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After Five-Year Pilot, $2 Million Project Expands Partnership With Alliance of Baptists

�鶹��Ƶ���� and the Alliance of Baptists received a $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand the Churches that THRIVE for Racial Justice initiative. Learn how this partnership empowers congregations to dismantle racialized structures.

Check Out These Recently Written Reads by �鶹��Ƶ���� Alums

Get ready to add some new titles to your reading list! We're shining a spotlight on the literary accomplishments of �鶹��Ƶ����'s alumni authors. From debut novelists making waves to seasoned writers, their words and ideas are reaching readers far and wide.

�鶹��Ƶ���� Institute for Public Good Wins Historic $4M Federal Grant to Foster Civil Debate

�鶹��Ƶ����’s Institute for Public Good has been awarded a historic $4 million federal grant—the largest in the college's history—to foster civil debate and respectful disagreement across 100 campuses nationwide. The initiative aims to bridge societal divides and strengthen democracy.

Neuroscience Professor Nationally Recognized for Innovative Leadership

�鶹��Ƶ���� Prof. Julio Ramirez, R. Stuart Dickson Professor of Psychology, received the prestigious Innovative Leadership Award from the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) for his lifetime contributions to science education and mentorship.

They Cost Very Little and Mean So Much: The Best Gifts No One Bought

In this season of giving, the �鶹��Ƶ���� community celebrates the gifts that didn’t come from a store, but sprang from love, thoughtfulness and kindness.

The Lab That Became a Lifeline: How Mentorship Set Ketan Bulsara ’92 on a Path to Renown

World-renowned neurosurgeon Ketan Bulsara ’92 found a path and place to flourish at �鶹��Ƶ����, with the help of faculty mentors. Learn more.

Warm Wishes for This Holiday Season from �鶹��Ƶ����

�鶹��Ƶ���� President Doug Hicks ’90 extends gratitude and joy for the countless ways our educational community enriches lives both on campus and beyond. 

A Growing Village: Lilliana Sandoval ’23 Connects Latinx Students and Alumni

As a first-year, first-generation Latina college student far from home, Lilliana Sandoval ’23 found friends, guidance and community among students and alumni who’d experienced similar situations. The �鶹��Ƶ���� alum, who lives and works in Charlotte, now serves as a mentor and volunteer for the Latinx Alumni Network at �鶹��Ƶ���� (LAND), which invites alums to return to campus and connect with current students.

Public Health in Action: Confronting Black Maternal Health Disparities

A �鶹��Ƶ���� public health student shares her eye-opening experience in “PBH 375” and a simulation confronting the stark realities of Black pregnancy-related issues in the U.S. Learn how �鶹��Ƶ���� students are tackling critical health equity issues in this student blog.

�鶹��Ƶ���� Professor Strikes a Chord With Pioneering Pinball Research

�鶹��Ƶ���� Professor Neil Lerner is pioneering the study of pinball music history and sound design. Learn more about his research on composers, game audio, and the transition from electromechanical to modern pinball machines.

Why Does Michael Maggart ’91 Look So Familiar?

Carry On: Alums Share First-Class Insights on the Airline Business

Meeting the Moment

�鶹��Ƶ���� President Doug Hicks '90 shares how the newly launched Institute for Public Good will expand opportunities for free expression, policy research and debate, and civic engagement.

Want to Bet? A Closer Look at Legal Sports Betting

�鶹��Ƶ���� Prof. Kevin McElrath and his students tackle the social and economic consequences of the sports betting boom, examining everything from addiction rates and masculinity to the role of the online attention economy in this timely course.

‘Rally’ Reinvents Pickleball Experience: Alum Brings a Hospitality Bent to a Booming Sport

Barrett Worthington ’09 turned a hunch into a successful business. Learn how the �鶹��Ƶ���� alum is reinventing the social experience of the fastest-growing sport: pickleball.

Pickleball Prodigy: Liz Truluck ’22 Levels Up on a New Kind of Court

�鶹��Ƶ���� alum Liz Truluck '22 found pickleball by accident and is now ranked among the top 20 players in the world. Learn how she swapped her tennis racket for a pickleball paddle.

A Loving Death: Aditi Sethi '02 Founded A Sanctuary Where Those Who Are Dying Find Peace, Comfort and Community

Meet Aditi Sethi '02, the physician who founded a peaceful North Carolina sanctuary for the dying. Inspired by her work in end-of-life care, Sethi created the Center for Conscious Living and Dying (CCLD), a community offering comfort, support, and acceptance to those transitioning and their families. Discover how this non-profit is reframing death as a sacred, supported part of life.

�鶹��Ƶ���� Dance Ensemble: Dancing Into Myself

Learn how one �鶹��Ƶ���� student joined Dance Ensemble with limited experience, finding confidence, community and global dance opportunities in Kenya, South Africa, and France.

Ground Control: Lauren Arkell ’22 Guides Blue Ghost Lunar Landing

Learn how former college athlete and physics major Lauren Arkell '22 went from studying lunar dust as an intern to commanding the successful Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lunar lander mission for NASA's CLPS initiative.

Medical Murder Mystery: Ed Jones III ’77 Delves Into A Case That Shocked Charlotte

A horrific 2006 murder sent Ed Jones on a quest to understand what caused a devout father to kill his twin daughters. Learn how a network of �鶹��Ƶ���� alumni helped Jones publish his investigation into mental illness and medication in the book, Medication, Mental Illness, and Murder.