Three Niners Drafted to MLB, Amon Named CFO of the Year, Niner Course Pack OPt-Out Open and more

THree NIners Bound for the Big Leagues after MLB Draft

Joel Sarver, Logan Poteet and Blake Gillespie were selected during the recent 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Gillespie was the first 49er taken in the ninth round as the 284th pick, before Poteet and Sarver went in the 17th round.

• Did you know? Charlotte 49ers baseball has had multiple players drafted each year since head coach Robert Woodard arrived. Woodard has sent 15 Niners to the pros in five years, and 68 total players in his coaching career.

What you need to know: Faculty and Staff

• CFO of the Year: Rich Amon, UNC Charlotte’s vice chancellor for business affairs and chief financial and administrative officer, was named Nonprofit/Civic Chief Financial Officer of the Year by the Charlotte Business Journal.
• New Appointment: Tamara Johnson, director of engaged scholarship, has been appointed interim director of urbanCORE.
• Friday Building HVAC Project: Several areas on campus will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Aug. 5, to support construction activities for the Friday Building HVAC project: Friday Building, Fretwell Building, Van Landingham Glen, the Botanical Gardens, Lots 5, 5A and the continued closure of Lot 6 and Martin Village Road. Mary Alexander Road between Craver Road and Van Landingham Road also will be impacted and the bus stops at Fretwell North and South will be closed. Bus traffic will follow a detour.
• Parking Lot Closures: Lot 27, located on Johnson Alumni Way, is closed through 5 p.m., Friday, July 25, for maintenance work. Lot 27 permit holders will be granted gate access to the South Village Parking Deck during this period. North Deck is closed from 8 p.m. today, Monday, July 21, through 11 p.m., Sunday, July 27.
• Students Must Take Action: The opt-out period for Niner Course Pack is open now through Friday, Aug. 29. The Niner Course Pack is an affordable textbook rental program that provides all required course materials for all students except automatically exempted doctoral students. Click here for more information.

What you need to know: Students

• Take Action Now: The opt-out period for Niner Course Pack is open now through Friday, Aug. 29. The Niner Course Pack is an affordable textbook rental program that provides all required course materials for all students except automatically exempted doctoral students. Click here for more information.
• Alumna Heads to Germany: Sonia Birla ’25 is one of 65 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program.
• Bass Fishing Nationals: Four Niners competed in college bass fishing’s national tournament, the Bassmaster College National Championship, July 10-12, on Cherokee Lake outside of Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Parking Lot Closures: Lot 27, located on Johnson Alumni Way, is closed through 5 p.m., Friday, July 25, for maintenance work. Lot 27 permit holders will be granted gate access to the South Village Parking Deck during this period. North Deck is closed from 8 p.m. today, Monday, July 21, through 11 p.m., Sunday, July 27.
• Friday Building HVAC Project: Several areas on campus will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Aug. 5, to support construction activities for the Friday Building HVAC project: Friday Building, Fretwell Building, Van Landingham Glen, the Botanical Gardens, Lots 5, 5A and the continued closure of Lot 6 and Martin Village Road. Mary Alexander Road between Craver Road and Van Landingham Road also will be impacted and the bus stops at Fretwell North and South will be closed. Bus traffic will follow a detour.

upcoming events

• The Personally Speaking Series launches Thursday, Sept. 24, with an eclectic range of in-depth research discussions from CHESS faculty in partnership with the Atkins Library. The series is offered four times a year starting at 5:15 p.m., in the Halton Reading Room in Atkins Library.
• Don’t miss the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Research Symposium 2025 Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Research Symposium 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 25, in the Popp Martin Student Union. If you cannot attend in person, you can view the presentations on OUR’s website.

additional news, events and announcements: faculty and Staff

• New Grade or LDA Change Request Tool: The new grade or last date of attendance change request tool launched Tuesday, July 15. Find updated instructions and FAQs on the Registrar’s website.
• UNC Charlotte Advances to the Semifinals: UNC Charlotte is one of 29 semifinalists chosen to move to the next round in the second U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines competition.
• HR Power Hour: Human resources is hosting an HR Power Hour webinar at noon, Wednesday, July 30, to provide insight into correct compliance and submission procedures associated with hiring student employees.
• Concur Virtual Training: Attend the Concur User Group virtual forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 24. Register on the learning and development portal.
• 49er Mart Users: Register to attend the 49er Mart Virtual Forum from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, July 24. More information can be found on the 49er Mart message board.
• Research Symposium on Friday: Don’t miss the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Research Symposium 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 25, in the Popp Martin Student Union. If you cannot attend in person, you can view the presentations on OUR’s website.
• Digital Communication Workshop: Register for “Digital Communication: Strategies for Success and Efficient Email Management,” from 9 to 10 a.m., Friday, August 8, Colvard Building, Room 5092.

only at charlotte

Artworks by 14 College of Arts + Architecture students are on display at Bojangles new headquarters in southwest Charlotte. In other news, José L.S. Gámez, dean of the College of Arts + Architecture, will serve as 2025-26 president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.

“Niner Nation Podcast” provides an unscripted look into the minds of campus leaders. Get to know the show’s creator and host Evan Nazareth in this Q&A.

around campus

Located between the Barnhardt Student Activity Center and Atkins Library, the Star Quad was designed by engineers to produce a natural echo. UNC Charlotte installed commemorative markers around the perimeter to honor the lasting impact of the National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternity and sorority organizations, in Nov. 2024.

campus resources

• 49er Athletics
• Atkins Library
• Niner Central
• Human Resources
• Inside UNC Charlotte
• Campus Disruptions, Delays and Detours
• Campus Career Center
• Campus Events
• UREC
• Interactive Campus Map
• My UNC Charlotte
• OneIT Help Desk
• Research
• Staff Council
• Title IX Training
• Today’s Menus

join the niner conversation on social media

There are a lot of ways to stay up-to-date and show your Niner pride. Make sure to follow Charlotte on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

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