The camp, AI Play, is led by the university鈥檚 computer science department, teaches middle school students about artificial intelligence through hands-on learning and digital game design.

Alexis Goslen, assistant professor of computer science and director of the camp, said it is important to introduce kids to the basics of AI because they are exposed to it in their everyday lives.

“The cool thing is to get them to understand how those technologies are working,鈥� Goslen told WXII. “Then they could maybe decide what they want to do with it and make informed decisions about it.”

Peter Felten, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning,听was featured in a recent Inside Higher Ed article about student belonging on campus.

The article, , examines new survey data showing that while many students feel known and valued, a significant minority report feeling invisible or disconnected.

Felten has听written extensively about the importance of relationships and mattering to student success and emphasizes听the importance of ensuring that every student feels seen and valued during their college experience.

鈥�Every student can and should feel like they matter in college,鈥� Felten told Inside Higher Ed, noting the difference between 鈥渂elonging鈥� and 鈥渕attering. Unlike belonging, which can depend on feeling that one fits into a particular environment, he said, mattering is rooted in feeling valued and known and having something to contribute within a given context鈥攕omething that鈥檚 theoretically attainable for all students, regardless of age or any other factor that could challenge one鈥檚 sense of fitting in.

He noted that meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and peers are central to helping students develop a sense of purpose, connection and belonging.

The article highlights survey findings indicating that while most students can identify someone on campus who knows them in a meaningful way, nearly one-quarter are unsure whether anyone truly knows them or say they feel invisible.

Of the 9% of students who reported feeling wholly unseen, Felten said that鈥檚 鈥渁 failure on our part鈥攖hose of us who teach and work in higher education need to create conditions where all students feel they matter. That鈥檚 crucial for student well-being, learning and persistence.鈥�

乱伦视频 Assistant Professor of Finance Andrew Schwartz was featured in a recent WalletHub expert panel discussing the benefits of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees and what travelers should consider when choosing a card for international use. The article, 鈥�,鈥� brought together financial experts to provide guidance on managing spending while traveling abroad.

In the feature, Schwartz emphasized that foreign transaction fees can quickly add up for travelers, making it important to understand the full cost structure of a credit card before using it internationally. He encouraged consumers to look beyond promotional perks and focus on how a card aligns with their spending habits and financial goals.

“One common pitfall is assuming that “no-foreign-transaction-fee” means there are no additional costs when making purchases abroad,鈥� Schwartz said. 鈥淎s with any credit card, carrying a balance, missing payments, or incurring cash-advance fees can be very expensive.”

Schwartz also discussed the broader role credit cards can play in personal financial management, noting that the best card is often the one that complements an individual鈥檚 financial situation rather than simply offering the most rewards or benefits.

Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development, has been selected as one of the

The awards celebrate companies and individuals who have worked to establish and advance diversity and inclusion efforts in their workplaces and communities. The winners will be honored at an event on June 18 at N.C. A&T State University.

鈥淢y work is grounded in the belief that inclusive excellence is not just an ideal, but a practice. It requires ongoing learning, unlearning and accountability,鈥� Fullwood told the Triad Business Journal. 鈥淚鈥檓 inspired by possibility. The idea that unfair systems can evolve, that people can grow, and that we can create environments where more people feel a true sense of belonging. That is what keeps me committed to this work every day.鈥�

At 乱伦视频, Fullwood leads initiatives on inclusive excellence and is a certified coach. She is a contributor to the Carolinas chapter of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. She was the closing speaker at NASPA Region III 2024 Summer Symposium, a featured guest on the web series 鈥淕ood Trouble: Inclusive Pedagogy鈥� and a guest on the podcast 鈥淟imed: Teaching with a Twist.鈥� She also co-authored the article 鈥淎mplifying Student Viewpoints on Inclusive Student Experiences for Inclusive Excellence in Kinesiology.鈥�

In her nomination, it was noted that Fullwood听is consistently recognized by faculty and staff for her “highly effective and learning-centered approaches to expanding perspectives related to diversity and inclusion and developing skills for equitable practices.”

