Posted on March 23, 2026
For 30 years, UNCG’s Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships (CYFCP) has been serving the community. Its team will celebrate with a night of fun, family, networking, and hockey!
Join them on Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. to watch the Greensboro Gargoyle’s take on the Worcester Railers at First Horizon Coliseum.
If you purchase tickets using this link, $10 of your purchase will go directly to CYFCP and the communities we serve.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
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Posted on February 27, 2026
An old, unused building on a busy street can mean something different to each person who passes by. Where some might experience a burst of nostalgia, others might see a dilapidated relic from a fading point in time.
Students in UNC Greensboro’s Department of Interior Architecture (IARc) see the potential to give these old buildings new purpose.
And thanks to that mindset, they also saw a clean sweep. Three proposals by IARc students to revitalize historic properties snagged every student category in the 2025 AIA Winston-Salem Design Awards.
Merit Award winner Maya Monteverde with interior architecture faculty, Dr. Asha Kutty and Matt Jones.
Aaron Solar ’25 had recently moved to Baltimore, Md., for a job with the Patrick Sutton design firm. After the awards ceremony on Dec. 4, a UNCG friend called with the news that his proposed redesign of Greensboro’s historic Fordham’s Drug Store won the Honors Award, the highest student category. He also shared the Citations Award won by a group that worked on another locale: the Douglas J. Galyon Train Depot.
“What really took these projects to the next level were the real-world implications,” says Solar. “It was cool to see my design fit into an existing space, to work with constraints I don’t always have when working on a hypothetical.”
Old buildings pose unique challenges. Students must work around structural limitations while making the spaces suitable for new business needs. AP Assistant Professor Matt Jones, MFA challenged Solar’s class to turn Fordham’s, a century-old drugstore on South Elm Street, into a mixed-use project with apartments, retail, and a restaurant.
Solar came up with an English-themed restaurant for the ground floor, but he wanted the building to maintain its 19th century downtown character.
“It had these really old bookshelves along the walls, this beautiful mosaic tile floor, these tin ceilings that were sort of falling apart at this point,” he describes. “It’s amazing. When you walk in there, you get the feeling there are so many stories that you really want to keep alive.”
One limitation he learned to work around was Fordham’s narrow layout. Jones and Solar practiced with smaller projects called charettes to help him allocate space for seating and the kitchen. “I took heavy influence on old-world train cars,” Solar says. “The building is located very close to the train tracks, and so I wanted to bring in the details of what you might find in an old train car.”‘
Solar’s sketches and renderings.
It came as no surprise to Jones that Solar’s design won, especially after seeing him present the project at an event for Creative Greensboro.
“That was a huge success,” Jones says. “They weren’t just presenting to their peers, but hundreds of people from the community were coming through, and we got a lot of great feedback.”
Historic significance and emotional well-being inspired Maya Monteverde, who won the Merit Award for her Nia and Vida Birthing Center concept. She was tasked with designing a property of MAAME, Inc. in Durham’s Hayti District, a neighborhood deeply connected to its African American history.
Its health care purpose posed additional challenges. “The building is very small, and a lot of medical equipment is very large,” she explains.
She designed built-ins to maximize floor space in the reception area and birthing units. She added birthing tubs and other relaxing spaces for families separate from the beds, while leaving room to maneuver a wheelchair or stretcher.
Monteverde also spoke with parents and doulas about what to avoid. Many people she surveyed described hospital interiors as feeling too cold and sterile.
“I drew a lot of material selections and colors from traditional African patterns, as well as earth tones,” says Monteverde. “I tried to use a lot of stone, wood, and glass to help open up its spaces. Soft color palettes, a lot of relaxing tones, so as not to overwhelm families.”
Monteverde’s sketches and renderings.
Monteverde enjoyed developing a design connected to one of the clients of her faculty mentor, Dr. Asha Kutty. “She’s probably one of the most involved professors I’ve ever had,” she says. “All the projects I’ve done in her studio involved real clients. We can talk to them face to face and figure out their needs.”
