The largest and most comprehensive presentation of Melanie Schiff's photographs, an exhibit called "The Stars Are Not Wanted Now" is at CAM Raleigh through Sept. 1. Spanning the years 2006 through 2012, and bracketing the period of Schiff's move from Chicago to Los Angeles, the show illuminates ongoing concerns in the artist's investigations of light, atmosphere, place and landscape.

A Final Friday reception takes place at Cary Gallery of Artists on the evening of June 28. It celebrates the feature show "Expressions on Canvas and Paper," which includes paintings by Patricia Pittman and Diana Coidan, as well as "Summer Escapes," which features glass work by Jean Cheely. The next day, June 28, from 11 a.m. to noon is Coffee With the Artist, when the three women are on hand to demo and speak about their work.

FRANK Gallery, in Chapel Hill, presents Rubbish 2 Runway, featuring dresses fashioned entirely from recycled materials, through July 7.

The Pinnacle Business Awards luncheon of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce honored emerging firms as well as established companies, many of which are woman-owned or managed. Those receiving distinctions included:

• Integrity in Business Award - Clean Design
• Individual Entrepreneurial Company Awards - Anna's Gourmet Goodies, The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery, The Matthews House, The Produce Box
• Steady Growth and Profitability Award - Accuro, BodyLase Skin Spa, LM Restaurants, SEPI Engineering & Construction, Sequence, Triangle Rock Club, TriMark Solutions
• Steady Growth and Profitability Master Award - Career Foundations, Network South, North State Acceptance, MMI Public Relations, VisionPoint Marketing

Jan Kelly, the executive director of the N.C. Egg Producers Association, spoke at last month's Cary Chamber of Commerce meeting of the Business of Women.

UNC-Chapel Hill announced:

• Three faculty members received mentoring awards from the Carolina Women's Leadership Council. Sherryl Kleinman was honored for mentoring undergraduate students, Silvia Tomášková for junior faculty and Jeanne Moskal for graduate students. The awards included a $5,000 stipend. Kleinman is a professor of sociology, director of the social and economic justice minor and faculty adviser to Feminist Students United. Tomášková, an associate professor, holds a joint appointment in the department of women's and gender studies and the department of anthropology. Moskal, a professor of English, has taught at UNC since 1984.
• Karla Slocum, Ph.D., an associate professor in anthropology and African and Afro-American studies, is the new director of the university's Institute of African American Research.
• Anthropologist Patricia McAnany was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to support her research. McAnany is the Kenan eminent professor of anthropology in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, based in New York City, appoints fellows based on prior achievement and exceptional promise in research and artistic creation.
• Three people received University Awards for the Advancement of Women. The honorees were: Camille McGirt, of Durham, a senior majoring in health policy and management in the Gillings School of Global Public Health; Kelli Raker, of Durham, rape prevention coordinator at Campus Health Services; and Jenny Ting, William R. Kenan Jr. distinguished professor of microbiology and immunology, co-director of the Inflammatory Diseases Institute and program leader for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Among the graduates at commencement services last month was 87-year-old Helen Joan, who received a bachelor's degree in Spanish.

William Peace University, in Raleigh, announced:

• Sorien Schmidt, an attorney, will serve as adjunct professor and pre-law advisor. She'll be responsible for teaching a course on law and the legal system as well as providing guidance to students seeking a career in the legal profession.
• Linda Paulhus was named student accounts coordinator. She'll be the primary cashier for the university, responsible for preparing statements and collection follow-ups. In addition, she'll assist students, staff and faculty with transactions involving the campus card system.
• Carmela Cohen-Perry was named assistant director of financial aid. Cohen-Perry will work alongside the director of financial aid to manage the university's financial aid program.

Cynthia Watkins, a 22-year veteran who has taught kindergarten for the past three years at Spring Valley Elementary, is the 2013 Durham Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

The Poole College of Management at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, announced that Nancy Cassill, Ph.D., a resident of Cary, was named director of Global Luxury Management, a specialized option within Poole College's dual-degree Jenkins Master of Global Innovation Management program. Cassill is a professor in the Department of Textiles and Apparel Technology and Management in the College of Textiles.

