An 80,000-word thesis or dissertation would take nine hours to present.
Their time limit is three minutes.
Join them and the UNCG Graduate School for the 3MT Final Competition on Tuesday, November 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Alumni House. This event is free and open to the public.
The 3MT Competition challenges master’s and doctoral students to explain their thesis or dissertation research to non-specialist audiences in just three minutes with one PowerPoint slide. This competition celebrates the discoveries made by graduate students and encourages them to communicate the importance of their work to the broader community.
The winners will be selected and announced at the end of the final competition: first place ($1,000), second place ($500), and People’s Choice ($250). The audience will select the People’s Choice winner, so come out, watch the competition, and cast your vote!
3MT Finalists in Alpha Order (Titles subject to change):
Sarah Campbell, History Faculty Mentor: Dr. Torren Gatson Revolution, Restoration, Recognition: The House in the Horseshoe National Register Nomination Reimagined
Esther Cardenas, Biology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Zhenquan Jia The Effect of Carbon Nanodots on Ultrasonic Vocalizations and Other Behaviors of C57BL/6J and LDLr-/- mice
Terry Chavis, Higher Education Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brad Johnson From whose point of view? A phenomenological investigation of epistemological relations with Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Traditional STEM Curriculum & Pedagogy
Ashley Herring-Nicholas, Nanoscience Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric Josephs The Power of One – CRISPR-Cas precision editing of single nucleotide variants
Stacy Huff, Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandra Ayoo Exploring Compassion Fatigue in Program Evaluation
Nooshin KianvashRad, Nanoscience Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dennis LaJeunesse Cracking the Code of Drug-Resistant Fungi: Nanotechnology Meets Bioinformatics
Merna Melad, Nanoscience Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eric Josephs How Far Is Enough? Dreaming of a Future Beyond 6 Feet Apart
Crystal Thinzar, Psychology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Margaret “Megan” Fields-Olivieri Keeping it R.E.A.L.: Understanding Everyday Socialization Processes in Parents of Toddlers
Panesun Tukur, Nanoscience Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jianjun Wei Fast-Track Innovation: Unleashing AI and ML for Rapid Product Development
Nora Webb, English Faculty Mentor: Dr. Risa Applegarth The American Witch: Acts of Communication and Rebellion
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
UNCG Researchers Find Feeding Practices Play a Central Role in Infants’ Rapid Weight Gain
Posted on October 28, 2024
Infants who gain weight rapidly are at a higher risk for obesity. UNCG scientists have uncovered which factors are most closely linked to rapid weight gain during infancy, and they provide helpful recommendations for parents.
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
Ambitious Animations
Posted on October 29, 2024
Lloyd International Honors College ambassadors on storytelling, connections and leadership
Empowering students comes in many forms at UNC Greensboro, including by giving students spaces to tell their stories, make personal connections, and lead by example.
UNCG seniors Jasmine Doctor and Sa’mya Muhammad – animation majors in the College of Visual and Performing Arts – recently put their academics and marketing skills on display. They combined forces to give a virtual presentation on new media to students at the NC School of Science and Mathematics, many of whom were interested in game design.
“We presented a slide show that was an overview of new media and design, including some of our work, and talked about programs students can combine with their majors, like we do in the Lloyd Disciplinary Honors,” Muhammad says. Among the slides, Doctor included storyboards and 2-D animation, and Muhammad added 3-D animation and modeling.
The two are primed for career prospects in animation with a growing demand for artists who can create 3-D and 2-D graphics for video games, news broadcasts, professional sports teams, and animation studios. Sharing their UNCG experience with the next round of future animators was an apt way to reflect what it’s taken to prepare them for launch from the program.
The honors advantage
Artwork by Jasmine Doctor
Doctor, who is from Florence, SC, and Muhammad, from King’s Mountain, NC, met online before they came to UNCG four years ago and were matched as roommates in the Lloyd International Honors College where they both serve as ambassadors.
