ONLY UN C W Signature Seahawk memories and moments calling us home
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plus: C H EE RS TO THE DUB !
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M U S I C -M A K I N G , B RI D G E -B UIL DING
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H ELP I N G P RO S TATE C A N C E R P AT IE NTS
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fall 2023
There’s No Place Like Home This fall, UNCW welcomed the Class of 2027 to their new home. These 2701 students make up the largest first-year class ever and will live in university residence halls for the next two years, along with another 2,500 on-campus residents, including a mix of upperclassmen, transfers, international and graduate students.
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Contents 26
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S OAR HIGH ER
6–7
A 10-year strategic plan for UNCW
S H OW AND TEAL
8–2 1
Short stories with big impact
ONLY UNCW
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CHEERS TO THE DUB
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MUS IC- MAKING , BRIDG E- BUIL D I N G 2 8 HELP ING P ROS TATE CANCER P ATIENTS
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CLAS S NOTES
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IN MEMORIAM
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fall 2023 | volume 33 | number 2
University of North Carolina Wilmington
PRODUCED BY THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS UN C W . ED U Editor
Art Director
Krissy Vick
Shirl New
Design KLP Designs
Photographer
Jeff Janowski
Contributing Writers
Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M Sarah Fetters Stacie Greene Hidek Venita Jenkins Office of Military Affairs Division for University Advancement Krissy Vick Andrea Monroe Weaver
Contributing Photographers
Bradley Pierce Jesse Bradley Adina Riggins CAA Sports Lorian Schweikert Cameron Detig Lydia Shippen Jeff Janowski Michael Spencer UNCW Athletics UNCW Digital Initiatives UNCW Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences USGA/Eric Thayer
Class Notes
Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M Division for University Advancement
Editorial Advisors Sarah Fetters Missy A. Kennedy ’01
Eddie Stuart ’05M Andrea Monroe Weaver
Business Manager Kelly Baker
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Andrea Monroe Weaver
UNCW Magazine is published for alumni and friends of the university by the Office of University Relations, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, North Carolina 28403. Correspondence may be directed to uncwmagazine@uncw.edu. UNC Wilmington is committed to and will provide equal educational and employment opportunity. Questions regarding program access may be directed to the Compliance Officer, UNCW Chancellor’s Office, 910.962.3000, Fax 910.962.3483. UNCW does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Questions regarding UNCW’s Title IX compliance should be directed to titleix@uncw.edu. 114,853 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $87,400 or $.76 per copy (G.S. 143-170.1). Printed by Hickory Printing Solutions, an RRD Company.
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Dear Seahawk Community, As Chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, I welcome the opportunity to share the latest issue of UNCW Magazine with you. We filled it with stories that reflect our dedication to Unparalleled Opportunities, Nationally Prominent Programs, Community Commitment and World-class Operations and Infrastructure. These four pillars form the foundation for UNCW’s newest strategic plan, a 10-year guide developed collaboratively by the campus and the community. The plan's ambitious goals are shaping our institution's future and inspiring us to soar higher together. Learn more on page 6. Career-ready Graduates: Internships, research and creative scholarship opportunities, interdisciplinary majors and minors, and many other expanded learning experiences play a vital role in preparing UNCW students for their careers. As the stories about Zach Hamlet ’23 and Cameron Detig ’21 show, these opportunities empower students to gain practical experience in their field, foster essential skills, build professional networks and enhance their confidence. By graduation, they are ready to step into their chosen professions with competence and a clear understanding of real-world expectations. Cutting-edge Research and Creative Scholarship: From conducting earthquake research and developing potential cancer treatments to producing award-winning creative literary journals, and many points in between, our students, faculty and staff are engaged in discovering, understanding and sharing knowledge to improve the human experience. We are proud to share their achievements, which are not only shaping the future but also making a tangible impact on society today. Campus and Community Connections: UNCW believes in the power of community. We were founded by the citizens of New Hanover County in 1947, and we have thrived ever since with the ongoing commitment of our regional community as well as significant support from the State of North Carolina, our students and their families, alumni, donors, faculty and staff. Our campus is more than a place for students to learn; it's a hub for cultural exploration, innovation, artistic expression and athletic excellence. Stories throughout this issue highlight meaningful connections between UNCW and our community. Homecoming Celebrations: Tune in to teal time February 15-18 for Homecoming 2024! In this issue, we share heartwarming memories and vibrant moments that reflect the power of coming home to UNCW. Each year, thanks to more than 100,000 alumni, our traditions grow stronger, our celebrations expand and our pride in the Seahawk community soars. Thank you for your continued support and engagement in the life of our university. We hope that you find this issue as inspiring and informative as we do. We look forward to the future with excitement and energy, and we can’t wait to share all that UNCW is, and all that it can become, with you. Yours in Seahawk Spirit, uncwchancellor uncwchancellor Aswani K. Volety Chancellor
uncwchancellor
The “Intellectual Heart” of Campus William Madison Randall Library has been undergoing an expansion since spring 2022. Named for former Wilmington College dean and president William Madison Randall (1899-1984), the building officially opened in 1969. The renovated space, outfitted with a dedicated event and programming space, data visualization lab, technology hub, multimedia studio and more, will be open in fall 2024.