Kutty says Monteverde’s designs stood out because of how well she researched and prioritized mental health needs. “Working with real community sites fosters a sense of ethical responsibility, as students understand their designs represent real people and lived experiences,” says Kutty. “She demonstrated a strong understanding of how interior environments influence emotional safety, dignity, and agency during childbirth.”
The AIA awards sweep means a great deal to the IARc department, one of the few programs of its kind in North Carolina. Department Head Travis Hicks, who mentored the winning Gaylon Depot group project, says “Our department has a deep and rich history of community-engaged design, following principles and practices that connect our talented faculty and students with community partners in impactful, real-world projects. It’s encouraging to have professional architects and designers validate this engaged way of teaching and learning with AIA design awards.”
Monteverde, who graduates this May, says UNCG gave her the place to develop interests she’s had since childhood. “My mom studied art curation and pushed me to be creative,” she says. “Her influence made me realize how much deeper we can go into designing a space, and how it can bring people together, especially communal and public spaces.”
Jones says the work of Spartans made such an impact that it might create new opportunities for students outside North Carolina.
“The jurors for this were from northern Alabama,” he explains. “They told us that their chapter currently does not have student awards categories, but because of the quality of these, they want to start having student designs as part of their show. That’s a win-win for everyone.”
For the awardees, these accolades go beyond a wall plaque or a point for a résumé. Solar says his concepts became great practice for the work he takes on in his full-time career. “The Fordham project was a great precursor for jumping into the real world and working on high-level restaurant projects,” he says. “I see so many restaurants that are like this, that make you think, ‘How do I fit a restaurant in a 15,000 square foot, 100-year-old building?'”
Monteverde says older buildings are full of life, and it’s great to have projects about keeping them in use. “It’s a very powerful feeling, to stand somewhere that’s old, to think about how someone made this wall by hand, carved out details like on a door frame. I think it’s essential to keep that life in them while moving forward.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by David Lee Row, University Communications
Additional images courtesy of Aaron Solar, Patrick Sutton; and Maya Monteverde, Department of Interior Architecture
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
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Posted on March 10, 2026
Dr. Susan Keane, who came to UNCG in 1983, has advanced research that can help families identify behavioral problems early and treat them. Her Candace Bernard and Robert Glickman Distinguished Professorship also helps her students get ahead in their own cutting-edge research.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
Posted on March 03, 2026
For Lexi Kier, sport has always been more than competition — it’s an intersection of joy and loss, community and pressure, and resilience and vulnerability. As a doctoral student in public health education at UNC Greensboro, she is building a research agenda that challenges how institutions understand athletes, particularly Black athletes.
“I come from an athletic background,” Kier says. “And I’ve seen these challenges firsthand.”
Now, Kier has been named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar, a prestigious national leadership distinction for doctoral students whose research has the potential to shape health policy across the United States.
Kier grew up in Winchester, Va., in a family deeply rooted in athletics. She played competitive basketball in high school and dreamed of continuing at the collegiate level until her two knee surgeries—one a total reconstruction — ended her playing career.
At the same time, she watched her brothers navigate the intense demands of elite sport.
One brother played football at the University of Virginia. There, he experienced a concussion that, Kier says, changed his demeanor and mental health. Another rose from walk-on status at Marshall University to the NFL, where he now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, bringing both extraordinary success and ongoing injury-related challenges.
“Seeing athletes, especially Black athletes, go through what they go through, and not being able to do anything about it, really motivated me,” says Kier, who also worked with the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team for several years. “I couldn’t just keep watching.”
That motivation led her first to a master’s in kinesiology at UNCG, concentrating in sport and exercise psychology, and eventually to a Ph.D. in public health education. There she found a disciplinary home that allowed her to examine not just behavior, but the broader systems shaping athlete health.
Since beginning her doctorate in the School of Health and Human Sciences, Kier’s research portfolio has expanded rapidly. Recent work examines multiple dimensions of athlete health and transitions.
