The UNC Charlotte Alumni Association bestowed its 2024 Alumni Awards to six outstanding individuals for their service to their professions, communities and the University Friday, March 1, at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
"We are proud to honor the tremendous accomplishments of six distinguished UNC Charlotte alumni," said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. "They have excelled at the highest levels in their fields while also supporting UNC Charlotte and our students. Their lasting impact is helping make Charlotte the great university it is today."
“These award honorees' connection to UNC Charlotte didn’t end when they graduated but in fact has grown stronger over time,” said Alumni Association President Todd Aldridge ’92. “I thank each of them for inspiring students, faculty, staff and alumni to achieve greatness as we continue to work together to advance the University, our city, state and beyond.”
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dean Arp ’99 MSE
Dean Arp, a professional engineer and structural engineer licensed in 40 different states, is founder and president of Arp Engineering in Monroe, North Carolina. He has represented Union County’s District 69 in the North Carolina State House since 2012 and currently serves as a senior chairman of the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee. Arp was the “engineer” of the Connect NC Bond package in 2016 that included $90 million dollars for the new science building at UNC Charlotte and serves on the William States Lee College of Engineering Advisory Board.
Arp earned his undergraduate degree from The Citadel and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the William States Lee College of Engineering.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Jeffrey Cox ’01 Ed.D.
Jeffrey Cox, a lifelong champion of North Carolina public education, became the 11th president of the North Carolina Community College System in June 2023. Previously, he was president of Wilkes Community College, superintendent of Alleghany County Schools, assistant superintendent for Lee County Schools and principal of Benton Heights Year-Round School in Union County. In 2017, Cox was one of 40 college leaders in the country awarded an Aspen Institute Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence.
Cox completed a bachelor’s degree in English, secondary education, and a master’s degree in school administration from Appalachian State University. He earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership from the Cato College of Education.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Alain S. Miatudila Sr. ’03, ’12 MSE, ’16 Ph.D.
Alain S. Miatudila Sr. is associate dean of engineering at Central Piedmont Community College where he is responsible for strategic planning and academic affairs for 10 undergraduate programs. Prior to CPCC, Miatudila was a faculty associate at UNC Charlotte in the Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management. He serves on the advisory board for the Academy of Engineering at Independence High School and Mallard Creek High School and was recognized by the National Organization for Student Success as the 2021 Outstanding National Alumnus of a Student Success program.
Miatudila earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology, master’s degree in civil engineering and a Ph.D. in infrastructure & environmental systems from the William States Lee College of Engineering. His associate's degree in civil engineering technology is from CPCC.
View the video honoring Miatudila.
Distinguished Alumni Award
David Ravin ’94
David Ravin is president and CEO of Northwood Ravin LLC, a leading full-service development, construction and property management firm. In November 2022, UNC Charlotte renamed the architecture program the David R. Ravin School of Architecture for Ravin’s longtime support of the University, which has included funding for 49ers athletics and student scholarships across the University. He serves on the Belk College of Business Childress Klein Center for Real Estate Advisory Board.
Ravin earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the College of Arts + Architecture. His Master of Architecture is from the University of Michigan, and he completed a master’s degree in real estate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
View the video honoring Ravin.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Bryan Starnes ’87
Bryan Starnes is the chief financial officer at ALG Senior, an assisted living and operation management company. His measurable impact in the business, finance and governmental accounting industry helped set the course for many of today’s industry best practices, regulatory standards and academic curriculum. Starnes founded and sits on the fiduciary board of Affinity Strong, a local nonprofit organization that focuses on filling needs of front-line health care staff members throughout the southeast. He is a strong supporter of 49ers athletics and student-athletes.
Starnes earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Belk College of Business.
View the video honoring Starnes.
Bonnie E. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award
Susan DeVore ’81
Susan DeVore is a woman of influence in Charlotte and beyond. She is the retired CEO of Premier, one of the nation’s leading health care improvement companies. As an industry-leading thinker, DeVore has been named multiple times to Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People and Top 25 Women in Healthcare lists. She received the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2018 Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award and was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2017 100 Great Healthcare Leaders to Know. DeVore was on the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023, serving as chair from 2021-23. She recently established the Susan Dodson DeVore Women’s Leadership Development Program at UNC Charlotte to support the next generation of women leaders, which will launch in fall 2024.
DeVore earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Belk College of Business; her master’s degree in health leadership is from McGill University.