Shaena Montanari from UNC is one of the five inaugural students to begin class at the new Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The museum is the first American museum authorized to grant its own Ph.D. degree. The initial Ph.D. program focuses on comparative biology.

Montanari finished her undergraduate degree from UNC in three years. She is using her geology background to apply chemical analyses to understanding ancient environments and the history of diet and metabolism in a variety of extinct animals, such as dinosaurs, to determine what these changes meant for the diversity, biogeography, evolution and extinction of species.

Emma Sherman Kitson, daughter of Paula Sherman and Terry Kitson of Chapel Hill and a 2004 graduate of Chapel Hill High School, will present "The Bedrooms of My Friends," an exhibition of 20 black-and-white photographs, at UNC Asheville's Owen Hall Second Floor Gallery Nov. 21-Dec. 2. An opening reception will be held Nov. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the gallery. The show is a culmination of Kitson's work toward a bachelor of arts degree at UNC Asheville.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call UNC Asheville's Art Department at (828) 251-6559.

Rachel Leeman-Munk, a first-year student at Earlham College, performed during Earlham's Homecoming and Reunion Concert on Oct.18.

She is the daughter of Jennifer Leeman and Tom Munk of Carrboro.

Earlham is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Ind. The College offers 40 majors in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. More than 75 percent of Earlham's graduates pursue postgraduate study.

Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and patient safety advocate, is this year's recipient of the UNC Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy Award for Patient Service.

Cohen is the founder and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 most powerful people in healthcare, he has committed his professional career to reducing preventable drug and drug delivery mistakes.

"Through his work with the ISMP and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he has played key roles in bringing about numerous corrections in error-prone products and practices," said Howard McLeod, director of IPIT.

The IPIT Award for Patient Service honors a person who has made significant contributions to empowering patients and to the advancement of rational drug therapy.

Susanne Gaddis of Chapel Hill discussed her involvement in Community Supported Agriculture in the November 2008 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine.

Community Supported Agriculture is a partnership between the grower and consumer. Consumers buy shares of a farm to responsibly promote and support local agriculture. The Good Housekeeping article by Jeff Wuorio, titled "Readers' Tips for a Shoestring Budget," highlights creative ways to save during tough economic times.

Annette Moore, Barbara Putney and Rose Wignall represented Orange County Girl Scouts in a delegation of 21 Girl Scouts from North Carolina Coastal Pines that attended the 51st National Council Session and Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

Moore is a board member and voting delegate from Hillsborough, Putney is a volunteer and voting delegate, and Wignall is a volunteer visitor.

The North Carolina Coastal Pines delegation included officers, board members, volunteers, staff and teen Girl Scouts representing 41 counties in central and eastern North Carolina.

More than 1,800 voting delegates attended the convention, which attracted more than 9,000 participants. The National Council convenes once every three years.

Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines serves more than 31,000 girl members and 8,500 adult members in 41 counties.

Send announcements and photos for Notable to chnclerk@nc.rr.com.