49er ACE Network honors outstanding alumni employees and landmark genome study unmasks the 65-million-year origins of bats

October 5, 2026
Categories: Niner Insider
Jodi Kaplan and Chancellor Gaber with the three ACE Award recioients

49er ACE Network honors outstanding alumni employees

The UNC Charlotte 49er Alumni Campus Employees Network presented its 2026 ACE Awards to alumni employees Tonya Bates ’97, ’01 M.S.; Shannon Homesley ’15 M.A.; and Suzanne Voight ’24, and awarded its 49er ACE Scholarship to junior Levi Truong.

Bat

Landmark genome study unmasks the 65-million-year origins of bats

Laurel Yohe, assistant professor of bioinformatics, is helping scientists unlock the secrets of bats. In a landmark study recently published in Nature, she and fellow researchers combined the genomes of 103 bat species with 44 fossils to trace bats back 65 million years and reveal new clues about how flight and echolocation evolved.

what you need to know: faculty and staff

  • Academic Affairs Weekly News Digest: The deadline to nominate a faculty member for the O. Max Gardner Award has been extended until 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16. Learn more about this honor given by the UNC System, along with other important updates in this week’s news digest.
  • Portrait unveiling: UNC Charlotte honored Joyce Davis Waddell ’73 on Saturday, Oct. 3, with a ceremony and portrait unveiling at the Joyce Davis Waddell Center for Student Health and Wellbeing, celebrating her decades of service to the University and her leadership in education and public service.
  • Open enrollment: Join the Benefits Office, State Health Plan and NCFlex representatives for an informational webinar at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6. Review the benefit changes and updates for the 2027 Plan Year, and mark your calendars for open enrollment, which will occur Monday, Oct. 12, through Friday, Oct. 30.
  • Mock dorm room burn: Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-9. Join Environmental Health and Safety and the F.A.S.T. organization to experience a mock dorm room burn, and learn about fire safety at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Hauser Alumni Pavilion.
  • Computer automated process: Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 7, OneIT will be introducing a new automated process to help keep University-owned Windows computers secure and up-to-date.
  • Perceptive Content migration: Phase 4 focuses on annotations and starts at 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 12, through 11:59 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23; review the timeline.
  • Maintenance reminder: Learn about the extended maintenance OneIT will complete Friday, Oct. 9, through Tuesday, Oct. 13.
  • New certificate program: The School of Professional Studies is launching a Certification Financial Planning Education Program. The online, seven-course program prepares you with skills and practical experience needed to take the next step toward certification and careers in financial planning and wealth management.
  • Promoting sustainability: Sustainability means more than protecting our planet; it is an active effort to protect and steward all our resources and basic needs, including mental, physical and emotional wellness. Learn how the Office of Sustainability and campus partners are promoting sustainability in health and well-being this academic year.

what you need to know: students

  • Golden Niner: Congratulations to the 2026 Golden Niner, Dacien Montford, a senior majoring in exercise science.
  • Congratulations: The UNC Charlotte 49er Alumni Campus Employees Network presented its 2026 ACE Awards to alumni employees Tonya Bates ’97, ’01 M.S.; Shannon Homesley ’15 M.A.; and Suzanne Voight ’24, and awarded its 49er ACE Scholarship to junior Levi Truong.
  • Portrait unveiling: UNC Charlotte honored Joyce Davis Waddell ’73 on Saturday, Oct. 3, with a ceremony and portrait unveiling at the Joyce Davis Waddell Center for Student Health and Wellbeing, celebrating her decades of service to the University and her leadership in education and public service.
  • Green Dot training: Attend a virtual Green Dot training from 11 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Oct. 8, to learn to recognize, react and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on campus.
  • Mental health training: Mental Health First Aid is a national public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses and substance use, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common supports. Attend the upcoming training on Saturday, Oct. 17, as well as a two-day course on Oct. 19 and 21.
  • Commencement Bell Ringer: The Commencement Bell Ringer is an honored tradition that recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary 49er spirit. Undergraduate and graduate students who are graduating in December are encouraged to apply. Applications close at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18.
  • Niner Guide: Applications for the spring 2027 Niner Guides are open through Sunday, Nov. 1. Niner Guides provide campus tours and welcome prospective students and their families.
  • FAFSA: The 2027-28 FAFSA is now available. The priority deadline is Thursday, Jan. 1, but you are encouraged to complete it early. Need help? Check out these resources.
  • Three Minute Thesis competition: Present your research to a general audience at the Three Minute Thesis competition for master’s and doctoral students. Compete in a preliminary round Oct. 15, 16 or 19, for the chance to advance to the finals Friday, Nov. 13, and win up to $1,500 in cash prizes.
  • Promoting sustainability: Sustainability means more than protecting our planet; it is an active effort to protect and steward all our resources and basic needs, including mental, physical and emotional wellness. Learn how the Office of Sustainability and campus partners are promoting sustainability in health and well-being this academic year.

the difference is charlotte

Bat

Laurel Yohe, assistant professor of bioinformatics, is helping scientists unlock the secrets of bats. In a landmark study recently published in Nature, she and fellow researchers combined the genomes of 103 bat species with 44 fossils to trace bats back 65 million years and reveal new clues about how flight and echolocation evolved.

Niner Nest

Looking for a place to unwind on campus? The Niner Nest, now open in the Popp Martin Student Union, Room 280, provides a quiet, calming space with comfortable seating and wellness items like noise‑canceling headphones, puzzles and weighted pillows.

professional development: faculty and staff

  • AI@Work session: Join Marie Vrablic, data systems analyst, for the next AI@Work session from 10 to 10:45 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, and learn to unlock the mystery of AI while keeping your data under lock and key.
  • Course accessibility: Attend the “Part 1: Canvas Accessibility” sessions with UDOIT to learn to leverage the built-in accessibility checker.
  • AI tip: AI can fall into “sycophancy,” agreeing with you even when you’re wrong. Learn to recognize this hidden flaw and discover three prompts to help you get more thoughtful, reliable responses.

to-do list: faculty and staff

to-do list: students

upcoming events: students

norm watching fire burn

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-9. Join Environmental Health and Safety and the F.A.S.T. organization to experience a mock dorm room burn, and learn about fire safety at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Hauser Alumni Pavilion.