UNC Charlotte honors two graduate alumni for revolutionary leadership
On Feb. 27, the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association celebrated the 2026 Alumni Awards at the Popp Martin Student Union, honoring four Charlotte graduates whose leadership embodies the spirit of Niner Nation. Among the honorees, Laura Yates Clark and Igor Jablokov illustrate the profound influence of a Graduate Niner education and how they translated advanced scholarship into real-world solutions.
“Our alumni are shaping the future of Charlotte and beyond, and this year’s award recipients exemplify that influence with extraordinary clarity,” said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. “Their leadership strengthens our community and advances the values that define UNC Charlotte. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to the continued impact they will make.”
“Each of these honorees is a profound source of pride for our University,” said Summer Baruth ’00, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Through their time and talents, these remarkable alumni have demonstrated that their love of Charlotte has not faded since commencement; rather, it has deepened, continuing to enrich our campus and strengthen our collective future.”
Laura Yates Clark ’02 M.A.
As president of Foundation For The Carolinas, Laura Yates Clark shapes Charlotte’s civic and nonprofit landscape. She leads strategic initiatives for one of the largest community foundations in the U.S., enhancing the region through philanthropy. Her dedication to children, families, and community development is evident in her leadership with the Renaissance West Community Initiative and the Council for Children’s Rights. Clark serves on the boards of Purpose Built Communities and UNC Charlotte, where her influence extends both nationally and locally. She earned a master’s degree in clinical and community psychology from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Science (CHESS).
Igor Jablokov ’00 MBA
Igor Jablokov stands as a visionary leader in artificial intelligence, revolutionizing the interaction with technology. As the chairman and founder of Pryon, he advances augmented intelligence, transforming how organizations access and utilize knowledge. Previously, he founded Yap, the first high-accuracy, fully automated cloud platform for voice recognition. Jablokov is an Eisenhower and Truman National Security fellow, focusing on how entrepreneurship and venture capital can tackle global challenges. He also mentors future STEM leaders as a TechStars Alexa Accelerator mentor, a Blackstone NC Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and the founder of a Global Shapers chapter at the World Economic Forum. He holds an MBA from the Belk College of Business.