Scholarship and Academic Life

Glenn Boreman, chair of the Department of Physics and Optical Science, recently was named the 2015 vice president of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, effective Jan. 1.
Boreman also is director of UNC Charlotte’s Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications and co-founder and chairman of the board of Plasmonics, Inc. His research interests include infrared detectors and systems, infrared antennas and frequency-selective surfaces, image-quality characterization and modulation transfer function.

The Office of Academic Affairs has created the “Graduation Initiative,” a multistep effort that is designed to clarify degree requirements, reduce barriers to student progression and aid in students’ ability to successfully navigate their respective curriculum. 

A student organization established earlier this year is preparing to break ground on a community garden to be located near the Storrs Building and the Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts.
Formation of the UNC Charlotte Community Garden resulted from efforts by seniors Jake Emerson, a mathematics major from Gastonia; Kevin Rodengen, an earth sciences major from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Chloe Rodengen, a nursing major who also is from Fort Lauderdale. They worked with other student leaders and faculty and staff members in departments and disciplines across campus.

Economic growth in North Carolina is expected to grow at a sluggish pace in 2015 with no significant growth expected for the remainder of 2014, UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton recently reported in his quarterly forecast for the state.
According to Connaughton, N.C. Gross State Product (GSP) is expected to reach a level of $482,911.70 million in 2014, a real (inflation-adjusted) increase of 1.5 percent over the 2013 level. This growth forecast in 2014 would follow two years of modest GSP increase in North Carolina.

On the second floor of the Kennedy Building, two new classrooms are challenging faculty to better design and deliver courses that promote greater collaboration among students.

The McColl Center for Art + Innovation will celebrate its 15th anniversary with the presentation of “Arctic Utopia,” a major exhibition of mixed media sculptures, videos and site-specific installations by Marek Ranis, UNC Charlotte assistant professor of art and 1999 McColl Center alumnus.
The exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, and it will be displayed through Saturday, Nov. 22.

The Office of Academic Services is holding free workshops during September for University advisors on a number of topics. Prospective participants can complete an online form for session(s) they plan to attend.

History, politics and social traditions can influence what people eat. Foodies, farmers, educators and advocates will explore “farm to table” and sustainability questions during the community discussion “Soul Food: A Contemporary and Historical Exploration of New South Food” on Thursday, Oct. 2, at UNC Charlotte Center City.

Samuel Lopez, director of the Office of Multicultural Academic Services and adjunct associate professor of kinesiology, recently represented the University’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—at the organization’s 43rd biennial convention held in St. Louis, Mo.
Lopez currently is president of the University’s chapter and attended the convention as its voting delegate.

UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton will give his quarterly forecast for the North Carolina economy at a luncheon and press conference Tuesday, Sept. 9, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The presentation begins at noon in the auditorium. Lunch will be available starting at 11:30 a.m.