Awards and honors

Jean-Claude Thill, the Knight Foundation Distinguished Professor of Public Policy in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, was named a 2013 Fellow of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) at the organization’s 60th annual North American Meetings of the RSAI in Atlanta, Ga. He is the sole U.S. regional scientist to be recognized this year, along with scholars from Japan, Sweden and Italy. Worldwide, RSAI has a cadre of 70 fellows.

In recognition of his efforts to promote diversity, chemistry professor Daniel Rabinovich will be recognized this week by the American Chemistry Society’s Committee on Minority Affairs.

John Allemeier, associate professor of composition in the Department of Music, and associate professor of English Aimee Parkison are among 15 artists across the state who received a 2013-14 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in the categories of songwriting, composing and writing.
Fellowships are awarded to artists to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline. 

Carla Bendezu, a computer science major in the College of Computing and Informatics, was recognized for her leadership and commitment to underrepresented students in area schools. For her work, she received the Outstanding Corps Student from STARS (Students in Technology, Academia, Research and Service).

Scott Heggen, a Ph.D. student in the College of Computing and Informatics, received a national Presidential Service Award presented by Citizen Schools.  

Jody Pressley, project leader for the Transportation Information Management System (TIMS), is featured in the November issue of School Bus Fleet magazine as one of “14 Phenomenal Women in School Transportation.”

UNC Charlotte Center City has received a prestigious award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois was notified by the museum earlier this month that UNC Charlotte Center City won the International Architecture Award for 2013. The project was submitted by architectural firm KieranTimberlake.

Regina Guyer, executive director of the University’s Environmental Assistance Office, and Karyn Williamson-Coria, administrative support specialist, were recognized recently for their outreach efforts to raise awareness about air quality issues.

The UNC Charlotte chapter of Phi Kappa Phi recently received a Chapter of Merit Award, given to chapters that excel in recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engaging the community of scholars in service to others.

Rachel Plotnick, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies, has received the IEEE Life Members’ Prize in Electrical History – a top national honor.