“Honors College taught us a lot about how to grow as a person, be more of a leader, find new opportunities and try new things.” says Doctor. “It’s one reason I came to UNCG. I liked the requirement to study abroad, which has been an interest of mine since I was really young.” The Honors College offers scholarships and grants to help fund travel expenses.
“It also provides disciplinary artists so we can elevate our art classes, and it gave us experience in making presentations,” Doctor says.
Muhammad adds, “When I met the Honors staff, their energy was contagious. They were passionate about what they were teaching, and that’s something I need — someone teaching the class who’s just as passionate as I am.”
Animation aspirations
Doctor plans to work in the animation industry, maybe in small, independent studios, in the U.S. or Japan, where she hopes to live someday. She has been interested in the country since she met a Japanese exchange student in fourth grade. The two are still friends. She traveled to Japan last June with a UNCG group and felt at home there. Her minor in Asian studies enables her to focus on Japanese culture and language. She wants to compare the animation industry in the two countries.
Muhammad wants to attend graduate school and come back to UNCG to teach animation. She too has visited Japan, as well as South Korea, with assistance from UNCG. She was once interested in working abroad but has grown attached to UNCG and wants “to create opportunities at home before I create opportunities anywhere else,” she says.
She’d also like to open her own animation studio focused on children’s entertainment. Her goal is to create shows that help children embrace their environment and make them more open to trying new things. “I want to feature characters from around the world and help children see that they can succeed, no matter where they come from, or what they look like.” In her minor in entrepreneurship, she is studying how to start and run a business.
Artwork by Sa’mya Muhammad
Connections for the future
Both students appreciate the opportunities UNCG provides to build relationships with professors. “You’re encouraged to go to office hours, to talk to them in class and take advantage of them while you have them,” Doctor says. “I want to stay in contact with them and work with them in the future.”
Muhammad adds, “My professors have helped me feel comfortable in myself and my work. They’re really good at making sure their students have their plan set for the future.”
Story by Mary Daily
Photography and artwork courtesy of Jasmine Doctor and Sa’mya Muhammad
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
Faculty Present: Workshops and Presentations in November 2024
Posted on October 28, 2024
UNCG faculty and staff regularly put their talent and expertise on display for all students and colleagues. These are some of the presentations featuring employees on the UNCG campus during the month of October:
Didn’t get your fill trick-or-treating on October 31? The English Club is spending All Hallows’ Day and Día de los Muertos with Dr. Amy Vines, who will be offering a sneak peek at her Spring course “Books to Keep You Up at Night: Contemporary Horror Fiction.” All are invited to bring an excerpt from their favorite scary story to share. Costumes optional but always appreciated, Halloween or not.
A Reflection on a Fantastic Year in Chemistry November 1, 1 – 3 p.m. Sullivan Science Building, Room 101
In this seminar by Dr. Jerry Walsh, he reflects on his unexpected career path in chemistry, exploring boron cage compounds, transition metal complexes, and the importance of cherishing one’s unique contributions, followed by a reception honoring his many years at UNCG ahead of his retirement.
2024 Biology Weekly Seminar Series November 1, 3 – 4 p.m. Sullivan Science Building, Room 201
Dr. David Bickel, associate professor of computer science, will give the first of four presentations in this year’s month-long series. He will present on “Propagating uncertainty about clades, molecular evolution models, and prior distributions to divergence times and branch lengths.”
Red Clay Saxophone Quartet November 2, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Tew Recital Hall
Professors Steven Stusek and Mark Engebretson have been part of the Red Clay Saxophone Quartet for more than two decades. The Quartet presents a varied repertoire from classical to jazz to new music to tango, featuring music by composers such as Chen Yi, Ben Johnston, James Paul Sain, György Ligeti, Guillermo Lago, Francis Poulenc, Alejandro Rutty, Steve Reich, Mark Engebretson, David Maslanka, Martin Bresnick, Burton Beerman, and Gavin Bryars.
