A full-circle moment for a Niner entrepreneur, Late Night Breakfast next week and more

Timing is everything for Kwame Molden ’12 MBA

From a $1,500 idea in a UNC Charlotte MBA classroom to Oprah’s Favorite Things, Kwame Molden’s watch brand has become a national standout. Read about his journey in entrepreneurship and his full-circle return to Niner Nation.

what you need to know: faculty and staff

• OneIT maintenance: OneIT will complete extended maintenance Monday, May 11, through Sunday, May 17.
• Service beyond the court: Chick‑fil‑A and Charlotte Athletics turned three-pointers into community impact, donating 1,470 sandwiches to the Jamil Niner Student Pantry through their season‑long basketball initiative. 
• BOG update: The UNC System Board of Governors convened in regular session on Thursday, April 16. A summary of the reports shared with the board and actions taken by the board is available for review.
• Student recognized at international competition: A research team that included Andrei Vince, a third-year computer engineering major, placed second in the Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge finals with Neevel , a fall-prevention project for older adults. Vince’s team was the only finalist from North Carolina.
• Oscar de la Torre talk update: “Black Atlantic Worlds: A Conversation on Landscape Histories of the African Diaspora,” scheduled for today, Thursday, April 23, has been canceled and will be rescheduled for the fall.

what you need to know: students

• Student recognized at international competition: A research team that included Andrei Vince, a third-year computer engineering major, placed second in the Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge finals with Neevel , a fall-prevention project for older adults. Vince’s team was the only finalist from North Carolina.
• BOG update: The UNC System Board of Governors convened in regular session on Thursday, April 16. A summary of the reports shared with the board and actions taken by the board is available for review. 
• Oscar de la Torre talk update: “Black Atlantic Worlds: A Conversation on Landscape Histories of the African Diaspora,” scheduled for today, Thursday, April 23, has been canceled and will be rescheduled for the fall.

the difference is charlotte

A simple motto — “trust and share” — shaped Ishwar Aggarwal’s groundbreaking career in optical science and now shapes his legacy at UNC Charlotte. Aggarwal and his wife, Shail, have committed $2 million to endow a graduate scholarship fund and were celebrated last week as the Department of Physics and Optical Science was named in his honor.

Chick‑fil‑A and Charlotte Athletics turned three-pointers into community impact, donating 1,470 sandwiches to the Jamil Niner Student Pantry through their season‑long basketball initiative.

upcoming events: students

The last day of classes calls for a special meal. Late Night Breakfast is from 9 to 11 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, at SoVi Dining Hall; the event is free to students with a valid student ID. 

• Airband 2026: Join the UNC Charlotte Greek Life community for a night of dance, spectacle and competition! Airband is an annual dance competition featuring performances from fraternities and sororities. Anyone may attend.
• Senior Design Expo: Nearly 100 projects will be on display at the spring 2026 Engineering Senior Design Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, May 1, in Halton Arena.

professional development: faculty and staff

• Registration reminder: Take charge of your professional journey with Career by Design, UNC Charlotte’s new cohort‑based development program designed to empower staff to take a strategic, intentional approach to career growth. Only a few seats remain for the spring 2026 cohort; register today.
• HR Power Hour: The next virtual HR Power Hour will take place from noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 29. Deidra Harris-Lumpkins, associate vice chancellor for human resources, will discuss HR Connect , a new centralized case management platform designed to streamline and enhance how the UNC Charlotte community engages with human resources.
• Understanding University contracts: Register for the next Office of Legal Affairs virtual training session, “Clause and Effect: Dos and Don’ts of Negotiating University Contracts,” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30.
• Spring Writing Retreat: Faculty and staff are invited to the two-day Spring Writing Retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 20, at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City. Make progress on personal or professional writing goals, jumpstart a summer project or simply write alongside colleagues in a relaxing environment.
• Writing and renewal: Don’t miss summer writing retreats on campus from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesdays, May 27 through July 1. Sessions begin in the Botanical Gardens with a guided educational, aesthetic or mindfulness activity before moving to Sycamore Hall, Room 306, for goal setting, discussion and writing in community with others.
• May workshops: Register for four Unleash Your Niner Potential workshops, presented by the HR learning and development team, centered around effective decision making, digital communications, emotional intelligence and public speaking. View the May schedule. 

to-do list: faculty and staff

• Earth Month trivia: Chad Carwein, Charlotte’s new sustainability officer, asks the questions in today’s Niner Insider trivia.
• Keep an eye on Smellvis: After more than 150 name suggestions, the team from the Botanical Gardens voted to name this titan arum Smellvis.

to-do list: students

• Earth Month trivia: Chad Carwein, Charlotte’s new university sustainability officer, asks the questions in today’s Niner Insider trivia.
• Share cap and gown photos: May graduates, submit a photo of yourself in (or with) your cap and gown, and you could be featured in this year’s commencement pre-show.
• Keep an eye on Smellvis: After more than 150 name suggestions, the team from the Botanical Gardens voted to name this titan arum Smellvis.