The emotions of that moment were felt in a deeply personal way on Aug. 21, 2026, as Bird and his family unloaded boxes and moved his daughter, Lydia, into her new home at ������Ƶ.

As someone who guides campus life at Queens, Adrian knows firsthand how crucial that first day can be. Experiencing it as a parent offered a fresh perspective.

“I have always known the importance of receiving new students and their families with generous hospitality,” Adrian shared. “Often times staff and students show up to share the load of move-in. What struck me at ������Ƶ was the joy and energy that move-in helpers showed up with as they greeted new students and their families—including me! That energy, sincerity, and willingness to assist was so welcome, taking the pressure off what is already an emotionally charged move-in moment.”

For Lydia, stepping onto campus marks the beginning of a long-awaited independence balanced by a comforting closeness to home.

“I had a lot of dreams as a kid of going way up north or going back to Europe for college, but when I found ������Ƶ, it felt like such a perfect spot ” Lydia shared. “It was close enough to where if I wanted to pop down and see my family or my friends for a weekend, I could, but also where I felt far enough away that I could start my own journey and begin my own chapter.”

As the ������Ƶ and Queens merger progresses, Adrian noted an undeniable personal perk: built-in opportunities to visit. “The selfish reality that I might be going up to ������Ƶ for work meetings and can take Lydia out for lunch is a real treat,” he said with a smile.

Born in Scotland, Lydia brings a global perspective to campus. Early in her childhood, the Birds moved to Columbia, South Carolina. There, Lydia spent her weekends wandering around the South Carolina State Museum, sparking a lifelong fascination with history, reading and writing.

Lydia notes that while some humanities majors default to teaching or law, she has her heart set on curated history.

“I want to work in a museum. That’s always been something I’ve been really fascinated by,” Lydia said. ” I want to be in a place where people actively study history and make them come to life through exhibits.”

That career path came into focus during a campus tour when she learned about ������Ƶ’s museum studies and public history minor and an archaeology program that spent July conducting field research in Belize.

“That was actually one of those real anchor points of, ‘Wow, maybe this is more of a fit than I thought it would be,'” Adrian recalled.

For Adrian, whose career is built around serving students and fostering multi-faith communities, experiencing this transition as a father is both overwhelming and profoundly rewarding.

“Everybody told us that it would be the blink of an eye, and it certainly has been,” he said. “I love what higher education offers to young people. It’s that growth dimension that happens when students are curious and want to be empowered. I’m thrilled Lydia will get to experience that at ������Ƶ, and I will be close enough to see her thrive.”

In 2019, she also joined Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), as a pioneer in Troop 233, one of Charlotte’s largest all-female troops. There, she embraced the outdoors, learned important life skills, and took on the responsibility of serving as a mentor for younger girls.

Navigating the early days in her troop meant overcoming some challenges and prejudices within the broader scouting community. Horneman and her peers persevered and, by June 2025, she achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

“Women have established themselves as important figures in the scouting community,” Horneman said. “We are now very much a foundational point in scouting.”

Today, her leadership spans multiple roles serving as vice chief of inductions for the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s Honor Society, while holding leadership positions in two Venturing Crews. She recently completed her fourth year as a camp staff member at BSA Camp Grimes.

It was at a Scout meeting that Horneman learned of her acceptance to Queens University as a Presidential Scholar. “It was phenomenal and I really felt that it was an affirming moment that I was meant to be a Royal,” Horneman said.

Horneman’s commitment to serving the community also directly feeds her second great passion: creative writing. To her, crafting stories is more than an artistic outlet – it is a tool for human connection.

Horneman realized the power of storytelling during a 2025 mission trip to Spain, where she volunteered at an English language camp for Ukrainian refugees. Standing before a group of young people who had fled war and lost their homes, Horneman felt the daunting weight of trying to connect with them.

As she shared her personal testimony, the young audience listened intently.

“I have never seen a group of kids so engaged,” Horneman said. “The ability of words to connect people with such different backgrounds just absolutely astounded me. I knew then it was in my future to be a writer.”