Equatorial Guinea: Central Africa and the Making of World History November 7, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Bryan Building, Room 205
For the SPA 317 Foundations of Hispanic Cultures Speakers’ Series, Lloyd International Honors College Dean Omar Ali will explore how Africans and people of African descent have shaped the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean worlds.
UNCG Regional Mathematics and Statistics Conference November 8-9 Sullivan Science Building
Mathematics and Statistics faculty members Igor Erovenko, Monika Goel, Sat Gupta, Romesh Thanuja, Thomas Weighill, Yi Zhang, and Jianping Sun are among the participants at this year’s conference which promotes student research in mathematics, statistics, and related fields.
“New Muslim Cool” Film Screening November 14, 4 – 6 p.m. Location to be determined
Dean Omar Ali will lead a discussion after the screening of the film by Puerto Rican-American rapper Hamza Perez. The award-winning documentary takes viewers on Hamza’s ride through streets, slums and jail cells, following his spiritual journey to some surprising places in an America that never stops changing. The event is co-sponsored by the Lloyd International Honors College and the Muslim Student Association
Viola Concert November 15, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Organ Hall
Professor of Viola and Chamber Music Scott Rawls has appeared as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe. He’ll be joined on the stage by Professor of Collaborative Piano James Douglass at this performance.
All-State and District Double Reed Day November 17, 1 – 5 p.m. School of Music Building
Join Drs. Courtney Miller and Michael Burns for masterclasses special Double Reed Day at UNCG focusing on NC All-State Solos, Scales, and Sightreading. The Faculty Recital is also part of this incredible afternoon.
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
Artist’s Gift Will Transform the Weatherspoon Art Museum at UNCG
Posted on October 28, 2024
Famed artist and collector Carol Cole Levin shares her love of art with students of the present and the future, gifting the Weatherspoon Art Museum a new collection of nearly 300 works and funding the Cole Levin Center for Art and Human Understanding.
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
Furry Best Friends Bring Smiles at UNCG
Posted on October 25, 2024
Allie the Great Pyrenees was mascot for the master of informatics and analytics degree while her owner Dr. Prashanti Manda was the program director.
Pets have a special place in the hearts of Spartans. Scientists say that being around dogs can bring down stress levels, so it’s encouraging when UNC Greensboro students meet a four-legged friend on campus. Faculty and staff’s beloved dogs even got their own feature in the Fall 2019 UNCG Magazine.
“Students living on campus have often left their pets at home, and they miss them dearly,” says Dr. Angela Bolte, Assistant Dean of the Lloyd International Honors College. She is one of several faculty who has introduced her dogs to students. “While my dogs can’t replace their own pets, it does give them chance to interact with a friendly pet for a short time.”
Some students make up for that separation by posting their pet pics on the biology and psychology “Pet Walls,” but it’s always fun when they come across a dog to play with between classes.
Meet some of UNCG’s most iconic dogs who appear on campus just to add a little joy to students’ lives.
According to UNCG policy, pets are only allowed under limited circumstances. Students should talk to staff in Housing and Residence Life for more information.
Hugs on Patrol
If there’s one Spartan who brings smiles whenever he shows up in his fluffy brown coat, it’s Odin.
The four-year-old Belgian Tervuren is a trained comfort dog who joined UNCG Campus Police in 2022. If a student experiences a serious and frightening crisis, Officer Zachary Lynch will bring Odin with his distinctive muzzle, long tongue, and nonjudgmental support.
Nursing students hug Odin.Odin does a demonstration with Officer Lynch for new students.Felix is UNCG Police’s K-9 officer.
A student dealing with depression or homesickness or who feels overwhelmed by a project may also ask to spend time with Odin. He makes regular visits to the busiest parts of campus, so students can set aside schoolwork to give him a pet or ear scratch or to gesture for one of his signature hugs.
Odin is one of two dogs serving with campus police. Felix, the patrol dog, is also looking out for students, sniffing out evidence to prevent crimes and helping students look for lost items. Felix and his handler Officer Austin will also do demonstrations on request.
