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Opening Day 2026: ��Ƶ celebrates progress and success while mapping the path ahead

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:58:50 +0000

��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book welcomed faculty and staff to the start of the 2026-27 academic year during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 17 in Alumni Gym with a call to embrace change, but remain grounded in the university’s mission.

University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement Rev. Kirstin Boswell opened the event with the invocation, followed by the tradition of the bell ringing by Student Government Association President Michael Swartz ’27. The bell arrived in North Carolina in 1854 on one of the first North Carolina railroad trains. It was later used at Graham College, a predecessor institution to ��Ƶ College.

During the event, three individuals with strong ties to the university were awarded the ��Ƶ Medallion, the university’s most prestigious service honor: Jim Donathan, longtime associate director of academic advising and academic support; Mary Thornton, founder and president of Harvest Table Culinary Group; and Don Grady, associate professor emeritus of cinema and television arts.

From left to right: Jim Donathan, Don Grady and Mary Thornton

Katy Rouse, professor of economics in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, was named the Trustee Chair for Excellence. For seventeen years, Rouse has taught ��Ƶ’s Principles of Economics and Intermediate Microeconomics courses, along with a capstone she built herself on educational disparities in the United States, earning student evaluations among the highest in her department for more than a decade.

She has personally mentored more than 30 senior and honors theses, co-authored research with undergraduates, chaired the Love School’s curriculum committee and published her teaching scholarship in the Journal of Economic Education.

“I truly believe that being a teacher scholar mentor at ��Ƶ is one of the best careers I’m going to have,” Rouse said. “Every day we come to work, we have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students during one of the most pivotal points in their lives.”

Katy Rouse, professor of economics in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, was named the Trustee Chair for Excellence.

Mapping the course

During her annual Opening Day address, Book reflected on ��Ƶ’s progress while looking toward a year that will include the launch of new academic initiatives, continued work surrounding artificial intelligence, the opening of the Roberts Academy and the planned merger with Queens University of Charlotte.

Book centered her remarks around the idea of a map — the markers that show where ��Ƶ has been and the guideposts that will help the university navigate what comes next. The theme was inspired by a visit this summer to ��Ƶ students participating in the Summer Opera Workshop at the Accademia Europea di Firenze. The students came together for a historic production of “The Light in the Piazza” in Florence, Italy, where the musical is set.

��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book speaks during the Opening Day Ceremony on Aug.17, 2026 in Alumni Gym.

As part of their work, students were also tasked with creating a map of the city, something that inspired Book.

“There is something powerful in this mapmaking assignment, and it left me wondering about our collective ��Ƶ map,” Book said. “How would we each draw it?”

At the center of that map, Book said, is ��Ƶ’s mission. She highlighted several markers of progress during the past year, including the Odyssey Program surpassing 300 scholarships, record participation in undergraduate research, strong Fulbright success and new academic programs, including cybersecurity, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Charlotte PA program. She also celebrated the upcoming launch of the School of Engineering and Computing under inaugural Dean John Walz and the growth of the university’s nursing program.

Mapping new territory (together)

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the first students of the Roberts Academy at ��Ƶ will arrive at the school’s temporary home in Trollinger House. The school will be the state’s only university-based private school for children with dyslexia. Book described the academy and the Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning as an opportunity that “will change lives from day one.”

Among the most significant new territory is ��Ƶ’s planned merger with Queens University of Charlotte. Book noted that the institutions received accreditation approval this summer to proceed with their merger, with a single Board of Trustees now overseeing both universities. Sixteen administrative units are also becoming shared teams supporting the two campuses, while a federal review of the merger is expected to take 18 to 24 months.

Megan Isaac, professor of English, and Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt gave brief updates on the merger as part of the SOAR Strategic Planning Committee.

“Our two institutions will be stronger together, will better serve students together, and will have a brighter future together,” Book said. “And now, we are working to build that vision together, to grow opportunity to advance learning — together.”

Mapping a new look

Athletics Director Jennifer Strawley was also invited to the stage to announce a for the university’s athletics program, which had what Book called a “formidable year,” with seven ��Ƶ teams, the most in the university’s history, winning conference titles. A new physical mascot will be unveiled at the first College Coffee of the academic year on Aug. 25.

