Thomas L. Reynolds Center for Graduate Life & Learning awarded Provost’s Award for Excellence in Student Success
The Thomas L. Reynolds Center for Graduate Life & Learning (CGLL) is the 2026 recipient of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Student Success. The Center was honored during the Spring Faculty Awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 28.
The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Student Success is granted annually to an individual, advising center, academic department, program or unit in recognition of an outstanding commitment to student success. The award recognizes sustained efforts that help students achieve their educational and lifelong learning goals.
The Thomas L. Reynolds Center for Graduate Life & Learning has become a cornerstone of graduate education at UNC Charlotte, distinguished by sustained excellence, innovation and measurable impact. Through an integrated model of academic, professional and personal support — including credit‑bearing professional development, graduate‑level writing courses, individualized writing and grant support, and signature initiatives such as Accelerate to Industry — the Center advances student persistence, career readiness and overall well‑being while strengthening employer partnerships.
A hallmark of the Center’s work is its commitment to community and belonging, beginning with tailored onboarding for doctoral, master’s, early‑entry, online and international students. Its Graduate Life Ambassador Program doubled participation in a single year, boosting event attendance by roughly 30 percent. Strategic investments in doctoral success have reinforced the University’s momentum as a leading research institution. With its coaching model, ambassador network, segmented communications and data‑driven reporting, the Center offers a scalable framework for institutions seeking to elevate graduate student success.
“The impact of the Center is unmistakable,” said Patrick Madsen, associate dean for advising and experiential learning and executive director of the Career Center. “Student traffic to its events and services has increased substantially, the quality of programming consistently exceeds expectations and the Center has become a benchmark for innovation and excellence that other units aspire to match.”
In addition to the Center, three faculty members were recognized during the Spring Faculty Awards ceremony.
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Alicia Dahl, associate professor of epidemiology and community health in the College of Health and Human Services, was named the recipient of the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching.
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Mark M. D’Amico, professor of higher education in the Cato College of Education, received the Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award.
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Martha Kropf, professor of political science and public administration in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, received the Bonnie E. Cone Professorship for Civic Engagement.
Mark M. D’Amico, professor of higher education in the Cato College of Education, received the Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award; Alicia Dahl, associate professor of epidemiology and community health in the College of Health and Human Services, was named the recipient of the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching; and Martha Kropf, professor of political science and public administration in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, received the Bonnie E. Cone Professorship for Civic Engagement.