General News

Daniel Janies, the Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics, will present “A Weather Map for Infectious Diseases” at 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, at UNC Charlotte Center City.

In his talk, Janies will illustrate some of the basics of biology and how pathogens, such as the flu or Ebola, spread across time, space and various hosts. His goal is to lay a framework on how to use genetics and geography to monitor diseases constantly versus responding to a series of emergencies.

The Charlotte Area Science Network is cosponsoring this free, public event.

David Brodeur,  associate professor of graphic design, and Thomas Schmidt, assistant professor of interdisciplinary 3D studio, will be the guests on the Jan.15 edition of “The Live Wire,” Inside UNC Charlotte’s streaming webcast. They will discuss their exhibitions on display in the Rowe Galleries. 

The UNC Charlotte Staff Council now is on Facebook. The Staff Council was established to create and provide a more harmonious working environment for the University staff. It has been delegated, by the Chancellor, the authority and responsibility to bring to the attention of the administration matters of general staff concern; and to take such actions as are necessary to enable it to meet those responsibilities.

From childhood entrepreneur to corporate magnate, Johnny Cupcakes founder Johnny Earle will share the story of this success at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Cone University Center, McKnight Hall.

In this free, public event, sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), attendees will learn methods for starting or growing a unique idea, business or passion with little to no start-up money.

 Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert has hired Matt Wallerstedt as the 49ers defensive coordinator. Wallerstedt is a veteran coach with more than 20 years of coaching experience, including a six-year stint at Wyoming and recent stops at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette. During his career, he has spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator at four institutions.

At its recent planning meeting, the Division for Student Affairs staked its claim to community engagement as more than 264 staff members donated school supplies to Classroom Central, a nonprofit organization serving more than 100,000 students living in poverty in  200-plus schools in six local school districts. 

J. Daniel White from the Religious Studies Department will discuss India’s changing political landscape at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The talk is the first in UNC Charlotte’s 2015 Great Decisions Lecture Series.

Coordinated nationally by the Foreign Policy Association, the Great Decisions program highlights relevant foreign policy issues. The University’s Office of International Programs coordinates an annual lecture series for the Charlotte community in January and February to discuss those issues.

Future speakers and topics are:

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has reaffirmed UNC Charlotte’s community engagement classification, which the University earned originally in 2008.

National Urban League president Marc Morial will give the keynote speech for the University’s celebration of the life, work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Cone University Center, McKnight Hall.  

Morial’s free, public talk “Building Bridges Through Civility, Justice and Action” is sponsored by the UNC Charlotte Multicultural Resource Center. A community reception will follow in the Lucas Room.

Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major will be taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effective immediately.

Major, who took a similar medical leave during the summer, approached Director of Athletics Judy Rose to request the leave due to a return of health conditions.