“Look at this crowd. This is how America is supposed to be. People invested in the future. People encouraging one another, and this university stands as a beacon to that,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. on a sun-drenched afternoon during Homecoming.
The air was rich with joy as a crowd of Spartans from all generations gathered to celebrate a significant milestone in UNCG’s story – the naming of the Marcus T. Johnson Alumni House, the first building on campus to be named for a person of color.
Johnson ’99 made a historic gift as part of UNCG’s Light the Way campaign.
“As an alumnus,” Board of Trustees Vice Chair Anita Bachmann said, “Marcus is investing in this building to preserve its legacy and ensure it remains a welcoming space that fosters connection and community, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
The naming recognizes the impact of Johnson’s gift across multiple areas of campus. At the Bryan School of Business and Economics, his support will expand opportunities for students and bolster the innovative Bryan Blueprint Series, which helps accelerate students’ personal and professional growth.
The ceremony began with the solo fanfare “Summon the Heroes,” a nod to Johnson as a trumpet player and to the legendary Miles Davis – one of his favorite artists and the inspiration behind his son’s name. Current students contributed throughout the event, including an a capella performance by the UNCG Chariots and a poetry reading by senior Seania Burnett:
The student presence at the event reflected Johnson’s deep commitment to UNCG’s future.
A global crisis. An empty campus. A new plan. A challenge met.
According to reporting by the UNC System office, UNCG is the No. 1 performer across the UNC System. The University has done a better job of setting and achieving goals related to metrics like four-year graduation rate, debt at graduation for first-time and transfer students, and university cost for each degree awarded than any other system school. The period covered is 2021-24.
UNCG is at the top of the system with a score of 88.5. That’s higher than NC State (84.5), NC A&T (60.4), and UNC-Chapel Hill (51.4). What does this mean in real terms? More completed courses, more savings for students, and a quicker path to realizing dreams.
Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. says, “We are proud of our efforts and appreciate the recognition that our strategic investments bring valuable returns for our students and our state.”
Collaboration was key, and UNCG’s success is thanks to the efforts of faculty and staff across the University community, says Provost Alan Boyette. In other words, it was all-hands-on-deck.
The results?
“The University met the threshold targets set by the system for all component metrics. Our overall highest score was driven by exceeding the stretch goals set by the system for four of the six metrics,” explains Director for Institutional Research and Enterprise Data Management Karen Blackwell.
At UNCG, about half of each newly admitted class self-identifies as first-generation college students. Recent data shows success in increasing retention in this group.
“Over the four academic years 2021-2022 to 2024-2025, first-generation retention improved almost 10 percentage points – from 68.4% for the Fall 2021 cohort to 78.3% for the Fall 2024 cohort,” she says.
Additionally, first-time student debt at graduation dropped nearly to 2011 levels, and transfer student debt dropped even lower than that.
bigpicture
FRANKLIN D. GILLIAM, JR.
CHANCELLOR
At UNCG, we don’t often reach for sports metaphors, so I hope you’ll humor me when I say that today’s higher education environment calls for what athletes know as an athletic stance: feet planted, weight balanced, eyes forward, and ready to move in any direction.
That’s where universities must be as the pace of change accelerates. The global economy, demographic shifts, new technologies, and public skepticism are bearing down on higher education. We can’t be flat-footed. We need to be nimble, responsive, and prepared to act.
Today’s national headlines often focus on the Ivy League, but the future of higher education will be shaped at places like UNCG: public universities that educate most of America’s students, fuel workforce development, and expand opportunity.
Here at UNCG, we’ve leaned forward, streamlining operations, reallocating resources, and investing in student success. That work is not always glamorous, but it ensures we remain financially strong and mission focused.
Equally important, we’ve redefined what it means to serve students. Nearly three-quarters of college learners nationwide are “nontraditional.” They’re working adults, parents, first-generation students, veterans, and others balancing multiple pressures.
At UNCG, we meet those needs directly, with support systems that go beyond classrooms and internships to include mental health services, academic supports, and scholarships that bridge financial gaps.
The athletic stance is not defensive; it’s confident and forward looking. At UNCG, we are ready for what’s next, helping every kind of student thrive and strengthening our communities. And through our Light the Way campaign, we invite alumni and friends to join us—together, we are building the path forward for future generations.
newsfront
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Spartan alumna in NC State Capitol
As a curator at the North Carolina State Capitol, Anna Freeman Moore ’23 MA leads the process of creating and maintaining its public exhibitions. She takes the mission of serving the public seriously. “We have to appeal to visitors from all 100 counties and beyond,” Moore says. “The museum should
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Spartan at NC Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History tells a story that includes a multitude of communities across thousands of years. This year, with the nation’s 250th anniversary approaching, attention is on late colonial and Revolutionary War-era history, says Kimber Heinz ’09 MA, ’16 MA, curator of political and economic history. “North
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Donors cheer Spartan athletes
At UNCG, supporting the whole student-athlete experience is a home run! Jeb Burns ’08 MED and his wife, Molly, are committed to Spartan success. From philanthropic support of Spartan Athletics to University Libraries, their impact is wide. One example is UNCG Softball’s Kaylyn Belfield ’26, whose .431 batting average in
thestudio
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Spartan alumna’s legacy leading West Point glee Club
Connie Lankford Chase ’76 spent nearly 26 years as conductor of the renowned West Point Military Academy Glee Club. But before she made it to those heights, she studied at UNCG.
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Tinseltown intern makes star turn
Katie Lambert ’16 leveraged her UNCG Theatre degree into a career as manager of digital marketing and design with Warner Brothers’ in-house label, WaterTower Music.
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Stitches in time at the Weatherspoon Art Museum
Threaded narratives are coming alive at the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Two exhibitions highlight the incredible artistry of quilting and the many roles this art form has played for Black communities in the South. “Harriet’s Powers” is on view until July 25, and “Of Salt and Spirit” can be seen through… Continue reading…