One recently accepted commentary in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, critiques what Kier and her mentors, Drs. DeAnne Brooks and Erin Reifsteck, describe as the “miseducation” of athletes. The paper argues that sport culture prioritizes winning at the expense of long-term physical and mental health, leaving athletes unprepared for life after sport.
“There’s this sport ethic of ‘win at all costs,’ even over your body and your health,” Kier says. “Then when athletes transition out, they don’t know how to sustain physical activity, and mental health often declines.”
In another article in Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, Kier, Reifsteck, and Kier’s doctoral advisor Dr. Jeff Milroy examine how pain intensity and pain interference affect symptoms of depression and anxiety in athletes across different sport types.
Their findings suggest that even when athletes can still perform daily activities, pain alone can significantly impact mental health. This insight carries important implications for injury management and psychological support.
Kier is also interested in the research tools used to study athlete health. During her master’s work at UNCG, she initially planned to examine concussions using electroencephalography (EEG) but encountered racial limitations embedded in the technology related to Black hair types and styles.
With support from an internal grant, she evaluated how open Black athletes are to participating in research with current EEG caps. The resulting publication in the International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education reinforced a principle that continues to guide her work: inclusion must be built into research from the start, not added later.
Kier currently serves as a mental-skills trainer for Karenni youth soccer players in Winston-Salem. Her work with the community originally from Myanmar is part of a randomized controlled study focused on emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Working with a refugee community required humility and adaptability, Kier says. “Black culture and Southeast Asian cultures are very different. I had to learn how to build trust, how to listen, and what leadership looks like in that context.”
The experience reflects her evolving interest in blending sport psychology, public health, and community engagement — an approach that aligns closely with her work as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholar.
The prestigious program is designed for researchers whose work has clear policy relevance, even if they do not come from traditional policy backgrounds. The highly competitive program provides $124,000 in funding.
Kier was encouraged to apply to the program by mentors — including faculty members Drs. Michelle Martin Romero, Amanda Tanner and Tamar Goldenburg — who recognized the implications of her work before she herself fully did.
“I was like, ‘Policy? I didn’t do any policy,’” she said. But she discovered the program is intentionally designed for scholars whose research already intersects with policy questions, even if they have not been formally trained in policy analysis.
“I don’t want to be a policymaker,” she said. “But I want to know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it when I’m in the room with policymakers.”
As a scholar, Kier is learning how to frame athlete-health research in ways that resonate beyond academia, translating evidence into conversations that can influence systems, institutions, and decision-making.
“I’m learning how to communicate my work in ways that matter beyond academia,” Kier said. “It’s about making sure research reaches the people and systems that can change things.”
Kier credits much of her growth at UNCG to strong mentorship, including from Milroy.
“He’s incredibly supportive,” she said. “He reminds us that we’re doing well, even when it feels overwhelming.”
As she continues her doctoral work, Kier remains open to where her research will ultimately land, whether that be in sport psychology, public health policy, or a space that bridges both.
What remains constant is her commitment to athlete health, equity, and accountability.
“I just want to get this figured out,” she said. “Because athletes deserve better.”
by Sierra Collins, Division of Research and Engagement
photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
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Posted on March 04, 2026
AI is everywhere. Some business professionals were early adopters; some questioned the tool’s possibilities.
Whatever one’s initial reaction to artificial intelligence (AI), it is here to stay. And since that is the case, Marketa Rickley, Bryan School of Business & Economics professor, wants to support organizations in ensuring AI strengthens their overall success.
UNC Greensboro was an AI “early adopter,” and Rickley’s January launch of a new Bryan School Executive Education: AI for Impact workshop adds to the University’s forward-thinking cache of AI initiatives.
The four-part, hands-on series — either taken online or in-person — digs deep into the practical, strategic, and ethical implementation of AI in business, drawing from Rickley’s expertise in strategic management and applied AI.