“The new Phoenix wears a gold sweater with a monogram ‘E,’ paying tribute to our first mascot, the Fighting Christian,” Strawley said. “The focused expression conveys the determination, confidence and purpose that defines our university community. The Phoenix continues to be fueled by the flames, symbolizing our rebuild from the ashes, and capturing the spirit and resilience of the ��Ƶ community.”

The new ��Ƶ Athletics visual identity

Book acknowledged that the changing higher education landscape brings challenges, from enrollment pressures and federal regulations to declining public confidence. But she reminded faculty and staff that adapting to change has long been part of ��Ƶ’s history.

“I understand change can be daunting. Shifting national headwinds are challenging higher education,” Book said. “Fortunately for us, ��Ƶ has never succeeded by standing still. We’ve joined together, developed new strategies and guided by our mission — built the number one institution for engaged learning and student success.”

She closed by returning to the journey ahead, and the role faculty and staff play in shaping the lives of ��Ƶ students.

“It is not simply education; it is a journey of human transformation,” Book said. “Thank you for the everyday commitment, kindness and integrity that are our enduring guideposts.”

��Ƶ Athletics unveils new visual identity

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:15:07 +0000

Jay Hendrickson ’71 concludes service to the ��Ƶ Board of Trustees

Avery Craine Powell — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:58:23 +0000

One of ��Ƶ’s most loyal and longstanding ambassadors for excellence in the classroom and on the athletic fields has announced his retirement from the Board of Trustees.

Jay Hendrickson ’71 concluded his service in July nearly two decades after joining a governing body responsible for ��Ƶ’s long-term health, oversight for its strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and for advancing the university’s mission. Hendrickson served as vice chair of the board’s athletic policy committee, in addition to other leadership roles.

“Few families have shaped ��Ƶ like the Hendricksons,” said ��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “Eighteen years at the Board table represents an extraordinary gift of time, judgment and trust. Steady, thoughtful leadership of the kind Jay brought to his role, with the unwavering support of his wife Amy, have influenced decisions that will carry ��Ƶ forward for decades, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

Hendrickson and his wife, Amy Hendrickson ’69, of Raleigh, North Carolina, have been unwavering advocates of ��Ƶ for many years through their transformative support of academic and athletic causes across multiple campaigns.

The couple’s gifts have supported engineering and athletics, two priorities near and dear to their hearts. The Hendrickson Football Center in Alumni Field House honors Jay’s father, Horace J. Hendrickson, who served as director of athletics and was a football, basketball and baseball coach from 1937 to 1942 and is considered one of ��Ƶ’s all-time great coaches.

They have also generously supported athletics scholarships through annual gifts to the Phoenix Club. In 2000, the couple endowed the James A. ’71 and Amy T. ’69 Hendrickson Engineering Scholarship, which has attracted outstanding students to the university’s engineering program.

The Hendricksons are members of The ��Ƶ Society President’s Circle, Palladian Society and Order of the Oak, the university’s planned giving society. Fourteen of their immediate family members have ties to ��Ƶ.

In 2011, Jay and Amy received the Distinguished Service to ��Ƶ Award in recognition of their tireless service to their alma mater. The couple were also among the 2009 recipients of the Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those who have contributed to all aspects of the university.

“We are thankful for the transformative impact that Jay and Amy have had at ��Ƶ,” said Burney Jennings ‘87, executive chair of the Biscuitville restaurant chain and chair of the ��Ƶ Board of Trustees. “Their insights, ambassadorship, positive energy and generous stewardship of our university have contributed greatly to ��Ƶ’s growth and success.”

Eight Phoenix earn CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Awards

Avery Craine Powell — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:25:38 +0000

Death of former ��Ƶ trustee Anne Ellington Powell

Eric Townsend — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:03:09 +0000

Former ��Ƶ trustee Anne Powell passed away on June 27, 2026.

Former ��Ƶ trustee Anne Ellington Powell of Burlington, N.C., died June 27 at her home after a long and difficult illness.

Powell was elected to ��Ƶ’s Board of Trustees in 2008 and was a highly involved supporter and longtime friend of the university. She was the wife of ��Ƶ life trustee and former chair of the Board Dr. James B. Powell and the daughter of the late Dr. Robert E. (Bob) Ellington and his wife, Helen Ellington, who served many years as distinguished ��Ƶ staff members.

“We are deeply saddened by Anne’s passing,” said ��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “For decades, she was among ��Ƶ’s most loyal advocates, serving on boards and committees, hosting university events in her home and telling the story of our university wherever she went. She and her family have generously contributed to every dimension of ��Ƶ’s growth, supporting scholarships, academic programs, and facilities – always focused on the student experience and excellence. We will always be grateful for her positive spirit and steadfast support.”

