UNC Charlotte logo: Graphic

Your Coworker Might Be a Niner.

Your Neighbor, Too.

From corporate offices to residential communities, Niner Nation Week brought alumni together and strengthened connections across Charlotte.

You might share a conference room with a fellow Niner and not even know it. Or live right down the hall from one.

During Niner Nation Week: Homecoming 2026, UNC Charlotte brought those connections to life, showing up at workplaces and residential communities across the region. From Bank of America and Truist to Vanguard and Greystar properties, the celebration helped alumni reconnect with their university and discover fellow Niners in unexpected places.

Along the way, it created new opportunities to strengthen relationships with the organizations shaping the region's future.

Niner Nation Week Corporate Engagement 2026 by the Numbers

19

CORPORATE PARTNERS

12

FIRST-TIME PARTNERS

530+

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENTS

104%

HIGHER ENGAGEMENT vs. 2025

4

GREYSTAR COMMUNITIES

1

UNITED NINER NATION

Good Connections. Great Company.

Sometimes the best networking opportunity is discovering who's already in your network.

UNC Charlotte's Corporate Pop-Up initiative brought Niner Nation Week to 19 workplaces, including seven returning partners and 12 participating for the first time. At companies like Bank of America, Truist, TIAA and Vanguard, alumni reconnected with Charlotte and met fellow graduates across their organizations.

Two people stand outdoors holding up a green t-shirt with a circular logo and a drink, in front of a modern building with large windows.

Niner pride looks good in Uptown! Our Niner Nation Week pop-up at Truist Uptown Live brought UNC Charlotte spirit into the heart of the city, creating space to reconnect, celebrate and show some love for the University we call home.

For Steven Serio '15, an alumni champion at Bank of America, that connection extends beyond a single event.

"Bringing UNC Charlotte directly to our alumni that work at Bank of America helps remind them that being a Niner doesn't end at graduation. A pop-up like this lets us reconnect with school pride and meet fellow Niners across teams we might never otherwise cross paths with. It also shows that the partnership between the University and the Bank goes beyond recruiting, keeping both connected to the graduates and talent they've helped build."

These gatherings also strengthen employer relationships, opening doors to talent recruitment, professional development and future collaboration.

At Vanguard, Robbie Doran '07, a Belk College of Business graduate and alumni champion, saw the value of bringing fellow Niners together.

"It was really exciting to bring Niner Nation Week to Vanguard and see so many fellow Niners come together. I loved seeing people reconnect from past events, make new connections, and get excited about everything happening at Charlotte. Being able to grow our alumni network and create that sense of Niner community right here at work made the event especially meaningful."

A group of UNC Charlotte students, alumni, and staff smile and make the 49ers hand sign in front of a large screen displaying the University of North Carolina Charlotte name.

 Picks up at LPL Financial! All smiles and plenty of pickaxes as we brought Niner Nation Week to the workplace. Thank you to our LPL hosts for helping us celebrate the UNC Charlotte connections that turn colleagues into community.

There's No Place Like Niner Nation

The connections didn't stop at the office door.

Through a new partnership with Greystar, a global leader in rental housing, Niner Nation Week expanded into four Charlotte-area residential communities: NOVEL University Place, LANA at Lake Norman Apartments, The Rowe at Commonwealth and Radius Dilworth Apartments.

Four smiling UNC Charlotte supporters pose at an indoor celebration, displaying a green Niners flag, a foam finger, a plush football, and a
Three women smile and socialize at an indoor Charlotte 49ers-themed gathering. Two stand together reading printed materials while another sits nearby holding an envelope. Decorated cupcakes and green-and-gold refreshments fill the foreground.
A large group of Charlotte 49ers fans, including adults and children, pose behind a buffet of food. They hold green Niners flags, footballs, foam fingers, and orange
Two smiling women pose at a Charlotte 49ers-themed gathering. One holds a plush football, while the other displays a green Niners flag. Green, gold, and white balloon decorations fill the background.

The communities hosted Niner Nation Week-themed resident gatherings, bringing Charlotte spirit closer to home and creating another way for the University to connect with the broader community. From coworkers to neighbors, Niner Nation is woven into the fabric of Charlotte.

Let's Make Some Connections

Interested in bringing Niner Nation Week to your organization or exploring partnership opportunities with UNC Charlotte? Contact our Corporate Engagement team.

2026 Corporate Pop-Up Partners

Returning partners: Bank of America, Bobcat, City of Charlotte / Mecklenburg County, Deloitte, LPL Financial, TIAA and Truist.

First-time partners: Ally Financial, Bravo Team, CaroMont Health, Compass Group, Consolidated Planning, Grant Thornton, Ingersoll Rand / MSC Industrial Supply Co., North Carolina Nurses Association, Red Ventures, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Vanguard and Westinghouse Electric Company.

UNC Charlotte alumni and supporters mingle in a spacious reception area, chatting in small groups and enjoying refreshments. Norm the Niner stands among attendees, with Charlotte-themed displays and posters lining the walls.