“It’s one thing to understand your ancestry and genealogy,” Moreau said. “But it’s another thing to think about what it means to be part of a nation and what self-governance looks like for the Métis today.” (Submitted photo)

Growing up in the center of Toronto, Carolina senior and 2026 Rhodes scholar Gabrielle Moreau didn’t always feel connected to her Métis ancestry.

But in elementary school, Moreau began to learn about the Métis from her paternal grandmother in Winnipeg and her efforts to research her family’s ancestry. Moreau’s grandmother traced her family’s heritage back to the Red River Métis of Manitoba in central Canada.

“Her own family did not talk about their Métis roots growing up, as it would have been a sign of inferiority to be known as a ‘half-breed,’” Moreau said. “What has motivated me to involve myself in the Métis community is a desire to understand authentically what my ancestry is and to honor the ancestors from my grandmother’s side of the family who were not able to say with pride that they were Métis.”
That discovery shaped Moreau’s identity and set her on an academic path inextricably linked to her Métis heritage.

Moreau is passionate about addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities through elevating Indigenous environmental knowledge within climate policy.

A Robertson scholar, Moreau majors in geography in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences and environmental sciences and policy at Duke University. She served on the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council since 2020 and interned with the Harvard Project on Indigenous governance and development. Her research allowed Moreau to learn from Indigenous communities across the globe.

With the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, Moreau will continue her studies at the University of Oxford, where she plans to pursue a Master of Science in nature, society and environmental governance.

“When I first got the call that I got the Rhodes, I was sitting at my kitchen table in disbelief,” said Moreau, one of three Tar Heel seniors to earn the 2026 honor.

“It took a while for it to really sink in, and now that it has, I feel incredibly grateful that there’s a whole community of people that believe in me and think that this kind of work is important.”

Moreau witnessed the resilience of Indigenous communities firsthand through study abroad opportunities at Carolina and Duke. In northeast Cambodia, she heard how Bunong Indigenous peoples responded to state-initiated land grabs and economic intensification. Through Students on Ice, Moreau traveled to the Canadian Arctic and to learn how Inuit communities involved in conservation maintain their lifeways despite visible effects of climate change, including sea level rise.

“Even though these places are undergoing rapid transformations brought about by global warming and state actions, I’ve been struck by how resilient communities are,” Moreau said. “The very challenges predicted to accompany climate change — poverty, displacement, loss of connection to the land — are challenges Indigenous communities have navigated for centuries as a result of colonization. Communities continue to enact visions of the future and of how achieving a more just and honorable way of living is possible.”

Moreau studied the history of the Métis nation and visited Batoche, site of the last battle of the North-West Resistance, led by several Métis leaders including her ancestor Louis Riel. Moreau also enjoys doing Métis floral beadwork in her spare time.

Through her work on the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council, she connected with other Métis youth and helped organize events to learn about aspects of Métis culture and discuss “what it means to be Métis right now.”

“It’s one thing to understand your ancestry and genealogy,” Moreau said. “But it’s another thing to think about what it means to be part of a nation and what self-governance looks like for the Métis today. How might we envision collective futures in a world where climate change is bringing environmental change and threats of political marginalization, drawing on responsibilities to other Indigenous communities, to past and future generations and to the land itself?”

That Métis pride has become central to Moreau’s identity, and it’s a guiding force as she aims to empower marginalized Indigenous communities worldwide.

By Michael Lananna, University Communications and Marketing

The post Her Métis heritage influences work on climate justice appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Deniz Erdal met his fiancée, Kathryn Haenni ’24, while the two were on an Honors Carolina Burch Field Research Seminar together the summer of 2023. The two are pictured here outside of Salzburg, Austria. (Submitted photo)

The graduate program Deniz Erdal is about to complete is what convinced him to choose UNC-Chapel Hill for his undergraduate education in 2020.

The Turkish American student from Columbus, Ohio, was awarded assured admission to Carolina’s TransAtlantic Masters program as a high school senior set on majoring in contemporary European studies.

He was sold on that path and soon learned that Chapel Hill was a great place to be.

“Euro-TAM really drew me in,” said Erdal, who speaks Turkish, German and a bit of Arabic. “Once I was on campus, I fell in love with the Bell Tower and the Old Well.”

Six years later, Erdal ’24, ’26 (TAM) said his plan couldn’t have gone any better.

As an undergraduate, he served as president of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies and worked in Student Government for three years. Erdal even met his fiancée, Kathryn Haenni ’24, the summer of 2023 while studying in Bosnia and Herzegovina during an Honors Carolina Burch Field Research Seminar.

Erdal recently returned from Humboldt University of Berlin, the partner institution he picked through TAM, a program in which he’ll earn two political science master’s degrees — one from Carolina and one from Humboldt — focusing on contemporary Europe, its institutions and politics, and the trans-Atlantic relationship. TAM students study in Chapel Hill for one or two semesters before spending the rest of their time at one of seven partner universities across six European nations.

Enjoying ‘the Tar Heel community’ overseas

Erdal completed his undergraduate education and graduated from Carolina in 2024. As an undergraduate, he served as president of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies and worked in Student Government for three years. (Submitted photo)

Erdal said Humboldt is one of the most popular European universities among TAM students and that he had a great experience living in the German capital.

“I absolutely love Berlin,” he said. “It’s such a lively and interesting city, but I also really appreciated having the Tar Heel community there.”

Erdal was one of nine TAM students there, including his two roommates.

“I really appreciate how, through programs like this, Carolina gives students a global perspective and can tie the entire world back to North Carolina,” Erdal said.

Erdal returned to the U.S. in February and is now finishing up his master’s thesis. Erdal is completing a quantitative analysis on how economic conditions affected support for incumbent politicians from 2000 to 2025 across the 38 nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

While flip rates have increased dramatically post-COVID, Erdal hasn’t found a strong correlation between macroeconomic indicators and incumbent support. “This ties into post-material social cleavages, whereby people vote not based on their material interests but more out of social identifiers,” he said.

As an undergraduate, Erdal paired his contemporary European studies major with an information science major.

That’s proved useful, both in the TAM program and in searching for a job in New York City, where he’ll move with his fiancée for her graduate education at Columbia University this fall.

“I’m looking for positions in think tanks or international relations consultancies,” Erdal said. “Anywhere I can put the data analysis and area studies expertise UNC has given me to good use.”

Erdal and his fiancée fell for one another — literally and figuratively — during their Burch summer research in the Balkans. Their introduction came when Haenni tripped on a balcony chair and landed in Erdal’s arms.

“I think we knew we were going to get married by the third week of the trip,” he said.

As he prepares to graduate from Carolina for a second time, Erdal is grateful that his experience aligns with the University’s guarantee to offer a global education to all students.

“Carolina has given me great friends, an incredible education and my soon-to-be wife,” Erdal said. “I absolutely love Carolina. Unlike my fiancée, I wasn’t a Tar Heel born. But I’ll certainly be a Tar Heel for life.”

By Brennan Doherty, University Communications and Marketing

The post Some of his best Tar Heel experiences were trans-Atlantic appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Jen Youngstrom (left) and Jennifer Kirby co-direct the Psychology and Neuroscience Department Community Clinic.

In restaurant kitchens nationwide, when workers hear the words “behind you,” they know that a co-worker is close by. It’s a critically important phrase in an industry where sharp tools, loud environments, close quarters, high stress and long shifts are part of the job.

In 2020, the nonprofit Southern Smoke Foundation launched its mental health program, appropriately named Behind You, to provide access to no-cost mental health counseling sessions for food and beverage workers.

In a new partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill that was announced on May 4, North Carolina will become the 13th state to offer Southern Smoke’s Behind You program to the state’s food and beverage workers through the Psychology and Neuroscience Department Community Clinic.

“We are proud to partner with the Southern Smoke Foundation to provide accessible mental health care to North Carolina’s food and beverage workforce,” said Jennifer Kirby, Ph.D., clinic director of adult services and training and clinical professor in the psychology and neuroscience department in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to community service and provides invaluable clinical training opportunities for our graduate students while addressing a real need in our state.”

A long history of community service

The clinical psychology graduate program at UNC-Chapel Hill has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1949 and is one of the oldest in the country.

For over 15 years, the program has ranked within the top 10 graduate psychology programs nationally, currently at No. 3.

The Community Clinic trains clinical psychology graduate students and some social work graduate students in state-of-the-art, evidence-based assessment and treatment methods, serving approximately 200 clients a year, from preschool through adulthood. The clinic provides high-quality, affordable services and supports clinical research that advances the field.

The clinic is co-directed by Kirby and Jen Youngstrom, Ph.D., director of child services, assessment and training, who is also a clinical professor in the psychology and neuroscience department.

Expanding mental health access

Kirby said she is excited about the opportunity to reach North Carolina’s food and beverage workers. Through Behind You, these workers will have access to 20 no-cost, evidence-based counseling sessions provided by graduate student trainees under licensed supervision. Behind You is being offered at no cost to employers and their staff.

Services will be available either through telehealth sessions or in-person, providing flexibility for food and beverage workers’ demanding schedules.

“We are here to serve our community,” Kirby said. “That begins at home with the University, expands to the Research Triangle area and to the whole state of North Carolina. We want to be here to support those who need it most. Food and beverage workers experience an intense, fast-paced work environment. We are excited to have a new opportunity to reach them through this partnership with the Southern Smoke Foundation.”

North Carolina has one of the most vibrant food and beverage communities in the country, according to Catarina Bill, chief mission officer at the Southern Smoke Foundation. “These workers face unique mental health challenges: long hours, financial instability and high stress-environments,” she said. “What’s made North Carolina stand out is the remarkable way its industry has rallied around its own. We’re honored to partner with UNC-Chapel Hill to bring Behind You services and dedicated support to the state.”

Behind You addresses a critical gap in mental health care access. To date, the Southern Smoke Foundation has provided access to more than 11,000 no-cost counseling sessions. In 2025, 58% of Behind You clients received counseling for the first time or returned after more than five years due to barriers including cost, limited clinician availability and time constraints.

Applications for the North Carolina program will open July 1, with services expected to begin in September. Food and beverage workers can learn more and apply directly on the Southern Smoke website at https://southernsmoke.org/mental-health/.

By Kim Spurr, College of Arts and Sciences

The post Supporting food and beverage workers’ mental health appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Senior Jack Ross (pictured in Murphey Hall), uncovered fascinating details about a collection of ancient Roman coins that were donated to the classics department in the 1960s, including discovering eight previously unknown coin types hidden in the collection. (photo by Donn Young)

For around 20 years, a collection of 109 Roman coins sat on a dusty shelf in a small metal box in Murphey Hall.

Jack Ross, a senior classical archaeology and anthropology major, became the perfect person to figure out what to do with them.

Ross first fell in love with coins as a teenager when his uncle gifted him a 40-year-old lockbox of coins from his uncle’s childhood. Ross was also fascinated with ancient history, devouring books like The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, featuring the adventures of the Kane siblings and their father, Julius, a brilliant Egyptologist.

With guidance from faculty mentor Jennifer Gates-Foster, an associate professor in the classics department,  Ross went on a journey of discovery — uncovering more of the story about how the 109 Roman coins first arrived at Carolina while creating detailed documentation about them.

With support from the Kimball King Undergraduate Research Award from Honors Carolina and the Office for Undergraduate Research, Ross made the coins — the newly-named Rogers Collection — the focus of his honors thesis.

Two coins in the collection, from left, a silver “legionary Denarius” of Marc Antony (date: 32-31 BCE) and a bronze “Gaius Caligula” (date: 37-41 CE). The reverse side of the coin on the right features Neptune holding a dolphin in his right hand and a trident in his left. (photo by Donn Young)

The collection’s origin story: A Duke-Tar Heel connection

Robert S. Rogers, a philologist who taught at Duke University, was a guest professor off and on for several years in the early to mid-’60s in UNC-Chapel Hill’s classics department.

Shortly before his unexpected death, Rogers left a collection of coins for safekeeping with his good friend, Carolina classics professor Emeline Hill Richardson. Eventually the coins made their way to classics professor Rebecca Smith, who created an original provisional catalog of the coins about 20 years ago.

Over the course of a year, Ross transformed the coin collection — conserving and rehousing them in protective sleeves using archival-quality materials, crafting detailed historical analyses on each coin and creating a digital catalog with support from the Carolina Digital Repository.

“I really wanted to get students interested in the study of coins or numismatics,” Ross said. “Our discipline is very small, but it’s a tight-knit community. I hope in rehabilitating the coins that it can help introduce people to this field.”

As part of his thesis, with inspiration from Gates-Foster, Ross also developed lesson plans with high-resolution photographs of the coins and classroom writing assignments that can be used in CLAR/ARTH247, “Roman Art and Archaeology,” The assignments focus on the themes “Empire and Identity” and “Representation and Power.”

A remarkable discovery and help from the British Museum

Along the way, Ross also made an important discovery: eight previously unknown Roman coin types hidden within the collection.

Initially he encountered major roadblocks in identifying the coins. He consulted with some of the most well-known numismatists in the world at the British Museum to help verify his findings. Ross said he was “the luckiest guy in the world” to make those connections.

“They were so kind and helpful, and I was genuinely awestruck,” Ross said. “I was able to connect with some of the most famous people in the field doing important work in modern times on these ancient coins. I never thought that I would find so many unique pieces in this small collection.”

Ross hopes to publish the findings with Gates-Foster. She said she’s incredibly proud of what he has accomplished.

“Jack’s project is a fantastic example of how a student’s interest — in his case, coins and numismatics — can grow from a personal hobby into a targeted, focused project with real-world outcomes that he is carrying forward into his professional life,” Gates-Foster said. “His study of this forgotten collection has created a resource for this campus that will be valuable for future generations of students and faculty, but along the way he has also made a significant contribution to our global understanding of ancient Roman coin types.”

Ross is taking his lifelong love of coins to a career.

After Commencement, he will move to Dallas, Texas, for an internship as a numismatic analyst at Heritage Auctions, the largest auction house in the country.

Future plans include graduate study in ancient coins.

By Kim Spurr, College of Arts and Sciences

The post How a near-forgotten Roman coin collection became this senior’s honors thesis appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

At Spring Commencement, Luke Elliott will be able to congratulate his fellow Tar Heel graduates in more than eight different languages.

Thanks to his Carolina education, he’s also sharing his knowledge with others.

His first language is English, but he can also speak German, Italian and Spanish at a high level. He is conversational in Portuguese and Russian and has practiced Norwegian and Dutch. He has also studied Swahili, Persian and a few other languages to have a basic understanding but is still working on learning to speak them.

At Carolina, Elliott took “German for Educational and Community Engagement,” a class that taught him how to teach languages. The course connected him with the German International School of the Triangle in Raleigh, where he is teaching German to pre-K and kindergarten students.

“I’ve developed my language skills to much higher levels, which I’m hoping to use in a long-term professional setting,” he said. “Learning to teach languages also opened an entirely different avenue than just translation and interpretation.”

Elliott says Carolina has prepared him to practice classroom management and lesson planning. He loves working with kids but would also love to teach older age groups in the future.

“It’s a different atmosphere than teaching high school or college aged students because you’re essentially trying to play with the children in the target language. It has been so fun getting to directly apply my academics to my work even before I graduate,” said Elliott.

Elliott started learning languages during his sophomore year of high school. His mom, Deidria, taught at a school in Morganton, North Carolina, where most students were Spanish speakers.

Elliott started volunteering there, and after a few months, he became proficient in Spanish. Inspired, he wanted to try integrating other languages into his learning and never stopped. His high school Spanish teacher also spoke Russian, something that piqued his interest to branch out linguistically.

“I also saw a news special or something about a teenager who spoke a bunch of languages, and I just thought, ‘Oh, I could try to do that, too,’” said Elliott.

Elliott attended Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute for one year before transferring to Carolina in 2022. A lifelong Tar Heels fan, he only ever wanted to go to Carolina, and it was the only transfer application he submitted.

“Fortunately, I made some of my best friends immediately at UNC, so it wasn’t a difficult adjustment at all,” said Elliott. “I have also really loved my academic studies, but the social side of UNC has been fantastic. I’ve made some of the best friends I could have here.”

Elliott has a busy May. Three weeks after Commencement, he’ll marry his fiancée, Maggie Vaughn, in her first year at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Vaughn has three years left of dental school, so they will be living in Chapel Hill. Elliott hopes to work as a language teacher during that time.

“I’m looking forward to seeing where my languages might bring me and hope I’ll be able to use them to serve others. With teaching, I would love to share the feeling I get from speaking another language with others,” said Elliott. “I have changed a lot in college. Carolina has played a large part in sharpening and developing my skills and helping me orient towards a specific career direction.”

By Caroline Daly, University Communications and Marketing

The post Luke Elliott teaches his languages appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Carolina gives students the tools and resources needed to successfully prepare for all kinds of careers, including military service.

Senior Scott Groome found community, received training and grew as a leader by joining the UNC Naval ROTC.

This past year, Groome served as battalion commanding officer, overseeing the roughly 40 midshipmen and enlisted Marines in the unit.

“I oversee all of their training, make sure their development is strong and that everyone’s progressing so, eventually, they’ll commission as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps,” said Groome, an Atlanta native majoring in peace, war and defense and minoring in naval science.

Following graduation, Groome will head to Pensacola, Florida, to train as a student naval aviator.

University photographer Johnny Andrews caught up with Groome near the beginning of his senior year on service selection day in September 2025 and circled back with him weeks before graduation, including at the Naval ROTC’s year-end awards ceremony and farewell picnic.

Sept. 25, 2025

“It’s called service selection day. You submit an application, around August, for the different branch communities that you want to go into (after graduation). I’d put pilot first and was just waiting to hear back the results. I remember a lot of thoughts were going through my head. I was definitely stressed out. This is the culminating point of four years of work. In my head, I was just trying to relax a little bit and just wait for the decision to happen.”

Sept. 25, 2025

“I was a little anxious because they put the framed photo of what I’d gotten in front of me, but it was flipped over. I was like, ‘All I need to do is just flip this over, but I have to wait and be patient to let our commanding officer, Capt. (Brian) Tanaka, finish his words.’ Then he said, ‘Do you feel the need for speed?’ which is the line from the ‘Top Gun’ movie. I said, ‘Yes, sir. I do.’ So yeah, then I knew. I flipped over the frame and … just pure joy. Super excited. Happy. I think I was letting out some yells. It was great.”

Sept. 25, 2025

“When I was walking out, pure joy is really all I was feeling. It was heartwarming to see that so many people wanted to come out to support and hear the decision — a good chunk of the battalion. There’s a lot of ups and downs with the military. Right now, I’m first class, and I’m at the top of the food chain in ROTC. But I’m about to be commissioned, then I’m back at the bottom of the food chain. Same for flight schools, ups and downs. At that moment, it was the highest of the highs. My mom always says, ‘Your accolades today have no effect on tomorrow.’ So I’m just keeping myself humble as I go through.”

April 16, 2026

“Midshipman 2nd Class Wade Guerra is one of my closest friends. I’ve helped him a lot with studying for the ASTB, which is the Naval aviation test. A lot of midshipmen here want to become Navy pilots. I was blessed for being selected for pilot, so I know how to take the test and the tips and tricks to succeed on it. I wanted to make sure all the younger midshipmen had that opportunity, so I started an ASTB study hall this semester.”

April 16, 2026

“It’s been an interesting four years because it’s just been me as the Navy option. My really close friend, Ava Acton (lower left), is the only Marine option, so it’s just been us working in parallel while trying to figure out what we need to do for our branch. Seriously, she’s been my foundation and my rock on a lot of things, and I’ve been the same for her. Without Ava I wouldn’t get to where I am today. You get the sense that this is a very tight-knit community for such a prestigious university. I’m going to miss that the most.”

April 23, 2026

“It’s the UNC Naval ROTC battalion flag. The guidon is all symbology and represents the commanding officer role. Command Master Chief Marshall Combs passes it to me, and then I pass it on to the next commanding officer, Midshipman 2nd Class Susanna Imperato. It’s all ceremonial, me passing on my legacy to her.”

April 23, 2026

“The award is the George Herbert Leadership Award. (George Herbert) was a UNC Navy alumnus, and the award goes to the top Navy first class senior for exhibiting leadership and mentorship skills. It was nice to be recognized for the work that I’ve put in the past four years.”

April 23, 2026

“Carolina has given me everything. If you make the most of the opportunities that this unit and the school give you, you’re going to be set up in such a great place for the future. This is your foundation that’s going to carry you on for years and years. It’s bittersweet. I love Carolina. I’m going to miss this place so much, but I’m also excited for the next chapter.”

By Johnny Andrews, University Communications and Marketing

The post Scott Groome is ready for flight school appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Eric Church returns to Carolina as 2026 Spring Commencement speaker. (Submitted photo)

Country music superstar Eric Church has traveled the world performing songs for millions of fans. He’s played concerts in the United States, Scotland, Ireland, England, Holland, Norway, Sweden — just to name a few. Through it all, one thing kept him connected to North Carolina.

“Early on in my career, I traveled a lot. Even though I was tired, every night at 3 or 4 a.m. I would stay up to watch Carolina basketball just to feel closer to home,” said Church. “To this day, I carry North Carolina with me wherever I am. North Carolina — it’s home, right?”

Church is coming home to Carolina to deliver the Spring Commencement address May 9 in Kenan Stadium, imparting wisdom and advice to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Class of 2026.

A Tar Heel rising to stardom

Church was born and raised in the western North Carolina town of Granite Falls. The Tar Heels were always close to his heart.

“I’m a born, bred, dead guy. I can’t really remember a time when my identity wasn’t being a North Carolina fan,” Church said. “I didn’t know a lot about myself at 7 or 8, but I knew I was a Tar Heel. That’s the way I was raised. My dad would even introduce us as Tar Heels. I knew I wasn’t Wolfpack, and I wasn’t a Blue Devil. I was a Tar Heel. My entire life has been built around being a Tar Heel.”

He bought his first guitar at 13 and started writing songs soon after. As a high school senior, Church performed around his hometown, then he attended Appalachian State University, where he played locally with his band, The Mountain Boys.

Church moved to Nashville after graduating to pursue his music career. He released his first album, “Sinners Like Me,” in 2006, but it was his 2011 album, “Chief,” that propelled him on a path to stardom. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won multiple Album of the Year awards.

“If I had a regular job and wasn’t doing this, when I finished that job, every night I would go home and pick up a guitar and play songs because I love it,” said Church. “The more you do what you love, the more confidence you get from doing that.”

Giving back to North Carolina

Church’s love for North Carolina shone through relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, which hit western North Carolina in late September 2024.

Alongside fellow North Carolinian Luke Combs, Church hosted the “Concert for Carolina” in Charlotte on Oct. 26, 2024, with performances from Billy Strings, James Taylor and more.

“My favorite part was the collection of talent that all came together for that night to play a show and raise money,” said Church. “To get those acts to come in and do something like that and the spirit in which they did it was the most unique thing I’ve been involved with musically.”

The concert had a record-setting attendance of more than 82,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium and raised over $24 million for hurricane relief.

Through his longstanding Chief Cares Fund, Church dedicated proceeds to establishing the Blueprint for the Blue Ridge initiative, building homes in Avery County where hurricane victims receive housing rent-free and will eventually receive deeds to the homes.

Coming back home

Coming home to Carolina means a lot to Church, and he’s excited to share his love of Carolina with his fellow Tar Heels in the Class of 2026.

And keep your eyes peeled – you may even run into him around Chapel Hill getting his favorite burger at Sutton’s Drug Store, wearing his famous sunglasses.

By Caroline Daly, University Communications and Marketing

The post Carolina is calling Eric Church home appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Evianna Merriam ’25 pursued marine science research and teacher training at Carolina through the School of Education’s BEST program. (Submitted photo)

Evianna Merriam put childhood inspirations into use while earning her bachelor’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill.

She grew up in Portland, Maine, in a log cabin between the mountains and the ocean, surroundings that fostered a love for science and nature. In elementary school, Merriam developed teaching skills by helping her younger sister, Avella, with math and science homework. She later tutored high school friends and helped teach a chemistry class.

Merriam remembers her calculus teacher asking if she’d considered becoming a teacher. She dismissed the idea but kept the thought in the back of her mind.

“Looking back, I realize many of my teachers recognized something I hadn’t fully seen yet in myself,” said Merriam.

Merriam, who will celebrate her accomplishments at Spring Commencement on May 9, brought it all together at Carolina by majoring in environmental science and minoring in marine science and education, through the UNC School of Education’s baccalaureate education in science and teaching program.

“Attending UNC has been a dream of mine since I was a young child. I was drawn to its strong traditions, academic excellence and the opportunity to learn from world-renowned faculty,” said Merriam. “Beyond that, the sense of community and beauty of the campus made it feel like a place where I could truly grow both academically and personally. The community brings people together from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, creating an environment that is diverse and supportive.”

Finding the BEST program

Merriam participated in fieldwork along the North Carolina coast as part of her research with the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. (Submitted photo)

During her first year at Carolina, Merriam’s mom asked her a simple question: What brings her the most joy?

“I realized I felt most fulfilled when I was helping others learn. That led me to explore education pathways and ultimately the BEST program, which was the perfect fit,” she said.

The program is designed for students passionate about teaching science or mathematics and eager to make a real impact in North Carolina classrooms. Its 24-credit hour pathway leads to teaching licensure in four years. Undergraduates pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, geological science, physics or mathematics and then take education courses and complete a student-teaching internship.

“I appreciate how structured and intentional the program is at making it manageable to pair with a science major,” said Merriam. “My professors, advisers and peers are deeply invested in supporting future educators.”

Merriam taught at East Chapel Hill High School, fulfilling her love of teaching from a young age.

“Through the School of Education, I’ve gained a strong foundation in educational theory, instructional strategies, and classroom management. More importantly, I’ve learned how to support diverse learners and build meaningful relationships with students,” said Merriam. “Teaching in the classroom has taught me far more than I could have imagined. It has shown me the importance of flexibility, empathy and truly understanding students as individuals.”

Merriam will continue marine science research at the Bald Head Island Conservancy after graduating in May. (Submitted photo)

Diving into scientific research

Aside from student teaching, Merriam did research in Morehead City through the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. She worked with veterinarian Greg Lewbart, collecting data on wild cnidarian (aquatic invertebrates) along the North Carolina coast. In addition to her fieldwork, she conducted a literature review to examine how climate change may impact the proliferation of cnidarian species.

She’ll continue that work after graduation, working at the Bald Head Island Conservancy with Lewbart. She hopes to work in conservation and teach high school math and science.

“The program emphasized learning through evidence-based inquiry and real-world observation, which allowed me to deeply understand the material,” said Merriam. “The hands-on nature of the experience and frequent fieldwork made the learning incredibly immersive.”

By Caroline Daly, University Communications and Marketing

The post This senior finds purpose through teaching and research appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

Shiva Rajbhandari and Faith Austin are Carolina’s first pair of Truman scholars selected in the same year, recognized for their leadership and commitment to public service. (Submitted photos)

It’s the first time in 22 years two Tar Heels earned the public service and leadership honor.

UNC-Chapel Hill juniors Shiva Rajbhandari and Faith Austin are 2026 Truman scholars, the first two from Carolina selected in the same year since 2004.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation announced the class of 55 scholars April 24. For almost 50 years, the Truman scholarship has recognized college juniors demonstrating exceptional leadership potential and a commitment to public service careers. Truman scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school leadership development activities and join a network of over 3,500 who have shaped public policy, law, healthcare, education and more.

Rajbhandari is a Morehead-Cain scholar and Honors Carolina student majoring in public policy and sociology in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. Austin is a Roberston scholar and Honors Carolina student studying history and Germanic and Slavic languages and literatures, also in the College.

“Carolina is a top three public university for Truman scholars, underscoring the University’s leadership in public service,” said Marc Howlett, executive director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in Honors Carolina. “This is a remarkable achievement.”

Rajbhandari focuses on public good

In his LinkedIn biography, Rajbhandari asks, “How can I best advance the public good?”

That question has been a guiding principle for him since childhood. Growing up in Boise, Idaho, Rajbhandari saw the effects of climate change in the form of annual wildfires and worsening air quality. Rajbhandari began organizing for climate justice in the ninth grade, and at 18 became the first high schooler ever elected to the Boise School Board.

At Carolina, Rajbhandari said he’s become more “well rounded” as a public servant, crediting experiences as an Agora Fellow, Carolina Diplomacy Fellow and more.

Research for a Carolina Student Training and Research course he taught on resistance to authoritarianism took him to Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Mexico. He also led efforts to establish Carolina Students Financial, a student-run, not-for-profit financial institution projected to open in August.

“Public schools made me who I am. I feel really lucky and grateful to a lot of mentors who have helped me on this process,” Rajbhandari said. “UNC makes becoming a public servant possible and encourages you to do it. I’ve already gotten to work with a lot of the top leaders who care about advancing the public good.”

Rajbhandari aspires to work at a federal level deploying clean energy in public schools.

Austin looks to the stars

There’s no limit to Austin’s passion for public service — not even the sky.

Inspired by her experiences at Carolina, Duke University and in both universities’ Air Force ROTC programs, Austin will commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Space Force after graduation to fulfill her active-duty service commitment before attending law school.

This unique career path combines many of Austin’s academic interests and skills, as well as her desire to serve her country and the world. At Carolina, Austin has studied history and multilateral diplomacy through study abroad opportunities in Belgium and Cameroon while also learning German and Russian — languages that could aid in future diplomatic efforts. At Duke, the Robertson scholar studied space law and how history informs future space governance frameworks.

Austin aims to become one of the first Space Force judge advocate general officers.

“I’m drawn to the fact that space is this frontier that affects everybody’s life,” Austin said. “The reality is that space is not just an American domain. Space policy is inherently a team project.

“That curiosity for adventure, the desire for international collaboration — it’s all come together in this path for me. I just feel so lucky that at 22 years old, I found this perfect nexus of these seemingly very different interests through my public service commitment to the Space Force.”

Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Austin took a gap year with the U.S. State Department in Germany before coming to UNC and credits her mentors at Carolina, Duke and from across the Department of the Air Force. She called the Truman scholar process one of the most valuable she’s gone through.

“I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude for all the people who have helped me along the way,” Austin said.

By Michael Lananna, University Communications and Marketing

The post Juniors Shiva Rajbhandari and Faith Austin named Truman Scholars appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.

As a BeAM program specialist, Orly Baum, second from left, has led trainings in screen printing, sewing and vinyl cutting, supported more than a dozen types of machines and guided users ranging from first-year students to experienced makers. The experience, she said, built skills that will translate directly into her new role with Epic.

When Orly Baum arrived at UNC-Chapel Hill as a music major, she never imagined that learning to use power tools and manage a makerspace floor would help launch her career in healthcare technology. Yet those experiences in the BeAM Makerspaces played a pivotal role in helping Baum land a post-graduation position as a trainer with Epic, a company dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovative software and training.

Baum, who will graduate in May with Phi Beta Kappa honors and a B.A. in music with minors in art history and urban planning, has worked at BeAM since early 2024. As a program specialist, she has led trainings in screen printing, sewing and vinyl cutting, supported more than a dozen types of machines and guided users ranging from first-year students to experienced makers. The experience, she said, built skills that translated directly into her new role.

“I lead a lot of trainings and workshops, so I’ve gotten experience teaching people one-on-one and in groups,” said Baum. “You’re not just explaining tools, you’re helping people feel comfortable in a space with sophisticated machinery. That’s a huge professional skill.”

Those teaching experiences became central during Epic’s interview process. Applicants for the company’s project manager role are asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on any topic. Baum chose something familiar: how to use a drill—a skill she learned at BeAM.

“I basically taught it like I would in a BeAM 101 class,” she said. “I covered safety, showed the parts of the drill and even demonstrated drilling a hole into wood. I always want to build confidence using a tool, not just explain the theory.”

The presentation made an impression. Recruiters suggested Baum might be an even better fit for Epic’s trainer position, where employees teach healthcare providers and analysts how to use Epic software efficiently. She soon received an offer.

The trainer role aligns closely with what she loved most about BeAM: helping people gain skills that empower them.

“At BeAM, once someone learns how to use a tool, it opens up so many possibilities creatively and professionally,” said Baum. “At Epic, the goal is similar: giving healthcare workers the knowledge to do their jobs better, ultimately helping patients and reducing stress like documentation burnout.”

Though Baum’s academic focus has been music, she sees strong connections between the arts, teaching and technical training. Her background in choral conducting, for example, helped her learn how to guide groups toward a shared goal.

“You take a piece of music, bring people together and create an experience,” she said. “That collaborative energy translates surprisingly well to teaching technology.”

Her internships in arts administration, including roles with the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, also strengthened her communication, marketing and curriculum development skills. Combined with her makerspace experience, those roles helped prepare her for a position that blends technical expertise with education.

When Baum begins her Epic role in July after graduation, she expects to be involved in both classroom training and collaborative projects with healthcare organizations, software developers and fellow trainers. What excites her most is the opportunity to make a tangible impact early in her career.

“I want to provide a foundation that helps people do meaningful work by helping patients, improving systems and making healthcare a little easier,” she said. “That’s very motivating.”

Looking back, Baum credits Carolina, especially BeAM, with expanding her sense of what was possible.

“BeAM is something I never imagined myself doing,” she said, “but it helped me grow in confidence, learn technical skills and discover that teaching and collaboration are what I really love. That made all the difference.”

By Dave DeFusco, Department of Applied Physical Sciences

The post She taught a drill lesson, learned in a BeAM workshop, and landed a job in health tech appeared first on College of Arts and Sciences.