In 1986, the Anne Ellington Powell Master Artist Series was established by a gift by the Powells, bringing internationally renowned performers to ��Ƶ for nearly 20 years. In 1988 the Powells dedicated ��Ƶ’s Jimmy Powell Tennis Center to the memory of their first son, who died in early childhood.

Anne Ellington Powell joined ��Ƶ’s Board of Visitors in 2000. She served on the campaign leadership committee for the Ever ��Ƶ Campaign and was on the executive committee of the ��Ƶ Society. The Koury Business Center, which opened in 2006, includes the James B. and Anne Ellington Powell Lobby in recognition of the couple’s leadership support for the building’s construction.

The Powells have contributed to the R.N. Ellington Health Center, the “It Takes a Village” Project, several scholarship funds and ��Ƶ Athletics. The Powells also provided key funding for the Caroline E. Powell Building, the Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship and the T.E. Powell Endowed Professorship. They are members of two ��Ƶ giving societies, the Order of the Oak and the 1889 Society.

Anne Powell was also active in many Alamance County boards and organizations and supported efforts to increase support for K-12 education.

At the center of Anne’s life was her loving family, including her husband, Jim; their three children John Banks Powell, Ross Powell, M.D., and Helen Powell Bode, M.D.; her mother Helen Ellington; and many other loving relatives. She was a devoted friend to hundreds of people who cherished her.

From

Anne was preceded in death by her beloved son, James “Jimmy” Bobbitt Powell Jr.; her father, Dr. Robert “Bubba” Norwood Ellington; and her sister-in-law, Alison Westmoreland Ellington.

She is survived by her devoted husband of more than 41 years, Dr. James Bobbitt Powell; her mother, Helen Arendell Ellington; her brothers, Robert Norwood Ellington Jr. and Dr. Kenneth Scott Ellington (Linda); her sister, Ruth Helen Ellington; her son, John Banks Powell (Samantha) and their daughters, Maeve Eileen and Clara Banks; her son, Dr. James Rosser Powell; her daughter, Dr. Helen Powell Bode (Paul) and their children, Anne Arendell, John Bridges, and Mary Ellington; her stepdaughter, Daphne Powell Markcrow (Craig) and their children, Anna and Henry; along with countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends.

A Celebration of her life will be held at Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 12 p.m. A private family burial will precede the service, and the family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Duke’s Tisch Brain Tumor Center (Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710), ��Ƶ Tennis Program (CB #2615, ��Ƶ, NC 27244), or the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (269 Hanover Street, Building #3 Hanover, MA 02339).

Making an impact: Students contribute more than 88,000 hours of service

kanderson52 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:15:54 +0000

During the 2025-26 academic year, thousands of students contributed their time and talents to address community needs, strengthen local organizations, and build meaningful partnerships through curricular and co-curricular community engagement. The infographic below highlights the powerful impact that students, faculty, staff, and community partners have made together.

Alongside this infographic, these stories highlight some of the positive impact across campus through community partnerships during the past academic year:

��Ƶ Dance Team send-off video earns national SVG award

Tommy Kopetskie — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:38:36 +0000

A video celebrating one of the most successful seasons in ��Ƶ Dance Team history has earned national recognition for its ��Ƶ student production team.

Peter Sillitto ’26 (left) and Colin Dorroh ’27 celebrate after accepting a Sports Video Group College Sports Media Award during a May 27 ceremony in Atlanta.

The “��Ƶ Dance Team Send-Off” video, directed and edited by Peter Sillitto ’26 and produced in collaboration with the ��Ƶ Dance Team, received a Sports Video Group (SVG) College Sports Media Award for Outstanding In-Venue Video – Collegiate Student Championship. The award was presented May 27 in Atlanta during the 18th annual SVG College Sports Media Awards ceremony.

The honor came just weeks after the ��Ƶ Dance Team captured two national titles at the 2026 National Dance Association College National Championships, winning the Division I pom and Division I hip hop competitions. The back-to-back victories marked a historic achievement for the program, including ��Ƶ’s first national championship in the pom category.

Produced for the team’s trip to nationals, the video took a more narrative approach than previous send-off productions.