She launched the workshop earlier this year, with first client NEST, a New Jersey integrated facilities management company, whose leadership includes two UNCG alumni, CEO Rob Almond ’02 and VP of Strategy Jon Brumbaugh ’02, ’07 MA.
“Although we have been embracing AI at NEST for some time, we want to be cutting edge and competitive with our AI offerings,” says Almond. “When Dean Joy Bhadury told me about this curriculum, I immediately signed up.”
For Rickley, working in the AI field was borne from broader strategic thinking about the role of faculty. When considering this, she thought about her research, her students, and the community.
“My role is to push the knowledge domain further with research and to encourage students to be effective in changing the workplace but also to share insights with our broader community,” says Rickley.
The last objective really resonated with her. She wanted to ensure businesses in the community were taking advantage of advancement in tools like AI and applying them effectively for their future success, which led her to create the workshop.
Rickley focuses on generative AI (GAI) and predictive AI (PAI) in her research and work with business managers. GAI learns patterns from data to create new content while PAI projects future outcomes by analyzing historical data.
“I find it inherently interesting to be part of this ‘paradigm shift’ due to changes in technology,” she says. “I also like how AI enables us to think about difficult questions in a new way.”
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The Bryan School has readily adopted aspects of AI, using the tool in faculty training and adding an AI concentration and graduate certificate, and with support from Dean Bhadury, development of this program also gained momentum.
Rickley sought to contribute her skills by creating a workshop that makes AI accessible through a business lens.
“I wanted to get business professionals comfortable using AI and provide them a window into where AI is headed,” she says.
The course was then developed and road-tested before its official launch with NEST in February. The format is four, 60–90 minute modules, focused on AI for productivity, AI agent development, strategic AI integration, and ethical AI implementation.
The module format enables the program to flex its emphasis according to the clients’ needs, either further emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain topics.
“Without the combination of the forward-thinking leadership and the connections the Bryan School has built over the decades, we could not have launched this program,” Rickley says.
Participants should gain a clear and actionable sense of how AI can benefit their organizations in this workshop, explains Rickley.
“GAI can offer inspiration for marketing, HR training, and many other functional roles,” she says. “PAI can analyze a company’s business model, for example, and make recommendations.”
Due to her background, Rickley knows how to discuss AI in a way that resonates with business leaders; she does not approach the conversation from a technical perspective.
“Rather than getting into the technical details, I focus on helping business leaders build intuition about how AI works and how it can be integrated to strengthen their business model,” she says.
Organizations that are excited about AI are a good fit for this program. In other words, they want to use the technology — know they need to use it — but need help navigating the sometimes intimidating expanse of information about AI.
“The thought of using AI may overwhelm businesses,” Rickley says. “This course breaks it down into digestible pieces, helping leaders decipher what is worth investing in and what should be skipped.”
Rickley reflects on the workshop launch with NEST, a company led by UNCG alumni Almond and Brumbaugh offering integrated facility management support, which allows for brand consistency, cost effectiveness, and efficient processes.
NEST’s strong group of forward-thinking managers were already pursuing AI integration, which made the workshop engaging yet realistic.
“The NEST leadership had a great blend of curiosity and strategic realism,” she says. “We examined their current use of AI and what they could realistically build out in 6, 12, or 18 months.”
Following the workshop, Almond says NEST continues to focus on automation and efficiencies gained from AI implementation, without losing their personal touch with clients.
“We offer customized solutions to each customer because of their unique processes,” he says. “But we can apply AI to each of their ‘playbooks,’ allowing for increased response times and greater staff efficiency.”
Since they took the course, NEST now has a “sounding board” in Rickley. She sees their benefits as communal clarity and greater alignment in terms of AI.
“Participation in this course gives them a path to perhaps think differently about certain strategic questions,” she says. “From there, they can decide how to adjust their processes to make the most of AI.”
The leaders at NEST agree. In fact, one of their clients flew across the country to join the AI session.