鈥淐arla demonstrates her commitment to building capacity for empathetic human connections,鈥� said Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence. 鈥淪he deliberately creates learning conditions that help people see the world through others鈥� eyes and act thoughtfully with kindness, regardless of identities. The Triad Business Journal wisely recognized Carla for her leadership at 乱伦视频 and in the region.鈥�

More information on the June 18 celebration is available .

Cayden Tirak 鈥�28 and Myka Thomas 鈥�27 are the second and third 乱伦视频 students to receive the award, following Jules Levanti 鈥�25 in 2024. Tirak is also the youngest 乱伦视频 student to receive the award.

鈥淚t is really exciting to have won this grant, and the funding will be able to help me take this research project further,鈥� said Tirak, who is an astrophysics major and Honors Fellow studying 鈥済reen pea galaxies鈥� and the black holes at their center. 鈥淏eing able to say I won a research grant for my undergraduate project is a huge privilege and will help me in the future pursue my dreams of doing research as a career.鈥�

Tirak, who is from Lincolnton, North Carolina,听is mentored by Chris Richardson, associate professor of astrophysics. Richardson says this achievement reflects her ambition.

鈥淚 am beyond thrilled for Cayden to earn this very competitive award, as it not only rewards the hard work she put into crafting the proposal, but will also enable her to create new opportunities to grow as a researcher,鈥� Richardson said.

Thomas, an astrophysics major and minor from Annapolis, Maryland, is using the James Webb Telescope鈥檚 OutThere survey to identify and group galaxies to build a catalog of these galaxy groups and study how they evolve.

鈥淚t feels incredible. Receiving this award opens up so many doors,听from attending conferences to connecting with others in the field, and it’s validating to see how much work I’ve been putting in paying off,鈥� Thomas said.

Zack Hutchens, assistant professor of astrophysics and physics, says earning this award is a 鈥渟erious scientific achievement鈥� for Thomas.

鈥淲riting a proposal of this nature requires the student to carefully identify an open research question, design a feasible yet ambitious timeline and persuasively present the scientific case for answering it,鈥� said Hutchens. 鈥淭he award also speaks to the novelty of the work Myka is leading with JWST-OutThere. OutThere is one of the largest survey programs on the Webb telescope, and I am quite proud to bring it to 乱伦视频 for students like Myka to engage in.鈥�

The 12 Undergraduate Research Scholarship awardees receive $8,000 to spend on research. N.C. Space Grant is a state-wide network of North Carolina higher-education institutions, industries, government entities, educational programs and nonprofit partners with NASA-related interests. The organization works to promote, develop and support space-related STEM research, education and public outreach.

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to assist these undergraduate students as they begin their research,鈥� said Sandy Canfield, assistant director of NC Space Grant. 鈥淚ncreasingly, we are seeing students integrate AI and machine learning into their听work, which echoes emerging NASA and industry priorities.鈥�

The report, , published on June 9, spotlights 乱伦视频 for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

A child鈥檚 ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life, yet according to , four in ten fourth graders in North Carolina cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that, but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.

乱伦视频’s program in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide, helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.

鈥淓very child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,鈥� said NCTQ President Heather Peske. 鈥淎cross the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but 乱伦视频 is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.鈥�

NCTQ鈥檚 methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at 乱伦视频.听

To earn an 鈥淎,鈥� programs needed to demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. To earn an A+, programs needed to exceed those targets and not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.

See NCTQ鈥檚 report, , for more information about 乱伦视频鈥檚 coverage of the science of reading and to see how 乱伦视频 compares to other programs in North Carolina or across the country.

About NCTQ

The National Council on Teacher Quality: NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization on a mission to ensure every child has access to an effective teacher and every teacher has the opportunity to be effective. We believe a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities. Fore more information about NCTQ, visit .

The series connects two significant milestones in American history 鈥� the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth 鈥� through opportunities to explore the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality and justice.