“Producing a send-off video is something we do every year, with the final piece being shown in the Schar Center and shared across social media,” said Sillitto, a cinema and television arts major. “This year, we wanted to take a more story-driven approach by focusing on the team’s journey to nationals. Our goal was to showcase not only their performances, but also the hard work, dedication and experiences that led them there.”

In addition to Sillitto, the student production team included Kristen Pearson ’27 and Meghan McGarrigle ’28 as producers; and Zack Golub ’26 and Colin Dorroh ’27 as creative producers and camera operators.

across multiple locations, capturing both cinematic visuals and authentic moments from practices, workouts and team activities.

“One of the biggest challenges was making sure we told the team’s real story, which meant being present and ready to film during genuine moments,” Sillitto said. “Capturing those authentic interactions and experiences was an important part of the creative process and helped make the final video feel more personal and meaningful.”

For Sillitto, the award reflects months of collaboration and effort from both the dancers and the production crew.

“I’m proud of the project because every year our goal is to create the best video possible, and we have a lot of creative freedom to experiment with new ideas and push ourselves creatively,” he said. “The final video represents months of hard work from both the dance team and the production crew, so we’re excited and grateful that the project has been recognized.”

Sillitto graduated from ��Ƶ in May and recently accepted a position with Booz Allen Hamilton as a videographer and social media content creator.

Sillitto and Dorroh attended the 2026 SVG College Summit in Atlanta alongside Anthony Bamford ’25, coordinating producer for ��Ƶ Sports Vision; Patrick Cunningham, director of live broadcast production for ��Ƶ Athletics; and students/recent graduates Philip Doherty ’26, Anthony Eppolito ’27 and Joey Marinello ’28.

This year marked another strong showing for ��Ƶ at the national competition – the university won its first-ever award in 2025. In addition to the winning ��Ƶ Dance Team send-off video, four other ��Ƶ productions were recognized as finalists in the Collegiate Student Championship division: “Football: ��Ƶ vs. North Carolina A&T,” “Strength Beyond the Game – Brodie Carroll,” “Win The Moment – Asher Cunningham” and “What It Takes – ��Ƶ Men’s Basketball Halftime Hype.”

Susan Rosenstiel named ��Ƶ women’s golf head coach

Avery Craine Powell — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:19:01 +0000

Chandler family makes generous gift to Slattery Center

Jaleh Hagigh — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:45:26 +0000

A recent gift from Bob and Amy Chandler continues a nearly 60-year tradition of the Chandler family’s philanthropic support of ��Ƶ.

The Chandlers remain impressed by ��Ƶ’s commitment to sound strategic planning and doing what’s best for students. It’s what inspired the couple’s gift to Slattery Center, the university’s new hub for health and wellness that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to succeed on campus and throughout their lives.

Scheduled to open later this year, Slattery Center is located within ��Ƶ’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs. The center is part of the university’s broader HealthEU initiative to serve students, faculty and staff.

“It adds value and is beneficial when you can provide a place where students can go to be in community, exercise, receive counseling and focus on their well-being,” said Bob Chandler, former executive vice president of Chandler Concrete Co. “This facility shows that the university is aware of the challenges students face and how to help them in all aspects of their health.”

Slattery Center is scheduled to open later this year.

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly ��Ƶ strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

The couple’s gift will also endow the Chandler Family Global Experience Fund, strengthening ��Ƶ’s commitment to provide each of the university’s 17 varsity teams with a global experience every four years.

“Global experiences are a cornerstone of an ��Ƶ education, and thanks to Bob and Amy Chandler, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the world while sharing their sport across cultures,” said Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics. “Bob and Amy are truly special people who value the holistic development of our student-athletes and their generosity will be felt for generations. I am deeply grateful for their many years of dedication to this university and for the profound difference they make in the lives of our student-athletes.”

“Our family has been sports fans for as long as I can remember. We love the energy and excitement athletics brings to campus and the opportunities it provides to students,” Bob Chandler said.

“��Ƶ is a national leader in global study, and we are thrilled to help provide this experience for student-athletes,” he added. “It’s essential that students have the opportunity to witness other cultures and encounter the differences and similarities of the people there. It provides tremendous growth for a person and a deeper understanding of the world.”

The Chandler family is among ��Ƶ’s most generous and devoted donors, helping to shape one of the finest learning environments in the nation through their gifts to Belk Library, Rhodes Stadium, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, Gerald L. Francis Center, Alumni Field House, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Schar Center, The Inn at ��Ƶ and Innovation Quad.

