Awards and honors

Myron Macklin, a graphic designer in the Office of University Communications, was selected by Mark Millar to collaborate in the creation of a charity comic book.

Miller, the writer behind the Kingsman, Kick-Ass and Jupiter’s Circle series, sponsored the international contest. Six artists, six writers and a cover artist were selected to use Millar’s characters in the creation of the charity comic scheduled to be released later this year.

Aayla Alexander, a graduate student in social work, is the 2016 recipient of the Presidents’ Award from the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina chapter (NASW-NC).

According to the association, Alexander was selected for exhibiting a “dedication to the social work profession through her academic excellence, community involvement and professional experience,” and the award honors her “exceptional leadership skills and professional potential.”

Edd Hauser, director of the Center for Transportation Policy Studies and the Center for Disaster Studies, recently received the academic Lifetime Achievement in Transportation Research and Education Award from the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC).

Brian Arreola, associate professor of voice and director of Opera Workshop, will sing the role of Tybalt in Opera Carolina’s production of Charles Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The performances will be Jan. 24, 28 and 30 in the Belk Theater of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Gounod’s treatment of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy was composed in 1867. The character of Tybalt, for tenor, is Juliet’s cousin who is slain by Romeo after killing Romeo’s friend, Mercutio.

The UNC Charlotte School of Architecture chapter of “Freedom by Design” earned two awards at the 2015 AIAS FORUM, the national conference of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), held Dec. 29-Jan. 2 in San Francisco. The UNC Charlotte team was recognized as the 2014-15 Chapter of the Year and received the 2014-15 Project of the Year award.

Third-year special education master’s student Maureen Mensing was one of two individuals honored by the National Association for Gifted Children. She received the association’s Master’s and Specialist Award for Exceptional Contributions to Gifted and Talented Education. This honor recognizes professionals who have contributed to the field in a host of manners, including through teaching, writing, advocacy, curriculum development and community service in gifted education.

“Clarity,” the debut album by the Unhinged Sextet and featuring Associate Professor of Music Will Campbell on alto saxophone and three original tunes by him, was named a “Best Release of 2015” by All About Jazz. The review calls the album “smoking hot … a first-class collection of modern jazz, with strong playing and exciting, varied original compositions.”

The North Carolina School Counseling Association (NCSCA) has named College of Education professor Sejal Foxx its Counselor Educator of the Year.

Foxx, who leads the college’s School Counseling program, received tenure earlier in 2015 after only a year at UNC Charlotte.  She currently teaches a variety of master’s and doctoral counseling courses.

Four faculty members in the College of Arts + Architecture have received 2016 regional artist project grants from the Arts & Science Council (ASC).

John Allemeier, associate professor of composition, received a $2,000 grant to support the professional recording of new music. Will Campbell, associate professor of saxophone and director of the jazz studies program, received a $1,716 award to study with the jazz saxophonist Tim Armacost in New York City.

Department of Educational Leadership professor Rebecca Shore is the North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA) Art Educator of the Year for higher education.

Shore, who was among the honorees at the NCAEA’s recent professional development state conference, received the award given to exemplary art educators and advocates in a variety of educational levels and fields.