Office of Corporate Engagement to drive relationships, outcomes with businesses

To provide a comprehensive and engaging experience for UNC Charlotte’s existing corporate partners and to attract new collaborators, Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber has announced the creation of the Office of Corporate Engagement. Housed in the Office of Constituent Relations, within the Division of University Advancement, the Office of Corporate Engagement will serve as a single point of entry for companies, providing a tailored approach to help maximize and accelerate their access to UNC Charlotte.

“Corporate engagement is essential to UNC Charlotte’s mission,” said Gaber. “As we have listened to our corporate partners, it was clear there were steps we could take to further simplify the process by which they access the resources our campus has to offer. The Office of Corporate Engagement will serve as the single point of entry for these strategic partnerships.”

The Office of Corporate Engagement will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward relationships with businesses to increase collaborations, internships, hiring placements, research, executive engagement and sustainable investments. The new office also will develop comprehensive, university-wide strategies to expand existing relationships and create new ones, with the goal of UNC Charlotte becoming a premiere university for comprehensive corporate relations.

Solange Tricanowicz has been appointed director of corporate engagement. Previously, she served as assistant director for graduate programs enrollment and assistant director for employee relations in the Belk College of Business. Before coming to UNC Charlotte, Tricanowicz worked with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce as a talent and economic growth associate. She received her master’s degree in organizational communication from Northeastern University and her bachelor’s degree in communication and Spanish from the University of Tulsa.

“Universities that apply a holistic approach to corporate engagement succeed in attracting deeper business relationships, which benefit students, companies and communities,” said Tricanowicz. “With nearly 30,500 students and 8,500 graduates a year, a robust research program and a history of community involvement, UNC Charlotte is uniquely positioned to address industry needs.”

In addition to the new office, a Corporate Engagement Council made up of representatives from the Academic Affairs Division, Office of Research and Economic Development, Division of University Advancement, Career Center, School of Professional Studies and Urban C.O.R.E. has been formed. This group is charged with sharing information, reviewing engagement plans, data and measurements and serving as ambassadors for the Corporate Engagement program.

For additional information, visit the Office of Corporate Engagement’s website at corporate-engagement.charlotte.edu.