UNCG Professor Digs Through 5,000 Years Worth of History
Posted on July 05, 2024
For the past 50 years, Classical Studies Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Soles has focused on the secrets buried on one Greek island off the coast of Crete. His discoveries about Bronze Age cultures have received worldwide acclaim.
The Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 UNC Greensboro Staff Senate full body meetings will be held monthly at the Alumni House Oakley Room from 10-11 a.m.
Staff Senate meetings are open to the public and all staff, faculty, administrators, Board of Trustees members, Board of Governors members, and members of the public are welcome to attend. This year’s Staff Senate co-chairs are Kimberly Mozingo and Carla Wilson.
All UNCG staff are encouraged to check the events calendar regularly for updates and opportunities that will help them keep engaged with their colleagues, faculty, and students. Learn about Staff Senate divisions, senate members, and Staff Senate initiatives here
Service Knows No Limits for Army Reservist and UNCG Alumna
Posted on July 02, 2024
Captain Lindsey Jefferies Jones ’18 has no qualms about taking the skies, but she also knows how to stay grounded.
The Army Reservist has combined all her experiences with a master of science in counseling earned at UNC Greensboro, so that she can serve through her private practice.
A Trailblazer Takes Flight
“My time in the Army National Guard greatly influenced my counseling work, especially connecting with clients who are currently serving or are veterans,” says Jones.
This summer, she’s also part of the permanent “Trailblazing Women” exhibit at the new Sullenberger Aviation Museum in Charlotte, which will showcase her uniform, flight gloves, and other items. Jones earned the moniker of “trailblazer” in the North Carolina National Guard, becoming its first African American female pilot in 2013. She flew the UH-60 Black Hawk and later the UH-72 Lakota.
“As a pilot, the best part is being a role model for little girls and motivating them to chase after their dreams,” she says.
That dream to serve her country began for Jones at 17 with the JROTC in high school. She rose to platoon leader for an air assault company before taking command of the MEDEVAC Detachment and then the Lakota Detachment.
During that time, she looked at ways she could serve others in other venues. Having already gotten a bachelor’s in psychology and sociology and a minor in military science, she came to UNCG so that she could enter the field of counseling and become a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate.
Broadening Her Outreach
The Lakota can reach speeds of 167 mph, but the popularity of telehealth allows Jones – now living in Germany where her husband is stationed – to reach clients in an instant, thanks to her private counseling and consulting practice called Level Your Wings Counseling and Consulting PLLC.
“Jumping into counseling, the depth of human connection and the impact of empathy stands out to me the most,” says Jones, who does all that while working in a logistics position for the Army. “The beauty of being a part-time soldier is that I can both serve and counsel simultaneously.”
Jones connects with people around the world on social media, using her TikTok and Instagram accounts (both @levelyourwings) to share relationship and fitness tips, as well as advice for those who want to work in aviation.
Later this year, she will publish a book “Level Your Wings: A Pilot’s Guide to Healthy Relationships,” correlating the positive dynamics between two pilots in the helicopter with the positive dynamics of two people in relationships. She uses her experience as a therapist and as a pilot to guide readers on the journey to healthy relationships.
“Whether flying helicopters or helping clients navigate their emotions, one thing remains constant,” says Jones. “Dedication to serving others, staying flexible in any situation, and always being there to support people on their journey to personal growth and happiness.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography courtesy of Capt. Lindsey Jefferies Jones
UNCG’s Student Teacher of the Year Speaks of Growth and Gratitude
Posted on July 01, 2024
Melanie Sellers ’24 spent more than a decade as a certified registered nurse before pursuing a career change with UNCG’s School of Education. Her passion for helping children earned her UNCG’s Student Teacher of the Year designation.
UNCG School of Nursing Receives $2.4 Million Award
Posted on June 27, 2024
Class of 2025 Coating Ceremony.
The UNC Greensboro School of Nursing has received $2,420,118 to expand and enroll more nursing students. The funding, allocated from the UNC System Office, is part of the legislature’s efforts to increase nursing degree completions by at least 50 percent.
