News

Mike Lizotte, UNC Charlotte’s sustainability officer, has championed environmental stewardship since joining the University in 2013. After more than a decade of leadership, Lizotte recently announced his retirement, effective May 1. “Mike’s leadership has elevated our sustainability efforts to a national level,” said Owen Cooks, associate vice chancellor for facilities management. “He brought a spirit […]

Colleen Hammelman, an associate professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, was selected as UNC Charlotte’s nominee for the 2025 Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service. The nomination recognizes Hammelman’s years of dedicated service. Since joining the University in 2017, she has advanced community-engaged research and teaching […]

Professor of Architecture Kyoung Hee Kim has been named to the 2026 Class of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, a recognition honoring academic inventors whose work has made a measurable impact through patents, commercialization and mentorship. Kim, director of the Integrated Design Research Lab, develops building systems that reduce energy use and improve environmental […]

Five UNC Charlotte faculty members have been named to the 2026 class of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, a recognition honoring academic inventors whose work has made a measurable impact through patents, commercialization and mentorship. The honorees represent disciplines across the University’s research enterprise:

Students were seen sifting through piles of fabric and designing quilt squares in the J. Murrey Atkins Library Makerspace on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The Office of Sustainability collaborated with the library to host Quilting for Climate Change, an event spreading across the nation to raise awareness about the effects of the climate crisis.

Niner Engineer Felix Fiifi Ekuful has been selected as the winner of a 2026 international student paper competition organized by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. This organization recognizes outstanding student research in the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.  Last semester, graduate student Ekuful submitted his master’s […]

What are the necessary ingredients that make it possible for individuals and communities to thrive in a city or region? What are the barriers? And how can we build a Charlotte region where everyone has a good life?   Over the next year and a half, with support from The Gambrell Foundation, ten UNC Charlotte faculty […]

Rishi Misra’s excitement is contagious. When he gets going about one of his passions, be it advanced computational biology techniques or the importance of scientific communication, his eyes light up as his enthusiasm spreads to his audience through each animated anecdote and every bit of eager exposition. Graduating in December 2025 with a M.S. in […]

UNC Charlotte has achieved its first-ever STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, marking a major milestone in the University’s strategic plan to become a national leader in sustainability.

Patented nanomaterial technology developed at UNC Charlotte could soon improve the quality of drinking water.  Jordan Poler, Ph.D., has successfully passed filtration testing with his water purification system, paving the way for large-scale production on filters that remove forever chemicals and other contaminants from water.