, elevating campus partnerships, and driving innovation that supports UNCG’s mission. 

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For the Media

Posted on July 14, 2025

Nodia Robinson

After earning her one-year post-baccalaureate in biology from UNCG, Afghanistan veteran Nodia Robinson was able to pursue her dream in cardiology as an internal medicine resident at Walter Reed Hospital.

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Posted on July 23, 2025

stephen holland

Natural resources, like diamonds, uranium, or lithium, have enormous economic potential for developing countries. Stephen Holland, professor of economics at UNC Greensboro’s Bryan School of Business and Economics, was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Namibia University of Science and Technology’s Energy Institute and explore another natural resource with enormous economic potential for the African country: solar energy. 

“Namibia is in this unique position as a desert country. It has lots and lots of solar energy potential, but it is very far from established markets like Europe and the United States,” Holland says. “The question is what they can do with all that solar energy.”  

An economic proposition 

An expert on environmental and energy economics, Holland focuses his research on energy use. He’s especially interested in the market for hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels. 

Holland’s main project will investigate the economic potential of using solar power to fuel electrolysis that produces hydrogen from seawater. The product is known as “green hydrogen” if it is produced with renewable energy and can be used to replace fossil fuels such as natural gas. 

“Hydrogen is relatively easy to ship and can be used in industrial processes anywhere in the world,” Holland says. 

With 3,500 hours (about 5 months) of sunlight a year and a 976-mile coastline, Namibia has the resources to create a new green energy-based economy for its 2.5 million residents. The European Union plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050, making Namibia an attractive potential partner for green hydrogen production.  

Now is the time  

Beyond the research, Holland looks forward to returning to Africa 35 years after his first trip to neighboring Botswana with the U.S. Peace Corps in 1990. 

“I love to live in and learn about different cultures,” Holland says. “Throughout my career, I’ve always wanted to do that again, and various things have gotten in the way. I’m thrilled about this opportunity to return to Africa via the Fulbright Award.” 

Beyond his research, Holland will teach undergraduate courses at Namibia University of Science and Technology in microeconomic theory and environmental and energy economics. He’s hoping to help build connections between UNCG and NUST for student exchange. 

“Africa is one of the places that’s still growing rapidly, and there’s a young population with a hunger for education,” Holland says. “There will be more and more students coming from Africa to universities worldwide, and I think UNCG can compete to attract those students.” 

Once he returns to UNCG, Holland is excited to share his experience with students back in Greensboro.  

“Africa is so far away, so I’m excited to humanize it and bring it back to my students. My hope is that Fulbright will open me up to a broader perspective on my students who possess such a wonderful mix of backgrounds from everywhere,” he says. “I hope hearing about my time in Namibia will inspire them to spend time abroad, go somewhere new, and discover how other people live. Now is the time.” 

About the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program 

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.  

More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants — recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals — participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad annually. 

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, funded by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations worldwide also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. 

In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://ful-brightprogram.org 

Story by Alice Manning Touchette 

Photography courtesy of Stephen Holland 

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For the Media

Posted on July 16, 2025

a teacher and student in UNCG listening lab

Each summer, children from across the state gather at the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center to work on listening. The Listening Lab Camp, for children ages 7 to 12, helps children who have been diagnosed with auditory processing disorder in a fun and engaging way.

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Posted on July 11, 2025

Two students walk down a sidewalk on campus carrying boxes and pulling suitcases.

Students across the country are busy preparing to move back to campus in August. It may feel like an overwhelming process, but UNC Greensboro is here to help new Spartans make a smooth transition. The staff at Housing and Residence Life (HRL) has advice to help students get ready, get (Spartan) set, and make sure all systems are go for their move to the G. 

“At HRL, we understand that a good move-in experience puts students in the right frame of mind for the whole semester,” explains Mary Steele, assistant director of marketing and communications for HRL at UNCG. “We’ve set up several processes to make move-in easier. With a little preparation, everything should fall into place for a stress-free move.” 

Get Ready in 3 Easy Steps 

By now, most new Spartans have received their room assignments and are making plans to move to campus in August. If you’re overwhelmed and wondering where to begin, take the following steps to get yourself ready: 

1. Call Your Roommate & Set a Packing List Together 

A classic move-in mistake made by first-year students is packing more than they need. Start by considering the furniture provided in each residence hall and remember that it cannot be removed from the rooms. Focus your attention on personalizing your space and maximizing storage for your needs.  