COVER PHOTO: The UNCW alumni family, now more than 100,000 strong, is invited to come home for Homecoming on February 15-18, 2024 (see page 22). Left to right: Alumni Jim Stasios ’70, Rita Cronin ’23, Gia Todd Long ’91, Giovanni ’15 and Rachel ’14 Ellzey with their daughter, Willow.
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SOAR HIGHER A 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR UNCW
V ISIO N
UNCW transforms lives. M ISS I O N
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, integrates teaching and mentoring with research and service. UNCW’s commitment to student engagement, creative inquiry, critical thinking, thoughtful expression and civic responsibility defines the student experience. Graduates of our undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs are prepared to serve the needs of local, state and global communities. (AT PRINT TIM E, APP R O VA L P E N DIN G B Y T HE U N C BOAR D OF G OVER NO R S )
Over the past two years, UNCW thoughtfully developed Soar Higher: A 10-Year Strategic Plan. The university used an inclusive process involving cross sections of the campus and the Seahawk community. The plan’s four pillars, which use the acronym UNCW, convey a future that continues the positive momentum that has inspired UNCW since its founding in 1947.
In development:
“The Soar Higher Strategic Plan emphasizes people, programs, places and priorities in a way that aligns with UNCW’s core values. It is a living document and, based on continuous evaluation, the university’s progress and new developments, it will be updated as needed during the decade ahead.”
New UNCW Campus Master Plan
– Chancellor Aswani K. Volety
Learn more: uncw.edu/campus-master-plan
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PIL L A R S
Unparalleled Opportunities UNCW’s most important asset is its people. We provide unparalleled opportunities for faculty, staff and students to succeed. We are a community of learners who all believe in the power of education to make the world a better place. We hire and retain accomplished, hard-working and committed faculty and staff; and we recruit and enroll talented students with extraordinary potential that we help them achieve. As a people-centered organization, investing in priorities that support faculty, staff and students will be key to our future success.
Nationally Prominent Programs UNCW is committed to cultivating an academic environment in which all members of our community can flourish. This environment is driven by the program activity related to curriculum, research, creativity, innovation, outreach, engagement and student support. Our region and its place in the global economy are changing rapidly. UNCW will invest in regionally relevant and globally important programs that are responsive to our campus and community needs.
Community Commitment UNCW understands that collaborative partnerships–both internal and external to campus–are critical for achieving our university mission. Simply put, we work better when we work together. We see the future of higher education as one where community relationships spur innovation, creativity and problem-solving; where authentic engagement with the community leads to new learning opportunities; and where partners in our mission help achieve our goals in mutually beneficial ways.
World-Class Operations and Infrastructure Living and working on the coast is at the heart of almost everything UNCW does. Therefore, “place”–construed broadly–is a critically important consideration for our future. We think of place not only as our coastal location, but also as the physical infrastructure and institutional operations that support our mission as well as our attitudes and approaches to environmental stewardship and sustainability. We will invest in upgrading and modernizing the operational systems and physical structures that align our campus “place” with our long-term goals as a university.
Tracking Our Progress Progress toward accomplishing our objectives will be monitored using essential metrics tracked by the university and the UNC System. These will include, but are not limited to: Student Success: Graduation rates Affordability: Student loan debt at graduation Access: Enrollment of underserved populations Career Readiness: Participation in high impact practices Support: Employee salary/ market data Programs: Number of STEM and health sciences degrees Research: Sponsored research and licensing income
See more: uncw.edu/strategicplan A recently commissioned wave flume at UNCW will expand the university’s teaching and research capabilities and inspire the next generation of coastal engineers.
