Current Recipient

William “Bill” Graves, Professor

Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Graves, a professor of geography in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, is a highly effective teacher who uses storytelling to help his students develop an understanding of complex topics, connect personal experience to academic subjects and build a sense of community in the classroom. He wants students to see their surroundings and recognize how and when the environment influences their behavior.

“I tell stories to train students to think like a geographer,” said Graves. “The highest compliment I can receive is from a student who says my class ‘changed the way I look at the world.’ This unlocks a student’s ability to discover the mechanisms that shape that environment and shows them how they can make changes to that world. These are skills I see as essential for the future of students as citizens, community members and professionals.”

As an economic and urban geographer, Graves specializes in studying the post-industrial transformation of North Carolina. His work focuses on the role of finance in economic development, as well as understanding the urban transformation associated with economic change.

He teaches classes at every level, from introductory courses to graduate seminars, and regularly engages in independent studies with undergraduate and graduate students. Graves is committed to student success. He regularly shares professional opportunities with students and stories of past graduates, detailing how they navigated the transition to the workplace, moving from an entry-level position to, in some cases, starting their own businesses. He shows students what paths ahead might look like and how best to tackle potential challenges or uncertainties.

“Bill epitomizes the very best of teaching at UNC Charlotte by providing students with a solid foundation in theory and its practical application and the soft skills and confidence they need to succeed after graduation,” said Sara Gagné, associate professor and chair of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences. “He is a mentor for dozens of students who have found success.”