WomanCraft, a Chapel Hill co-op of more than 70 artisans, announced:

• Pottery pieces by Janet Resnik, Pam Epperson, Cynthia Aldrich, Barb Yoder and Barbara McKenzie are on display April 10-24. A meet-the-artist reception takes place April 11 from 6-9 p.m.
• Work by Gina Boyle is on exhibit starting April 3. Boyle creates mixed-media mosaics comprised of various tiles, stained glass, fine china, beads and vintage jewelry.

Anne Cunningham presents "Beach House on the Moon" at ArtSource Fine Art Gallery and Framing, in Raleigh, beginning April 11. The show is in memory of her late son. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis foundation.

Visual Art Exchange, in Raleigh, presents "Collapsed Fields" by Charmaine Ortiz. It expands and critiques the notions of what drawing is as a practice. The exhibit runs through April 12.

Local Color Gallery, a Raleigh co-op of female artists, hosts an opening reception at the First Friday gallery walk on April 4 from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit "Coming Home N.C." features work by Bekah Haslett and Kim Balentine.

Artspace, a nonprofit visual art center in Raleigh, announced:

• A variety of classes for all ages and skill levels are offered in April, May and June. For example, Mary Kircher is leading a class for those age 16 and up on weaving journals and Cat Manolis is teaching a class on pattern and decoration.
• Catherine Thornton's exhibition "Friends, Sense and Non-sense" runs April 4-26. It displays Thornton's imaginatively conjured animals and human figures.

The Women of Waverly Artists Group and Gallery, made up of 12 local artisans with a range of experience, personality and style, hosts a reception on April 25 in Cary. The event takes place from 6-9 p.m. and includes art, music and food.

The Qi Garden, in Hillsborough, displays "Spring Blossoms, Buds and Blooms" by Lee Crawford, Emily Eve Weinstein, Lilly Langer, Renata McConnell, Elaine O'Neil and Jackie Tiryakian. The exhibit, which is comprised of acrylics, photo paintings, textiles and oils, is on display through May 31.

The Durham Arts Council presents multiple exhibits through April 27. They include "Under Botanical Influence," a series of photographs by Laura Williams, and "The Still Life Reinterpreted," paintings by Cynthia Aldrich.

The Mallarme Chamber Players, in Durham, hosts a gala concert fundraiser on April 5. A variety of instruments are presented, including flute by Mary Boone and violin by Suzanne Rousso, the group's artistic director.

Maureen Grasso, Ph.D., the current dean of the University of Georgia's graduate school, was named the dean of the graduate school at N.C. State University, in Raleigh. She will begin her appointment July 1. Grasso has served as dean at Georgia since 2002, overseeing a graduate program with more than 6,600 students, 95 doctoral programs, 138 master's programs and 17 specialty degree programs. She is also a tenured professor of textile sciences. N.C. State's graduate school includes approximately 7,700 students and more than 220 degree programs that span the university's 10 academic colleges.

Lorena Berube, a teacher at the Easter Seals Children's Center, in Raleigh, received the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children's Tylenol National Child Care Teacher Award. This recognition acknowledges the role of teachers in providing quality early care and education. Berube, who has worked at the center for more than eight years, is the only teacher in North Carolina to receive this recognition.

Debra Saunders-White, Ph.D., is being installed as the new chancellor of N.C. Central University in Durham, on April 4. She will deliver an installation address and a chancellor's reception will take place immediately following. Saunders-White began her duties at the university on June 1, 2013.

Hillsborough's Vietri, the largest U.S. importer of fine Italian handcrafted dinnerware and associated items, announced:

• Holli Draughn was promoted to vice president of sales, a new position.
• Anne Campbell Robbins moved into the position of national sales manager.
• Joan Bolick now serves as the new product development manager.
• Lisa Boyles was named the vice president of marketing.
• Ellen Thompson was promoted to public relations manager.

Andrea Overfield, of Parata Systems, received a Silver Stevie Award for sales operations professional of the year. Overfield has spent more than 10 years building the infrastructure, processes and procedures to support the sales professionals at Parata, a provider of pharmacy technology in Durham.

Jess McLamb, president of Roper Bookkeeping, facilitated a one-page business plan workshop for both the greater Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Wake County Women Business Owners Network, a group she began in 1995. Also, she's teaching QuickBooks classes and small business workshops all over the Triangle this month.

Nicole Blake, of Longistics, a provider of global logistics solutions, in Research Triangle Park, was promoted to human resource director. In her new position, Blake oversees employee relations, recruitment and selection, benefits administration, compliance and training of new employees.

The Human Relations Commission of the city of Durham announced its distinguished award winners, who have contributed their time and talent to the city. Among those recognized were:

• Cora Cole-McFadden, mayor pro tempore, who received the Human Rights Award for her advocacy to better the lives of less fortunate members of the community.
• Selina Mack, executive director of the Durham Community Land Trustees, who received the Housing Award for her leadership in helping the organization to become a national model for permanently affordable housing and community redevelopment.
• Mishel Gomez Cespedes, a high school student, who received the Human Rights Youth Award for her work to integrate and improve understanding between Durham's youth of different backgrounds and her initiative in starting the Latino Ambassadors Club.

The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are partnering to host a women veterans summit and expo on April 17. At the event, female veterans are provided with access to counselors with expertise in claims, healthcare, eBenefits, education and training benefits, home loans and women's business opportunities. The summit takes place at the N.C. National Guard Joint Forces headquarters in Raleigh.