“This series offers our community an opportunity to reflect on the diverse significance of two historical celebrations during a complex contemporary moment. As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, it is a joyous yet complicated time,” said Carla Fullwood, director of inclusive excellence education and development. “Many communities, particularly historically marginalized communities based on race, have not experienced our nation’s principles of freedom, equality, and justice in the same way across the past 250 years. That is evident in the significance of Juneteenth, which marks the moment enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were notified of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been signed years earlier. And that declaration on June 19, 1865 does not account for the many enslaved people who remained in bondage across the South, and in several Union states,听for months after.

Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion

Faculty and staff participating in the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series will gather June 9-18 for facilitated conversations inspired by “The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing” by Anneliese Singh.

Through the lens of racial healing, participants will explore how race and racism have shaped Americans鈥� experiences of foundational democratic ideals and consider what concepts such as freedom, equality and justice mean in their own lives and communities.

Registration for the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series is now closed. Registered participants should have received their copy of 鈥淭he Racial Healing Handbook.鈥� Additional details will be shared directly with participants.

Juneteenth Commemoration Activities

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series culminates June 18 with a day of educational experiences, reflection and celebration.

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site Tour

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., faculty and staff can visit the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum & State Historic Site, home of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute, a pioneering educational institution for African American students in North Carolina. Participants should begin boarding the bus at 8:45 a.m.; transportation will depart campus promptly at 9 a.m. from the 乱伦视频 sign near the Inman 乱伦视频 Building.

Freedom Footprints

Beginning June 8, members of the 乱伦视频 community can explore Black history, activism and achievement at 乱伦视频 through . The self-guided experience includes campus walking tour stops marked by lawn signs featuring QR codes that connect visitors to additional historical information.

On June 18, Shaunta Alvarez, interim coordinator of University Archives, Digital Collections & Systems Librarian and associate librarian, will lead a guided version of the tour. Weather permitting, participants will depart from Lakeside 213/214 at 1:45 p.m. following the Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion session. No registration is required.

Emancipation Celebration

The day concludes with Together@乱伦视频鈥檚 Emancipation Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in McKinnon Hall within Moseley Center. Community members are invited to enjoy a Juneteenth exhibit, music, sweet treats and games while celebrating freedom, resilience and community. Participants can compete in a Spades tournament for prizes or join casually to learn or teach the game. Individuals and teams of two are welcome to

The Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series is a collaborative initiative supported by Belk Library, Black Lumen Project, the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), the Committee on 乱伦视频 History and Memory, 乱伦视频 Archives and Special Collections, HealthEU Initiatives, the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Development (OIEED), the Office of Leadership and Professional Development (OLPD), Together@乱伦视频/Staff Advisory Council and other campus partners.

The events offered through this summer series give us an opportunity to explore that complexity with honesty and care,” Fullwood said. “The Summer Race, Reflection & Discussion series creates space to unpack our understanding of these complexities through dialogue and storytelling. The Freedom Footprints tour and Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum tour center narratives about Black experiences that are often untold or minimized in the context of American history. Closing the series with the Together@乱伦视频 event allows us to root all of this learning in community-building. We are proud to offer 乱伦视频 faculty and staff opportunities to learn, reflect, and heal together.”

Norfolk Southern is beginning preparatory work along the rail line through 乱伦视频 as part of the Carolinian Piedmont Passenger Rail Improvement Project. This effort is in advance of full rail line replacement work scheduled to take place in August.

Over the next several weeks in June 鈥� and perhaps into early July 鈥� this preparatory work will result in intermittent, temporary closures at rail crossings. Based on information shared by the Town of 乱伦视频, closures are expected to occur Monday through Thursday and may last from one to several hours at a time. More than one crossing may be closed simultaneously. The following rail crossings may be affected:

• Williamson Avenue
• Church Street
• 翱补办听础惫别苍耻别
• York Road
• Gilliam Road

Specific closure dates and times have not yet been provided. NCDOT will place detour signage at affected locations, and motorists should plan for possible delays and follow all posted detour signs to avoid work zones.

乱伦视频 Campus Safety and Police will share information about specific closures through E-Alert as soon as we learn of them. The university听strongly encourages everyone to familiarize themselves with alternative routes to and around campus that avoid rail crossings. One recommended route is University Drive to Haggard Avenue. Planning ahead will help avoid delays.