“We welcome, and appreciate, the opportunity to educate more nurses to meet the needs of North Carolina,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. “Our School of Nursing has long been ranked as a leader in the state and nationally, and this investment in our faculty, clinical partnerships, and facilities will further enhance the student experience as we prepare the next generation of nurses.”
The School of Nursing anticipates expanding enrollment in the bachelor of science nursing program by over 50 percent in two years. In addition to increases in the pre-licensure BSN program, the School’s new prelicensure master’s of science in nursing program is anticipated to welcome another 70 students during that same time. The SON anticipates starting the new program and enrollment in January 2025, pending NC Board of Nursing approval.
“With this anticipated enrollment of new students, the funding will also help us recruit and retain as many as 18 world renowned nursing faculty right here in Greensboro,” said UNCG School of Nursing Dean Debra Barksdale. “Academic advisors, coaches and other student support positions will also be hired to assist these new students earn their degrees in a timely fashion.”
In May 2024, the UNCG School of Nursing graduated 241 undergraduates and 74 graduate-level nursing students.
Photography by Sean Norona and Martin W. Kane, University Communications
A mid-week Independence Day holiday doesn’t make for an easy vacation escape, but never mind. All you need to have a fun Fourth of July is right here in Greensboro. Follow these tips for a complete celebration without leaving the city limits.
Immerse Yourself in Local History
Statue of Nathaniel Greene in downtown Greensboro.
On the defining Fourth of July in 1776, the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence that established the United States of America. But without winning the Revolutionary War that followed, the declaration was only a document of intent. Many historians believe that without the rebel army’s strong showing at the Guilford Courthouse in 1781, the scrappy Americans would have never defeated the powerful and influential British army.
A stroll through the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park gives a glimpse of the colonists’ struggle for independence from British rule. Learn how General Nathaniel Greene’s strategy made the most of his army’s numbers and ensured that their supplies wouldn’t be threatened by British occupations.
Greensboro is not only proud of its role in American independence, but also of its later role in the civil rights movement. For a true picture of the American journey for freedom, pair a visit to the Guilford Courthouse with the International Civil Rights Museum downtown and imagine the courage of North Carolinians who stood up or sat in for freedom.
Let Freedom Ring
Downtown Greensboro’s annual Fun Fourth Festival includes a Freedom Run and a street festival along Elm Street. UNC Greensboro is a sponsor of the event. Whether your vibe is sporty, artsy or foodie, the Fun Fourth activities downtown on July 4 are sure to please.
For those who like to celebrate their independence with a morning jog, the Freedom Run starts and ends at Center City Park and winds through the streets of the historic Fisher Park neighborhood. Runners, walkers, and strollers of all abilities are welcome to sign up. The 10K begins at 7:30 a.m. with the 5K at 8 a.m. and the one-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m.
Later in the afternoon, those who prefer to celebrate with art and music should get downtown between 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. when Elm Street is full of art and food vendors, and stages rocking with live music. Freedom Fest is free and open to the public. After nightfall, the city’s fireworks display will follow the Greensboro Grasshoppers’ game.
Catch a Game
While you’re downtown, snag a ticket to the Grasshoppers’ game and enjoy America’s favorite pastime followed by spectacular fireworks. What’s more American than that?
The Greensboro Grasshoppers play baseball all summer at First National Bank Stadium. It’s a beautiful stadium perfectly positioned in downtown Greensboro where spectators can take in views of our skyline while they watch the game. The team is hoping to be playoff bound after winning the first half of their season, so the stakes are high. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. July 4th game versus the Aberdeen IronBirds are going fast, so book ahead of time to guarantee your best seat in the house for the post-game firework show.
If you want to start your U-S-A cheerleading early, consider getting tickets for the International Friendship Series game at First National Bank Stadium on July 2. Organized by USA Baseball, this is the fourth in a five-game series between the collegiate national teams from USA and Chinese Taipei that is sure to heighten your patriotic vibes in time for the holiday.
Photos by Jiyoung Park.
Hot off the Grill
Photo by Jenn Smith.
