Before you can reach the world, it is sometimes necessary to build a bridge.

Two of those bridges – and the people they have connected and work they have joined – were the focus at the University Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 1.

One of the bridges was the joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Carolina and N.C. State that Nancy Allbritton, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry in Carolina’s College of Arts and Sciences, has chaired since 2009.

The second bridge was the one that Judith Cone, interim vice chancellor for commercialization and economic development, began building six years when she came to campus to close the cultural divide separating pure research from commerce.

Chancellor Carol L. Folt said both will play a major part in Carolina’s still unfolding story improving lives across the state, nation and world.