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Student Government Association President Cody Brandon ’24 checking out UNCW’s new website while sitting surfside at Wrightsville Beach.
UNCWeb: Site Undergoes Major Redesign In May 2023, uncw.edu, the university’s virtual front door, put out a new welcome mat. After more than two years of intense work and planning, the redesigned UNCW website was launched. With a streamlined, data-driven, user-focused navigation, the number of pages was reduced from more than 20,000 to less than 5,000. The new uncw.edu enhances the user experience and reflects UNCW’s dynamic and innovative approach to education and all that UNCW is to various audiences. The design showcases the university’s enviable coastal location and its commitment to teaching, research and community engagement through quality images and storytelling. The UNCW Offices of University Relations and Information Technology Services coordinated the project and worked closely with academic units and other administrative divisions in collaboration with Stamats, a higher education integrated marketing company hired to assist with developing the new site. – C AROLINE CROPP ’ 99 ’ 0 6M
Highlights: Program Finder: prospective students can explore degree options easily. This new feature is receiving above average traffic at 700 pageviews per day (21% of first-time visitors go here). Improved accessibility: to provide equal access to people with diverse abilities. Modern, engaging design: highlights UNCW’s unique brand and stories. Dynamic features: allows efficiency and flexibility for presenting content and sharing across multiple pages.
Visit virtually: uncw.edu
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Senior Zach Hamlet participating in the United States Golf Association’s 2023 Pathways Internship program in summer 2023.
UNCW Senior Aces Internship with USGA Senior Zach Hamlet paid little attention to golf until his internship with Global Golf Management at the 2022 Rex Hospital Open, one of North Carolina’s premier tournaments. The experience motivated him to apply for the United States Golf Association’s 2023 Pathways Internship, a program designed to provide diverse college students an opportunity to explore careers in golf and increase the number of individuals from underrepresented communities in the golf industry. A business administration major, Hamlet was among 20 students selected nationwide to participate in the USGA Pathways Internship. The 10-day immersive internship included career panels, workshops and networking. Participants met with executives from companies such as NBCUniversal, Deloitte, SoFi and Nike. Hamlet traveled to Los Angeles this past summer for the 2023 U.S. Open Championship as part of his internship. “Networking with my cohorts was truly the most impactful part of the experience, and I am excited to see how those relationships continue to flourish,” Hamlet said. “I also was left with a much deeper understanding of the level of hard work and dedication it takes to be successful.” Hamlet praised the USGA’s efforts to diversify golf through initiatives such as the Pathways program.
“It was a truly life-changing experience.” – Zach Hamlet “I commend the USGA for continuing to be innovative and inclusive and for its investment in myself and my fellow interns through this opportunity,” he said. – V E N ITA J ENKINS
10 | UNC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
Courtesy: USGA/Eric Thayer
Creative Force: UNCW Grad Works on Star Wars TV Show Cameron Detig ’21 had long known he wanted a job in the film industry, but it wasn’t until he saw behind-the-scenes footage of the Disney+ show “The Mandalorian” that he pinpointed his goal. He now works in what’s known as “previs” for another Star Wars show, “Ahsoka.” The “Mandalorian” footage was from a visualization studio named The Third Floor. The company works on shows and movies from studios such as Marvel, Lucasfilm and Netflix. “Essentially, they make 3D animated versions of shows to plan everything out before filming,” Detig explained. And now he does it with them.
Detig said he usually gets a handful of scenes to work on for each “Ahsoka” episode, adding motion capture that had been shot, tweaking the performance and animating cameras. “The most challenging part was keeping it a secret for two years,” he said, while they waited for the show to be released. A recipient of the Smith Doss Scholarship in Computer Science, Detig earned dual bachelor’s degrees from UNCW in Computer Science and Film Studies and a minor in Digital Arts which he credits for giving him a solid background, but pursuing his job took even more work.
Courtesy: Cameron Detig
“ The most challenging part was keeping it a secret for two years.” – Cameron Detig ’21
“My time in the UNCW Film Department taught me a lot about filmmaking and film history, which was all important for the job,” Detig said. He also took courses on computer animation, both at UNCW and after graduation, polishing his demo reel and tailoring it for the job he wanted. His goal is to lead the layout department for animated films. As he explained, it involves “defining the camera language and shot choices for films and making an outline for the animators to then fill in.” – S TAC I E G R EENE H I D EK
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Soaring into the Future: New Colleges, Bold Leadership – KRI SSY VICK
UNCW is soaring into the future in 2023 with the addition of two new colleges. The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) and the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) were formed from the former College of Arts and Sciences, an expansion of the academic structure that better supports students, faculty and staff in 25 unique departments. Additionally, the university has welcomed four new deans in recent months. “I am very excited to welcome four new administrators to our leadership team,” said Provost James J. Winebrake.