At Queens, Horneman plans to double major in creative writing and business, with goals to launch new campus initiatives, like an Ultimate Frisbee club on the quad. She also wants to dive deeper into short story fiction inspired by classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe.

“I very much believe there’s a reason that I’m going to Queens,” Horneman says. “I want to inspire people when I can and make their lives better in some way, shape, or form.”

While a high school student at Bradford Prep in Charlotte, Pili visited Queens with his teammates to watch a men’s volleyball match. With a camera in hand, Pili made a quick dash onto the court to snap some photos – and to the delight of family and friends, one of those moments landed him in a clip featured on ESPN.

Pili’s passion for visual media began almost by accident while on the yearbook committee in high school. He was handed a camera and tasked with taking photos. What started as a simple assignment quickly turned into an outlet for his creativity. By junior year, he was serving as the editor of Bradford Prep’s yearbook, photographing sporting events and building deep connections across his school community.

“Photography has taught me to stop for a second and take everything in, to take mental screenshots,” Pili said. “I like being behind the camera, seeing and helping everyone grow in their own way, and capturing timeless moments.”

At Queens, Pili plans on majoring in sport communication or multimedia storytelling and is interested in supporting Royals athletics. After enrolling in classes in Queens’ Knight School of Communication, Pili received an email alerting him about a hands-on media operations opportunity at the MLS All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium in July. He also learned about a student portal maintained by faculty to connect students with experiential opportunities off campus.

“I am always sifting through local opportunities for our students and trying to make that information as accessible as possible,” said Christopher Garcia, assistant professor of sports media. “Students are overloaded with information, so the key is having direct channels, like our internship portal, and encouraging them to engage with faculty and staff for guidance so they can make the most out of these opportunities.”

The MLS All-Star Game was a natural fit for Pili. Born in England before moving to Charlotte at age 2, Pili knows the area inside and out, from local spots like Camp North End to music venues like The Fillmore.

He is eager to step into the role of local tour guide for his new roommate, who is coming to Queens from Virginia. “There’s just so much culture in the city, and I love it,” Pili said. “There’s always something to do.”

Beyond his creative work, Pili is drawn to Queens’ tight-knit community and small class sizes, echoing his high school experience where teachers formed meaningful connections with their students.

Pili also embraces the university’s spirit of service. His dedication to helping others began in high school, where he spent time packing meals for local Charlotte outreach and assembling food relief shipments for international aid.

“We take for granted so much that we don’t realize,” Pili reflected. “It’s really important to dedicate your time to helping others.”

Pili believes deeply in giving back and looks forward to participating in more service opportunities on campus and in the community.

At Queens, Pili has clear intentions: “I hope to build long-lasting relationships, gain internship experience, and take advantage of every opportunity Queens gives me to the max.”

“Lauren and her peers in the Leadership Scholars program understand that true leadership starts with the courage to share your voice and listen to others,” said Anita McGill,��assistant��dean of��student��engagement. “This program will hone those skills, helping them grow into confident, thoughtful leaders equipped to make a meaningful difference on campus and beyond.”

As the president of the English Honor Society at��Cox Mill High��School��in Concord, North Carolina, Lee participated in her school’s newspaper club and spent over a year crafting her own poetry collection focused on growth,��mental health and womanhood, with hopes of publishing it in the future.

Her love for storytelling began at just��6��years old, inspired by fictional worlds and fairy tales that provided comfort during��difficult times. Through the years, her imagination evolved into a lifelong passion for writing, shaped in part by her mother, an author of essays and��memoirs.

In her original work, she captures moments of tenderness and personal connection:

Warm smiles were the key to my trust.��
Melodic voices sparked my own soft smile.��
My screeching cries would even melt to hush.��
I was always drawn to a soft, velvet hand.��
My mother’s touch was magical.��
It bloomed peace within me, like sun through sand.��

Reflecting on her creative journey, Lee shared how writing helped her through��difficult times��throughout her childhood.

“I’ve always loved writing and from an early age, it helped me process my emotions,”��she said. “When I write poetry, it helps me get certain messages out there that I think people need to hear.”