“This client, like my team, was blown away by what we learned in the workshop,” says Almond. “He confirmed that we were doing the right thing be embracing AI on a whole different level.”
In this workshop, Rickley helps businesses navigate the intricate world of AI by exploring questions: Why AI? What problem does it solve? Do you need it? Where will it create value?
With GAI, PAI and the responsible use of AI constantly evolving, AI for Impact will change and develop as well, based on the needs of the businesses it serves.
Teaching this workshop enables Rickley to stay at the forefront of the AI conversation.
“Teaching AI for Impact allows me to see in which direction industry is moving as well as offers me a birds-eye view into what modern businesses are considering in terms of AI,” she says.
Written by Amy Burtch, AMBCopy
Photography provided by Bryan School of Business & Economics
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
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Posted on March 05, 2026
ITS is making the change to YuJa Panorama, an accessibility tool built into Canvas to support new ADA Title II requirements. The full launch is planned for August.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
Posted on March 02, 2026
The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) introduced the State Auditor’s Award of Excellence, and UNC Greensboro is one of 15 institutions to be recognized for its financial statement audit for the 2024 fiscal year.
All state agencies, universities, community colleges, and other public entities are eligible to receive this award if they meet the highest standard of fiscal accountability.
“This award reflects the Controller’s Office’s commitment to accuracy, transparency, and fiscal stewardship,” says UNCG Controller Ghazala Bibi. “Achieving this level of audit excellence requires diligence, technical expertise, and year-round collaboration. I am incredibly proud of our team for upholding the highest standards of financial reporting and compliance on behalf of UNCG.”
OSA focused on three criteria: timely submission of the entity’s unaudited financial statement package, no record of any significant audit adjustments upon completion of the OSA’s financial statement, and no record of any audit findings (significant deficiencies, material weaknesses, or other findings required by auditing standards).
UNCG thanks all the staff within the Controller’s Office for their hard work to earn this achievement.
For the 2024 fiscal year, OSA recognized 27 institutions or agencies overall for financial statement audits or single audits.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
Posted on March 05, 2026
Help UNCG make a direct impact on the newest Spartans by helping create a welcoming, supportive, and unforgettable orientation experience.
New Student Transitions & First Year Experience seeks faculty and staff volunteers to support SOAR sessions this June. They create a warm first impression by greeting students and guests, assisting with directions near parking and check-in, and answering general questions.
All interested should sign up by Friday, May 4 at 5 p.m.
Volunteer shifts are two hours in the morning and take place outdoors near SOAR check-in locations. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, pom-pom, lunch voucher, and other helpful material. They’ll also be invited to attend the SOAR Preview on June 1 at 3 p.m.
Interested volunteers should speak to their supervisor before signing up, as flex or comp time is granted at their discretion, and supervisors will be notified of participation.
Any questions can be sent to Taylor Jones at tnjones8@uncg.edu.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
Posted on March 05, 2026
The ULRA awards are given in recognition of an outstanding original paper or project in any media format. Two individual undergraduates and one graduate student will be awarded a $500 prize. Application materials are due March 20.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
Posted on February 25, 2026
Higher education not only introduces students to a more global view of the world; it also teaches them how their voices and efforts can have a ripple effect of impact. This is especially true of civic engagement, a practice that is learned, modeled, and encouraged at UNCG. Mentors play a critical role in helping students recognize their power to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Fortunately for Spartans, Jarrod Rudd ’13, director of the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (OLCE) in the Division of Student Affairs, is on the case.
Rudd returned to his alma mater in 2021 with a passion to empower students to serve their community and be changemakers. By 2024, he was heading up OLCE, the office that students turn to for engagement in local service projects and leadership development.
Service day T-shirts are emblazoned with the word “changemakers,” reflecting OLCE’s mission to turn Spartans into changemakers for their communities. “You don’t need to be the mayor to be a changemaker,” Rudd says. “I want students to understand their values and live through that. I truly believe in the motto of the University… service.”
