This month’s newsletter features stories about our campus history, the success of QUnited, our latest theatre production, the spring break trip to the Mexico-United States border, upcoming events, and the latest from athletics and the McColl School of Business.
First, we’d like to share an update from Board Chair, Jesse Cureton ’02, on Queens Leadership Transition:
The Transition Committee of the Board of Trustees has been meeting weekly and is focused on a thoughtful and intentional approach to ensure the university is in a strong position to attract the best candidate for our next president.
As an update on the process, the board will partner with a nationally recognized firm, AGB Search, to identify an interim president before the end of President Lugo’s tenure. This individual will provide valuable leadership during an important transition period.
In parallel, the board is working on a comprehensive search for the next permanent president which will include selecting a search firm to support our efforts and forming a search committee of key stakeholders.
Did You Know?
Perched above the trees and serving as a beacon to guide you back to Queens, Evans Clock Tower looks like it has a grand, centuries-old backstory—one filled with dreams of a collegiate skyline and a proud mark on Myers Park. And while it does have a great story, its roots are a little more… practical.
In the mid-’90s, BellSouth, Alltel, and Bell Atlantic—now better known as AT&T, “oh yeah, I remember them,” and Verizon—needed to boost cell reception in Myers Park. When they approached Queens about installing a cell tower, the response was a polite but firm no (a giant metal pole? Not exactly our aesthetic). But we were open to ideas. Instead of a standard tower—or one of those “fake tree” versions—Queens and the companies landed on something much better: a clock tower.
It was a win-win: improved cell service, some nice donations, a long-term lease, and a new, stately addition to campus. Eventually, the tower was renamed in honor of longtime supporters and Ministrare Society members Don and Frances DeArmon ’59 Evans.
Did you know this little piece of Queens history? If you want to hear more—or have your own fun Queens story to share—reply to this email!
We Met the Moment – THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who made a gift, spread the word, and joined us to pave the path for the next generation of Queens students. Our collective impact is truly remarkable!
QUnited Stats
$103.00 – Median Gift
$972.00 – Average Gift
53 – First Time Gifts to Queens
More Than $517,000 Raised
More than 590 Donors
Countless lives impacted because of a Queens education!
Royal Naming Perks
For a few lucky donors, the chance to rename some of the most beloved pieces of campus was a dream come true. We’re celebrating the new names from our winners below. And stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the big photo reveal đź‘€
Queen Betty’s Royal Desk, supported by Martha Ann Spruill ’92
The Diana Fountain, supported by Jane Redding ’84
The Keith Hamilton ’01 South Lawn
Royalsaurus Rex, supported by Dr. Daniel Terry, Associate Provost for the Undergraduate Experience
Royals Res Quad, supported by Ann Hinson ’72
The Dairy Godmother Ice Cream Machine, supported by Sarah Carlton ’19
Rex’s Coffee Hut, supported by Marcus Ramos-Pearson ’18
The Charlotte Bauguss ’83 Adirondack Chair
Rocking Chair: In honor of Dr. Paul Nitsch by Susan Breece ’94
Kappa Delta Hall, supported by Ashleigh Triplett ’07
Queens Students Take Center Stage in Sweeney Todd
Special inside scoop rehearsal photos.
When the curtain rises on Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Queens next weekend, audiences will witness more than just a chilling tale of vengeance and intrigue. They will see the culmination of months of dedication, collaboration, and artistic growth from a completely student-led production, with students stepping into every role.
Dr. Justin Smith, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, describes productions like Sweeney Todd as the ultimate liberal arts experience. “These performances bring together students from so many different fields—music, acting, set design, props, costume, sound design, and more,” he explains. This year’s cast and crew include students majoring in disciplines as varied as accounting, biochemistry, multimedia storytelling, literary studies, nursing, and biology.
For music and music therapy majors, the production provides an opportunity to hone their performance skills in a demanding musical setting. For students outside the music department, it’s a creative outlet that fosters teamwork, discipline, and problem-solving—skills that translate well beyond the stage. Dr. Smith has seen students grow tremendously through the process, gaining confidence and poise as they navigate the challenges of live performance.
Additionally, all promotional materials were created by a communication capstone class, showcasing the talents of students in multimedia storytelling, design, and marketing while showing the benefits of cross-campus collaboration.
This year’s production is made possible in part by the generous support of an anonymous donor who believes in the power of music and theatre to change lives. “Without this support, this production wouldn’t be possible,” Dr. Smith notes, emphasizing the importance of philanthropy in sustaining the university’s robust arts programming.
Queens has built a reputation for excellence in musical theatre, with past productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas paving the way for ambitious performances like Sweeney Todd. The university’s state-of-the-art theatrical space provides students with a professional-level environment to bring such productions to life, an opportunity that many schools of similar size do not offer.
With its gripping score by Stephen Sondheim and a cast of dedicated student performers, Sweeney Todd promises to be an unforgettable theatrical experience. Secure your tickets now and support the talented students bringing this production to life!
