Graduate School News

2012

Levoy to graduates: 'Being afraid is useful,' Clemens receives mentoring award

May 15, 2012

Dr. Marc Levoy, professor of computer science at Stanford University, gave the keynote address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 12. Dr. J. Christopher Clemens, professor of physics and astronomy, received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring at the ceremony.

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony May 12; Event to be Streamed Live

May 7, 2012

During the Saturday ceremony, each participating graduate will be called to the stage to have the hood of the commencement regalia conferred by his or her adviser or dissertation committee chair. Family and friends are invited to the ceremony, to be at 10 a.m. at the Dean E. Smith Center, 300 Bowles Drive.

New American Indian Center Director Discusses Graduate Education in Indian Country Today

May 3, 2012

Amy Locklear Hertel, who directs UNC-Chapel Hill's American Indian Center, talked about graduate education at UNC-Chapel Hill, among other topics, in a recent story within Indian Country Today.

Doctoral Candidate in Religion Named a 2012 Newcombe Fellow

May 1, 2012

Gregory “G.A.” Lipton, a doctoral candidate in religion at UNC-Chapel Hill, has been selected as one of 21 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for 2012.

UNC Researchers Merge Art, Science in New Exhibit

April 9, 2012

Life as Art: a Visual Science Fair” is a new exhibit of artistic works created exclusively by UNC-Chapel Hill scientists. Beginning on April 15, 41 faculty and graduate students in the life sciences will showcase their research as works of art at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

Jason Priem, SILS Ph.D. student and Royster Fellow, and co-PI Heather Piwowar, receive $125K grant to track the impact of scholarly work on the Web

April 5, 2012

Jason Priem, a third-year doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Information and Library Science (SILS), and Heather Piwowar, a postdoctoral research associate at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) in Durham, have been awarded a grant totaling $125,000 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their Total-Impact Web application.

Summer Fellowships Program, Now in Third Year, Provides Research Opportunities to 21 Students

April 2, 2012

Thanks to many private donors this year, 21 graduate students will have the opportunity to focus exclusively on their dissertation research this summer.

Prospective Students Welcomed to Carolina Community at American Indian Graduate Student Recruitment Event

March 29, 2012

The UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School and First Nations Graduate Circle, a graduate student organization, recently sponsored an American Indian Graduate Student Recruitment Event, focused on introducing Native students to the University's graduate programs and community.

Graduate Students Honored for Research Benefiting North Carolina

March 22, 2012

Each year, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School recognizes graduate student research that is improving the lives of people in North Carolina and beyond.

Doctoral Student's Prestigious Fellowships will Further her Studies in Greece

March 22, 2012

Rebecca Worsham, a doctoral student in classical archaeology, has received two prestigious fellowships that will allow her to further her research in Greece.

UNC Alumni to Give Second Annual Sequoyah Lecture March 22

March 5, 2012

Two UNC-Chapel Hill doctoral graduates, representing the fields of history and cell and molecular physiology, will be the featured speakers at the second annual Sequoyah Distinguished Lecture on March 22.

Computer Science Researcher to Speak at Doctoral Hooding

January 10, 2012

Marc Levoy — whose career achievements include developing the cartoon animation system used in “The Flintstones” TV show and launching Google's Street View project — will be the keynote speaker for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's 2012 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

2011

Sowa Receives National Dissertation Award for Pain Management Research

December 19, 2011

Nathaniel Adam Sowa, a 2011 UNC-Chapel Hill doctoral graduate in neurobiology, has received one of the nation's most prestigious awards focused on doctoral dissertations for his research addressing pain management. Sowa received the 2011 Council of Graduate Schools/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award for his dissertation, titled “Characterization of Ectonucleotidases in Nociceptive Circuits.” The award, presented annually since 1982, recognizes two recent doctoral recipients who have already made unusually significant and original contributions to their fields. This is the first time a UNC-Chapel Hill student has received the honor.

Nominations Sought: Royster Distinguished Professorship

December 5, 2011

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Distinguished Professorship for Graduate Education. This term professorship recognizes the contributions of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Royster to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and to The Graduate School as the founders and benefactors of the Royster Society of Fellows.

Graduate School Celebrates First 15 Years of Royster Society of Fellows

November 15, 2011

More than 400 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students have pursued their graduate studies as Royster Society Fellows, and The Graduate School officially recognized the Society's 15th anniversary with a special program in mid-November.

Graduate Student Orientation

August 18, 2011

More than 800 new graduate students attended Graduate Student Orientation on Aug. 18, and Graduate School staff members were on hand to answer their questions – from registration in the morning to a reception late that afternoon.

Master's Candidate Pursues 'Welding' of GIS, Public Information

July 29, 2011

Master's candidate Brooks Jonathan Breece ("Jon") has always been fascinated with maps and geospatial models. Growing up outside Washington, D.C., he also had a great desire to go into government service. In 2009, two of his life-long interests collided when he was selected for an Educating Stewards of Public Information in the 21st Century Project (ESOPI-21) fellowship.