Odin and Felix share insights into their days on their Instagram pages here and here.
Reading Day Buddies
Even the most prepared straight-A student feels the anxiety ramp up before final exams. It’s what inspired the Jackson Library staff to start a regular tradition on Reading Day, and one retired professor has helped make it happen.
Susan Shelmerdine, professor emerita of classical studies, is a volunteer with North Carolina Pet Partners. They bring therapy animals to various functions for departments across campus, but Reading Day at the library is a favorite. “Everybody at NC Pet Partners loves going to UNCG,” she says.
All the animals are trained, and each has a human handler to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. Shelmerdine’s Golden Retrievers Kylie and the late Sophie were regular guests.
“We love our relationship with UNCG,” says Elizabeth Kuoni, president of North Carolina Pet Partners. “The students get so excited for the visits, and you can see how much they mean to them. Several times a student has come up to us and shown us one of Theo’s cards that we hand out on visits that they’ve carried in their wallet or backpack from years ago! It is very touching.”
Shelmerdine introduces students to her dog Kylie.Sophie became a frequent guest at UNCG.Kylie enjoys pats.
Shelmerdine says each dog is different, and the handlers will guide students who may be nervous about getting up close. “Some dogs lie on a blanket or quilt, but my dogs didn’t want to stay in one spot. It depends on the personality, whether it’s a dog that wants to go around and meet people, or perform tricks, or roll over on its back for belly rubs.”
Melody Rood, librarian in the research, outreach, and instruction department, notices that these visits lift students’ spirits. She says, “We’ll hear students say, ‘Oh my gosh! This is the best day!’ Or, ‘I didn’t know this was happening. I’m so glad I came through the library today.’”
Pet Partners limits the pet outings to two hours, so they don’t tire out, but Shelmerdine says that as therapy animals, they’re naturally inclined to enjoy human company. As to why students love to see the pets on Reading Day, she says, “Animals don’t judge. Particularly at a time when you have a scary test or a paper worth half your grade, and somebody is definitely judging you. The dogs don’t. They just love to see you.”
Teachers’ Pets
Animal sightings are not limited to special events. Some professors bring their dogs to campus to motivate their pupils.
Bolte first introduced her Shelties to UNCG when she brought them to serve as examples for her ethics classes. Students asked her to bring them back, so she made it a practice to have them visit before finals.
“I think students feel like they already know my dogs, if I’ve used them as an example in class or if they’ve seen them on social media,” says Bolte. “We’ve featured Honors College pets on Instagram before, and I’ve been told there’s a lot of excitement when my dogs appear.”
Safety First
Bolte’s Sheltie Berkeley is a treat…in exchange for treats.
Not all dogs are the same. Always check with the dog’s owner before touching them. Bolte says her own dogs can get overstimulated, so she’s developed methods to keep them comfortable.
“I usually bring cookies for the dogs, so the students can give them a treat, and the dogs enjoy it, too,” says Bolte.
It is important to distinguish between pets and service dogs, who are working animals and should not be distracted while they provide critical, perhaps life-saving support. Be aware of policies and guidance for interacting with service animals.
Before you consider bringing your own dog on campus, check with staff to ensure safety and understand your rights. Students with service dogs are not required but highly encouraged to check in with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS), so that staff can help make sure the animals are respected on campus. Emotional support animals must be reported to OARS.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications Additional photography courtesy of Dr. Angela Bolte, Lloyd International Honors College; and Susan Shelmerdine, Pet Partners
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
National Transfer Student Week Hits Different at UNCG
Posted on October 22, 2024
UNCG prides itself on meeting our students where they are and supporting them throughout their academic journey. This week, we celebrate the huge portion of our students who find their way here from another school.
A whopping 38% of UNCG’s total current student body are transfer students and this number is growing. Of all the new students who arrived on campus this fall, 42% transferred in from another college.