“The evolution of our college structure aids all of our deans as they continue to create even more opportunities for students to engage in impactful learning experiences with faculty, staff and the community and support the university’s strategic initiatives to address future needs of the region.” – James J. Winebrake
To learn more about UNCW’s five colleges and deans, visit: uncw.edu/academics/colleges
12 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
MEET THE DEANS Stephanie Caulder Stephanie B. Caulder, a Wilmington native with nearly 25 years of higher education leadership, was named founding dean of CHSSA. She was most recently at Radford University where she was dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. In the new dean role, Caulder oversees more than 450 faculty and staff in 16 departments, which include academic programs in visual and performing arts, communications, social sciences and liberal arts.
Ron Vetter A professor in the Department of Computer Science, CSE Founding Dean Ronald J. Vetter has more than two decades of service to UNCW, previously serving as associate provost for research and dean of the graduate school. He now leads more than 350 faculty and staff in the nine CSE academic units in mathematics, computer sciences, engineering and natural and behavioral sciences.
Jack Watson Jack C. Watson II was announced as the new dean of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). With an extensive background in leadership development and 16 years of administrative experience, Watson most recently served as dean of West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. As CHHS dean, he provides chief academic officer leadership for the college’s three professional schools.
Rob Burrus Rob Burrus has served as dean of the Cameron School of Business (CSB) since 2014. As dean, he oversees and provides leadership for four departments and one school. He is also a professor in the Department of Economics and Finance. He was chair of the department starting in 2007 and has been on the faculty at UNCW since 1998.
Carol McNulty Carol McNulty was appointed interim dean of the Watson College of Education (WCE). McNulty most recently served as the associate provost for undergraduate education and faculty affairs and is an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education. She will provide interim leadership for WCE’s faculty and staff while a national search for the next dean is underway.
13
Show & Teal And the winner is...
Ecotone Wins 2023 Firecracker Award Ecotone, UNCW’s national literary magazine, is a 2023 Firecracker Awards recipient in the category of Magazine/ General Excellence. The awards, given annually by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), honor publications and publishers for their contributions to literary culture. CLMP also recognized renowned Southern literary magazines Arkansas International and Oxford American among the finalists for this year’s award.
The semiannual literary magazine founded in 2005 and produced by UNCW faculty and MFA students, champions innovative and underrepresented work. In March 2022, the magazine received the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Small Press Publisher Award. It was a finalist for the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize (2021) and the ASME Award for Fiction (2020). – K V
“We’re delighted to be in such good company and congratulate our fellow finalists for the work they’re doing,” said Anna Lena Phillips Bell, who is in her 10th year as editor.
“I’m thankful to CLMP for their unique advocacy for independent publishing and deeply grateful to UNCW for its support of Ecotone’s missions to reimagine place and to train new editors and designers through apprenticeships with a national literary magazine.” – Anna Lena Phillips Bell
Learn more: ecotonemagazine.org
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il m
o
n
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S UP FO ING
ingt
A DAY OF SEAHAWK SERVICE
Seahawks Serving
220 volunteers
An annual tradition born from Hurricane Florence continues
When the flood waters receded after the devastation left by Hurricane Florence in 2018, Seahawks by the hundreds showed up to help the community rebuild. That community spirit continues five years later. On September 16, UNCW faculty, staff and students commemorated the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Florence by aiding community organizations throughout Wilmington during “Wings Up for Wilmington.” Approximately 220 volunteers worked at 18 sites on various projects, from safety-related home repairs to landscaping, painting and planting in community gardens during the annual day of service.