Business Speech Improvement opened in Durham. Katie Schwartz, owner, is offering intensive coaching in accent modification, presentation, communication for leadership development, diction and other verbal skills.

Insurance brokerage firm RPG Solutions hired Samantha Hall as a client service representative. She is a licensed N.C. Life and Health agent and has previous broker experience as an account manager.

MMI Public Relations, based in Raleigh, announced:

• CEO Patty Briguglio was appointed to the N.C. Symphony board of trustees as well as to the boards of Advanced Energy, where she will represent public interests, and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.
• Anjelica Cummings, an account executive, became a member of the board of directors for the N.C. Triangle chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.
• Jennifer Fair, senior account manager, joined the board of directors of Triangle Family Services, an organization with the mission of building a stronger community through strengthening the family.

Esteem Me Montessori & Creative Play, a child-care center for those ages 6 weeks to 6 years, will open its doors in Waverly Place shopping center, Cary, this summer. Formerly located in Triangle Town Center, in Raleigh, Esteem Me is owned by Kareema Martinez, who has written two books for children and parents.

Maureen Dolan Rosen, owner of Chapel Hill's Scarffish – the Scarf with the Starfish – said that one of the retail shops carrying her scarves, Quartermoon Books and Gifts, in Topsail Beach, commissioned a signature scarf. In addition to selling Scarffish (hand-knitted scarves adorned with crocheted starfish and funky fringe), Quartermoon Books now sells its own "Moonscarf," adorned with crocheted crescent moons and tiny stars.

Cary's Umstead Hotel and Spa, owned by Ann Goodnight, announced that Carolyn Doe was appointed spa director. Doe's promotion was timed with a renovation of the spa, which will reopen in July under her leadership.

Wake Tech commemorated its 50th anniversary at its annual Culinary Arts Showcase. The event attracted more than 2,000 people to the Raleigh Convention Center. Four teams faced off to create cakes based on the theme of golden moments. For Wake Tech students Melanie Gilkey and Thabata Bailer, it was a moment in the spotlight: Their tiered cake, inspired by the Willie Wonka character, took first place in the Live Cake Challenge. Also, high school students from Wake, Orange, Chatham, Harnett and Cumberland counties entered cakes for judging and competed in a cupcake decorating contest. Hannah Urick, from Apex High School, won the cake competition with a pink-and-white creation topped with delicate flowers. Toni Williams and Ebony Williamston, from Bunn High School, took home first place in the cupcake challenge. The Culinary Arts Showcase is the culmination of one of the largest competitions in the United States sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation. A day earlier, judges critiqued nearly 100 entries in categories that included cakes, showpieces, pastries and cold food platters. The entries were submitted by students from Wake Tech, Sandhills Community College, Fayetteville Tech Community College, The Chef's Academy and The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, as well as professional chefs from across the Southeast. The top professionals included Kelly Bellmore, pastry chef at N.C. State University Food Services, and Karen Gray, baking instructor at Wake Tech. Top students were Anna Collins and Chelsea Snyder, from Wake Tech, and Antonia Caldera from the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham.

When Darden Restaurants presented N.C. Hospitality Education Foundation with a check for $18,000, those attending included: Christina Larson, director of operations for LongHorn Steakhouse; Lynn Minges, president & CEO of N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association; and Alyssa Barkley, executive director of the N.C. Hospitality Education Foundation and COO of the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association. Darden is the world's largest full-service restaurant company, owning and operating more than 2,000 restaurants, including Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse.

Shelley Blake is the new general counsel at the N.C. Department of Transportation. Blake, who has been in private practice, is an adjunct professor at N.C. Central University School of Law, in Durham.

Melissa Driver Beard is the new executive director of International Focus of Raleigh. Beard, a native of Wilson who speaks five languages, is a veteran of 20 years in nonprofit management. International Focus produces the International Festival every autumn in Raleigh. The group's mission is supporting North Carolina's international communities and promoting American ideals through cross-cultural communication, education, understanding and the celebration of global culture, arts and cuisine. Opening day for this year's International Festival, in Raleigh, is Oct. 4.