Emily Elliott, Ph.D. student and Impact Awardee, selected as UNC Spotlight story

July 4, 2011

Marine Science Ph.D. student and winner of a 2011 Graduate School Impact Award Emily Elliott is a featured Spotlight on the UNC homepage.

Ph.D. student and Impact Awardee George Chao featured in "Meet-a-Tar-Heel"

June 20, 2011

Ph.D. student and Impact Awardee George Chao featured in "Meet-a-Tar-Heel" on the UNC homepage.

Lauren Patterson selected as 2011 Udall Dissertation Fellow

May 23, 2011

Lauren Patterson, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Geography, was selected as one of only two 2011 Udall Dissertation Fellows.

Loss of James C. Ingram, former Graduate School Dean

May 22, 2011

James C. Ingram, professor of economics emeritus at UNC and former Dean of the Graduate School, died May 8, 2011 at the age of 89.

Graduate Education Week and Graduate Education Day

May 20, 2011

The North Carolina Conference of Graduate Schools has received a proclamation from Governor Perdue designating the week of May 22-28, 2011, as North Carolina Graduate Education Week and May 25, 2011 as Graduate Education Day.

Alumnae's study indicates higher incidence of sexual violence in Congo than previously thought

May 15, 2011

A new study significantly raises the rape and sexual violence estimates in the Congo based on research conducted by three UNC Department of Public Policy PhD alumnae; Amber Peterman (2009), of the International Food Policy Research Institute, Tia Palermo (2009) of Stony Brook University and Caryn Bredenkamp (2006) of the World Bank.

Cusick to Graduates: “Learning itself is a public good”

May 7, 2011

Dr. Suzanne Cusick, professor of music at New York University, gave the keynote address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 7.

Dr. Alan Nelson wins award for excellence in doctoral mentoring

May 7, 2011

Dr. Alan Nelson, professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences, received The Graduate School's 2011 Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 7.

Three UNC Ph.D. Candidates Receive Prestigious National Fellowship

April 6, 2011

Three UNC doctoral candidates — Kathleen Curtin (english and comparative literature), Carrie Duncan (religious studies), and Kathleen Foody (religious studies) — have been named Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for the 2011-12 academic year.

Graduate students honored at annual recognition celebration

April 6, 2011

The 13th Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration was held April 6, 2011, at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center. This event, which began in 1999, recognizes students who receive prestigious fellowships and awards.

Sequoyah Alumni to Present Compelling Perspectives on Varied Topics: American Indian Historical and Cultural Issues, and Molecular Genetics as Applied to Tumor Treatment

March 31, 2011

Three UNC-Chapel Hill doctoral graduates — in the fields of English, molecular and cellular pathology and history — will be the featured speakers at the University's Sequoyah Distinguished Lecture on April 14.

Royster Fellow Is Lead Author on Study Focusing on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Navigation

March 3, 2011

Nathan Putman, a doctoral candidate in biology and Lovick P. Corn Dissertation Fellow within the Graduate School’s Royster Society of Fellows, has been featured in numerous recent interviews regarding his team’s findings that indicate loggerhead sea turtles perceive longitude using an internal magnetic positioning system.

Applications available for 2011 Future Faculty Fellowship Program

January 27, 2011

The Future Faculty Fellowship Program (FFFP) is a 5-day, intensive, interdisciplinary program for senior-level graduate students, conducted by the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE).

2010

Kenan-Biddle Partnership brings Duke, UNC students together on academic projects

October 26, 2010

A new $150,000 initiative that promotes projects developed by students from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill launched today. The Kenan-Biddle Partnership is funded by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.

The Versatile PhD: New Career Resource available for Graduate Students in Humanities and Social Sciences

October 18, 2010

A new resource has been purchased especially for UNC graduate students that demystifies nonacademic careers for humanists and social scientists, showing many plausible career paths and providing robust support should one decide to prepare for a possible nonacademic career

National Research Council doctoral rankings highlight multiple UNC-Chapel Hill strengths

September 28, 2010

Multiple University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill doctoral programs spanning the sciences, arts and humanities, medicine, social sciences and public health are highly rated in a new assessment conducted by the National Research Council.

Professor Emerita and Distinguished Alumna, Shirley Weiss, will be remembered for her many contributions

August 31, 2010

Shirley Friedlander Weiss, a member of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty for more than 35 years and generous supporter of numerous campus programs as well as national arts, music and science organizations, died Tuesday, August 31, 2010. She was 89.

Royster Fellow and Impact Award Winner Devin Barrett invents new polyesters that could help develop artificial organs

August 25, 2010

Someday, having a polyester pancreas, or heart, or kidney isn't out of the question, given the work of such scientists as Devin Barrett…

Dean Matson disscusses Graduate Education in University Gazette

August 11, 2010

Steve Matson, dean of the Graduate School, spoke with the University Gazette about the current state of graduate education at Carolina and where it is headed.

Two UNC Graduate students awarded Department of Energy Graduate Fellowships

August 5, 2010

Joseph Falkowski, Chemistry and Graham Giovanetti, Physics were selected to receive graduate fellowship awards as part of a new Department of Energy Graduate Fellowship program.