Bob Chandler’s parents, Tom and Lynn Chandler, also endowed the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Tom Chandler was the chairman and former CEO of Chandler Concrete, which he founded in 1973, and he served on ��Ƶ’s Board of Trustees for more than two decades before being elected Life Trustee in 2021. In 2023, Tom Chandler received the ��Ƶ Medallion, the university’s highest honor.

“��Ƶ’s trajectory shows remarkable advancement,” Bob Chandler said. “��Ƶ has a vision of what’s to come and how to keep the university moving forward. It is a vibrant and thriving university that is gratifying for the students, faculty and community.”

The university’s influence extends far beyond the campus.

“The impact that ��Ƶ has on Alamance County and the region is significant, and we feel it’s important for our family to support the university,” Bob said. “It’s a community that we are proud to be part of.”

Commencement 2026: Simrin Carlsen G’26 connects purpose, data and people at ��Ƶ

Diane Swenson — Wed, 20 May 2026 15:28:28 +0000

Simrin Carlsen G’26 will tell you Central Jersey exists.

She will also tell you Edison, New Jersey, her hometown, has a tower honoring Thomas Edison. She has visited once.

“It was electric,” Carlsen joked.

That quick humor is part of what makes Carlsen easy to talk to. But underneath the wit is a student-athlete with a clear sense of purpose, a sharp analytical mind and a deep interest in work that keeps people at the center.

Carlsen came to ��Ƶ with one season of volleyball eligibility, a public health background and a question she was still working through: What comes next?

The answer, as it turned out, involved a familiar coach, a new team and a graduate program that helped her see how data could support the kind of mission-driven work she had always cared about.

Carlsen, a Master of Science in Business Analytics student, earned undergraduate degrees in public health and environmental science from Johns Hopkins University. She had spent much of her academic and professional experience drawn to work with a clear purpose, especially in public health and environmental science.

“What stayed consistent for me was wanting to do work that felt mission-driven,” Carlsen said. “I wanted to be part of work that had a clear purpose and could make a meaningful difference for people.”

After completing her undergraduate degree, Carlsen was considering her next step when she reconnected with Matt Troy, who had coached her at Johns Hopkins and was named ��Ƶ’s head volleyball coach in December 2024.

Simrin Carlsen G’26 receives the Team MVP award from Coach Matt Troy during the 2026 Phoenix Athletic Awards at Schar Center

Carlsen still had one year of athletic eligibility remaining after an injury earlier in her college career, and Troy saw an opportunity for her to help shape a new chapter for ��Ƶ volleyball.

For Carlsen, the possibility of coming to ��Ƶ was about more than playing one more season.

“I knew I wanted to continue my education eventually, but I wanted it to feel purposeful,” Carlsen said. “The MSBA program felt like something I could fully invest in.”

Carlsen said the one-year structure, technical focus and support for students from different academic backgrounds made the program feel like the right fit. She saw it as a way to build the skills she wanted while staying connected to work that keeps people at the center.

“Hopkins gave me a strong foundation,” Carlsen said. “At ��Ƶ, I saw an opportunity to build on that with technical skills that would help me become a stronger employee and decision-maker.”

Carlsen found that ��Ƶ’s MSBA curriculum paired technical skills with practical application. In one trimester, she studied Python and Tableau in Assistant Professor Long Xia’s data visualization course while also taking “Business for the Greater Good” with Associate Professor Elena Kennedy.

For Carlsen, the pairing helped her understand analytics as more than numbers or software. It was also about how information is shared, understood and used.

“You’re getting the technical foundations,” Carlsen said, “but also learning how to translate those findings in a way that is ethical and makes sense to other stakeholders.”

That connection became clearer through her internship with Cone Health, where she worked on patient experience projects. The role helped her see how health care organizations can use data to identify gaps in care, understand patient experiences and make more informed decisions.

Carlsen at her internship with Cone Health

“I got to work on a whole bunch of different projects and figure out how every part of health care touches patient experience,” Carlsen said.

The experience helped confirm the direction she hopes to pursue after graduation.

“Ideally, it would be a role that is people-centric, but also uses analytics to make decisions and hopefully make their lives better,” Carlsen said.

Carlsen’s ��Ƶ experience also helped her understand leadership in a new way.

In a course taught by Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Carlsen examined her own leadership style, practiced negotiation and worked through real-world scenarios involving conflict, influence and decision-making.