Becky Sansbury, owner of Real Life Communication and a national speaker on resilience and crisis recovery, was elected to the board of trustees of Hospice of Wake County Foundation. The foundation is responsible for fund-development efforts to support programs and services provided by the hospice.

Last month's Band Together event raised more than $850,000 for the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities, in Raleigh. These funds will help Tammy Lynn Center support the nearly 400 families that rely on educational, residential, respite and early-education services each year.

Leslie Flowers, a Raleigh-based personal growth facilitator, created Skirts to Shirts, a program that targets women of all income brackets who're heavily vested in the financial responsibilities of their families. Last month, she facilitated the first Skirts to Shirts workshop, in which participants received training on business skills that will increase their visibility, credibility and opportunities.

The League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties saluted its members during National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration to honor individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action in their communities. "League members in our three counties are some of the most dedicated and committed individuals I know," said Brenda Rogers, the organization's leader. "Their work has led to freer and fairer elections as well as a deeper understanding of the issues that impact our community and the nation."

The S.A.S. 3K Walk-A-Thon takes place June 15 at Morrisville Park. S.A.S. Helping Hearts (Support and Serve With Helping Hearts) consists of a team of elementary, middle and high school students who help sick kids by organizing annual fundraisers for children's hospitals. So far, the team has raised around $10,000 for different healthcare institutions. This year, the goal is to bring in $7,500 for UNC Children's Hospital, in Chapel Hill.

On June 7, The ArtsCenter, in Carrboro, presents Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line for an evening blending the traditional stringband sound with an innovative infusion of roots-rock.

Raleigh Little Theatre announced that "Once On This Island" runs from June 7 to 23 at the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre. The musical was nominated for eight Tony Awards during its Broadway run; this is its first production in the Triangle in several years. In advance of the play, the theater presented a mini-festival examining the culture and history of Haiti and the island nation's cultural dialogue with the United States.

Glenna Batson hosts a performance of an improvisational group called Sscapes on June 8 at Halle Cultural Arts Center, in Apex. The concert, called "The Space Between," is about "that space where transformation can happen – an opening to the resolution of struggle and the arrival of the new." The performance benefits the Sentencing Project.

Julia Reinert, director of new homes marketing for The Stone Agency, was awarded Rookie of the Year at the Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards of the Triangle Sales and Marketing Council.

Pamela Mansueti, a buyer and relocation specialist, won the agent of the month competition for March at Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS, based in Raleigh.

Ashley Rain joined the Raleigh Division of M/I Homes as the sales manager.

Natasha Clayton, a biologist in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), joined 11 other professionals at the Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers Career Fair, in Raleigh. NIEHS, a research institute that focuses on understanding how the environment affects people's health, participates in outreach programs that encourage young people to enter careers in the field. This event exposed 70 middle school and high school students from underrepresented groups to a number of careers.

Researchers from N.C. State University, in Raleigh, solved a long-standing materials science problem. Their solution makes it possible to create semiconductor devices using zinc oxide – including efficient ultraviolet (UV) lasers and LED devices for use in sensors and drinking water treatment as well as new ferromagnetic devices. "We've shown that it can be done, and how it can be done – and that opens the door to a suite of new UV laser and LED technologies," says Dr. Judith Reynolds, a research scientist at N.C. State and lead author.

Women in Bio met last month at the N.C. Biotechnology Center, in Research Triangle Park, to discuss Paths to Success: Careers in R&D and Beyond.

UNC School of Medicine announced:

