Jewel in the Crown: Bonnie Cone and the Founding of UNC Charlotte chronicles the postwar development of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from a temporary night school for returning veterans into a college, and eventually the fourth campus in the UNC system. With no public college or university within 90 miles of Charlotte, the need for greater opportunities for higher education in the region was clear–although the path forward to achieve that goal was not. Cone led the effort to engage the business community, government officials, and the general public to support the development of the institution, while convincing distinguished faculty from around the country to be part of this new endeavor.

Drawing heavily from oral history interviews with Cone and many who knew her, the book highlights the personal qualities of persuasiveness, perseverance, and vision that gave her the ability to lead the effort culminating in this incredible achievement. Always an educator at heart, Cone never lost sight of the fundamental purpose in establishing the university: to provide opportunities for students and challenge them to achieve their goals. A foreword by UNC Charlotte alumnus Michael L. Wilson, who went on to lead the Board of Trustees, provides a first-hand account of Cone’s inspiration and influence on students.