Under his direction, OLCE’s service days, which call for students to volunteer with local nonprofits on Spartan Service Day in September and MLK Day of Service in January, fill to capacity with waitlists. Now there are service days every other week, connecting students with volunteer work in Greensboro. This year, he also secured a grant to add a 9/11 Day of Service to the mix.
“It was powerful,” he says about teaching students about 9/11’s impact on communities. “Even as we think about our current environment, we reflected on what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, and also what happened afterwards. How did people come together? What type of community did we build? How did we show up for one another?”
Starting small and showing up for one another is how Rudd teaches students about civic engagement. When students are feeling discouraged by current events, he offers simple advice: “Advocate for what you believe in by starting small conversations within your friend group. This is how hope is inspired.”
Rudd’s hope and enthusiasm for civic engagement really comes alive when elections, like next week’s primaries, are happening: “Today’s debates are sparking curiosity in students, and I want to support that and encourage them to use their voice in many ways — whether that is voting, attending city council meetings, or writing to elected officials.”
To prepare for the primary election on March 3, Rudd worked with student groups to demystify the election process and help them “make a plan” to vote. Asking questions like “Are you registered?” “Where are you registered?” “How will you get to the polls?” helps them craft a plan. In addition to meeting one-on-one with students, he also empowered student catalyst leaders to share election information with campus organizations and peer groups.
Voting plans for students were further complicated when early voting polls closed at UNCG and across town at NC A&T State University. Convenient polling locations are important to students who may be casting their very first ballot while in college.
Removing barriers to election participation is a priority for Rudd, who coordinated transportation for students wanting to vote early. On Feb. 25 and 26, shuttles will run from the EUC to the courthouse on Market Street so they can participate in early voting. Sign up here to join them.
“This was an instance where we were truly listening to our students who were upset about the early voting poll closing,” he explains. “We knew that mandate wasn’t going to change, so our action was to get them there.”
These may sound like extra measures for a primary election, but Rudd wants students to get involved early. “They have more power than they actually think,” he says.
Rudd was honored for his work when he was named the 2026 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year by North Carolina Campus Engagement . The award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing civic learning, strengthening campus-community partnerships, and embedding civic engagement into institutional practice.
Rudd’s’ colleagues on the UNCG Community Engagement Council nominated him for his role in transforming civic engagement from a set of individual programs into a coordinated and mission-aligned institutional effort. His management of UNCG student leadership programs, voter education efforts, community-based career experiences, and campus-wide service events made him a clear choice.
Students agree that his reach has real impact. Zainab Adamou-Mohamed is a recent UNCG graduate who now serves on his staff. She originally met Rudd when she served as an OLCE catalyst leader and has watched him welcome students to service-day events since she was a first-year.
“His upbeat and encouraging tone appeals to students who are unfamiliar or even nervous about participating in service,” she says. ”It reflects his ongoing commitment to empowering young people through acceptance, warmth, and encouragement, no matter where they are in their leadership journey.”
Judd loves working with students like Adamou-Mohamed, but he is quick to credit UNCG staff and faculty cooperation.
“Every day, I get to see UNCG students step into their power as changemakers, whether that is making a plan to vote, serving alongside someone with a different perspective, or building partnerships that create real impact in Greensboro,” he says. “This award is deeply meaningful because it reflects the collective commitment of our campus and community partners to civic engagement. It is not just recognition of my work, but of the incredible ways UNCG students show up to make their communities stronger.”
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications and Nicole Merritt, Student Affairs.
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.
April 10, 2026
The Pubantz Artists in Residence program at UNC Greensboro’s Lloyd International Honors College asks students for bold ideas,...
April 9, 2026
Young musicians rehearse with UNCG mentors; teen artists experiment across mediums; and future innovators dive into esports and STEM...
April 8, 2026
Chitiyo, who has served as interim dean, will assume the permanent role on May 1. The internationally recognized scholar was also ...
Subscribe today to our Top 5 Weekly email
