General News

UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering, an energy-innovation leader for nearly two decades, steadily built its research capability, partnerships and workforce to support one of America’s most urgent infrastructure challenges: the modernization of the national electric grid. In 2008, the college’s early work in power systems and energy infrastructure accelerated with the launch […]

The NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas (Carolinas Grid Engine) – led by UNC Charlotte with support from more than 100 partners  – is a regional energy innovation hub that spans 36 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina designed to create a resilient, efficient and technologically advanced power grid. With research support from […]

UNC Charlotte continues to rise as one of the nation’s smartest investments in higher education, delivering exceptional quality, strong career outcomes and unmatched value for students and families. SmartAsset ranked UNC Charlotte No. 17 nationally on its 2026 Best Value Public Universities list, placing Charlotte as the top public university in North Carolina. Appalachian State […]

Summertime road trips are more expensive this year as families across the country absorb the cost of increased prices at the pumps. In North Carolina, prices are up but still sit below the national average. Matthew Metzgar, clinical professor of economics at UNC Charlotte, shared his expertise on why gas prices have increased, why costs […]

Governor Josh Stein has signed North Carolina’s 2026-27 state budget into law, making significant investments in the University of North Carolina System and in UNC Charlotte. “We appreciate the members of the North Carolina General Assembly,  the UNC Board of Governors and Gov. Stein for recognizing the important role UNC Charlotte plays in the future […]

Jeffrey B. Leak, a professor of English and Africana Studies at UNC Charlotte whose scholarship, leadership and mentorship helped shape nearly three decades of campus life, died June 29, 2026, after a two-year illness. He was 57. Leak held numerous leadership roles that impacted nearly every corner of UNC Charlotte, including faculty governance, athletics, interdisciplinary […]

Each year, Charlotte Business Journal celebrates outstanding leadership through its Most Admired CEO Awards, spotlighting executives who combine strong organizational direction with a genuine commitment to the Charlotte community. This year, six Niners earned a place among the honorees—leaders whose work is shaping the region both inside and outside their organizations. Every honoree serves in […]

Welcome to the summer edition of “The Shared Table,” a collection of warm‑weather favorites from UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff. Summer is a season built for sharing — sharing meals, sharing stories, sharing time with the people who matter most. Last fall, our community came together to submit recipes that reflected their cultures, families […]

As the United States of America prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial this July, people across the country will gather with friends, family and neighbors for parades, fireworks and, of course, food. For 250 years, Americans have marked life’s biggest moments around the table. Across generations, families and communities have shared recipes, prepared meals together and […]

Florence Okoro, an associate professor in the UNC Charlotte School of Nursing, died June 16, 2026, following a brief illness. Okoro joined UNC Charlotte in August 2015 as an assistant professor. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in Nigeria and completed a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in […]