2024 Unsung Heroes honored

Allison Schlobohm and Cheryl Woods Giscombé are the recipients of the 2024 MLK Jr. Unsung Hero Awards. The two Carolina alums were honored Jan. 18 at the annual MLK Jr. Lecture and Awards Ceremony. The awards, sponsored by the University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, recognize staff and faculty members for their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Allison Schlobohm

Schlobohm, clinical associate professor of management and corporate communication at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, arrived at Carolina as a graduate student in 2008. She earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences’ communication department. Now, as a faculty member, Schlobohm uses participatory classroom teaching methods designed to help each student feel a sense of belonging.

“I feel fortunate to have experienced Carolina as both a student and a faculty member, and much of my work around inclusion, equity and justice is inspired by the communities I have been a part of here, as well as the communities I rarely saw and hope to help build,” Schlobohm said.

Schlobohm teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on organizational diversity, equity, inclusion and justice; personal branding and professional relationships; and business communication. Her work is focused on creating inclusive classrooms and business environments, inspired and informed by community leaders in diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Allison Schlobohm receives the Unsung Hero Award. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

“I’m grateful for the leaders, including Dr. King, whose sacrifices have made work like mine even possible, who’ve imagined something bigger and better than what the world provided and, thus, created the possibility for real change,” Schlobohm said. “I’m grateful to my community of mentors, colleagues, friends and, especially, students. And I’m grateful to the organizing committee and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion for this honor, the most significant achievement of my career.”

Cheryl Woods Giscombé

Giscombé is the interim senior associate dean for academic affairs and the Levine Family Distinguished Scholar in Quality of Life, Health Promotion and Wellness in the School of Nursing. She has a secondary faculty appointment in the UNC School of Medicine’s social medicine department. For Giscombé, it was family experience that helped her recognize the importance of strong ethics, leadership, integrity and service.

“I watched my father during his career, after he was one of the first African Americans to complete dental school at Carolina, and my mom during her career in social services and education. Inclusion and service to our community were simply part of our lives,” Giscombé said. “My grandparents were active in their communities. My sister is the university archivist at Howard, and my uncle was the first African American to complete a doctorate in chemistry at NC State. My husband, Kessonga, and I work to instill these principles in our children. This award is a signal that the efforts of those who invested in my growth and development were not in vain. I dedicate this to all of them.”

Dr. Cheryl Giscombe receives the Unsung Hero Award. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Giscombé is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, social and health psychologist and certified holistic health coach. Her research focuses on biopsychosocial determinants of mental and physical health in underserved populations, including African Americans. Her research, practice and teaching integrate mindfulness in clinical, community and educational settings to promote optimal health, well-being and equity for all. Giscombé’s work informs her teaching, helping her mentor the next generation of scholars to think about and work toward solutions to problems of health disparities.

“When I think about incredibly influential visionaries like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded to share what I have been given with others,” Giscombé said. “While Dr. King’s work was monumental, I can do my own small part to encourage others and to try to leave this world better than it was when I first arrived here.”