ABIDE Funding
UNC Hussman supports opportunities to explore and share a broad range of perspectives through a variety of funding.
The school’s ABIDE (Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Dignity, and Excellence) Committee was reframed in 2024 in compliance with UNC System policy 300.8.5 to focus on student success and employee wellbeing for our entire UNC Hussman school community.
ABIDE is critical in implementing initiatives designed to foster an inclusive learning environment and cultivate student leadership skills. ABIDE collaborates closely with faculty, staff and student organizations to enhance the educational experience for all students and ensure that all students have equitable access to opportunities for engagement and development — and plays a pivotal role in creating a supportive network that empowers all students to thrive both academically and personally.
ABIDE also manages and leads employee wellness, engagement, recognition and professional development initiatives for the school. Through a broad range of programs to foster community, assess and improve workplace culture, and support work-life integration, ABIDE works towards the goal of ensuring that all employees feel valued and empowered.
The committee manages funding for the following opportunities:
Awarded annually to faculty or staff to cover attendance to conferences or workshops related to the principles of Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Dignity and Excellence (ABIDE).
Awarded annually to provide an honorarium to industry professionals and academics who visit the school to enrich the educational experience of our students.
Awarded annually to faculty, staff, and graduate students to support projects that advance the principles of Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Dignity and Excellence (ABIDE) in the school, university or profession.
Awarded annually to a student organization committed to fostering an inclusive community.
This fund is awarded annually to faculty and/or staff to support health and wellbeing initiatives at UNC Hussman. The fund is intended to cover expenses related to events, programs or activities that foster physical, mental, emotional or social wellness within the UNC Hussman community.
2026 ABIDE funding winners
Monica Hill, director of the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA), will attend the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference and present on scholastic media associations and their ties to UNC’s mission of public service.
Lucinda Austin, associate dean for graduate studies and research, will host Pablo Miño ’22 (Ph.D.) in “MEJO 801: Professional Seminar in Doctoral Studies” and “MEJO 850: Qualitative Research Methods.” Miño will discuss qualitative methods of research, academic jobs and tenure track positions in the U.S. and abroad, and his work in communications in Latin America. He brings an international perspective from the global south and Latin America and will lend insight into these cultural contexts for strategic communication. He will also discuss multi-country geographic comparative work and has some projects that examine Latin American countries in comparison to the U.S. and Asian countries, and their cultural differences.
Miño is an assistant professor at Universidad de los Andes in Chile.
Assistant Professor Carl Kenney was awarded funding to support his project, Narratives of Belonging: An Oral History and Community Solutions Lab.
This project fills a critical gap by generating qualitative, community-driven narratives that inform ethical journalism practice and contribute to the scholarship of community engagement. The purpose is to build a shared understanding of how Black residents experience institutional inclusion and exclusion and to translate that understanding into actionable guidance for journalists, educators and community partners.
Abby Maldonaldo ’27 was awarded funding to support the first inaugural launch party for Lo Nuestro, NAHJ at UNC’s new digital magazine. The event will celebrate students’ work throughout the year, consisting of written work, photography, social media/ content creation and graphic design. The launch party advances access by being free and open to all students, lowering financial and social barriers to participation. It promotes belonging by centering Latine voices, traditions and experiences while creating an affirming environment where attendees feel seen, valued and represented. Finally, the event supports inclusion by intentionally creating a space that encourages cross-cultural participation and dialogue. By highlighting diverse Latine stories and emphasizing shared celebration, the launch party helps build a campus culture rooted in respect, visibility and community.