Carter-Tinson Gallery Presents “Rising Voices III”
‘Rising Voices III’ was unveiled in the Carter-Tinson Gallery on the third floor of the Curtis Media Center on November 7, 2025. The series showcases work that celebrates the role of communications in creating access, belonging, inclusion, dignity and excellence in the world.
The Carter-Tinson Gallery exists from years of planning and support from two UNC Hussman alumni and donors, J.J. Carter ’96, global president and chief executive officer at FleishmanHillard, and David Tinson ’96, chief experiences officer at Electronic Arts. The exhibition is a result of the collaboration between Carter, Tinson and UNC Hussman’s Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Dignity and Excellence (ABIDE) committee.
One of a’Kind
Nike’s recent collaboration with WNBA star A’ja Wilson introduced a signature shoe drop that caused extreme pandemonium across media, retail and sports industries. Wilson’s first shoe release, the A’One, is a cultural and commercial turning point for the Nike brand. Positioned at the intersection of performance and identity, the campaign addresses two critical imperatives: closing the visibility gap between men and women sports, and re-engaging Black consumers whose cultural influence has foundationally fueled Nike’s brand power. Through an in-depth analysis of consumer behavior and social sentiment, this project proposes the A’One not just as a product but as a movement. It celebrates Black excellence and centers women athletes to propel their communities – who also benefit Nike’s cultural capital. By using the Aj’a Wilson’s shoe drop as a vehicle for representation and resistance, this initiative reinforces Nike’s legacy of activism while expanding its relevance in a generation that expects brands to stand for more than just sport.
Click the image below to view the project.
The last wild herd
Anna Connors ’24 and Aayas Joshi ’26
Thirty to sixty million buffalo once roamed North America.
By 1902, all but 23 had been slaughtered at the hands of the United States government, in a deliberate attempt to exterminate Native Tribes. The 23 remaining buffalo hunkered down in Yellowstone. Today, Yellowstone National Park is home to about 5,000 buffalo: the last continuously free roaming herd of wild American bison. However, the slaughter and persecution of their species has continued. Bison are regularly subjected to government-sponsored hazing operations, brutal quarantine procedures, slaughter, domestication and political pressure by the cattle industry. “The Last Wild Herd: Defending Yellowstone’s Buffalo” explores the story of The Buffalo Field Campaign, an organization that has fought on the front lines for the last 27 years against the harassment and slaughter of this keystone species.
Fluid Community Garage
Lily Smith ’24
Fluid Community Garage: Bear owns and operates Wrenchin’ Bear, a small auto mechanics shop run out of their backyard in Durham, N.C. Limited by the space, and in partnership with three friends and fellow mechanics, Bear is struggling against numerous obstacles to open Fluid Community Garage, an auto mechanics co-op that will serve as a safe space for women, queer and gender nonconforming mechanics.
True Connections
For the 2025 AAF National Student Advertising Competition, AT&T challenged teams to make the brand’s purpose, “Connecting People to Greater Possibility,” relevant to Gen Z. The UNC team’s “True Connections” campaign delivered by showing true stories of how seamlessly connecting improves the life moments of this “Always-On” generation. The stories were told in video, out-of-home, social media, etc., and included a partnership with AT&T’s Connected Learning Centers, which provide free resources for students and families, including high-speed internet, computers, tutoring and mentoring. The campaign won 1st place in the district competition, along with the district’s Mosaic Award. The team ultimately advanced through the semi-finals and placed 3rd overall in the national competition.
View the campaign with videos below.