A dorm room shot featuring a girl doing her hair while talking to her roommate who's laying on her bed.

HRL encourages roommates to meet up early and set a list of things to pack but try not to anticipate every need that may arise over the semester. Compare notes with your roommate so you don’t duplicate items. For example, one roommate brings a microwave, the other a TV, and cleaning supplies can be shared. This simple conversation will save you headaches on move-in day.    

Also, don’t pack items that will get you fined. Health and safety checks will be conducted, and contraband like weapons, drug paraphernalia, and anything considered a fire hazard will be confiscated. Avoid items like LED light strips and nails to hang pictures, which are prohibited in your residence hall. Anything that will damage the walls will lead to a hefty fine when you move out. And finally, consider leaving valuables at home.  

Here’s a checklist of what to bring and what not to bring to campus. 

2. Rent a Mini Fridge 

Every student should have a mini fridge for snacks and drinks, but HRL’s pro tip is to rent a fridge instead of buying one. For a rental fee, the fridge will be waiting in the room for you upon move-in, and you can leave it when you move out. If you order it by Aug. 5, you can skip the extra hauling in favor of convenience. 

3. Set Your Move-in Date 

Once your packing lists are complete, make a plan for when you’d like to move. Traditional move-in is Aug. 13-18 and early arrival is Aug. 8-11, but perhaps the best insider tip for moving to UNCG is to sign up for a Stop, Drop, and Roll appointment.  

Student on a sidewalk in front of a residence hall with suitcases and boxes smiles at camera with a peace sign.

Stop, Drop, and Roll allows students in some residence halls to move their belongings early, so they aren’t moving everything in with the crowds that arrive the weekend before classes start. Although you can’t officially occupy your room yet, Stop, Drop and Roll is the perfect time to: 

  • move larger items  
  • decorate your space 
  • set up electronics with new WiFi settings before your hall is full of others trying to do the same   
  • get a feel for your new living space before move-in day   

Stop, Drop, and Roll dates vary by residence hall, but all students living on campus will receive an email that prompts them to sign up for a one-hour block Aug. 1-3. Check your UNCG email to verify your residence hall’s move-in options.  

“Make that extra trip to Greensboro and you’ll have greater access to moving carts, time to put in maintenance requests, and an early opportunity to get excited about your room,” reminds Steele. “It’ll make your first week at the G so much easier.”    

Get Spartan Set 

For first-year Spartans, this critical time between SOAR and move-in is your time to get Spartan Set. Spartan Set refers to all the paperwork the University requires for the semester ahead. Make sure these four requirements are met by July 31: 

  1. Submit immunization requirements via Student Health Services patient portal
Close up of a laptop sitting in the lap of a woman sitting on a park bench outside.
  1. Waive or enroll in student health insurance
  1. Provide UNCG with your final transcripts. 
  1. Pay your first bill

These are the last of the administrative hurdles you’ll need to jump. Handle them now so you’ll be ready, set… 

And Go! 

Two girls sit on their matching dorm beds holding new ipads in the boxes.
2024 Best Dressed Room Winners show off the room that won them two new iPads.

When students avoid common move-in mistakes and handle all paperwork and preparation in July, they can focus on settling in immediately upon moving in. This includes meeting their peers, learning their way around campus, and making their rooms comfortable and uplifting environments for the new academic year.  

HRL encourages all students to celebrate their creativity and show off practical space hacks by entering the Best Dressed Room contest. It’s been a UNCG tradition for more than 15 years, and this year, up to $650 in merchandise will be awarded to the top winners. Stay tuned for more information about how you can enter your room. 

In general, HRL advises students not to sweat it! If you are a student preparing for your move to UNCG, consult HRL’s Move-In webpage for answers to questions and helpful links and monitor your UNCG email for important updates. And always, email hrl@uncg.edu with any specific questions you have along the way. We can’t wait to see you at the G! 

Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications.
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.

Girl poses in her dorm room decorated with sunflowers and holds her arms out.

Be the First to Set Up Your Room.