18 sites
“I believe that establishing this event, and a new university tradition, is a testament to UNCW’s commitment to community engagement and supports the new strategic plan.” – Jaime Russell ’16 Ed.D
1,000 donors
“I am hopeful that this event will continue for years to come as a way for all Seahawks to connect with our local community,” said Jaime Russell ’16 Ed.D., director of student community engagement. Amanda Boomershine, professor of Spanish and Linguistics, led the community engagement event from 2019 until 2022. “Wings Up for Wilmington” is among several events that are part of the annual “Seahawks that Serve Week” that celebrates the university’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to learn, grow and engage during their time at UNCW. The commitment to give back extends far into the Seahawk community. Following the storm, over 1,000 donors made gifts to the UNCW Student Emergency Fund to help students in need. Donors also contributed to the fund, which still exists today, during COVID-19, stepping up again to support students affected by challenging circumstances. – VJ
From top: Seahawks volunteering at Miracle Field, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, Willowdale Urban Farm and Good Shepherd Center in Wilmington.
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Browning Retires For 37 years, Joe Browning has been a staple of UNCW Athletics. He left Trask Coliseum for the last time as the senior associate athletic director in September. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to build relationships with several second- and third-generation student-athletes in my long tenure,” said Browning. He hopes his legacy will be one of dedication, hard work, selflessness and servant leadership. “I’ve always strived to get the job done, regardless of the time or resources required,” Browning said.
JOE BROWNING S E AH AW K S TATS 37 YEARS 7 CHANCELLORS 7 ATHLETIC DIRECTORS 107 HEAD COACHES 13,000 STUDENT-ATHLETES 100S OF STUDENT INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS
16 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
“Being a role model for the next generation and leading by example has always been very important.”
The Seahawks baseball team captured their CAA-record seventh tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the 11th time since 2003. It was the first time UNCW won both the regular season and conference championship since 2012. Courtesy: CAA Sports
– Joe Browning
The Browning family’s support of UNCW has been unwavering. Browning and his wife, Mary, both members of the Clocktower Society and UNCW Society, spent most of their careers at UNCW. Their children, Hayley ’15 and Ivan ’20, ’23M, grew up attending games and events on campus and pursued their education at UNCW. Hayley earned her degree from the Watson College of Education. Ivan completed his bachelor's degree in marine biology and will graduate with his master’s in chemistry in December. “It was fortuitous that I built a career working with students on this level,” he said. “I have gained an even greater appreciation for higher education and its value after working in a university setting for many years.”
Seahawk Champions Setting Records The Seahawks finished the 2022-23 season with a school-record five Coastal Athletic Association championships–baseball, men’s golf, men's tennis, men’s swimming and diving, and women’s swimming and diving. It was the ninth CAA title for the men’s tennis team in 13 years and the second time in UNCW’s history that both swimming and diving teams captured the CAA title in the same year. “What an amazing achievement by our programs,” said UNCW Athletics Director Michael Oblinger. “The fact that our coaches, student-athletes and staff had this success is a testament to their dedication to the programs both on the field and in the classroom and community.” As Oblinger looks to the future, he hopes the athletic programs continue to work toward their full potential. “Success takes many forms, but in the end, it’s about the experience and wellbeing of the student-athletes,” he said. “We want to be additive to their holistic growth as people and community leaders.” UNCW Athletics appreciates the support from its fans, supporters, alumni, administrators and community, Oblinger added. “This community is special, and we’re fortunate to be where we are.” Athletics has received over $21 million in private support since the start of Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW. – VJ
Browning will be inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in May 2024. – V J
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Making a Difference UNCW Police Chief Frank Brinkley Leads Safety and Security Efforts on Campus Frank Brinkley took over the helm of the UNCW Police Department on March 27, 2023. He previously served as the police chief of UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. As police chief, Brinkley oversees a staff of more than 40 professionals dedicated to campus safety and security. Q. What led you to pursue a career in law enforcement in a higher education setting? A.
I had never considered law enforcement as a career until I worked as a student patrol officer at NC State, which was a student security guard program. We would do safety escorts, building lockups, blue light checks, and things like that. We were the extra set of eyes and ears for the police department on campus. It was rewarding, and people felt grateful for the interaction.
U P D S E R VE S A N D P ROTE CTS A CO M M UNITY OF N EA RLY 1 8 , 000 S T U D E N TS AND 2 ,5 0 0 F ACULTY A N D STAF F
Q. What excites you about your job as the UNCW Police Chief? A.
What I like the most is the sense of accomplishment you feel when you’ve made a difference in somebody’s life. It feels good when someone tells you that you made them feel safe.
