2025 World Citizen Award Dinner

Since 1990, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte has presented the World Citizen Award to prominent citizens (and organizations) who have enhanced our community’s standing in the world through their accomplishments of international significance and contributions to the city, this region, and our international community.

This year, the Council is honored to present the 2025 World Citizen Award to Sharon L. Gaber, Chancellor of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Date:
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
VIP & General Reception:
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner:
7:15 – 9:00 p.m.
Location:
The Hilton Uptown Charlotte (222 E. Third St., Charlotte, NC 28202)
Attire:
Black Tie Optional

 

 

Table Hosting Information — Click Here

Biography: 

Sharon L. Gaber, Ph.D., serves as the fifth Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Charlotte region’s public research university. Since her arrival as Chancellor in 2020, the University has embarked on a bold 10-year strategic plan that articulates a new vision to drive discovery and innovation for the region as a globally recognized public research university. Charlotte officially earned the nation’s top research designation, Carnegie R1, in February 2025.

Driven by rising student and research success metrics, Charlotte has reached new heights in the national rankings. Since 2020, Charlotte is one of the top 10 fastest-rising universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, rising 76 spots overall. For 2025, Charlotte ranks No. 81 among U.S. public universities and as the most innovative public university in North Carolina, at No. 45 nationally.

Gaber has been widely recognized for her leadership and innovation. She was named one of the Charlotte Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in 2021 and was featured on the publication’s prestigious Power 100 list in both 2022 and 2024, highlighting the region’s top innovators. Additionally, she has earned a spot on Business North Carolina’s Power List for four consecutive years.

Deeply engaged in community and regional activities, she serves on the board of Charlotte Center City Partners and is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Charlotte’s Leading on Opportunity Council, Women Executives, and the International Women’s Forum – Carolinas. At the national level, she has served on multiple NCAA committees and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the American Athletic Conference.

A native of Southern California, Gaber earned an A.B. in Economics and Urban Studies from Occidental College, an M.P.L. in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. in City & Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Prior to her arrival at UNC Charlotte, Gaber served for five years as president of the University of Toledo, where she was nationally recognized for her efforts to increase enrollment and graduation rates, boost research funding and empower students of all backgrounds to succeed.

Earlier in her career, she served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas. She has also served as an administrator and interim provost at Auburn University and a faculty member and administrator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Officially the first woman to serve as chancellor of UNC Charlotte, Gaber follows the trail blazed by founding educator Bonnie Cone, who led the institution from 1946-66 through several stages of growth.

Gaber is the proud mother of three children: Allison, Peter and Jen (dec).