Academic Affairs

Effective May 1, Chandra Williams will be interim director for Lab Animal Resources. The appointment was announced by the Research and Economic Development Office.
With nearly two decades of professional veterinarian experience, Williams has served as a driving force in the development and implementation of a wide range of policies and procedures to ensure the proper use and care of animals for research purposes. She has dedicated her time and service to ensuring that researchers and facilities are equipped for the best care of research animals.

With the opening of PORTAL, Charlotte Research Institute officials have announced that Lester “Chip” Yensan will remain at CRI as associate director for infrastructure through the current calendar year.
Prior to joining CRI in August 2012, Yensan was assistant vice president for student affairs at the University of Rhode Island; he held positions at the University of Connecticut and Michigan State University, too.  

The Blumenthal Foundation of Charlotte has awarded the University $22,500 for a collaborative initiative that will increase the profile of and engage the public in issues about the natural environment.

Tuesday, April 1, is the deadline for submissions for the Undergraduate Research Conference, scheduled for Friday, April 25, at the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.

In its third year, the Undergraduate Research Conference showcases projects being completed by undergraduates from all levels and from all colleges/departments. The Office of Academic Affairs, Atkins Library and new this year, the Levine Scholars Program, are cosponsoring this event.

University leaders, governmental officials, business and industry partners and members of the greater community were on campus Friday, Feb. 28, for the formal dedication of the PORTAL building, a facility developed to harness the power of UNC Charlotte to stimulate business growth and job creation.

James Currie recently joined UNC Charlotte as the associate director for PORTAL. He comes to the University from Ohio State University, where he was program director for industry engagement and economic development for the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

UNC Charlotte’s new PORTAL building is the latest example of the University’s commitment to foster partnerships with private industry. The facility was designed to stimulate business growth and job creation along with promoting research and innovation.
The four-story, 96,000-square-foot,  PORTAL building, which sits on a prominent site at the Tryon Street entrance of the Charlotte Research Institute campus, will be formally dedicated on Feb. 28.

Johan Enslin, director of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC), will discuss energy independence at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, in UNC Charlotte Center City, Room 204, as part of the 2014 Great Decisions lecture series. Prior to his talk, Enslin will be recognized at a reception as part of the UNC Charlotte observance of Engineers Week.
Recently named a 2014 Energy Leadership Award recipient by the Charlotte Business Journal, Enslin was recognized for his efforts to make the Carolinas a global force in the energy sector..

Faculty and EPA staff may be familiar with the cumbersome and sometimes confusing paper process involved with submitting their Conflict of Interest (COI) Disclosures that are required annually by University Policy 102.2 “Conflicts of Interest and Commitment.” For the fall 2014 disclosure submission cycle, this paper process will be a thing of the past.

James Walsh, associate professor and associate chair of political science and public administration, will discuss defense technology at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, in UNC Charlotte Center City, Room 204, as part of the 2014 Great Decisions lecture series.
Walsh’s research and teaching interests also include international human rights, national security policy and European integration. Currently, he is studying the relationships between terrorist attacks and human rights abuses and is completing a book on the politics of international intelligence sharing.