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Posted on July 07, 2025

Jason Baity

Jason Baity ’15 helps amputees live their lives without limits. He became a prosthetic clinician in Durham after studying kinesiology at UNCG.

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Posted on July 01, 2025

Featured Image for UNCG Board of Trustees Welcomes New Member and Announces Reappointment of Board Chair 

NC General Assembly Confirms UNCG Alumni with Vast Business, Civic, and Community Experience 

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) announced two appointments by the North Carolina General Assembly to the UNCG Board of Trustees. Newly appointed board member Matthew Rankin will replace William A. “Dean” Priddy, Jr., whose term on the board of trustees ends June 30, 2025, following 10 years of dedicated service. Veteran trustee and sitting Board Chair George Hoyle has been reappointed to a second term. Both Rankin and Hoyle reside in Greensboro and are UNCG alumni. They will serve four-year terms running July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.  

Matthew Rankin

Newly appointed trustee Matthew Rankin earned a bachelor of science in management and marketing from UNCG’s Bryan School of Business and Economics in 1998. An accomplished entrepreneur, Rankin began his career in corporate banking with Wachovia in the Triad and continued with Wells Fargo, where he held progressively responsible positions until rising to senior vice president.

After 12 years in the banking industry, Rankin shifted to entrepreneurship in the real estate sector, focusing on construction, development, and property management in residential multifamily properties throughout North Carolina. In 2010, he became owner of Brantly Properties, Inc., a small property management company. In 2016, Rankin changed the corporate name to Carlisle Residential Properties, where he is currently president and CEO. Today, the company manages a portfolio of nearly 10,000 apartment units across the Carolinas and Virginia. Rankin is also an owner in Element Construction, a company specializing in the building of multifamily apartment communities.  

Prior to his banking career, Rankin served in the U.S. Army in the 18th Field Artillery Brigade stationed at Fort Bragg, where he successfully completed Air Assault School; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School (S.E.R.E High Risk Level C); and trained with the 3rd Special Forces Group Demolition Team. 

Rankin and wife Elizabeth, also a graduate of the UNC System, have been generous benefactors of UNCG, including naming the Rankin Family Assistant Athletic Trainer Office in the Coleman Athletics Building. They have also been actively engaged community members, providing philanthropic support to local nonprofit organizations such as Family Service of the Piedmont, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, as well as Children’s Home Society of North Carolina at the state level. In 2023, the Rankins were named to Family Service’s First Families Honor Society for their generous support and loyal service.  

Rankin is currently serving his final year on the Greensboro Country Club board of directors as a past president. He also currently serves on the board of directors for Cleveland, Ohio-based Nacco Natural Resources, a publicly traded natural resources company, where he is chairman of the finance and special projects committees.  

George Hoyle

George Hoyle, a native of Winston-Salem and longtime resident of Greensboro, graduated in 1990 from UNCG, where he played a key role on the men’s soccer team from 1987-1990, contributing to their success as Division III national champions in 1987. Hoyle is a founding and managing partner at Compass Financial Partners, a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company which has gained national recognition in retirement plan consulting, earning spots on Barron’s Top Institutional Investment Consultants, and Pensions & Investments Top Consultants, among other accolades. 

Hoyle was first appointed to the UNCG Board of Trustees in 2000 by NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and is currently serving a second term as board chair. His extensive service to UNCG includes roles on the University Investment Fund Board, Excellence Foundation Board of Directors, Light the Way Campaign Steering Committee, Students First Campaign Steering Committee, and the 2015 Chancellor Search Committee. Hoyle is also a past president of the Spartan Club Executive Committee and co-chaired the Athletics Department “5 for 5” Campaign for Champions. Additionally, Hoyle was named UNCG Young Alumni of the Year in 2007 and inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. 

In 2021, Hoyle and wife Kathleen Kelly received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals NC Triad Chapter for their dedication to UNCG and the Greensboro community. They have generously supported UNCG, particularly in athletics and student-athlete success, establishing multiple funds including the George G. Hoyle & Kathleen A. Kelly Endowed Athletic Scholarship for the men’s soccer program.  

Beyond UNCG, Hoyle has served as board chair for the Carolinas Chapter of Operation Smile and is a founding member and current co-president of the Greensboro Police Foundation Board. He has also served as co-chair for the United Way of Greater Greensboro Tocqueville Society and is currently vice chair of the Greensboro Sports Foundation Board.  