Lee��also cites American poet and activist Amanda Gorman as an inspiration for her writing. “I think her poems are so powerful, and she showcases the Black experience beautifully through creativity,”��she said.

Her commitment to connecting with others extends well beyond the page. Guided by a strong spirit of service, she felt strongly aligned with Queens’ motto, which is based on serving others.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping those around me, and I’m so excited to be able to participate in service-based opportunities on campus and in the community,” she said. “I want to use my skills to help others by inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves while making them feel heard.”

Lee intends to study creative writing as her major with a minor in journalism.��When asked why she chose Queens, she cited its tight-knit, supportive community and tailored academic pathways.

“Queens offers so many opportunities in my major because I get to concentrate specifically on creative writing, rather than just a broad English major,” she explained. “I’m also excited to participate in internship opportunities and build relationships with my professors and professional mentors to help me flourish.”

As she prepares to move onto campus this August, Lee is eager to immerse herself in campus life. At the top of her list? Connecting with fellow writers, joining the campus literary magazine and exploring local storytelling outlets.

With a commitment to service, leadership, and storytelling, Lee��is excited to��bring a unique voice and fresh energy to the Queens community this fall.

The weeklong program from July 20-24 brought rising sixth through eighth graders to campus for an immersive exploration of artificial intelligence and computer science.

Led by Assistant Professor Alexis Goslen in the Department of Computer Science at ������Ƶ the program offered local youth a hands-on introduction to the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

“Students are coming into contact with AI a lot more than ever before, so understanding it is becoming essential,” Goslen said. “They already have really interesting, profound perspectives on how they use these tools. Our goal was to get them to understand the vocabulary of AI, beyond just generative models like ChatGPT, so they can walk away as informed, critical users of the technology they interact with every day.”

Structured around core AI principles, daily lessons broke down complex computer science concepts into interactive, high-energy challenges. Students explored robotic perception through a “robot relay” to learn how autonomous systems sense and navigate physical environments in real time, while a hands-on candy-sorting exercise modeled machine learning and neural network decision-making.

Interactive discussions guided campers through AI ethics and data privacy, focusing on algorithmic fairness and responsible technology use, before they put their newfound knowledge into practice by designing and coding their own digital game projects throughout the week.

For middle schoolers like Cooper Ryan of Oakridge Middle School, the camp offered a deeper look at the digital footprint people leave behind every day.

“When I heard about the AI Play Camp, I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to check it out,” Ryan shared. “The more I learned about it, the more it surprised me. I never knew how AI tracks your data and how much it actually knows about you.”

The message hit home for campers like Julian Taylor, a rising seventh grader at Charlotte Country Day School, who walked away with a clearer picture of how artificial intelligence operates.

“I’ve always been intrigued by AI and how it works, so I knew I wanted to do this camp,” Taylor said. “I liked learning about how AI computes everything and that it doesn’t think like a human. I used to think it could just get whatever it wanted from the web, but now I know it can only do what it’s been taught and trained to do.”

For university leaders, hosting the middle schoolers was an opportunity to highlight the rapid innovation and responsibility that comes with emerging tools.

Kenitra Horsley, chief operating officer at Queens, shared her personal trajectory in technology with the campers, tracing her path from U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to serving as chief information officer at Queens, and ultimately into her executive role as chief operating officer.

“When I was in school, there were no smartphones, no AI, and no ChatGPT,” Horsley told the students. “My journey into tech started in high school just like yours is starting today, by being curious, trying something new, and exploring different areas of technology to see how it works.”

Horsley emphasized that university administrators and professors are working alongside students to navigate the rapid evolution of tools like artificial intelligence.

“Even in higher education today, we are actively navigating how to use AI. The goal isn’t to suppress it or ban it, but to leverage it smartly,” Horsley noted. “AI can handle research and process data far faster than we can on our own, but the real key for students is using it as a tool while continuing to build their own critical thinking skills.”

The camp also featured interactive sessions led by ������Ƶ alumni currently working in Charlotte’s growing technology sector.

, a recent graduate and founder and CEO of , led a workshop where middle schoolers built interactive AI agents from scratch.

