Our Movement Starts Here Film Screening and Panel Discussion

February 25, 5-7:45 pm

Joan Heckler Gillings Auditorium, 133 Rosenau Hall

The MPA Diversity Student Alliance is partnering with UNC Law School and Gillings School of Global Public Health to support a screening and discussion of "Our Movement Starts Here." Come learn about the historic fight against the construction of a toxic PCB landfill in Warren County. Refreshments will be served beforehand and a panel discussion will follow the film.

Carolina Across 100 POV Challenge

Carolina Across 100 is asking Carolina undergraduate and graduate students to use their talents and skills to share their point of view (POV) on how we can improve access to affordable housing in North Carolina. Using publicly available data and other information, students can get creative to share what they learn and offer their insights through: 

Art 

Music 

Photography 

Poetry 

Data Visualization 

Infographics 

Interpretive dance 

And more...  

All submissions are welcome as long as they aim to answer one of the three challenge prompts offered on the POV Challenge web page. 

Student submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges and two $500 awards will be offered, as well as honorary mentions. All submissions will be on display at the Engagement Week reception at the UNC School of Government on Thursday 2/27. After the competition, submissions will be used in a variety of ways as the Carolina Across 100 initiative continues to engage with communities across the state on issues through programs like Our State, Our Homes. 

Important Dates:  

Register your team of 2-5 students by Friday 2/14 at 5pm. 

Attend a Q&A session on Monday 2/17 from 12-1pm. 

Submit your work by Sunday 2/23 at midnight. 

Attend the Engagement Week reception on Thursday 2/27 from 5-6pm. 

Our team is here to help students better understand this challenge and answer any questions they have as they navigate participation. Find POV Challenge details, ideas to guide your data selection, lists of campus and digital tools to help you create, and more on the 2025 POV Challenge web page. You can find 2024 POV Challenge submissions online too. We hope to encourage even more variety of creative projects in 2025! 

After reviewing the challenge information (including detailed FAQ answers) direct any specific questions to Jacob Hunter at jhunter@sog.unc.edu.  

Find a complete list of CX100 Engagement Week events. 

Chapel Hill Transit Fireside Chat

You’re invited to a Fireside Chat that will be held in celebration of Black History Month and Chapel Hill Transit's 50th anniversary.

Join us on Monday, February 10th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Public Library in Meeting Room B to hear from local leaders about our community's transit history and its relation to civil rights.

We hope you will join us in this reflective conversation with Howard Lee, Mayor of Chapel Hill (1969-1975); Braxton Foushee, Carrboro Board of Alderman (1969-1981); Gerry Cohen, Chapel Hill Board of Alderman (1974) and Brian Litchfield, current Chapel Hill Transit Director.

Recommended by MPA student and Chapel Hill Transit Intern, Emma Gilliam!

Spring Wellness Festival

The Graduate School and Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) are pleased to invite all graduate and professional students to our Spring Wellness Festival – a well-being event exclusively designed for graduate and professional students. Join us at the Carolina Student Union on Tuesday, February 11 from 11:00AM-1:00PM for a day of relaxation, rejuvenation and community. Students are encouraged to RSVP for this event. 

The event will feature 7+ unique wellbeing experiences including:

· Free lunch from Jersey Mike’s and cookies from Insomnia Cookies

· Resource fair with campus and community organizations who aim to support students

· Therapy dogs to help you destress

· Creative activities so you can relax and let your imagination flow

· Free chair massages by licensed massage therapists (registration required)

Nominations being Accepted for 2025 Boka W. Hadzija Award

The Graduate School is happy to announce that we are currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished University Service by a Graduate or Professional Student. This annual award recognizes a currently enrolled graduate or professional student who exemplifies exceptional:

• Character
• Scholarship
• Leadership
• Service to the University and broader community

Any faculty, staff, or student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may submit nominations. Students may not self-nominate.

Nominations are due by 5:00PM on Friday, February 14, 2025.