Dr. Gary Marchionini wins award for excellence in doctoral mentoring

May 8, 2010

The winner of the 2010 Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring is Dr. Gary Marchionini, School of Information and Library Science.

Two UNC Ph.D. Candidates Receive Prestigious National Fellowship

April 30, 2010

Two UNC doctoral candidates — Emily Baran (history) and Adam Cureton (philosophy) — have been named Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for the 2010-11 academic year.

Graduate students honored for helping North Carolina

April 7, 2010

From seeking to end chronic pain to working toward creation of artificial human organs, research by graduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill aims to make a positive difference.

Surprise Gift to Help Meet Summer Funding Needs of Graduate Students

March 12, 2010

Graduate Dean Steve Matson was recently surprised by an unexpected gift. A UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, Thomas F. Ferdinand, had left a significant gift to the Graduate School in his will. Dean Matson seized upon the unanticipated opportunity to address what he knows is a high priority need for doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences—funding for summer research.

University Research Day: Call for Papers and Abstracts

February 15, 2010

All students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in the Sixth Annual University Research Day symposium and luncheon on Monday, March 15, 2010.

2009

Graduate School Introduces First Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Distinguished Professor for Graduate Education

October 8, 2009

The Graduate School is pleased to introduce the first Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Distinguished Professor for Graduate Education, Julia Wood. Professor Wood outlined her future vision for the Royster Society of Fellows at a reception on October 8, 2009.

The Royster Society of Fellows Welcomes 27 New Graduate Students

August 28, 2009

Twenty-seven new graduate students from around the world are beginning their first semester at UNC Chapel Hill with five-year fellowships in the Royster Society of Fellows.

Former Royster Fellow publishes new research on ocean warming

August 25, 2009

Warmer ocean temperatures could mean dramatic shifts in the structure of underwater food webs and the abundance of marine life, according to a new study lead by Mary O'Connor, Ph.D., a former Graduate School Royster Fellow.

Loss of Alexander Heard, former Graduate School Dean

July 27, 2009

Alexander Heard, the chancellor of Vanderbilt University in the 1960s and '70s and an education advisor under three U.S. presidents, died Friday. He was 92.

Trustee John Ellison Jr. Wins Dean's Award

April 20, 2009

Trustee John Ellison Jr. has won the 2009 Dean's Award for Significant Contribution to Graduate Education.

Endowing innovation: Dr. Thomas S. Royster (1918-2008)

February 26, 2009

Thomas S. Royster, M.D., '40 died on Aug. 4, 2008. But the legacy that he and his wife, Caroline H. Royster, established at UNC lives on through the vibrant, interdisciplinary graduate fellowship program they helped establish…

Announcing the Chancellor's Fellowships

February 12, 2009

The Graduate School is pleased to announce The Chancellor's Fellowships. The Chancellor's Fellowships support exceptionally talented new doctoral students recruited to outstanding departments.

Announcing the Royster Distinguished Professorship

February 2, 2009

The Graduate School is pleased to announce The Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Distinguished Professorship for Graduate Education.

2008

Loss of a Dear Friend: Myron S. Silverman

October 17, 2008

Myron S. Silverman (Retired Assist. Dean, Graduate School), 93, died Friday morning (October 17, 2008) at DuBose Health Center, Chapel Hill.

Distinguished alumna award to be presented to Dr. Debra Wehrle Stewart on University Day

September 25, 2008

Dr. Debra Wehrle Stewart will receive a Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award as part of the University Day Ceremony on October 12, 2008.

Dr. Christina Burch and Dr. Thomas Whitmore win awards for excellence in doctoral mentoring

May 10, 2008

The winners of the 2008 Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring are Dr. Thomas Whitmore, Department of Geography and Dr. Christina Burch, Department of Biology.

Steven Matson, biology professor and chair, appointed Graduate School dean

April 28, 2008

Steven W. Matson, professor and chair of the department of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will become dean of the Graduate School effective July 1, 2008.

U.S. News & World Report Magazine's “America's Best Graduate Schools”

March 28, 2008

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill appears on multiple lists of schools, programs and specialty areas newly ranked in 2008 by U.S. News and World Report magazine for its 2009 edition of “America's Best Graduate Schools.”

Celebration to Recognize UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Students for Outstanding Research and Service

March 18, 2008

The Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill will recognize approximately 300 graduate students for outstanding research, community service, academic achievement, and leadership at the 10th Annual Graduate Student Recognition Ceremony on April 3, 2008 at the Carolina Club of the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.

Admissions Office Manager Diane Davis Receives Robert R. Cornwell Unsung Hero Award

February 11, 2008

Diane Davis joined the university in 1978 and has spent the majority of those years in the Graduate School Admissions Office. She is now being honored for those years of excellent service with a Robert R. Cornwell Unsung Hero Award.

2007

$19 Million in Private Gifts Exceeds Graduate School Goal

November 6, 2007

The Graduate School is delighted to announce that we have met and surpassed our $18 million goal in the University's Carolina First Campaign, raising over $19 million for graduate education at Carolina…

Loss of a Dear Friend: Henry H. Dearman

October 23, 2007

Henry H. Dearman, 73, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC.