Faculty/Staff Accomplishments 3/11/26

In this issue, we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty and staff in career planning, dance, English, marketing, and political science.

Mackenzie Bradley, program coordinator for the Office of Career Planning, attended and presented at the North Carolina Career Development Association (NCCDA) Spring 2026 Conference at Wake Forest University on March 6. The theme of this conference was “Career Resilience in Action: Focus on North Carolina Creative Solutions, Local Strength.” Bradley’s session, “Connecting the Dots: Using Marketing to Prepare Students and Engage Employers,” explored how marketing principles can be applied to career development to better prepare students and strengthen employer engagement. Participants were introduced to a marketing-driven program approach rooted in local partnerships that supports career readiness for students and sustainable talent pipelines for employers.

Rebecca Duncan, professor of English, has reviewed two short story collections for the current issue of the North Carolina Literary Review:  David C. Dickson’s Down to the Root (Redhawk 2024) and Nathan Dixon’s Radical Red (BOA 2025).  Dickson gives voice to characters leading tough lives; most have limited awareness or concern for consequences, yet the narrator succeeds in stirring the reader’s compassion.  Dixon describes his work as “protest literature.” With a blend of irony, parody, and allegory, he drives his characters headlong into social, religious, and political conflicts.  The results will not surprise anyone who follows today’s headlines, yet the stories manage to accumulate a hopeful thread of a more peaceful and promising tomorrow.  

Dance faculty Carol Finley and Courtney White, eight dance majors, and four dance minors attended the American College Dance Association Southeast Regional Conference at Brenau University, February 26-March 1. The students performed one work by Finley and White, and a student work by Charlotte Smith for professional adjudication. Feedback from the adjudicators was positive, especially about the craft of the choreography. White performed a solo choreographed by Finley at the Faculty Concert and brought the house down, receiving a standing ovation! Each student took 6-8 classes, White and Finley co-taught a class, and everyone attended four concerts.

Director of Undergraduate Research Whitney Ross Manzo spoke at William Peace University about undergraduate research on February 26. WPU is in the process of establishing its own program and is hosting a series of workshops dedicated to learning more. Manzo spoke at the first workshop about the benefits of undergraduate research to students and faculty. 

Manzo and Professor of Political Science David McLennan had an article published in PS: Political Science and Politics, which is one of the premier journals in the field. The article, “Much Ado About Nothing: The Birth, Life, and Death of the No Labels Party in a Purple State,” uses Meredith Poll data to better understand how North Carolinians felt about the No Labels party. In general, the article demonstrates how difficult it is for any parties outside the Democrats and Republicans to gain attention and support, despite high numbers of North Carolinians wishing for another option at the polls.

Dr. Aaron Nichols, Assistant Professor of Marketing, welcomed two industry founders to his Social Media Marketing (BUS362) course in recent weeks to connect classroom learning with current industry practice. Esther Park, Founder & CEO of Ahma & Co., a postpartum retreat and in-home support service, spoke with students about building trust for an innovative wellness brand. She discussed translating a meaningful social need into a viable business model and leveraging social media strategically to build credibility, community, and long-term brand equity.

In a separate session, Brendan Kaminsky, founder of bknown agency, shared insights from his experience building a modern digital marketing agency serving sports and entertainment personalities. He discussed client acquisition, brand positioning, performance metrics, and the realities of navigating social media strategy within a constantly changing digital landscape.