Issue: Spring 2013
Stories
Liberal Arts Lessons
It’s almost graduation time again, and we are excited for all of our seniors. I’d like to tell you the story of two Rachels, who are shining examples of the value of a Carolina liberal arts education.
Liberal Arts Leader: Rachel Burton ’96, Women’s Studies
Rachel Burton didn’t just land a great job, she invented one. After earning her women’s studies degree at Carolina, she blazed a circuitous career path to become a nationally recognized, pioneering leader in the alternative fuel industry.
Making Waves: New generator allows researchers to study rogue waves, tsunamis
A new wave generator in the Chapman Hall wave tank will allow a multidisciplinary team of researchers to conduct experiments that test theories on such phenomena as rogue waves, tsunamis and internal waves that affect the ecological health of estuaries.
Middle school star-gazers
About 1,400 middle school students will be able to explore the universe with high-tech robotic telescopes in Chile and Chapel Hill through UNC’s global Skynet system.
Global entrepreneurship
Public Policy Professor Maryann Feldman has been honored with a global entrepreneurship research award for her work on “the geography of innovation” — where industries cluster and why.
Thank you, Holden and Patti
After spending much of their adult lives in Chapel Hill, Holden and Patti Thorp are heading to St. Louis this summer. Effective July 1, Chancellor Thorp will be provost of Washington University there, where he also will hold an endowed professorship with appointments in chemistry and medicine.
Stopping killer infections
Many kinds of staph infections are now resistant to all but one antibiotic. Chemist Matt Redinbo’s team has identified a mechanism by which such killer infections spread, and they have suggested ways to stop them before it’s too late.
Top honor for health adviser
Daniel Gitterman, associate professor of public policy, was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the state’s highest honors.
Two Luce Scholars
Seniors Will Leimenstoll and Henry Laurence Ross have won Luce Scholarships for study in Asia. The program funds a year of living and learning in Asia for recent college graduates.
New Era for Jewish Studies: A new major, more faculty, private support
As Jewish studies celebrates 10 years, it can celebrate its accomplishments: A new major, more faculty and private support.
Leaving a Legacy: Planned gift supports Jewish studies
In 2012, as Gene and Saralyn Oberdorfer celebrated 59 years of marriage, they committed to contribute a planned gift to the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies.
Morning bath
Zoe Wolszon’s photo of elephants undergoing their morning bath ritual in India won the water theme award in the Carolina Global Photography Competition.
Launching Bold Ventures: Alumna invests in social entrepreneurship
In April 2012, Robin Donohoe launched her latest venture, this one for the benefit of students at Carolina. The Richards Donohoe Social Entrepreneur in Residence Fund underwrites a new member of the faculty whose job is to share practical insights from his or her career with students interested in charitable organizations.
For the Love of History: Clein gift benefits faculty, students
For serial entrepreneur Mark Clein ’81, crafting his strategy for supporting Carolina’s history department was a bit like running a startup company.
Global Inspiration: McCain gift supports African, Afro-American studies
Twenty years after graduating, Wendell McCain is committed to a global education more than ever. He recently established the McCain Family Fund for Excellence in the department of African and Afro-American studies, the department’s single largest gift.