News & Stories
In other news: August 2026
Remembering Penny Oslund
UNC Kenan-Flagler lost a very special member of the community when Penny Oslund (MBA ’90), former executive director of the Executive MBA Programs, died on June 14.
Oslund was a true inspiration, remembered by all who knew her for her warmth, kindness and unwavering dedication. Over the course of her 20 years at UNC Kenan-Flagler, she left a lasting mark on students, faculty and staff alike.
A graduate of the second cohort of the Evening Executive MBA Program, her vision and leadership helped shape the Executive MBA programs into what they are today, from launching the Weekend Executive MBA Program in 1999 and the OneMBA Program in 2002; starting EMBA global immersion electives; and fostering a collaborative culture that helped shape the UNC Kenan-Flagler community.
Oslund’s contributions were recognized with some of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s most distinguished honors, including the Weatherspoon Staff Award in 1997 and 2005, the Roy W. Holsten Award for Exceptional Service in 2007, and the Executive MBA Alumni Merit Award 2011.
Thought leaders
- Alissa Lurie has been appointed as the assistant vice chancellor of development at UNC Kenan-Flagler, effective Aug. 17. She joins us from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science and will lead fundraising efforts, partnering with alumni, donors, volunteers, faculty, staff and University leaders to build philanthropic support for the School’s mission and future growth.
- Research from Professor Laura Sonday was published in Administrative Science Quarterly. Drawing on years of observation of the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) community, she explores how people change their relationship with work through the adoption and enactment of a “new work ideal.”
Sarah Dickerson on ABC11
- In an interview with ABC11 about retirees in North Carolina being pushed back to work, Sarah Dickerson, senior economist at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, said cooling inflation doesn’t mean prices are necessarily falling.
- Professor Audra Wormald was featured on the Private Innovation in the Public Interest Podcast to discuss what happens when local entrepreneurs outperform large firms on their own turf.
Updates from the Kenan Institute
The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise announced the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative, a new effort that will use state economic data to generate rigorous, accessible county-level forecasts for all 100 counties. The North Carolina General Assembly has allocated $3 million from the 2026-27 state budget to support the initiative.
“Through the Kenan Institute, Carolina plans to use pioneering economic modeling to define workforce needs and put research directly in the hands of local leaders,” UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said. “Carolina’s reach is statewide, just like our economy, and we look forward to supporting this work in the years to come.”
Another piece of good news is that Professor Paige Ouimet, executive director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, was appointed by Gov. Josh Stein to serve as an advisory member of the North Carolina Healthcare Affordability Commission.
The commission plans to issue its first report by January 2027 and tackle topics including promoting competition for health care services, expanding access to and use of primary care, exploring value-based care models, examining ways to improve affordability in rural areas and improving transparency.
Standout students and alumni
- Michael English (MCRP/MBA ’23) was named director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.
- Maggie Ruvoldt (MBA ’18) joined ChangeBridge People Solutions as chief operating officer and senior partner.
Katie Lelarge (MBA ’06) meeting with Pope Leo XIV
- Christiane Pendarvis (MBA ’97) joined the Shake Shack board of directors after 25 years of leadership experience.
- Katie Lelarge (MBA ’06) met with Pope Leo XIV in June related to her volunteer work in the disability community.
- Shawn Wilt (MBA ’17), senior vice president at Plaza Equity Partners, was recognized by South Florida Business Journal as one of 40 under 40 in 2026.
Spotted on social
- Lin Ong (PhD ’16) was featured by Tarkington Business Futures Institute for being a Tarkington Faculty Fellow.
- William Rothfus (MBA ’24) was featured by the Drone Operator Newsletter.
- Professor John Gallemore visited Mannheim Business School in Germany to discuss his research on bureaucracy’s effects on tax stimulus.