Sheena Cooper is the new marketing manager at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club, in Durham. Cooper's responsibilities include sales and marketing efforts as well as management of website content, guest e-communications and special projects.

Wendy Coulter, CEO of Hummingbird Creative Group, in Cary, announced that the firm received six 2013 National Mature Media Awards for its work in promoting retirement communities. The recognitions include the bronze award for a brochure for the Glenaire property in Cary; a merit award for the Glenaire website; a merit award for the Glenaire Facebook page; a merit award for the print ad campaign for River Landing at Sandy Ridge; a merit award for the River Landing website; and a merit award for the Scotia Village website.

Christina Motley, a Triangle marketing professional, completed an executive certificate in Internet marketing through a joint program between Fortis College in Cary and Saint Louis University's John Cook's School of Business.

The Research Triangle Park chapter of the Arthritis Foundation announced its upcoming Walk to Cure Arthritis. The event, which raises funds and awareness to fight the nation's leading cause of disability, takes place May 10. It starts at the Winchester Building of the Imperial Center, in Durham. The day features a 3-mile and 1-mile course as well as arthritis information and activities for the entire family. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs.

The N.C. Coastal Pines region of the Girl Scouts of America appointed Christy Philemon as the volunteer development and recruitment programs director. Philemon is based in the Raleigh service center and supports volunteers in the Triangle.

The State Employees Credit Union, in partnership with the Institute for Emerging Issues, awarded a $50,000 grant to four N.C. State University college teams. Their creative efforts were selected as winners of the first SECU emerging issues prize for innovation. SECU foundation board members, including Cindy Jolly, presented the awards. Somer Lewis and Claire King were among the winners.

Tara Romano, president of N.C. Women United, announced that three of the organizations' members have been recognized as 2014 defenders of justice. These awards are presented annually by the N.C. Justice Center. N.C. Women United, based in Raleigh, is a coalition of progressive organizations and individuals working to achieve the full political, social and economic equality of all women across the state.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the nation's first black Greek letter sorority, holds its mid-Atlantic regional conference in Raleigh April 3-6, announced Linda Henry Gilliam, the regional director. The theme is "a smart circle of timeless service." The event is expected to generate $1.3 million in revenue for the city.

Shannon Tucker is the newest member of the board of directors of Communities in Schools of Durham, an organization that works to surround students with support that empowers them to stay in school. She is a public defender in the city.

The League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties sponsors a voter-education program on environmental issues on April 23. Abby Bishop, the public outreach organizer of the N.C. Conservation Network, and Elaine Chiosso, executive director of the Haw River Assembly, are leading the meeting.

Pamela Mansueti, of Raleigh's Linda Craft and Team Realtors, was named agent of the year for 2013. Mansueti, who joined the company in 2011, received this honor in 2012 as well.

Raleigh's Luxury Home Marketing Group, led by Linda Craft, announced:

• The addition of Ginger Rogers. The Raleigh native is a veteran realtor with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston.
• A partnership with Towne Mortgage of the Carolinas for 2014. Denise Beatty, the sales manager, notes, "We are thrilled to be in partnership with Luxury Home Marketing Group. This segment of the market is experiencing great growth."
• The return of Gail Perry, of Gail Perry and Associates, to the organization. She has represented real estate clients in the Triangle for about 30 years.

M/I Homes, in Raleigh, named Reyna Estrada the Internet specialist of the year and Shelia Dockery the home sales consultant of the year. Plus, it gave Allison Moriarty special recognition as the vice president of sales and marketing.

Clothes Mentor, the country's first resale chain for women, opened a location in Chapel Hill. The clothing store is co-owned by Kim Vassiliadis, a librarian at UNC-Chapel Hill for almost 13 years.

Stephanie Webster is the team leader for the new Target store in Cary. Webster is in charge of more than 200 employees, ranging from salaried executives and hourly managers to part-time cashiers. She began her career with Target almost 20 years ago and has participated in the opening of 50 stores on the East Coast.

Researchers at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, announced:

• Studies show that the mentally ill are more likely to be victims, not perpetrators, of violence. Also, findings showed a strong correlation between being a victim of violence and committing a violent act. Sarah Desmarais, professor of psychology, is the lead author of a paper describing the work.
• Changing the texture and surface characteristics of a semiconductor material at the nanoscale can influence how neural cells grow on the material. This research helps with the development of future neural implants. Lauren Bain, a Ph.D. student, is the lead author of a paper on this work.

Casey Allison Rimland, a medical and doctoral student in the UNC School of Medicine, was named the second Gates Cambridge Scholar from UNC-Chapel Hill. Rimland's research focuses on developing stem cell therapies for liver fibrosis.

Flyleaf Books, an independent bookseller in Chapel Hill, hosts a night with authors Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen. Han discusses her new young adult novel, "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," followed by a conversation with Dessen, a Chapel Hill native. The event is on April 17 from 7-8 p.m.

Monica Byrne, a Durham playwright, is releasing her novel "The Girl in the Road." The work follows the story of Meena, a young woman living in a futuristic Mumbai, who flees India for Ethiopa, her birthplace.

Carrie Knowles, a Raleigh author, writing coach and arts advocate, was named the 2014 Piedmont Laureate. Knowles will appear at various workshops, reading programs and speaking engagements throughout the Triangle this year.

Susan E. Ghiassi, of Raleigh, released her book "Thank God I Only Have Two of These!" about breast cancer. It's an informative work about making the most of a mammogram. The book is available in waiting rooms of hospitals across the country as well as on Amazon.