Q. How do you make connections or develop relationships with students? A. You can talk about your philosophy, but they will only believe it once they see it in action. It’s about breaking down communication barriers and building a rapport before a crisis incident happens. It’s important to have the door open for trust to exist. To do that, you have positive interactions with students. – VJ
18 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
Learn more: uncw.edu/police
In Recognition of Service and Sacrifice UNCW has received a solemn distinction–recognition as an official Purple Heart Designated University. This designation affirms the university’s commitment to those who have been wounded or killed by the enemy while serving to protect our freedoms. The Seahawk family includes many Purple Heart Medal recipients among the university’s students, alumni, and current and former faculty and staff. “Since its founding as a G.I. Bill school in 1947, UNC Wilmington has welcomed many veterans through its doors, and some, whether faculty, staff or students, have experienced the harsh realities of engaged hostilities with U.S. enemies and were wounded,” said Bill Kawczynski, director of the UNCW Office of Military Affairs. The Purple Heart Medal is the oldest military decoration, previously known as the Badge of Military Merit, and was awarded to recognize heroic acts by U.S. troops during the Revolutionary War. Today, the Purple Heart Medal is awarded to those wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States.
Lt. Gen.Walter E. Gaskin, USMC (Ret) and Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Services, greets Purple Heart recipients at the 2023 Cape Fear Purple Heart Dinner.
David Grange, retired Army major general and Purple Heart honoree
Chancellor Aswani K. Volety attended the Cape Fear Purple Heart Dinner on August 5, and read the official proclamation announcing UNCW as a Purple Heart Designated University. On August 7, the nation honored, recognized and remembered all Purple Heart recipients as part of National Purple Heart Day.
“This is another shining example of how UNC Wilmington supports its military community and is truly ‘Like No Other.’” – Bill Kawczynski
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North Carolina’s Coastal University Hosts Inaugural Ocean Innovation Conference About 300 leaders from the business, education and government sectors convened at UNCW’s Burney Center this fall for the inaugural Ocean Innovation Conference hosted by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Alliance for the Blue Economy (All Blue). “By bringing together influential figures in the industry and the region, the CIE aspires to ignite a more collaborative process in developing new ideas and innovation in the blue economy and to create a vibrant blue economy hub in Southeast North Carolina,” said Heather McWhorter, CIE director. Focusing on coastal opportunities and concerns makes good sense for UNCW and North Carolina. More than 1.2 million people live in the state’s coastal areas, according to NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, and the area employs almost 436,000 people annually, earning a total of almost $17 billion. Featured guest speakers included Wilmington native Rear Admiral Laura M. Dickey, deputy for material readiness, United States Coast Guard; marine biologist and bestselling author Wallace J. Nichols; and Jake Kheel, author, documentary filmmaker and vice president of the Grupo Puntacana Foundation in the Dominican Republic. The event represented the power of community collaboration with support from many sponsors, including NC Idea, NC Sea Grant, the City of Wilmington, UNCW Center for Marine Science, Blue Mind Coworking, Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center and the NC Small Business and Technology Development Center at UNCW. – K V
20 | UNC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
Southside of Wrightsville Beach near Crystal Pier
UNCW Researchers to Collaborate on New Earthquake Research Center Studies to improve earthquake resiliency UNCW is partnering with several institutions on a new multi-institution earthquake research center to increase understanding of the forces at work in the Cascadia subduction zone. The National Science Foundation will fund $15 million over five years for researchers to bolster earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) will be the first center of its kind in the nation focused on earthquakes at subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. The University of Oregon is the project’s lead university. UNCW Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences Andrea Hawkes will co-lead a portion of the grant to study earthquakes going back thousands of years. The zone,
Andrea Hawkes, Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences Courtesy: Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
which stretches from southern British Columbia to northern California, has a long history of spurring large earthquakes. Research shows that the fault is capable of producing an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 or greater – and communities along the U.S. West Coast are illprepared for a quake this powerful. “Ideally, the center, research performed and collaborations built will all lead to a better understanding of the hazard Cascadia possesses,” said Hawkes. “All communities have potential natural hazards–hurricanes, fires, drought, earthquakes–and to better understand the scale of a given hazard potential, we have to understand how that hazard has varied over time.” – K V
Hogfish Can “See” Themselves Using More Than Just Their Eyes UNCW research discovery earns global attention A research breakthrough at UNCW and the Center for Marine Science suggests that some color-changing fish species may be able to “see” with their skin. Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Biology Lorian Schweikert, along with two UNCW students, Lydia Naughton and Jacob Bolin, published their findings in Nature Communications earlier this year. The hogfish, a common fish found along the Eastern Seaboard to the coast of Brazil, can quickly change color to protect itself from predators. The study discovered light sensors, hidden beneath color-changing cells in the skin, that work like Polaroid cameras. Essentially, the hogfish takes pictures of itself without using its eyes to monitor its color-changing performance. “Our findings are bigger than hogfish because they may explain why other color-changing animals (particularly vertebrates) can detect light with the skin,” said Schweikert. “It also suggests the existence of specialized photoreceptors in the skin of this fish, which would be the first example of such a photoreceptor outside the central nervous system of a vertebrate animal.” Schweikert also explained that studying feedback systems like this in fish can provide critical information that translates to practical applications for humans, such as developing smart robots or self-driving cars. – K V Courtesy: Lorian Schweikert
21
BY CAROLINE CROPP ’9 9 , ’ 06 M
Salt air.