鈥淲hen you are someone who naturally wants to help others, like you do in the PA profession, you’re drawn to finding the need and fixing it. We’re trying to help in the best way we can,鈥� Lytton said. 鈥淵ou don’t take on a title to do this; it simply comes from the heart, and it comes from an intention to be good for others. It’s very rewarding to have the benefit of knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.鈥�

The听AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. The Humanitarian Service听award听recognizes听a PA or group of PAs that听demonstrates听clear, lasting dedication to expanding access to care for vulnerable and underserved populations, and/or populations in crisis.听Lytton, who works in pain management in Alaska, is the president of the Alaska Academy of PAs and has made significant efforts to address the state鈥檚 opioid crisis.

鈥淚 see a lot of opioid addiction and chronic opioid dependency from high use opioid levels, but unfortunately, even in Alaska today, there are very high levels of opioid use disorder. It was very evident when I arrived in 2020, in the heart of the pandemic,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou see the escalating death rate nationally, and also here in Alaska, and that really prompted my heart to do something.鈥�

Lytton partnered with Project HOPE, a global health and humanitarian organization, leading a 12-member team to create 1,200 Narcan kits, helping to save over 300 lives. According to Lytton, two individuals specifically credited kits from their distribution site with saving a neighbor and a family member.

In addition to responding to the opioid crisis, Lytton has worked to improve access to healthcare services for Alaskans who face persistent barriers to care.听She is听a volunteer听with Remote Area Medical,听a nonprofit organization that provides mobile medical clinics delivering free dental, vision, and medical care to underserved and uninsured individuals听in Alaska. Lytton supported听screenings听for听more than 700 uninsured Alaskans.

As Chair of the Associate Board of Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society of Alaska,听Lytton has played a key role in advancing cancer awareness and support across Alaska.听Through coordinated events and sponsorship initiatives, she听has听helped raise听more听than听$100,000 for cancer patients. She听serves听on the Serve Alaska Board, supporting AmeriCorps programs in rural and urban communities, ensuring funding reaches vulnerable youth and families.

Her path to 乱伦视频 started while she was working as a nurse assistant in North Carolina. When she expressed a desire to become a PA, a patient encouraged her to apply soon, and she took the advice. Lytton applied to eight schools, and 乱伦视频 jumped at the opportunity to interview her for its inaugural Physician Assistant Studies cohort.

鈥淵ou just felt alive on campus, and I knew in my heart this is where I wanted to come,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he PA profession is the right balance for me because I ultimately wanted to have a family of my own, I wanted to provide care to patients, and I wanted to be able to change specialties and have that versatility.鈥�

乱伦视频鈥檚 Physician Assistant Studies program continues to grow. The 2026 cohort was the largest in the program鈥檚 history. 乱伦视频 doubled the size of its physician assistant class from 38 to 76 students, growing its capacity to prepare clinicians for communities across North Carolina and the Southeast. A PA program on the university鈥檚 Charlotte campus is expected to launch in January 2027.

鈥淚 am so grateful to 乱伦视频 because they truly invested a lot in us. They gave us opportunities to not only do volunteer work in the community but also invest in the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y learning experience started like a seed, and it blossomed over the years.鈥�

The Health Professionals Scholarship Program also provided Lytton with a financial path to her goals. The HPSP award pays a participant鈥檚 school tuition and required fees as well as a monthly stipend to help with living expenses and an annual book stipend for instructional materials.

HPSP recipients incur an active-duty service obligation based on the number of years of scholarship support received. Following graduation and commissioning, recipients are assigned to a military installation where they serve as active-duty officers until their service commitment is fulfilled.

Lytton says her military service, along with her family, faith and 乱伦视频鈥檚 commitment to service learning, helped instill values that have guided her throughout her PA career.

鈥淟eadership begins with recognizing where help is needed and stepping forward to serve. I would advise anyone seeking to become a leader in their profession to look for unmet needs in their community and work to address them,鈥�听Lytton said. 鈥淓ven if the job seems somewhat small, the skills that you learn from community service and from community coming together and collaborating, they will foster in you this confidence that you take into your profession and become a natural part of who you are.鈥