Performance Details
Saturday, April 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6 – 3:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts & Civic Engagement
Tickets:Adults: $19.50, Community Students: $14.00, Queens Students: $9.00
The now annual Border Immersion Trip invites students to explore critical immigration issues through academic, political, diversity, and interfaith lenses. The trip is bookended by a semester-long class led by Dr. Maggie Commins, Dr. Adrian Bird, and Darryl White ’92, ’21. The group spent five days in Douglas, Arizona, and Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, to learn about one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world today. They had the opportunity to meet with local residents, U.S. Border Patrol agents, ministers, aid workers, and families inside the migrant shelters.
Throughout the trip, students reflected on what they had seen, heard, experienced, and felt. They also maintained blog posts for each day they were there; you can check those out online. Below are a few excerpts from their trip memories.
“Arizona is not a very forgiving landscape—the colors don’t always inspire hope, but you can feel it anyway. Love and hope thrum through the desert, which releases beauty. We drove beside the border first, the van engulfed in complete silence. On the U.S. side, barbed wire coated the wall. The metal was old and rusted—it’s how we knew it had been there a while. Deep divots protected the U.S. side during floods, and glass littered our dirt footpaths. Behind us, nothing but thin mesquite trees could be seen, the red mountains coloring the landscape.”
“We took a moment to hold the wall, either praying, meditating, or just having personal reflection about what we had seen.”
“Murals stood out against the rusted brown of the wall—beautiful paintings of women, birds, monarch butterflies, and nature in gorgeous paint. Migration was literally plastered against the very wall that was stopping it—and it was beautiful. It was welcoming, in ways none of us were expecting.”
The Border Immersion Trip is supported by The Anderson Fund through Belk Chapel, team fees, and donations from friends and family.
Upcoming Campus Events
More Dates to Know
Ongoing through April 14 | Art & Design Faculty Showcase – Details
4/3 | Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture featuring Rick Schnall – Register
4/5-6 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – Tickets
5/21 | Estate Planning and Wealth Management Forum – Details
JBIP Reveal
At the annual John Belk International Program (JBIP) Reveal Party, faculty shared the exciting 2026 destinations! Students will head to Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, Japan, Scotland, and Spain with their classes next year. They’ll study happiness, film, biodiversity, ecotourism, anime, nature, and more. Learn more about studying abroad at Queens.
Rex’s Corner
Unleash the Roar
Save the date! We’re kicking off our spring athletic giving campaign on April 7, culminating in our day of giving , Unleash the Roar, on April 17. We encourage Royals to join in supporting our collegiate athletes who give it their all in every practice, competition, and classroom. Unleash the Queens roar by supporting The Royals Club and impacting every student-athlete, choosing your favorite program to invest in, or strengthening both. No matter what you choose, you’ll make a difference. Go Royals!
Our women’s golf team took first place at the Georgia State Invitational at 30 over par, giving the Royals their second straight win! This is the first time the Royals have picked up back-to-back wins since the 2015-16 season—congratulations! Story.
Triathlon Turns It Up
Our men’s and women’s club triathlon teams took home their fifth straight USAT Collegiate Club National Championship—wow! Congratulations to Clare Dasso ’27 for also winning the women’s draft-legal sprint distance race. Details.
Swim Makes a Splash
At the 2025 CSCAA National Invitational Championship, our men’s team finished in second place with a score of 652.5 points, and our women’s team finished in fourth place with a score of 504.5. Go Royals! Details.
February Service Award
Our men’s soccer team earned the Royal Service Award for February with 23 of the team’s 31 members volunteering throughout the month, focusing on youth mentorship and local community outreach. Story.
Latest @ Queens
BusinessWoman of the Year
Queens proudly recognized Kristi Coleman, chief executive officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE) and president of the Carolina Panthers, as the 2024 Queens University Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year. Get the story or view luncheon photos.
Women Leaders Program
Learn more about the new Women Leaders Program, hosted by the McColl School of Business. This one-year program provides mentorship, executive coaching, impactful experiences, and skill-building.
McColl School of Business Happenings
Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture Series featuring Rick Schnall, Co-Chairman & Governor of the Charlotte Hornets and Hornets Sports & Entertainment.
Join us on April 3 for the Distinguished Leaders in Action Lecture Series featuring Rick Schnall, Co-Chairman & Governor of the Charlotte Hornets and Hornets Sports & Entertainment. The Peter and Kathy Browning Leaders in Action Lecture Series provides the McColl School of Business and Queens University’s campus community with an opportunity to interact with and be exposed to a variety of leaders with varying leadership styles and experiences. Register..
McColl School of Business Alumni Networking Social & Affinity Groups Launch
The McColl School Board of Advisors’ Alumni Engagement Committee invites all McColl alumni and current graduate students to an exciting networking event featuring the launch of its Affinity Groups Program on Friday, April 4. Designed to foster professional growth, these industry-specific groups—such as Financial Services, Energy and Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Small Business/Entrepreneurship—will connect participants with experienced mentors, industry leaders, and fellow professionals. This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for students and alumni to expand their networks, gain career insights, and engage in meaningful professional development within their fields of interest. RSVP.