42% of 2024 First-Year Students are Transfers
60% come from community colleges – Guilford Tech and Forsyth Tech are our biggest transfer feeder schools
17% come from another UNC system institution
15% come from an out-of-state institution
Warm Spartan Welcome for Transfers
Our transfers’ average age is 26, and they arrive with varied experience and credit hours, which require special advising options. Helping these unique students find their fit at UNCG requires custom resources. Transfers have their own SOAR sessions, advising, and campus organizations.
Transfer2Transfer is a UNCG program connecting new transfers with those who are in their second year here for advice and support. “Connect,” one of four living learning communities, offers special interest housing just for transfers, allowing them to live in a community that fits better for those new to UNCG, but not new to college. Organizations like Tau Sigma allow transfer students to bond with their peers on campus.
UNCG’s supportive resources and organizations ensure that our transfer students find a home here that breeds success. So how are we doing? Let’s go straight to the sources:
“I chose UNCG for its business programs and the diverse and welcoming environment here. I’m grateful for the staff of Career and Professional Development. They have offered tremendous help with crafting my resume, preparing for the career fair, and navigating Handshake and LinkedIn efficiently.”
Amy Nguyen Transfer from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Major: International Business
“I transferred to UNCG for its diverse campus full of opportunities for humanities majors. I have found it easy and fun to get connected with other students here. My Transfer2Transfer student mentor has become one of my best friends! I’ve already found a campus job content creating and joined the Pace Running club. “
Whitney Darsey Transfer from Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia Major: English
“I transferred to UNCG because the majors I wanted were taught here at a lower cost than other area universities. From my first tour, I was struck by the opportunities UNCG offered. Student Government and the Bronze Leadership Challenge help me hone my leadership skills, and the fencing club has given me the opportunity to get into a sport that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Fox Brown Transfer from Forsyth Technical Community College Double Major: Political Science and Business
“I decided to transfer because the career field I’m pursuing requires a higher level of education, and UNCG offers a fantastic program that aligns with my goals. The campus may seem overwhelming at first, but once you establish your own circle, it becomes much less intimidating.”
“I transferred to UNCG as it was the next step in pursuing my dreams and it was one of the few schools in North Carolina that offered a major in dance. My experience as a transfer taught me not to stress about my age difference. There are plenty of other students here of various ages.”
Katarina McConnell Transfer from Blue Ridge Community College Major: Psychology with minors in Social Work and Dance
“My previous school wasn’t the right fit for me. I loved the size, location, and diversity at UNCG and now that I’ve found my people here, I’m so glad I transferred. I decided to join the SGA because I wanted to be a voice for transfer students.”
Lecourtney Blackmon Transfer from North Carolina Central University Major: Communications
Celebrating Our Transfers
Transfer Initiatives is a team dedicated to supporting UNCG’s transfer population, so they succeed here both academically and socially. This team has been busy planning special events to recognize transfers during their honorary week, October 21-25.
This week is especially important to UNCG since so many of our graduating students come to us as transfers. We tip our hats to the faculty and staff members who make UNCG a welcoming place for transfers and we applaud those students for “finding their way here.”
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications. Photos by Sean Norona, except for those submitted by transfer students.
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
UNCG Students Get the Word (and Pictures) Out About Playground Project
Posted on October 23, 2024
A picture can be worth a thousand words, especially for children who have intellectual or physical impediments to forming words on their own. Thanks to the efforts of UNC Greensboro students, many children will find a helpful tool when having fun with friends on the playground.
As Sidney Cassidy, Brooke Parks, and Mary Grace Smith near the end of UNCG’s speech-language pathology graduate program, they chose a capstone project that removes obstacles for children with complex communication needs at parks in Asheboro, North Carolina.
With the guidance of Dr. Emily Hamuka, associate professor and clinical educator in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), they designed special boards that are now permanently set in playgrounds at five of the city parks.
Playtime Accessibility
“What started this project was our shared interest in AAC,” says Parks, referring to augmentative and alternative communication, a tool used by people when words are not at their disposal. October is AAC Awareness Month.
