Research

Ashley Williams knows no boundaries and shows no fear when asking big questions. Williams is one of the rare UNC Charlotte students to double major across two colleges and also begin a master’s program while working on her undergraduate degrees. She sees her wide-ranging choices as critical preparation for her future.

People who live in food deserts in Charlotte struggle to find healthy fresh food. Lauren Whipp, who as an undergraduate anthropology major began researching the topic, takes this issue personally. While she has long been interested in the topic, Whipp expanded her formal research into food access issues as an undergraduate Charlotte Research Scholar in the summer of 2013.

As competition for talent heats up worldwide, UNC Charlotte researcher Qingfang Wang has identified critical factors that appear to give some communities a competitive edge. Wang’s research considers highly skilled immigrants and immigrant entrepreneurs – what attracts them, what fosters their growth and what deters them from fully using their skills and knowledge.

One way to think about sustainability is as a three-legged stool, with environmental, economic and social sustainability as the legs. Social sustainability is the wobbliest of the three legs, because it is less defined and studied. To help address this aspect of sustainability, various UNC Charlotte faculty have organized the Integrated Network for Social Sustainability.

UNC Charlotte students this summer are creating an innovative theatrical production that combines works of two significant playwrights, while delving into topics including diversity, theatrical performance, language, history and the craft of writing. These students are studying in England, collaborating with Kingston University students, British theater professionals and a UNC Charlotte scholar.

Effective volunteers are the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations. Without them, nonprofits can wither and even die, so understanding their needs is critical. UNC Charlotte’s Volunteer Program Assessment helps nonprofits understand and respond to their volunteer programs’ strengths and weaknesses. Since 2009, VPA has helped over 120 organizations in 20 states address their needs.

Even as the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 takes place, U.S. education is becoming less diverse. To examine this issue of increasingly segregated schools, researchers from UNC Charlotte joined with educators, legal scholars and practitioners, and social scientists from around the country at a June civil rights conference hosted by Penn State’s College of Education.

Brian Magi, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at UNC Charlotte, will present a talk titled “Global Environmental Change in the University Classroom” at the Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference on Tuesday, April 29. The conference seeks to provide an opportunity to share information about tools, resources, activities and experiences.

Local communities can expect the number and asset size of philanthropic foundations to increase, due to the rise in health care consolidations driven by health care reform. In the past, assets of this kind may have been underused or even undocumented. A new database created by UNC Charlotte researchers can help bridge this gap.

Death is the end of life – often a difficult topic to discuss. UNC Charlotte Professor Jillian Tullis is working to change that. Tullis uses her personal experiences, combined with the experiences and knowledge she has gained working with hospices and cancer centers, to improve the ways people view and communicate about death. “Attitudes about […]