Four CHESS alumni recognized with 10 Under Ten awards
Four alumni from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences were recognized at the seventh annual 10 Under Ten Awards, sponsored by the UNC Charlotte GOLD Alumni Network, at an awards ceremony Thursday, June 5, in the Popp Martin Student Union.
The 10 Under Ten Awards recognize alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years who are succeeding in their professional lives and actively involved in community volunteerism and philanthropy.
Calvin Cupini ’19, director of investments at Activate, leads and develops scalable financial products, advises scientists building startups and forges pathways to translate technical breakthroughs into impactful, real-world solutions. He is a recognized thought-leader and sought-after speaker who serves on the board of directors for Forge Industries. Cupini was the driving force behind Clean Air Carolina’s AirKeepers Network, a pioneering initiative that established one of the most comprehensive citizen air monitoring systems in North Carolina. He also served as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and delegate to the United Nations Environment Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in earth and environmental sciences from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences.
Jake Johnson ’16 is the youngest member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representing District 113. He serves as deputy majority whip, chair of the House Oversight Committee, chair of the IT Appropriations Committee and vicechair of the Commerce Committee. He also is a standing member of the K-12 Education, Banking and Wildlife Resources committees. As a managing broker of Skyfall Properties, he works in residential real estate, development and property management. A first-generation college student, Johnson completed a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences.
Celia Karp ’14, a social and behavioral scientist, is dedicated to research, teaching, mentorship and advocacy in the field of women’s sexual and reproductive health. As an assistant professor in the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she investigates psychosocial determinants of reproductive health, including preferences, empowerment and decision-making related to pregnancy, contraception and family planning and the health systems shaping women’s health and well-being across the life course. Karp is the past recipient of a Fulbright research fellowship to Ecuador and a National Institutes of Health grant to support research in Uganda. She earned two bachelor’s degrees at UNC Charlotte; one in public health sciences from the College of Health and Human Services and one in communication studies from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. Karp completed a doctorate in population, family and reproductive health from Johns Hopkins University.
Will Linville ’09, ’21 M.A. is the program manager for the city of Charlotte’s Urban Design Center, working with community associations on placemaking initiatives in the Historic West End and West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition on implementing Corridors of Opportunity projects. His work includes advocating for quality urban environments through design, effectively communicating complex planning and design frameworks through conceptual visualizations, the design and construction of small public spaces and community placemaking initiatives. Linville is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners and is accredited with the Congress for the New Urbanism. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences and a master’s degree in urban design from the College of Arts + Architecture.