Parks works for Asheboro’s Cultural and Recreations Services, and she pitched the idea of putting AAC boards in the playgrounds at the beginning of the year. She says, “I didn’t have to think about how I would be able to communicate when I went to the park as a kid. But there are people with disabilities who have to think about that. These boards should help them.”
AAC can be high-tech, such as electronic tablets, or light-tech such as pencil and paper. It is a valuable aid to people who have intellectual disabilities or physical conditions – including autism, aphasia, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, ALS, and traumatic brain injuries – which can inhibit the ability to speak or express oneself.
“We often think about physical accessibility,” says Hamuka. “For example, playgrounds having ramps or mulch that won’t get stuck in a wheelchair wheel. But a lot of people don’t think about those public spaces having accessible communication.”
Cassidy and Parks are both from Asheboro, and Smith is from Marion, so they recognized the value of expanding access to speech-language pathology tools outside of large urban centers. Cassidy says, “We were interested in reaching beyond Guilford County into a more rural area, an area that may not have the resources that others have.”
“I hope we broke some of the stigma about AAC,” says Smith. “I hope we showed people that it is an acceptable form of communication.”
Pictures for All Ages
Each board is lined with pictures that link to one or two words. They indicate directions like “up” and “down,” actions such as “slide,” requests such as “look,” and other needs such as “hurt” or “help.”
“The majority of these are ‘core words’ which can be used across many situations and contexts,” says Hamuka. “They also have some specific words and symbols related to a playground, which we call ‘fringe vocabulary.’”
The boards in Asheboro are primarily directed at children, but Parks, Cassidy, and Smith designed them to be intuitive for all ages. They studied other AAC boards, talked to speech-language pathologists, and did a survey in Asheboro to decide what words would be most useful to the public.
Smith says, “We also put the boards at a certain height, so that children or individuals in wheelchairs can reach them.”
CSD students at UNCG can study AAC in a semester-long, one-credit course. “When I was in graduate school, I had perhaps one class period where we talked about AAC,” says Hamuka. “Now, our students at UNCG can be supervised by amazing community-based speech-language pathologists who focus on children with complex communication needs. They get amazing hands-on experience.”
Bringing the Public on Board
A key part of their project is education, so they led a staff training day over the summer. “Asheboro Cultural and Recreation Services really helped in this project,” says Parks. “They fully funded the boards. They put them up. We could not have done it without them.”
They also held Community Days to educate the public about the boards and AAC in general. “There were several other speech-language pathologists there, and parents with children that used AAC,” says Cassidy. “And they were saying it would be great to have this in their schools and other places.”
Hamuka was impressed by the work that Cassidy, Parks, and Smith put into this project that will leave a resounding impact for years to come.
“The awesome thing about these capstone projects is how they let graduate students nearing the end of their academic career really take ownership and decide what area or specialty they want to focus on,” she says. “They learn research skills but also how to engage with the community. They’ll get to continue that as they go out into the world as speech-language pathologists.”
“We wanted to give more people a voice,” says Cassidy. “Everyone deserves a voice.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications Photography by David Lee Row, University Communications
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
UNCG Faculty Use AI Responsibly
Posted on October 23, 2024
The implications of artificial intelligence entering public use are still being debated and worked out. UNCG faculty are lending their knowledge to build best practices that boost creativity and education rather than stifling them.
Some of UNCG’s most familiar faces walk on four legs. Dogs on comfort duty, library visitors, and professors’ beloved pets are a...
UNCG and Grasshoppers Supporting UNC Asheville Students
Posted on October 21, 2024
In support of a sister institution with the UNC System, UNC Greensboro will temporarily host student-athletes from UNC Asheville baseball team while their university repairs the extensive damage left by Hurricane Helene in September.
These students, with their coaches and additional training staff, began to arrive at UNCG on October 14 and are expected to stay until the end of the month. The UNCA baseball team will be utilizing both UNCG facilities and our First National Bank Field to practice during this time.