• For leading a study that was the first to define appropriate bone density screening intervals for older women, Margaret Gourlay, MD, MPH, was honored with a Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award from the Clinical Research Forum.
• Three faculty members have been elected as 2013 Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology. They include: professors Peggy A. Cotter, Ph.D. and Blossom Damania, Ph.D., of Microbiology and Immunology.
• In a study using mice, researchers found that a hormone, adrenomedullin, plays a crucial role in preventing the pregnancy complication preeclampsia. Surprisingly, this hormone protects women from preeclampsia when emitted by the fetus, not the mother, during the most critical times in pregnancy. "We've identified the fact that the baby is important in protecting the mom from preeclampsia," says the study's senior author, Kathleen M. Caron, Ph.D., assistant dean for research at the UNC School of Medicine and an associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology. "If the baby's cells are not secreting this hormone, the mother's blood vessels don't undergo the dilation that they should."
• Researchers discovered that disrupting a gene that acts as a regulatory switch to turn on other genes can keep blood vessels from forming and developing properly. Further study of this gene – a "transcription factor" called CASZ1 – may uncover a regulatory network that influences the development of cardiovascular disease. A number of other studies have already shown a genetic link between mutations in CASZ1 and hypertension. Marta S. Charpentier and Kathleen S. Christine are lead authors of the study and graduate students in the laboratory where the study was performed.
• A monoclonal antibody targeting a protein known as SFPR2 has been shown by researchers to inhibit tumor growth in pre-clinical models of breast cancer and angiosarcoma. A team led by Nancy Klauber-DeMore, MD, professor of surgery and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, used a monoclonal antibody to target SFRP2 expressed in cells from triple-negative breast cancer and the aggressive blood-vessel malignancy angiosarcoma, reducing the rate of tumor growth.
• The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute approved a $2 million award to the UNC School of Medicine to study the role of glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes using oral medications. The three-year project will focus on assessing the impact of three different types of blood sugar or glucose home-testing approaches. Katrina Donahue, MD, MPH, associate professor of family medicine, and Laura Young, MD, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, will lead the research project.

Amanda Gorecki, president and founder of Healing Waters Spa & Cosmetic Clinic, a medical aesthetic clinic, announced the hiring of Casey Stoneman as spa director and marketing associate for the firm's North Carolina market.

Marciana Lucena, a post-graduate student in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill, received a $2,500 Go Red Multicultural scholarship from the American Heart Association and Macy's. The scholarship program, which is in its second year, champions greater inclusion of multicultural women in medical, nursing and allied health studies.

Milestones Counseling opened a Wake Forest location to provide psychological care and services. It is owned and operated by Kelly Ruta, a licensed clinical social worker with nearly two decades of experience.

LaVida Massage, which provides therapeutic massage and skin care services for the family, opened its first Raleigh location. It's owned by local residents Jill Weston, a former personal fitness trainer who holds a degree in dietetic health science, and her husband, Weston.

The N.C. Writers' Network announced the following events:

• Thursday, June 6, at 7 p.m., N.C. State University - A dramatic reading of "You Wouldn't Expect," a play by Marilynn Barner Anselmi, is presented during the Social Equity Leadership Conference.
• Sunday, June 9, from 3:30 to 7 p.m., Fullsteam Brewery, Durham - Summer Kinard and Light Messages Publishing celebrate the launch of "Can't Buy Me Love," her debut novel, which is set in Durham.
• Thursday, June 13, at 7 p.m., Durham County Library on Roxboro Street – Georgann Eubanks presents her title "Literary Trails of Eastern North Carolina: A Guidebook."
• Sunday, June 23, at 3 p.m., Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh – Writer Janet Pittard and artist Stephen Shoemaker discuss their new book, "Stephen Shoemaker: The Paintings and Their Stories."

Susan Brown, the new director of the Chapel Hill Public Library, participated in World Book Night. Brown handed out a young adult novel, "Looking for Alaska." Brown and Krystal Black, the youth services outreach librarian, roamed around town, distributing free copies to teenagers.

Diane Brandon, a professional intuitive who lives in the Triangle, is the author of a new book, "Intuition for Beginners: Easy Ways to Awaken Your Natural Abilities." This is her second book.

Suzanne Libfraind, of Wardrobe Consulting in Raleigh, wrote "Portraits of Lifestyle Dressing: Your Style, Your Closet." Book signings and discussions are taking place around the Triangle.

Wake County Public Libraries announced:

• Around the county in June, librarians lead hour-long, free talks about influential books written in the 1960s. The events include: June 10 at 2 p.m., West Regional (Cary) – Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and June 17 at 7 p.m., Knightdale – Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." There are additional discussions scheduled on the turbulent events and issues that defined the ‘60s.
• Artists who work in the medium of stained glass discuss the art form and demonstrate techniques throughout June. The program compliments the arts and literature component of library programming for adult members. For example, stained glass artist Lisa Daly presents her program at several branches.