Orientation.
Wind rustling the longleaf pines and live oaks.
Move-In.
Azaleas in the spring.
Vacation.
Skateboards rolling across campus. A plate full of turkey, stuffing and potatoes at Wagsgiving.
Graduation.
Talking with your favorite professors. Presenting your research findings. Leading a student organization. Landing an internship. Teaming up for academic projects, sports, plays and so much more.
22 | U NC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
And that feeling you get in Trask Coliseum when the lights get low, and the fans get loud.
Special Seahawk memories can bring on a wave of emotion.
ABOVE: Taniesha Young ’15, ’19M, Rita Cronin ’23, Stephania Bloodworth ’00 and Reilee Linner ’22
You
did more than go to school at UNCW. You learned here, lived here, worked here, met people you still talk to today here (maybe you even married one of those people). The UNCW alumni family is now more than 100,000 strong, and while the collection of memories and stories are each unique, they all point to the indescribable experiences that Seahawks like you share.
The best part is the experience does not end after you receive your degree. It grows and evolves as you embark on new chapters in your life. The UNCW experience is a commitment to enduring connections–whether you are gathering in your current city to connect with fellow alumni or receiving support from the career center, faculty or other Seahawks. We celebrate milestones together –professional promotions, marriages, birth announcements and awards. The list of Seahawk celebrations is as diverse as our alumni themselves, and we want to honor them all. See page 32 for Class Notes.
UNCW will forever be part of our alumni, and our alumni are forever part of us. As a Seahawk, you are a part of a meaningful legacy, a community of pride and a family that's always here for you.
TOP: The Seahawks upset Northeastern in the 2013 Homecoming basketball game. Photo credit: Lydia Shippen ’13 MIDDLE: 1966 Homecoming Queen Patsy Futchs ’67 dances at the Coronation Ball. BOTTOM: Sammy C. Hawk poses for selfies with alum Judy Brimage ’90 at the 2023 TEALgate, a UNCW Homecoming signature event.
As the calendar turns to 2024, an opportunity to create more cherished memories is on the horizon. Join us in Wilmington February 15-18 for UNCW Homecoming 2024. The weekend will feature all the signature events of the UNCW Alumni Association, including TEALgate, the Champagne Brunch and the Homecoming Brunch hosted by the African American Graduate Association (AAGA), along with exciting new ways to come together and celebrate. We hope to see you during Homecoming and any other time you come home to UNCW. uncw.edu/homecoming
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More than a dozen floats weaved their way through campus for the 2011 Homecoming parade.
“I can show up in the athletic department and people still greet us like family. I say ‘us’ because it's my whole family. We still greeted each other with open arms. There’s a sense of pride because that’s your alma mater. That’s where you’re from.” – A L D O PLATA ’ 03
RIGHT: Seahawks fans celebrate with the team at the 2014 Homecoming game in a packed Trask Coliseum.
24 | U NC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
LEFT: UNCW’s Greek sororities and fraternities compete in the 2023 Homecoming Step Show in Kenan Auditorium.
“I make my way back to Dobo Hall every summer... it's still home. The chemistry department holds a special place in my heart.” – L A C I E C H AUVI G NE-H I NES ’0 6 , ’0 8 M
“ The campus has changed much in the 35 years since my graduation...I have enjoyed going back from time to time for Business Week and engaging with the young men and women that will at some point in the future be business leaders. Congratulations UNCW for 76 years!”
ABOVE: Stephanie Lanier ’03, ’07M shows her Seahawk spirit at the sold out 2023 TEALgate event.
