Category: Tar Heels Up Close
Tar Heels Up Close
![Headshot of Wubin Bai](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/10/5E4A2495_edited-wecompress.com-1-800x420.jpg)
Small materials, big innovations
In collaboration with scientists and clinicians, Wubin Bai uses his expertise in materials science to develop next-generation medical devices.
![Lilly Nekervis depicted with a robot dog](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/10/07112024_lilly_nekervis_014-wecompress.com_-800x420.jpg)
Robot reboot
Lilly Nekervis is modifying a robot dog to help people who are visually impaired navigate their surroundings.
![Eden sits at a chair in a classroom](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/10/Eden-preferred-favorite-DYP_1207-wecompress.com_-scaled-e1728046637845-800x420.jpg)
Teaching religion through a media lens
Eden Consenstein’s work focuses on the intersections of American religion, capitalism, consumerism and technology.
![Headshot of Anthony King](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/10/Anthony-king-800x420.png)
A love of writing for stage and screen
Tony and Emmy-nominated writer, producer and performer Anthony King ’97 received the New York Carolina Club’s John L. Haber Award for outstanding contributions to the arts.
![Headshot of Donna Gilleskie on a Carolina blue background](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/09/Emerald_hero-3-800x420.png)
Approaching life like an economist
“Economics is relevant for everyone, in just about every situation,” says Donna Gilleskie, who has been a Carolina economics faculty member for 30 years.
![Haley Talton leans against the wall at Spotify's office. The Spotify logo is prominent behind her.](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/09/Emerald_hero-2-800x420.png)
Tuning in to data at Spotify
Haley Talton took her passion for data science from statistics classes at Carolina to her career at the world’s largest audio streaming service.
![Violeta holds the books that she read in her English class, "Literature of War." She stands in front of a wall of books in Wilson Library on UNC's campus.](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/09/e209622677f71cc12172eb6ebf18a986-800x420.jpeg)
A tool for healing
Senior Violeta Gonzalez Toro was inspired by a transformative literature class to research how veterans might use reading as a path for healing after military experiences.
![David Rosenberg speaks into a microphone on stage during a conference](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/Screen-Shot-2024-04-09-at-2.31.57-PM-800x420.png)
The sustainability entrepreneur
David Rosenberg credits his Carolina education for honing the analytical and people skills that have contributed to his success in diverse industries.
![Annette Lawrence has her hands in her pockets in the arboretum on UNC's campus](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/AnnetteLawrence_digital-wecompress.com_-800x420.png)
‘Making and unmaking’
Artist Annette Lawrence emphasizes the process of creating and teaching students to embrace unexpected discoveries during the artistic process.
![Zack Hall crosses his arms and stands in front of rows of mainframes and computers](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/ZackHall_hero-wecompress.com_-800x420.png)
Mentors, matter
Ph.D. student Zack Hall has made an impact at Carolina through his research of subatomic particles and by supporting undergraduate physicists.
![Headshot of Betsy Olson in front of her computer, whose screen reads "Report on Caregiving Youth in the U.S."](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/Betsy-Olson-HERO-800x420.jpg)
Exploring the special challenges of youth caregivers
Professor Betsy Olson raises the profile of the overlooked and vulnerable by cultivating a culture of collaboration through a geography lens.
![Headshot of Caroline Hoover](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/Caroline-Hoover-HERO-800x420.jpg)
Fighting for rural health care access
From Appalachia to the Research Triangle, Caroline Hoover is striving to improve rural health care access, particularly birth and pregnancy services.
![Jenny Han stands, with hands on hips, smiling at the camera.](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/Jenny-Han-web-horizontal-800x420.jpg)
XO, Jenny Han
Fans love the bestselling YA author’s novels and TV shows. Do they know her heart bleeds Carolina blue?
![Sidney Wilkerson-Hill is wearing a blue lab coat and smiling at the camera with chemistry lab equipment in the background.](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2024/04/Sidney-Wilkerson-Hill-web-800x420.jpg)
Captivated by chemistry
Organic chemist Sidney Wilkerson-Hill is using a Sloan Research Fellowship to develop new small-molecule pesticides to combat mosquitoes that cause malaria.
![A headshot of Alexandrea Ravenelle](https://magazine.college.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1355/2023/10/LR_Favorite-2-DSC_0060-wecompress.com_-800x420.jpg)
Precarious workers in unprecedented times
Alexandrea Ravenelle’s latest book explores how COVID-19 affected the most vulnerable wage-earners.