Speaking Well: Over 30 Years of Help for Students and Faculty

Photo by Robert Ladd
Pictured, left to right, Sindy Martin; Monique Levesque-Pharoah; Nandita Mani, PhD; Bill Marlow; Sarah Michalak.

Last month, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, home of Bell Tower and After Five Bell Tower Toastmasters Clubs, received a Corporate Recognition Award for three decades of support of Toastmasters. Since 1983, hundreds of university undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, faculty and staff, hospital employees, and community members have improved their public presentation and leadership skills with the practice and feedback they receive through the two UNC-based clubs. They practice class and lab presentations, conference talks and posters, dissertation proposals and defenses, interviewing, business and elevator pitches, and giving constructive feedback, among other related skills. Francesca Allegri, President of Bell Tower Toastmasters, said, “It is a joy to see members gain such confidence and skill in getting their ideas across – several students have had advisors tell them their presentations were the best they have seen. That is such a thrill!”

The award, presented by Monique Levesque-Pharoah, Distinguished Toastmaster and International Director for Toastmasters, recognizes the Health Sciences Library of UNC at Chapel Hill for supporting Toastmasters. Receiving the award on behalf of UNC and the Library was Sarah Michalak, Associate Provost and University Librarian, University Libraries, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Nandita Mani, PhD, Associate University Librarian and Director of the Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Helping present the award were Sindy Martin, District 37 (North Carolina) Director and Bill Marlow, District 37 Club Growth Director. “The support provided by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill has been invaluable to the success of both the Bell Tower Toastmasters and After Five Toastmasters clubs,” Marlow noted.

There has been an active campus club of Toastmasters, Bell Tower Toastmasters, for 33 years. This club has been meeting at HSL for 10 years and an evening club, After Five Bell Tower Toastmasters, was started in 2010. Both clubs meet weekly throughout the year. For more information, contact Francesca Allegri at allegri@unc.edu 919-966-0945.

For more photos of the event, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/hslunc/sets/72157675322549712