CHARLOTTE, N.C. – April 17, 2009 – For numerous notable contributions to the field of special education, Diane Browder received the 2009 First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal at an award ceremony on Friday. This prestigious award, presented by First Citizens Bank and UNC Charlotte, honors faculty scholarship and intellectual inquiry.

The award program was held at the Harris Alumni Center on the UNC Charlotte campus.

“For 22 years, First Citizens Bank has joined in partnership with UNC Charlotte to present the Scholars Medal Award to an outstanding university faculty member,” said Marc Horgan, Mecklenburg area executive for First Citizens Bank. “Dr. Browder continues this long-standing tradition of excellence, and we are proud to honor her for her scholarship and the difference she is making the lives of children and their families.”

While at UNC Charlotte, Browder has secured more than $8 million in federal research funding and student support monies. She has published several books that are considered seminal within the field of special education.

“It is the mark of a truly exceptional scholar that her research informs national policy,” wrote a colleague about Browder’s work. “It is perhaps an even greater sign of a truly exceptional scholar that her work remains grounded in the lives of students with significant needs.”

Browder, the Snyder Distinguished Professor of Special Education at UNC Charlotte since 1998, has been an important leader, mentor and role model to colleagues and students in UNC Charlotte’s College of Education.

“Dr. Browder’s research and work has significantly improved the lives of tens of thousands of children with cognitive disabilities,” another colleague wrote.

Browder’s research on educating and assessing the progress of children with developmental disabilities has gained widespread recognition, particularly in the area of early literacy. Because of her ground-breaking work, she is frequently invited to present her findings at national and international conferences, as well as to conduct workshops for educators across the country.

In 2008, Browder was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to serve a two-year term on the U.S. Department of Education National Technical Advisory Committee, a group that informs national education policy.

Browder employed her vast knowledge in the service of teachers and children with the development of the Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), a scientifically based literacy program for students with cognitive disabilities. The ELSB curriculum has been adopted by school systems around the nation.

About UNC Charlotte
A public research university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of The University of North Carolina system. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 63 master’s degree programs and 91 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees. Fall 2008 enrollment numbered 23,300 students, including almost 5,000 graduate students. http://www.uncc.edu

About First Citizens Bank
First Citizens has served the people and businesses of Mecklenburg County for 48 years. Founded in 1898, North Carolina-headquartered First Citizens operates 340 branches in 200 cities and towns in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland. For more information, visit firstcitizens.com or call toll-free 1.888.FC DIRECT (1.888.323.4732). The bank’s mission is to provide superior financial services to individual customers, small to mid-sized businesses, professionals and the medical community.

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Media contact: Paul Nowell, 704.687.5828, pmnowell@uncc.edu