“Instead of just talking about AI, the campers built it,” Mason said, noting that students created over 70 working AI agents in a single day, ranging from custom game avatars to interactive rap battles. “My biggest hope is that they leave believing they can build with it, not just use it.”

Joining Mason was fellow ������Ƶ alumnus Luke Freudenthal ’23, a computer science graduate currently working as an AI-first operations engineer at Charlotte-based software firm Bluefields Specialty, an insurance technology company. Freudenthal led a session centered on pattern recognition, helping campers understand the distinct capabilities of human intuition versus machine logic.

“Pattern recognition is core to developing strong problem-solving skills,” Freudenthal said. “I broke down the differences between our strengths as human beings and how artificial intelligence works differently.”

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence formed a central theme of the camp’s discussions. Unlike previous technological shifts, the current wave of generative AI and automated decision-making is accelerating at an unprecedented rate.

“Historically, technology moves gradually, but AI is growing on a rapid ‘hockey stick’ curve unlike anything we’ve seen before,” Horsley shared with the young campers. “While it’s hard to imagine exactly where it will be in 10 years, I believe it will make things better, especially in fields like medical research. With the right checks and balances in place, the possibilities for positive impact are enormous.”

“Technology is an enabler. It helps us improve, grow, and see things faster, but it should ultimately be used for the greater good. My hope for this next generation is that they ask challenging questions, stay curious, and find new, creative ways to leverage these tools to solve real-world problems.”

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the modern world, Goslen said, initiatives like AI Play help bridge the gap between abstract computer science concepts and everyday life.

“It’s really exciting to see young people develop that vocabulary and confidence,” she said. “They get to learn about these concepts here, take those conversations home to their families, and carry that understanding forward into whatever they do next.”

Pinkley, who will compete on Queens’ cross country and track and field teams, has an impressive lineup of accolades, including being named a Texas Student Hero, an honor awarded by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to just 15 students across the entire state in recognition of their outstanding volunteer service. Big Spring Independent School District Superintendent Jay McWilliams nominated Pinkley for her outstanding academic accomplishments, extraordinary leadership and dedication to community service.

This year, 165 students across Texas were nominated for the award, with only one recipient chosen from each of the state’s 15 SBOE districts.

“Bergan stands out among her peers in every way. As class salutatorian and a four-year regional athlete in cross country and track, she is the true definition of a student-athlete,” McWilliams said. “She radiates positive energy, brings an incredible work ethic, and has the ability to connect with anyone. Bergan will be an exceptional teammate and a phenomenal asset to the Queens community.”

Pinkley’s passion for service came to life during her junior year at Big Spring High School, when she launched an initiative creating personalized, handcrafted cards for local nursing home residents. Each card took up to 30 minutes to make, featuring unique artwork and encouraging messages. The program grew so successful that local volunteers plan to keep it running after Pinkley moves to Charlotte.

“I realized how lonely it can be for nursing home residents and how some of them don’t get many visitors,” Pinkley shared. “Each card was handcrafted with a personal note inside telling them that they still matter and haven’t been forgotten. Seeing their faces light up was an incredible award in itself.”

Her urge to make others feel seen stems from a deeply personal place. Before discovering her passion for running, Pinkley was inspired by her late brother-in-law, Eric Stinson. A passionate runner who battled Ewing sarcoma before passing away in 2019, Stinson left a lasting mark on both Pinkley’s family and her community.

“He was the embodiment of sunshine,” Pinkley said. “Watching him run showed me how hard something can be, but how much joy you can find in it. Joining cross country and track was my way of connecting with him. He’s been with me at all my hard practices and meets. And I know he’ll be with me as I start this next chapter at Queens.”

As she prepares for the move to Charlotte from her hometown of Big Spring, Texas, Pinkley is eager to embrace campus life, explore new academic interests, and live out the university’s motto, “Not to be served, but to serve.”

“I’m excited to expand my horizons in a bigger city and find new ways to give back,” said Pinkley, who plans to study psychology. “Whether that’s volunteering at local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or animal rescues, I’m just excited for all of it.”

