Cummings, Jim Thomas, Donna Lowry, Dr. Cammie Oxendine,
Dr. Carmen Calabrese, Robert Locklear, and Richard Rink
(Back Row - from left) Dr. Joe Oxendine, Dr. Eric Dent, Larry Chavis,
Samuel Locklear, and Dr. Mike Menefee
comed three new members to its advisory board in August.
Dr. Joseph Oxendine, Donna Lowry and Greg Cum-
mings were added to its 13-member board at its quarterly
meeting on August 21.
The Thomas Center's mission is entrepreneurial educa-
tion and training for the development of small businesses
in the region. It was established through a gift from Jim
Thomas, a Pembroke native and Los Angeles commercial
real estate developer.
Health Care, a Pembroke, N.C., home health agency. She
is a member of UNCP's Board of Trustees and winner of
the University's Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
Greg Cummings is director of Robeson County's Eco-
nomic Development Commission and a Pembroke town
commissioner.
Cummings said the center will have a "positive effect
on the future of the economic development of the entire
region."
"The center is already creating jobs," Cummings said.
"I am excited about its impact on small business develop-
ment."
Dr. Oxendine is chancellor emeritus of UNCP and
founder of UNCP's Regional Center for Economic, Com-
munity and Professional Development. He said "the en-
ergy, ideas and spirit of the Thomas Center are inspiring."
Other advisory board members include: Jim Thomas,
Dr. Charles Harrington, provost and vice chancellor for
Academic Affairs; Dr. Cammie Oxendine, acting dean of
the School of Business; Dr. Carmen Calabrese, center di-
rector; Robert Locklear, CEO of TWL Trucking Co.; Richard
Rink, a Phoenix, Ariz., entrepreneur; Dr. Eric Dent, busi-
ness faculty; Larry Chavis, CEO of Lumbee Guaranty Bank;
Samuel Locklear, Pembroke businessman; and Dr. Mike
Menefee, the Thomas Distinguished Professor of
Entrepreneurship.
of its student body in U.S. News & World Report's "Best
Colleges and Universities 2010."
UNCP also ranked first among North Carolina public
master's granting universities for the number of interna-
tional students and third for the economic diversity of its
students. The University ranked 20th in the South in eco-
nomic diversity.
The publication, which is popular for comparing col-
leges and universities, was released on August 20. U.S.
News ranks colleges and universities on a wide range of
data concerning faculty qualifications, peer assessment,
selectivity of admissions, retention and graduation rates,
alumni support and quality of student body.
Overall, UNCP falls into a large unranked tier of mas-
ter's granting colleges and universities in the South. The
University compares favorably with these institutions in
key areas including:
43 percent;
· percentage of full-time faculty - 87 percent;
· peer assessment or how other universities rate your
academic strength - 2.6 in a range of 2.3 3.0 for
other institutions;
Earlier in August, UNCP was named a "best Southeast-
ern university" by the Princeton Review, a popular rating
service that relies heavily on surveys of students.
Chancellor Charles Jenkins stated that the University is
pleased that the rankings support the efforts of the Univer-
sity.
"UNC Pembroke works diligently to offer the best pos-
sible education experience to each of its students," Dr.
Jenkins said. "It is an honor to be included in so many
categories of U.S. News & World Report's `Best Colleges
and Universities 2010' because it affirms that our efforts
are successful."