225 years of Tar Heels: Zena Cardman

Posted Oct 17, 2018
As a Carolina student, alumna Zena Cardman could be found researching microorganisms in some of the most remote places on Earth. In her current job, Cardman may one day find herself in an even more remote place: space. In 2017, Cardman was one of 12 people chosen out of more than 18,000 applicants to become a member of NASA’s astronaut candidate class. (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

Newly Minted Carolina Alumni Celebrate at Commencement
Country musician and North Carolina native Eric Church delivered the commencement address with his six-string in hand, complemented by a guitar strap featuring an interlocking...
Thu May 21, 2026

UNC’s App Redesign Drives Student Engagement
What was once an underused mobile app at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been rebuilt to serve as a central hub...
Wed May 20, 2026

What's the difference between each UNC merch shop on Franklin Street?
Franklin Street is lined with restaurants, coffee shops and to a large extent, apparel stores. But as a student and longtime University of North...
Sun May 17, 2026

Eric Church delivers 'greatest commencement speech ever' in viral address to UNC graduates
Country music star Eric Church earned praise for delivering the "greatest" commencement speech with his now-viral address to UNC graduates, after working on the piece...
Sat May 16, 2026