The timing was meaningful. She was coming off her final collegiate volleyball season and beginning to think about how the leadership skills she had built as an athlete could translate into professional settings.

“It was a class based on identifying your own leadership strategies and the way that you lead,” Carlsen said. “It was very tangible.”

Carlsen said Mercado brought leadership concepts to life by creating a discussion-based environment where students could connect course material to their own experiences.

“You can lecture all day long about leadership,” Carlsen said. “But what made the class meaningful was the way she shared real examples and encouraged us to think about how leadership shows up in our own lives.”

Carlsen stands with two classmates in front of her Cone Health Office of Patient Experience Internship research poster

Carlsen had spent more than a decade learning those lessons on the volleyball court.

She began playing around age 11 after watching her older sister play. She was drawn to the communication, shared responsibility and constant movement of the sport.

“There are six of you on the court. Everyone is touching the ball at some point,” Carlsen said. “Everything is a team effort.”

At Johns Hopkins, Carlsen competed on a successful Division III team that regularly reached the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four appearance during her senior season. At ��Ƶ, she stepped into something different: a new team, a new coaching staff

For Carlsen, coming to ��Ƶ was never about stepping into an established program. It was about being invited into one.

“Coach Troy gave me an opportunity I will always be grateful for,” Carlsen said. “I got to come here, work alongside an incredible group of players and help build something we could all be proud of. And I got to do it while getting an education that genuinely changed how I think. I couldn’t have asked for more than that.”

One of Carlsen’s favorite ��Ƶ volleyball memories came at Towson, the CAA leader that entered the weekend on an 18-match winning streak.

After dropping the opening match of the weekend, the ��Ƶ team came back the next day with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“When you’re building something new, there’s a freedom to it. Every match is a chance to show people, and yourself, what you’re capable of,” she said.

The Phoenix pushed Towson to five sets and won the final set 17-15, snapping the Tigers’ winning streak and giving ��Ƶ its first win over Towson since 2022.

“It felt really good to beat someone that hadn’t been beaten in a long time,” Carlsen said.

That same mix of grit, humor and initiative carried through her graduate year. Carlsen moved to ��Ƶ knowing Coach Troy and almost no one else. The cohort structure of the MSBA program helped change that. Students took classes together, worked through the same challenges and built friendships through the intensity of a one-year graduate program.

A January study abroad experience in Madrid and Milan became a turning point for the cohort. The group visited companies, learned about international business practices and spent enough time together outside the classroom to become more than classmates.

Carlsen with the MSBA students in front of the Colosseum in Rome.

“You’re going out to dinner, you’re exploring a city, you’re in it together,” Carlsen said. “That was the point where we were all like, ‘Why not be friends?’”

The trip also gave Carlsen a broader view of how culture shapes business. In Spain, the group met with a U.S. commercial diplomat who discussed adapting to a more relationship-driven business culture. In Italy, students learned about the significance of “Made in Italy” goods and the role of craftsmanship, pace and cultural identity in business.

For a student interested in how decisions are made, the experience reinforced that analytics does not exist in a vacuum. Data helps people make choices, but those choices are always shaped by context.

Carlsen also found support through the Porter Family Professional Development Center, especially from Amanda Traugutt, senior associate director of career services – Love School of Business.

Carlsen reached out shortly after moving to ��Ƶ, bringing what she described as “a ton of really big ideas” about life after graduation. Traugutt helped her narrow them down, polish application materials and think more intentionally about possible career paths.

“She will walk with you where you are, but a few steps ahead to help lead you in the right direction,” Carlsen said. “She’s your biggest cheerleader.”

As graduation approaches, Carlsen is looking forward to sharing the moment with the people who understand what the year required. The MSBA program is fast, intense and, for Carlsen, layered with practices, lifts, games, travel, classes and an internship.

Her advice to future students is simple: take initiative.

“The best things that have come up for me have been direct products or byproducts of taking initiative,” Carlsen said.

That includes building relationships with professors, using career resources, connecting with classmates, and paying attention to the opportunities that appear along the way.

“I didn’t come in with a business background,” Carlsen said. “But I am leaving more confident in my ability to hold my ground in conversations about business and analytics.”

������Ƶ Phoenix Athletics | Today at ������Ƶ | ������Ƶ

Opening Day 2026: ������Ƶ celebrates progress and success while mapping the path ahead