Dean Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz is pictured in his new office as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and by the Old Well on Friday, January 8, 2016. Guskiewicz, distinguished professor and former chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, is the founding director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and research director for the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. Guskiewicz is a leading expert on sport-related concussions across all levels of play, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, and a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Academy of Kinesiology and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (Photos ©2016 Kevin Seifert Photography | kevin@kevinseifertphotography.com | 919-208-9458)
The first rule of improv — and a principle that has increasingly been adopted by organizations as a powerful team-building tool — is “yes, and …” It refers to building upon what has come before and encourages the sharing of ideas, opening the door to true collaboration.
You may have noticed our jaunty new ampersand. Our ampersand combines elements of an “A” for Arts and an “S” for Sciences. The symbol is, of course, shorthand for “and,” but I like to think of our version as representing “yes, and…”
Along with our custom ampersand we are also unveiling the College’s new tag line, Synergy Unleashed. Just as the ampersand represents the expansive range of the arts and 
sciences, Synergy Unleashed symbolizes the power of interdisciplinary work and our commitment to breaking down the silos that hamper collaborative partnerships. After all, “arts” and “sciences” are artificial constructs; the lines between them have always been blurred.
In this issue, you can read more about what we mean by Synergy Unleashed. The five stories in our cover package personify the power of unexpected partnerships and the fresh new perspectives they bring.
Best,
Published in the Spring 2017 issue | Letter from the Dean
Read More
UNC receives grant to develop videos to counteract extremists
An $867,000 grant to UNC will fund a project to…