Specific information about this award, the nomination process, and the link to the nomination form can be found on our website: https://gradschool.unc.edu/academics/awards/hadzija.html.

Leveraging Mixed-Income Development for More Affordable Housing with Dionne Nelson

Tuesday, February 18 | 6 p.m.

Kenan Center 204

Mixed-income development builds housing affordable to households at different income levels, including a mix of market-rate and dedicated affordable units. This approach can create affordable housing in light of limited public funding, increasing construction costs, and high land prices. Attend the spring Housing Affordability Speaker event to learn how mixed-income development can promote economic integration, create well-maintained and amenity-rich housing options, and overcome community resistance to development.

Our Speaker

Dionne Nelson is the founder, President, and CEO of Laurel Street Residential, a mixed-income affordable housing development firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since she founded Laurel Street in 2011, the firm has grown to a portfolio of over 3,600 units, with an active development pipeline and an expanding geographic presence across North Carolina and along the East Coast. Dionne has more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, finance, and operations.

Prior to founding Laurel Street, Dionne served as Senior Vice President at Crosland and led the company’s affordable housing development and multifamily operations. Previously, she managed investments at New Schools Venture Fund and Earnest Partners and built her skills in strategy, organization, and operations as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Dionne began her career in financial services as an Investment Banking Analyst at Salomon Brothers.

Dionne serves on the Board of Directors for Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and as a Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond – Charlotte Branch. Dionne was also named 2023 Charlotte Woman of the Year for exceptional service and exemplary leadership.

Dionne has her MBA from Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College.

Sign up today!

Dinner & Discourse: A Conversation With Graduate Students

Thursday, February 20 4:00PM - 5:30PM



The Program for Public Discourse, Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), and The Graduate School invite you to participate in a thought-provoking discussion with fellow graduate students at Dinner and Discourse. This facilitated conversation will explore ways to navigate complex topics and provide tools for addressing the impact of global issues. Discussion topics will include immigration, free speech, climate concerns, politics in the academy and more. Register for the event today.

Friendship Pathways Research Study

Hello! Do you wonder how the body affects social interactions when meeting someone new and forming a first impression? Are you 18-30 years old? You may be able to take part in a research study that uncovers the communication pathway between the brain and the body when forming friendships! If you are interested and eligible, you’d have three sessions: 

Session I (Howell Hall)

-Review study details, sign consent forms

-Vitals

-Complete Part I of the task

Session II (UNC Medical Campus)

-Possible MRI Scan (randomly assigned)

-Complete Part II of the task

-Single dose of FDA-approved medication or placebo pill (randomly assigned)

-Questionnaires

-Bloodwork

Session III (Howell Hall)

-Vitals

-Bloodwork

-Questionnaires

-Debriefing

-Dismissal



You can earn up to $150 for your participation in the Friendship Pathways study. Click this link to see if you are eligible and visit https://carolinasnhlab.com/friendship-pathways if you want to learn more. We hope to hear from you!

IRB number: 23-2768

Approval Body: UNC Non-Biomedical IRB

Approval Date: 04/23/2024

Principal Investigator: Dr. Keely Muscatell | You may contact the Institutional Review Board at (919) 966-3113 or IRB_subjects@unc.edu

Apply to the Order of the Golden Fleece

Dear Carolina Community,

Nominations for the 2025 Order of the Golden Fleece are now open!

Founded on April 11, 1904, the Order of the Golden Fleece is UNC-Chapel Hill’s oldest and highest honorary society. Each year, the Active Order selects new members who have made significant and lasting contributions to the University through scholarship, leadership, and service.

Who is eligible?

Juniors, seniors, graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to UNC-Chapel Hill.

Membership is open to all individuals, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ability, religion, or any other identity.

Submit a nomination here: https://go.unc.edu/OGF2025Nominations

Deadline: Monday, February 24th, 2025 at 5 p.m.

For any questions, please reach out to ogf1904@gmail.com.

Best,

Morgan Jordan

Jason, Order of the Golden Fleece