When sudden shutdowns canceled their in-person sessions at��, a Down syndrome achievement center, they quickly pivoted online, bringing interactive music therapy right into participants’ living rooms.��

During their sessions, Queens��alumnae��Yenchun��Ko ’21, Gabrielle Frens ’22 and Molli Smith ’22 documented their findings, and��this past��June, their work was published in����

Funded by a grant through the��James Rogers Summer Institute for Research and Creative Work��and��guided��by Varvara Pasiali, Livingstone Professor of Music Therapy at Queens, the team highlighted the core philosophy behind their��virtual��sessions,��a concept known as “musicking,” originally developed by musicologist Christopher Small.��

“’Musicking’ is taking music as a noun and turning it into a verb,” Pasiali��said.��“It captures the idea that music exists in the act of actually making it.��Everyone participates in some way in a musical event; they aren’t just sitting passively receiving it.”����

To turn that active concept into reality��virtually, the student-therapists played live instruments, used structured musical cues, and designed interactive movement prompts that kept participants engaged across the screen. At the same time, parents��joined in��as active co-facilitators,��rocking, swaying, and making music alongside their children to foster meaningful bonding directly in their living rooms.��

GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte Executive Director Lori Keller has seen firsthand how that philosophy��impacted��the lives of children and individuals living with developmental disabilities.��

“Music brings us together as a community and engages parts of the brain in ways that no other therapy can,” Keller said. “It creates opportunities for cognitive and social growth, while also improving language and communication. I must admit that the most immediate benefit��I’ve��witnessed��has been expressions of joy. And that is priceless.”��

Seeing their hard work officially reach the broader clinical community through the peer-reviewed publication has been a deeply rewarding, full-circle moment for the former students.��

“It was surreal to learn that this study would be published,” Smith said. “I felt very proud of younger me for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.”��

Frens echoed that pride. “To have something published in my name feels like a very big deal,” she��said.��“The whole publishing process takes a long time, but I am especially proud of the team for how we collaborated and maintained the integrity of what we did.”��

Ko��shared in��that excitement when she learned the news. “When I was informed that it was going to be published, I was thrilled,” Ko said. “I learned a great deal from this opportunity, from session planning to collaborating with my classmates and composing therapeutic music.”��

After graduating from Queens, the��alumnae��found that their undergraduate research directly shaped their clinical success.��

“Participating in this study helped me prepare for a professional career in many ways,” Smith said. “Not only did I grow more confident in my writing skills and analytical thinking,��it��boosted my skills in observing and documenting client responses. As a professional, I��currently��treat an individual client virtually and I felt entirely equipped to deliver those telehealth services because of this project.”��

Smith currently works as a board-certified music therapist at Piedmont Music Therapy, a local nonprofit in Charlotte, where her caseload spans from early childhood to older adults in memory care. Frens is completing her graduate degree online through Duquesne University while working as a board-certified music therapist at Atrium Health Mercy. Ko recently completed her master’s degree at Molloy University as she prepares for the next step in her clinical career.��

“Having their work published by a peer-reviewed clinical journal builds their identity as scientists and their confidence in doing research,” Pasiali said, noting that the students also co-presented their findings at a regional music therapy conference and led a virtual continuing education seminar for music therapists in Cyprus.��

For all three��alumnae, the project was the ultimate reflection of the Queens motto, “Not to be served, but to serve.”��

“That attitude of how to serve and care for others well really aligns with music therapy,” Frens said��“I feel that music therapy in general, and especially in the work that I do, is in a position to serve others and not expect service back to ourselves.��“Smith agreed. “As a music therapist, I always aim to serve my clients in the best way I can—meeting them where they are, supporting their needs, and amplifying their individuality, creativity, and��successes,” she said.��“It brings me such joy to do so.”��

For Ko, that spirit of service came to life in the quiet, musical moments shared between the children and their families.��

“When I played my violin during one of the sessions, I saw participants swaying back and forth with their parents,” Ko recalled. “Seeing that precious bond and their response through the music made me realize just how meaningful and impactful our work really was.”

The day started in the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement on July 16, 2026, with Queens’ first-ever College Coffee, an ������Ƶ tradition that offers students, faculty and staff weekly opportunities during the semester to connect over coffee and pastries.

