The President’s Letter

RFA members who attended the January luncheon meeting not only heard an engaging and informative talk by Jim White, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, they also participated in a historic event. Since its founding at UNC-Chapel Hill nearly 40 years ago, the organization has been called the Retired Faculty Association. But in fact, membership wasn’t as limited as the name might suggest. According to the Bylaws, non-faculty professional staff have always been eligible for full membership. In January, by a unanimous vote, members present changed our name to the Retired Faculty and Professionals Association, thus making that inclusion explicit. Invite your retired professional friends and former colleagues from the EHRA ranks to the next meeting of the newly renamed RFPA on Monday, February 5, to celebrate their now more visible inclusion and to hear distinguished scientist Henry Fuchs expound on “Virtual Reality (VR): A Flashy Toy or the Next Big Thing?”

In other news, the Global Education Center has responded to our question about how RFPA members might become more involved in helping international scholars adjust. They’ve set up two roundtable discussions (one in late February and the other in mid-April) and asked us if we could supply 4-6 of our members for each or both. For more specific information or to volunteer, contact RFPA executive committee member Lynne Vernon-Feagans who’s agreed to coordinate our participation.

The RFPA wants you! We hope to see even more of you at our monthly membership meetings. Spouses and significant others, Plus 1s and friends are always welcome. And the parade of terrific speakers continues. Don’t miss any of them!

For more information, email me or contact us at :

Retired Faculty and Professionals Association
The William C. and Ida Friday Center
Campus Box 1020
Chapel Hill NC 27599-1020

— Bob Lauterborn,
President, UNC-Chapel Hill RFPA
lauterprof@aol.com

UNC Retired Faculty and Professionals Association

September Lunch Meeting

Wednesday, September 4

12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Friday Center

Professor Mitch Prinstein, Chief Science Officer of the American Psychological Association and Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC-Chapel Hill will speak.

His talk, “When I Was a Kid…” will focus of how different life is for teenagers today than it was when we were that age.

Registration forms will be available on August 1, 2024.

As usual, spouses and other guests are also welcome.