Union County was the setting for the most recent visit by Chancellor Philip L. Dubois as part of a series of focused stops to the 12 counties that comprise the greater Charlotte region in an effort to strengthen relationships within the communities the University serves.
Home to 4,700 alumni and a vital source of incoming freshmen and transfer students, fast-growing Union County is fundamentally tied to UNC Charlotte at various levels. During his two-day visit June 19-20, Dubois discussed these connections as he met with key business leaders, public officials, college administrators and local media.
One of his stops was at CEM, a designer and manufacturer of lab testing equipment and other chemistry/biology laboratory equipment. The company employs approximately180 and has become one of the largest providers of microwave laboratory systems in the world with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Gloria Elliott, an associate professor in mechanical engineering and engineering sciences at UNC Charlotte, and other University researchers are working with CEM on cutting-edge microwave technology.
Dubois met with CEM’s management team, some who had completed their graduate studies at UNC Charlotte.
Earlier Wednesday, the chancellor met with Ron Mahle, assistant director of economic development for the county and city of Monroe. University officials also work closely with economic developers in Union County and throughout the region to attract and retain jobs. These economic developers have said that, without a large public university in the area, the region would not be considered by many companies that are seeking to relocate or expand their operations.
Afterward, Dubois spent an hour with the editorial staff at the Enquirer-Journal. More than 50 people attended an alumni reception in the evening with Dubois and UNC Charlotte baseball coach Loren Hibbs.
In a Thursday morning speech to the Waxhaw-Weddington Rotary, Dubois explained how the regional visits are an important component of efforts to galvanize legislative and community support for the University. Through the outreach effort to Union County, he said, it increases the University’s visibility among public officials at all levels of government and bolsters efforts to recruit the best students from the region.
Before departing, Dubois met with Jerry Simpson, chairman of the Union County Board of Commissioners, and Mary Ellis, superintendent of Union County Public Schools. Ellis earned her doctorate in educational leadership from UNC Charlotte.