Mickelson Receives First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal

Sociology professor Roslyn Mickelson is the 2011 recipient of the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal. The prestigious award, presented by First Citizens Bank and UNC Charlotte, honors faculty scholarship and intellectual inquiry.

Mickelson’s work has left an indelible mark on the understanding of race and gender inequality in education. She is widely regarded as a leading expert in her field and has been an important leader, mentor and role model to colleagues and students.

“Dr. Roslyn Mickelson’s research informs local, state and federal educational decision-makers,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “It takes tremendous energy and dedication to seek funding for research while fulfilling the roles of mentor, teacher, author and researcher. But in this arena, Roslyn has enjoyed much success.”

Not only is Mickelson known as a creative and prolific scholar and author – having published more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 41 book chapters – she also has served on the review committees of 18 doctoral candidates and as chair of the master’s theses committees of 28 graduate students.

“Professor Mickelson is one of the leading sociologists of education in the country today,” wrote a colleague about Mickelson, a professor of sociology at UNC Charlotte since 1985.

Mickelson’s research on school reform has gained widespread recognition, particularly in the areas of corporate involvement in reform and race equity as it relates to education and school desegregation.

In 2010, Mickelson was named as a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and recently served on the Research Advisory Committee of that body. She also serves as a Fellow of the National Educational Policy Center and on the advisory board of the North Carolina Educational Research Data Center.

While at UNC Charlotte, Mickelson has secured nearly $7 million in federal research funding and student support monies. In addition, she has published two books, “Children on the Streets of the Americas: Globalization, Poverty, and Education in the U.S., Brazil and Cuba,” and “Why Diversity Matters: the Effects of Classroom and School Composition on Educational Outcomes.”

Now in its 24th year, the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal was created to spotlight the important contributions UNC Charlotte and its faculty are making – not only in this community, but also throughout the Carolinas, the nation and the world. Past award recipients have influenced scholarship in endeavors including engineering, microchip technology, sociology, biology and art and photography.

“At First Citizens Bank, we take great pride in our ongoing partnership with UNC Charlotte. Every day, the university’s faculty, staff and students make significant, lasting contributions to the economic, cultural and civic life of our region, and it is truly an honor for us to recognize their accomplishments,” said Marc Horgan, Mecklenburg area executive for First Citizens.

Photo: Roslyn Mickelson (center) with Marc Horgan from First Citizens and Chancellor Dubois