“I want to first thank Dean Priddy for his 10 years of tremendous service and dedication to UNCG. His contributions to the University and to the board of trustees are immeasurable, and we know he will continue to be an active and engaged Spartan. He will be missed,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.

“I also want to welcome newly appointed Trustee Matthew Rankin to the board. He and George Hoyle are testament to the value of a UNCG education. Both have achieved success in their respective fields through hard work and dedication, embracing and adapting to external change, and driving efficiency and fueling growth while investing significantly in their community and beyond,” Gilliam continued. “This type of sound, innovative, and strategic leadership is essential as we continue to confront the myriad headwinds facing the higher education sector. It is our good fortune to have them as alumni and trustees, and we are honored and grateful for their commitment to their alma mater.”  

Fox Brown, incoming UNCG Student Government Association president, will also join the board of trustees as an ex officio member as of July 1. 

Story and photos by University Communications 

Outside UNCG Alumni House with "Light the Way" banners and sign out front

SUPPORT YOUR ALMA MATER

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Posted on July 08, 2025

Dr. Nancy Vacc sits beside a window with the UNCG Vacc Clocktower outside.

Join University Advancement on Tuesday, July 22, at 11 a.m. at the Vacc Bell Tower. The University will unveil a plaque in honor of the dedication of the late Nancy Vacc ’85 EdD to UNCG. Please RSVP to rsvp@uncg.edu if you plan to attend.

Dr. Nancy Vacc was one of this university’s most illustrious alumni. She served here as professor of curriculum and instruction from 1987 to 2003, earning the School of Education Teaching Excellence Award and the UNCG Research Excellence Award for junior faculty. Dr. Nicholas A. Vacc, her late husband, was the Joe Rosenthal Excellence Professor in our Department of Counseling and Educational Development and served as department chair as well.

Nancy Vacc had a long history of supporting UNCG through gifts that transformed our university. An example is the iconic Nicholas A. Vacc Memorial Bell Tower.

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Posted on May 01, 2025

Logo of Women2Women Self-Defense Club.

By taking a trip over to the Kaplan Center, you’re bound to find something new to try. For a lot of students, it’s the strengthing of their core muscles, setting fitness goals, or joining activities that get the heart rate up and pumping. Women2Women Self Defense (W2W) blends all these components with techniques that could save someone’s life like breaking a grip or escaping a choke. 

“Women2Women at UNCG is more than just a sports club – it’s a safe haven where women come together to learn practical self-defense skills, develop mental resilience, and support one another.” 

Ally Beatty, president

You don’t have to be an expert when it comes to martial arts. W2W welcomes all skill levels. Ally Beatty, president of W2W says it made her more confident in her ability to protect herself. Beyond self-defense, W2W is about unity with other women, uplifting each other, and lending a helping hand where others fall short. 

The organization focuses on situational awareness, emotional resilience, and works closely with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to provide resources that cultivate healing and growth. 

Beatty covers ground on what involvement looks like in W2W: 

Self-Defense Workshops: Our hands-on training sessions, led by expert martial arts instructors, are always a favorite. 

Situational Awareness & Safety Talks: These sessions help members learn how to identify and avoid dangerous situations. 

Collaboration Events: We’ve partnered with groups like No Labels to expand our impact, bringing in guest speakers and trainers to engage more students in our mission. 

Here at UNCG, W2W has expanded significantly in membership, outreach, and programming. We’ve partnered with other student organizations, hosted larger self-defense workshops, and collaborated with community initiatives to spread awareness about women’s safety. We’ve continued to thrive and provide a safe space for individuals of all walks of life on campus. 

W2W provides students with essential self-defense skills, but more importantly, it gives them confidence and a sense of security. It offers a supportive network of strong women, mentorship opportunities, and a place to destress while learning something truly valuable. Many members leave not just with skills, but with lifelong friendships and a renewed sense of empowerment.

Students interested in W2W can connect through Spartan Connect. Students are required to fill out the Club Sports Waiver before practicing.

Walk into the room and leave feeling prepared for anything. It’s a great way to take advantage of the real-world opportunities when they present themselves. 

Story by Lauren Segers, University Communications 
Photography courtesy of Women2Women 

Two people engage in a self defense simulation

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