Two Geography Faculty Serving as Marshals for May 2024 Commencement
University marshal is an honor bestowed on distinguished faculty members. Representing the faculty at University ceremonial functions, including commencement, they are symbols of faculty excellence and leadership in teaching, professional achievement and service to campus and community. Congratulations to this year’s University marshals from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences: Terry Shirley and Jean-Claude Thill.
Terry Shirley is the University marshal for the commencement ceremony at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 11, for the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences and the College of Science.
Shirley is associate chair and senior lecturer in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. He is passionate about teaching and mentoring, the field of meteorology, advocating for students and supporting his colleagues. He serves as faculty advisor for the Student Organization of Meteorology and the Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics organization and co-advises Chi Epsilon Pi, the Meteorology National Honor Society.
Jean-Claude Thill is the University marshal for the commencement ceremony at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 11, for the Graduate School.
Thill is the Knight Distinguished Professor of Public Policy in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. His research encompasses transportation and mobility systems, urban and regional science, geospatial data science and place-based policy analysis. Thill, who has published extensively, was recognized among the top 2% of most cited scholars by a Stanford University study. In 2022, he received the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal, UNC Charlotte’s most prestigious faculty award.