Whether you’re touring a battlefield, catching a game, running a 5K, or strolling through a street festival, all this activity will surely work up an appetite. Didn’t get an invite to a Fourth of July barbecue? Who needs one in a city like Greensboro where there’s a great burger on every corner of town?
Pair a juicy burger with a Guilford Golden Ale at the restaurant and brewery named for our favorite freedom fighter, Natty Greene, on Elm Street. Natty Greene’s new beer garden is the perfect place to gather with friends before the fireworks. Owner and Spartan alum Chris Lester is excited about the garden’s aesthetic for downtown Greensboro diners and how the space will double their beer production. “This expansion enables us to bring all of our production in house to give us more control and be more self-sustaining,” he says.
Hops Burger Bar is another popular burger destination with its unique toppings and famous “Wall of Fries”. Go classic or try goat cheese, Carolina pulled pork, or bourbon marinated pickles on your choice of an Angus beef, turkey, chicken, tuna, or bison burger. Or you can show your Spartan spirit and go for the “College Hill Blues” with blue cheese, onions, mushrooms and spinach. Hops has been mentioned on several foodie lists for the best burgers in the state. Visit their Battleground Avenue or Spring Garden Street locations and decide for yourself.
For some, Fourth of July just isn’t complete without a good ol’ American hot dog. Luckily, you can find options any time of day in Greensboro. Right in the middle of UNCG’s campus, Yum-Yum Better Ice Cream and Hot Dogs is a classic lunch choice for hot dogs and homemade ice cream. It’s been serving hungry coeds since 1906.
But if you’re looking for an option after the fireworks display, try Neighbors Neighborhood Bar, just around the corner from the Grasshopper’s’ First National Bank Stadium on Simpson Street. Opening just last summer, its grill takes orders until 2 a.m. and serves a range of sandwiches including Chicago, Jersey and Carolina inspired dogs, along with craft cocktails.
From history and tradition to fireworks and food, Greensboro has all you need to feel free – and full – this Fourth. Take a Spartan staycation and find all the holiday fun you’re looking for right here at the G.
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photography by Sean Norona, unless otherwise noted. Lumen 5 video by Michael Ream.
UNCG Cuts Down on Wait Times for Rural Health Care
Posted on June 28, 2024
Catlin Torres ’23 works at the Belmont Medical Associates clinic, courtesy of an AmeriCorps MedServe fellowship.
Students who graduate with health degrees from UNC Greensboro will find their skills in high demand. The need for health care is felt in all areas of the United States, but there are many communities that routinely find themselves underserved.
It’s a need that Catlin Torres ’23 is answering since completing her bachelor of science in biology with a minor in chemistry at UNCG. She was accepted into the 2023-2025 AmeriCorps MedServe fellowship to work at Belmont Medical Associates in Reidsville, North Carolina, not far from her hometown in Rockingham County.
“I’ve always just been interested in becoming a primary care provider, and I would like to serve in areas where they are needed,” says Torres.
While the small private practice sees patients from across Rockingham County, others drive from Guilford County (30 minutes away), Alamance County (45 minutes), and the city of Lexington (an hour).
“Some people make the drive from out of state,” says Torres. “And some people moved for retirement, but they like to come back to their primary doctor. Our patients are spread all over.”
Problems Finding Providers
A lack of health care options has been a troubling trend for rural and remote areas of the United States. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than 100 rural hospitals, or four percent, closed across the United States between 2013 and 2020. Six of those were in North Carolina.
Torres witnessed the pressure it puts on rural patients when a neurology office in Reidsville closed, impacting many of Belmont’s patients who need pain management. “We had to start referring patients to Greensboro or different areas,” she says. “A lot of our patients are older. They can’t drive that far or it’s harder for them to find transportation.”
Torres (front row, second from left) and the Belmont Medical Associates staff in Reidsville.
The GAO report found that Medicare Free-For-Service beneficiaries living in areas where rural hospitals closed were less likely to be healthy, with higher instances of conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and depression.
