A Plan and a Partnership

“I took two classes in San Cristóbal, one on immigration to the United States from Latin America and one on Latin American literature. We traveled to various beaches on the island, several giant tortoise reservations and to Santa Cruz, another island in the archipelago. I told my friends and family that there were so many ‘best parts’ of the trip — the food, the friends I made, the immigration course, the amazing views and weather, my super sweet host family, the friendly citizens of Puerto Baquerizo — I could go on. “The experience opened my eyes to a completely different way of life, while simultaneously making me appreciate the culture and living conditions of the United States. The course on immigration taught me a lot about the violent and desperate conditions that cause Latin Americans to immigrate to the United States. Additionally, it showed me how complex the process of legal immigration is and the various ways in which Latino immigrants are exploited in the United States. Still, despite all these barriers and threats, many choose to immigrate. Learning this from a perspective outside of the U.S. really brought home this idea to me because I was separated from many things that I take for granted in the U.S. I did not expect that through study abroad, I would gain an appreciation for my home country.” - Trevor Pharr ’23, a music and chemistry double major

Twenty-nine undergraduate students received scholarships to participate in the center’s study abroad program in the Galapagos Islands in 2021-2022 thanks to Townsend funding, including Trevor Pharr '23, seen here with a few of his fellow classmates.

The commitments of John ’77 (MBA ’82) and Marree ’77 to UNC-Chapel Hill over the years have been both plentiful and purposeful — and none more so than their gift to the College of Arts and Sciences to establish the Townsend Family Strategic Initiatives Fund. This gift was part of the Carolina couple’s larger $50 million investment, which kicked off the public phase of the University’s Campaign for Carolina in October 2017.

The Townsend Family Strategic Initiatives Fund provides immediate support to several College programs each year.

This year, the fund helped retain Graeme Robertson, professor of political science and director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies, by providing support to enhance the Authoritarian Politics Lab, which was created to address the challenge of authoritarianism in Russia and around the world. Robertson’s research focuses on Russian politics, the politics of authoritarianism and the study of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. This is particularly timely given the Russia-Ukraine war.

Viji Sathy, director of the Townsend Program for Education Research and associate dean for evaluation and assessment in the Office of Undergraduate Education; and professor of the practice in the department of psychology and neuroscience, with students. — Viji Sathy, director of the Townsend Program for Education Research and associate dean for evaluation and assessment in the Office of Undergraduate Education, with students.

Last year, the fund supported a College initiative dedicated to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Led by Viji Sathy, associate dean for evaluation and assessment in the Office of Undergraduate Education and professor of the practice in the department of psychology and neuroscience, the program provides dedicated time and resources for faculty members who are conducting research and working to better understand how college students learn. Their findings have direct implications at Carolina and contribute to the University’s reputation as a national leader among research universities in state-of-the-art teaching and learning in post-secondary education.

The UNC Center for Galapagos Studies, a partnership between Carolina and Ecuador’s Universidad San Francisco de Quito, has also been a recipient of funding from the Townsend Family Fund. The center promotes science and education to help protect fragile island ecosystems and enhance the lives of their inhabitants. Twenty-nine undergraduate students received scholarships to participate in the center’s study abroad program in the Galapagos Islands in 2021-2022 thanks to Townsend funding.

“I took two classes in San Cristóbal, one on immigration to the United States from Latin America and one on Latin American literature. We traveled to various beaches on the island, several giant tortoise reservations and to Santa Cruz, another island in the archipelago,” said Trevor Pharr ’23, a music and chemistry double major and recipient of a study abroad scholarship from Townsend funding. “The experience opened my eyes to a completely different way of life, while simultaneously making me appreciate the culture and living conditions of the United States. The course on immigration taught me a lot about the violent and desperate conditions that cause Latin Americans to immigrate to the United States. Additionally, it showed me how complex the process of legal immigration is and the various ways in which Latino immigrants are exploited in the United States. Still, despite all these barriers and threats, many choose to immigrate. Learning this from a perspective outside of the U.S. really brought home this idea to me because I was separated from many things that I take for granted in the U.S. I did not expect that through study abroad I would gain an appreciation for my home country.”

Six Southern Futures Graduate Scholars received support from the Townsend Fund as well last year. The Townsend Family Southern Futures Graduate Scholars are an interdisciplinary group of students working to understand the promise and perils of the South and imagine a future where all Southern communities can flourish. In addition to conducting individual research, the scholars work together to convene a three-day, think-tank-style summit in the spring.

By providing the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences with resources to invest in new initiatives and programs each year, the Townsends are making a lasting and positive impact on current and future Tar Heels.