“This is a powerful morning,” Queens Acting President and CEO Jesse Cureton said in remarks to attendees. “You’re going to learn today a lot about Queens and the history of the university, but as I’ve shared with so many, Queens is not just about this campus – it’s about a 170-year history, and it’s about this phenomenal city, one of the fastest-growing in the country. Sports, healthcare, manufacturing, energy – all these things are creating opportunities for our students.”

Following a campus tour for ������Ƶ visitors, employees from both locations participated in an interactive professional development workshop, “Own the Moment: Practical Tools for Navigating Change with Confidence,” led by Rochelle Stojnic, director of the Office of Leadership and Professional Development at ������Ƶ.

Grounded in the idea that the most meaningful moments during institutional transitions occur in ordinary, everyday interactions, the session provided attendees with strategies to approach organizational evolution with a curious and open perspective.

Employees were encouraged to serve as a steady, grounding presence for colleagues and students, and learned how to leverage personal and collective strengths to fuel community growth.

“This is a historic transition, and navigating it successfully requires an ‘all hands on deck’ approach,” Stojnic said. “Leadership isn’t just for a few people at the top. Everyone needs to feel empowered to lead through this change, which starts with understanding how we handle transition personally.”

“At ������Ƶ, prioritizing professional development is a core value. We invest heavily in our people because we believe that for our universities to grow and get better, our employees must have the space to expand their skills, navigate uncertainty with balance, and feel genuinely supported along the way.”

Shawn Bowers, director of the General Education Program at Queens, attended the professional development session.

“As an educator, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I deeply appreciate how both institutions invest in us as holistic individuals. When resources and energy are poured into faculty and staff, it allows us to show up as the best versions of ourselves,” she said. “Ultimately, that yields incredible dividends for our students, who are the main constituents we serve.”

The collaborative energy of the workshop and joint sessions highlighted a shared commitment to building a unified, resilient community.

Here’s what employees from both campuses had to say about the exchange:

• “When two universities have this much overlap, there’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another and adopt the best processes from both sides. It’s also a two-way street: both ������Ƶ and Queens share the benefit of communicating ideas and resources. The prospect of bettering our programs, becoming more efficient, and thriving together is not just rewarding, but exciting. I can’t wait to see where this road leads us.”
  Jackson Mair
  Coordinator, Vandiver Center for Career Development, Queens

• “The professional development session provided us with practical tools for real-life change. The ‘why’ of this exchange became obvious when a Queens colleague and an ������Ƶ colleague from the same department shared their experiences navigating the merger. Watching them find comfort and laughter in their shared experience showed the true value of the exchange. It breaks down walls and helps us realize we are building on common ground.”
  Loretta Evivie
  Professor of Practice of Leadership, Queens

• “The thing that really struck me during my visit is the way in which ������Ƶ and Queens share an approach to education. The two student tour guides said many of the same things I’ve told prospective ������Ƶ students: small classes, faculty who are available and dedicated to students, a focus on hands-on learning, and even classrooms arranged so that the students can work together. I had the opportunity to meet some of the physics/math faculty, and we talked about ways we can support each other. We’re hopeful that we can develop programs that take advantages of our shared strengths.”
  Jonathan Su
  Associate Professor of Engineering, ������Ƶ

• “I still have many questions about the merger, but I am excited by the prospect of internship pipelines for our students in key sectors like professional sports, medicine, finance, and the arts. I was pleasantly surprised by the lovely Myers Park neighborhood and the look and feel of the campus, which is quite similar to ������Ƶ’s. Many thanks to the entire ������Ƶ-Queens team for setting things up for our first College Coffee there!”
  Pamela Winfield
  Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Director of International & Global Studies, ������Ƶ

• “By offering College Coffee at Queens, it creates a bridge between our two cultures. Queens has a really nice location for College Coffee in the summer, which is very similar to what ������Ƶ offers at Moseley Center. Both places are a great way to escape the heat, grab something to drink or eat, and have a conversation with someone on campus that you don’t get to see in person.”
  Doug Purnell
  Assistant Director of Data Architecture and��Reporting, ������Ƶ

Students arriving for Move-In Day will notice big changes under the oaks following summer renovations at Queens that include refreshed campus landscaping, restored building exteriors and updated finishes in Wireman Residence Hall.

