College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences

UNC Charlotte’s nationally accredited Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration program has been ranked in the top 21% of 285 public affairs programs nationwide that were included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released on March 12. The UNC Charlotte program ranked #60 nationally, with or ahead of much larger public affairs programs that were part of the rankings. The program also has achieved national specialty area rankings, including #16 in local government management, #22 in urban policy, and #27 in public finance and budgeting.

Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys region is one of the coldest, driest, and windiest places on the planet. Temperatures in this area can plunge to 58 degrees below zero. Its deposits and landforms contain records of past climate not accessible elsewhere in the world. Antarctica’s unique climate enticed UNC Charlotte earth sciences researcher Martha Cary Eppes and her research colleagues to spend weeks camping out in a tent in the sub-zero temperatures, in order to – literally – monitor and listen to rocks as they fracture.

A team of UNC Charlotte graduate students is headed to Washington, D.C. to tackle the real-world problem of global migration, through an innovative national simulation competition called “The Refugee Simulation.” This year’s competition will focus on the issue of forced migration and refugees. The UNC Charlotte team and other teams will be asked to balance their budgets and their humanity, facing the underlying question of what sacrifices they are willing to make.

UNC Charlotte Associate Professor of English Janaka Bowman Lewis will spend four weeks this summer in residency at the National Humanities Center in the Research Triangle Park, working on a project about “Black Girlhood and the Power of Belonging.” Lewis will join a select group of about 40 scholars from across the nation who have been chosen to do research in residency at the Center.

Men hold nearly all primary breadwinning positions in top income households, and the glass ceiling that has hindered women’s advancement in the workplace is more extensive than previously thought, a new study by UNC Charlotte researcher Jill Yavorsky and colleagues finds.

From an unprecedented look at what has been called the Gifted Generation, to a behind the scenes review of the costs and benefits of hosting major political party conventions, to an exploration of the factors that prompt citizens to reject public policies that appear to give them exactly what they want, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences faculty have published an array of books that pull back the curtain on government topics that affect citizens’ lives.

Public sector managers face specific challenges that differ from those of people working in the for-profit arena. To address these challenges, UNC Charlotte’s Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration Program and the University’s Continuing Education Office offer the MPA Public Management Academy Professional Development Certificate program.

Newcomers wanting to run for public office face a steep learning curve, as measured in time and effort. Author Mary Jo McGowan Shepherd, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at UNC Charlotte, in her new book examines the hurdles created by the campaign system and the potential impact on democracy.

Most meetings end with attendees wondering what was accomplished. In 2019, leaders everywhere or pretty much anyone who interacts with others should resolve to read the new book, “The Surprising Science of Meetings”, by UNC Charlotte’s Steven Rogelberg. “The Washington Post” recently listed it as one of 10 leadership books to watch for in 2019.

The aromas and tastes of the holiday season call forth memories of traditions and of times spent with family and friends. Hot chocolate is a particularly special drink, building connections among people worldwide. We invite you to pause for a moment to consider historical, botanical, and cultural aspects of this comforting drink. We also hope you will take a moment to savor this special time of year with those you cherish.