The issue affects all regions of the state – mountains, coast, and Piedmont. “In North Carolina, 72 of the 100 counties are rural or have some aspect of their county that is rural,” says Dr. Audrey Snyder. The professor and associate dean for community engagement and academic partnerships in the School of Nursing has spent many years researching and advocating for health care access worldwide.
Snyder says children from smaller communities may grow up with fewer role models in health care professions to inspire and encourage them while attaining such a challenging degree. “There’s a higher percentage of our rural residing prospective students who are first generation college students,” she says.
Even for those who do pursue a career in health, Snyder says workers are more inclined to stay where there are ample resources and an extensive peer network, which tend to be in cities. Greensboro alone has three major institutions: Cone, Novant, and Atrium Health.
“Let’s say you’re a family nurse practitioner who practices in a rural community,” says Snyder. “You don’t have a lot of backup. You can’t just walk into the next room and ask questions or have a person you can call for support.”
Cost is also an issue, says Torres. “A lot of the people in my cohort have to look for places to live. And we live on a stipend, which has to stretch for housing costs.”
Building a Network for Providers
Students who come to UNCG from rural communities may qualify for federal financial aid specifically intended to cultivate a new generation of providers who will take those skills back home after graduation. Torres was part of Guarantee Scholars, a flagship program to build a cohort community while minimizing student debt for its members.
In the College of Arts and Sciences, students like Torres lay the groundwork as undergraduates in biology and chemistry, making them highly attractive to competitive professional graduate school programs. Torres took the pre-physician assistant track, which sets up students with advisors who help tailor their undergraduate coursework in preparation for a professional school.
She first heard about MedServe at an information session hosted by UNCG and later connected with its executive director, Amanda Gallina. “With graduation coming up, I had a lot on my plate,” says Torres. “But she sent an email asking if I wanted to talk about the opportunities that they had. She told me they were looking for someone for Belmont, and that it seemed like the right fit for me.”
Along with on-site experience, MedServe lets Torres attend skill summits at hospitals, learning alongside other fellows in the program. “It’s just a really great program where you can build a community of people doing the same thing,” she says.
Torres (left) attended a skills summit for AmeriCorps MedServe fellows in Winston-Salem.
UNCG Bridges the Gap
Health care institutions and universities like UNCG are working on solving health care disparities – from utilizing the growing popularity of telehealth to forging partnerships between rural practices and urban medical centers.
The many health-related programs in UNCG’s Schools and Colleges cater to each student’s strengths and previous experience, preparing new caregivers and specialists. Torres’ pre-PA track is just one of ten pre-professional tracks, with others for aspiring nurses, doctors, therapists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and dentists.
“We’re trying to increase the number of students coming from those rural areas and provide support in their programs, whether it’s a BSN or a nurse practitioner degree, so they can go on and get an advanced degree,” says Snyder. “We hope that by giving them experiences in rural and underserved areas, they may want to work in one of those areas when they graduate.”
Dr. Audrey Snyder and the School of Nursing launched the Minerva Mobile Health Unit in August 2023 to deliver UNCG students and faculty nurse practitioners straight to underserved communities. “Mobile health care is a wave of the future, getting access to people where they live, where they work, where they go to school,” says Snyder.
As Torres begins her second year of the fellowship and gets ready to apply for graduate school, one experience with the physician’s assistant at Belmont stood out to her. “An older Hispanic woman who spoke minimal English came in,” she says. “The PA took her time and brought me in to translate. She was very descriptive. She wanted to make sure this woman knew what was going on.”
Torres hopes to bring that type of compassionate care to more people. “I’m definitely seeing that need for new providers who will deliver various services for rural communities,” she says.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography courtesy of Catlin Torres, Belmont Medical Associates Additional photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
Connect your major with one of ten pre-professional tracks.
2024 UNCG Research Magazine is Now Available Online
Posted on June 26, 2024
An ambitious obesity study following kids from the womb to preschool, the art of Disney, social entrepreneurship improving lives across NC, cosmodernism, and chiggers and ticks and sand flies (oh my!). Explore our wide-ranging impact in the 2024 issue of UNCG Research magazine.
