Five Cool Things (January 2026)

January 22, 2026
Categories: Five Cool Things

🛡️ Powering National Security Innovation

National Defense and Intelligence Innovation Institute

Bold move: Charlotte steps onto the national defense stage.
UNC Charlotte launches a first-of-its-kind institute connecting defense, intelligence and industry to tackle real-world security challenges at scale.

🏆 A Leader Recognized

Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber applauds at fall 2025 commencement

Charlotte’s chancellor earns top regional honors.
Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber is named Business Person of the Year by Charlotte Business Journal, spotlighting Charlotte’s growing influence across higher education and industry.

🤖 Cracking the Deepfake Code

A woman in a green shirt examines a series of 3D-printed facial models mounted on mannequin heads in a research lab at UNC Charlotte, with monitors and lab equipment visible in the background.

AI that spots deception before it spreads.
Charlotte researchers are advancing deepfake detection tools that help protect trust, security and truth in an increasingly synthetic digital world.

🎓 A Name That Means Business

Joe L. Price '83

The MBA gets a legacy upgrade.
UNC Charlotte honors alumnus Joe L. Price ’83 by naming its MBA program after him, reinforcing the University’s commitment to leadership, access and impact.

🧠 Research That Protects Communities

Four people, including a medical professional in a lab coat, stand smiling outside a hospital emergency entrance, with an ambulance visible in the background.

Turning data into prevention, not reaction.
Charlotte faculty are leading violence-prevention research that informs policy, strengthens communities and helps stop harm before it happens.