Inside Wireman, student rooms are being updated with fresh paint and new furniture. The customizable loft beds, wardrobes, desks and dressers will allow students to easily personalize their spaces.

The building’s shared common areas are also getting a modern, multi-functional makeover. A mix of soft seating and high-low tables will fill these spaces, giving students a flexible environment to study, eat, or relax together.

“Student living spaces are where they spend a great deal of their time. These improvements will help create more comfortable and fresh spaces for students,” said Amber Slack, vice president for student affairs and dean of campus life. “As we continue updating common areas and lobbies across campus, our ultimate goal is to design inviting spaces that naturally bring students together and strengthen our community.”

In line with Queens’ commitment to sustainability and its motto, “Not to be served, but to serve,” the university found new homes for Wireman’s furniture by partnering with Hildrup Moving Companies, Habitat for Humanity and Beds for Kids.

“We knew from the beginning that we didn’t want to send usable furniture to a landfill,” said Leigh Hicks, Queens’ director of capital projects. “We were thrilled to partner with local non-profits to donate these items directly to families in need.”

Student Government Association President Jessica Paredes ’27 lived in Wireman for two years and served on the Campus Improvement Committee, working closely with Slack last year in discussing renovations in Wireman and across campus.

“I am so excited and grateful for the new feel Wireman will have and know that many students will see it as a fresh start for an exciting year ahead,” said Paredes. “Returning Royals will be glad to see their newly renovated ‘homes away from home.'”

Queens Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus, is also undergoing a complete stairwell restorations.

“The three classical stone entrances to Queens Hall are being repaired and refreshed with brand-new, uniform light fixtures and hand railings to give the historic building a clean, consistent look,” said David Haught, senior director of facilities for ������Ƶ’s Charlotte properties. “These renovations are aimed at beautifying and returning the splendor of a grand entrance to this historic campus in the heart of Myers Park, one of the first planned suburbs of Charlotte.”

Nearby, the columns at Sykes Learning Center, the hub of the McColl School of Business, are being replaced with a durable material designed to match the original architecture, while the surrounding brick plaza is being leveled and refreshed.

The summer renovations are on track for completion by late July, well before Royals return to their refreshed campus for the 2026-27 academic year.

A dynamic and results-driven enrollment leader with more than 15 years of progressive experience in higher education has been named the next dean of undergraduate admissions at Queens University of Charlotte.

Benjamin Boivin will oversee the university’s undergraduate recruitment, admissions and student success strategies beginning on July 20.

“Benjamin brings a rare combination of data-driven enrollment expertise and forward-thinking leadership to Queens,” said Queens Acting President and CEO Jesse Cureton, MBA ’02. “We look forward to the impact his strategic vision will have on our enrollment as we enter this next chapter of growth.”

Boivin joins Queens from Manhattan University in New York, where he most recently served as director of undergraduate admissions. During his tenure, his strategic leadership, enrollment marketing expertise, and innovative recruitment strategies helped drive a 73% year-over-year increase in undergraduate applications.

A champion of data-informed, student-centered enrollment models, Boivin also served on Manhattan University’s ChatGPT for EDU Steering Committee, helping lead initiatives that explored how the responsible use of artificial intelligence can enhance student engagement and the future of higher education.

“I am honored to join Queens University of Charlotte at such an transformative time in its history,” said Boivin. “Queens has been shaping leaders and serving the Charlotte community for generations. Combined with its innovative partnership with ������Ƶ and the extraordinary growth of Charlotte, the university is uniquely positioned to redefine what a career-centered private education can be. I look forward to working alongside our talented faculty, successful alumni, and caring staff to welcome the next generation of Royals and help lead this exciting new chapter.”

Throughout his career, Boivin has earned a reputation as a highly collaborative leader who values partnership, innovation, and relationship-building across every level of an institution. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Manhattan University and is a board member of the Westchester Putnam Rockland Counselors Association (WPRCA).