Awards and honors

Scott Kissau, an associate professor of foreign language education in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education, was named Foreign Language Teacher of the Year in higher education by the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina.

“Dr. Kissau distinguished himself from the other candidates by immersing himself in the education of languages and cultures and by demonstrating his in-depth involvement with growing and supporting world language teachers,” said Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) Awards Chair Delynda Ramirez-Carter.

Yi Deng, dean of the College of Computing and Informatics, recently received the CIO Award for Academic Leadership from the Charlotte Business Journal.

Deng, along with a number of other Charlotte-area chief information officers, were recognized for “using information technology in innovative ways to optimize business processes, enable growth, create competitive advantages and improve customer experience.”

Franz Kellermanns, the Addison and Gertrude Reese Endowed Chair in International Business and professor of management, has received a best paper award with two co-authors for research on family businesses.

Charlotte Pride honors outstanding individuals each year with the “Champions of Pride Awards” in recognition of their demonstrated exemplary work and dedication to the LGBTQ community. This year, Josh Burford, assistant director for sexual and gender diversity in the Multicultural Resource Center, was honored with the Charlotte Pride “Harvey Milk Award.”

UNC Charlotte student Hunter Aldridge won first place in the final round of the Upper College Men Division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Student Auditions on July 7. Aldridge, a tenor, studies with Brian Arreola, assistant professor of voice and director of the Department of Music opera workshop program.

Accounting Professor L. Howard Godfrey is being honored by the Charlotte business community for his academic leadership and legacy. He will receive the first Academic Leadership Award during the Charlotte Business Journal’s CFO of the Year Awards July 22. 

Health care executive Susan DeVore and real estate developer Fred Klein will join UNC Charlotte’s leadership as new members of the Board of Trustees.

Gov. Pat McCrory appointed DeVore and Klein each to a four-year term, beginning July 1.

Janna Shedd, Tonya Bates and Robin James have received the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ 2015 Teaching Awards in recognition of “their dedication, teaching and research contributions and lasting impact on students.”

Victor Chen, assistant professor of international management in the Belk College of Business, has received the 2015 Young Professional (YP) Educator Award from the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals (YPs).

The Charlotte Chamber YPs honored 24 finalists who are between 21 and 39 years of age in six categories. The awards were presented earlier this month at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Distinguished cancer researcher Pinku Mukherjee was honored with the O. Max Gardner Award – the highest faculty accolade given by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina. She was presented the honor formally Friday, April 10.