General News

UNC Charlotte conferred more than 5,300 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and graduate certificates during spring commencement ceremonies held in Dale F. Halton Arena on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13. Graduates varied in age from 19 to 74 and represented 53 countries and 43 U.S. states.

Here are just a few of the many great moments from the four commencement ceremonies.

Michelle Wann, job location and development program coordinator for the University Career Center, is this year’s recipient of the North Carolina Association of Colleges and Employers annual Innovation Award.

From January to mid-December, Santa Claus traditionally fills his time preparing for the holiday season. Making gifts, checking lists and … earning a Ph.D.? Titus Hopper, career readiness coordinator for Cleveland County Schools, spends his days encouraging students to stay engaged with school. Lately, he has been spending his evenings taking classes as part of UNC Charlotte’s Educational Leadership doctoral program.

The emotions that come with commencement — fueled by pride, feelings of accomplishment and anticipation of a new chapter — are not unusual for students and their families. The same holds true for faculty members as they watch their students graduate — or embark on their own new adventures. This spring, this is the case for Kim Harris ’19, an associate professor of mathematics education in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who will retire from Charlotte at the end of the academic year after 39 years.

Since childhood, Dené Logan has been fascinated with computers, building websites and blogs. In fact, she spent hours creating layouts for her Xanga blog without realizing she was actually, “coding.” Today, her hard work and determination is paying off as her fascination becomes her career. 

UNC Charlotte is getting ready to welcome more than 4,900 graduates into the UNC Charlotte alumni network this week as it holds Spring Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2023 in Dale F. Halton Arena. More than 5,300 degrees and graduate certificates will be awarded during four ceremonies. 

Alumnus Demond Martin ‘97 will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service for his countless efforts on behalf of UNC Charlotte and the citizens of Charlotte, the state and around the nation, during the commencement ceremony at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 13.

For their exceptional teaching and student engagement, Paola Lopez-Duarte, Samantha Suptela and Lennin Caro are recipients of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ 2023 Excellence in Teaching Awards. Six other faculty were honored as finalists for the three awards.

Two current UNC Charlotte students and two alumni have received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) award.Megan Mitchem ’21, a Ph.D. student in biological sciences, will continue working in the Truman Lab on campus, using her NSF GRFP award to study the link between post-translational modification of the molecular chaperone Hsp70 and cellular metabolism. 

Congratulations to the following UNC Charlotte students who recently were awarded nationally competitive summer and extended study opportunities.

A delegation of 16 Taiwanese electric vehicle executives received an inside look at how UNC Charlotte is building a talent pipeline and creating innovation for the state and region’s emerging electric vehicle industry during a campus tour Thursday, May 4.