– J EFF NEISEN ’ 89
“As an alumnus, I eat, breathe, sleep and live for Homecoming. It gives you a chance to reconnect with the faculty and see how the university continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Every time you come back, it’s a new building, a new program, a new major. UNCW continues to astound me.” – R O GE R HY M A N ’9 6 , AAG A P R ES I D ENT
Even though your college years are behind you, alumni are invited to reinvest in UNCW as a volunteer, mentor, donor, sports fan or employer for other Seahawks. Network and reconnect at alumni.uncw.edu. CONTRIBUTORS: AL U M N I R E L AT IO N S AN D UNIVERSITY A DVA N C E M E N T
Alfred Addy ’15 and Esme Fussell ’15 were crowned the 2015 Homecoming King and Queen.
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Cheers to The Dub! UNCW and Local Brewery Partner to Create New Seahawk Signature Craft Beer BY: V ENITA J ENKINS PHOTO G RAPH Y BY : M IC HA E L S P E N C E R
“ We knew this beer would be popular based on alumni pride alone.” – J UD WATK I NS , WRIGH T SV ILLE BE A CH BR EWERY OWNE R A N D BRE WE R
What better way to celebrate a Seahawk win or reminisce about fond memories of UNCW than over a cold beer named in honor of North Carolina’s coastal university? UNCW and Wrightsville Beach Brewery announced the launch of The Dub Amber Lager in August. The co-branded beer sold out within a week, and the brewery has made multiple batches to meet the high demand. The partnership expands the presence of UNCW’s brand while supporting the university’s mission. Royalty revenue from the sale of “The Dub” supports the Seahawk community, including athletics, scholarships and other auxiliaries.
26 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
“Community commitment is a big pillar of our new strategic plan,” said Gino Galutera, associate vice chancellor for business services. “We didn't want to work with a national brand, so we picked a local business to spur innovation and engagement here in our backyard. Wrightsville Beach Brewery has become a partner who helps us achieve our goals in mutually beneficial ways.”
Jud Watkins, Wrightsville Brewery owner and brewer
Wrightsville Beach Brewery is the second-largest brewery in southeastern North Carolina. The brewery team operates a 20-barrel brewhouse and produced over 3,000 barrels of beer last year. In 2022, the brewery opened its second location in Leland, N.C. Wrightsville Beach Brewery provides retail distribution to several local markets in Wilmington and services over 100 restaurants and bars within a 50-mile radius. “We have always had a great working relationship with the university and UNCW Athletics. This was a project we were eager to be a part of,” said Watkins. “Not to mention that about half our staff either went to UNCW or are currently students there. We feel this is taking an already established and incredible partnership to the next level.” Over the past six years, the brewery employed over 100 UNCW students, provided internships and assisted in capstone projects for students, Watkins noted. The brewery has worked with the hospitality and tourism program, providing internships and benchmark studies for the craft brew industry. The Dub is a crisp, smooth lager ale with subtle malt notes. The craft beer contains 4.7% alcohol volume, a reference to the university's founding in 1947. The can, designed by UNCW Office of University Relations graphic designer Kelly Geiger ’22, maintains the classic Wilmington coastline background of Wrightsville Beach Brewery's cans with two pinpoints referencing the location of UNCW and the brewery. The design also includes a new take on a vintage UNCW logo. It consists of the “W” logo with a feather motif, a nod to the Seahawk mascot. The university's brand colors of teal and navy tie together the design. Maria Stasios, avid Seahawk supporter
“It’s important to include those small details so we can connect with our fans and our alumni base near and far,” said Galutera. “The reintroduction of the vintage W logo from the 90s gives our alumni a sense of nostalgia, while the stylized map of the Intracoastal Waterway reinforces our deep connection to the beach and our coastal location.” Wrightsville Beach Brewery and the university are focusing on The Dub Amber Lager as the flagship beer. However, there are discussions about expanding the product line to include an IPA or a seltzer. “I'm just grateful for the opportunity and hope we can keep up with the high demand. I hope we can turn it into a fun series going forward and keep growing the partnership." – J UD WATK I NS
“The Dub” is available at Wrightsville Beach Brewery and select retail outlets in southeastern North Carolina. It is also available at Seahawk home athletic events.
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Brandon “Bigg B” Hickman and D.C. Virgo student Done'jah Oliver
Music-making, Bridge-building
New Curriculum Uses Hip-Hop for Healing BY: V ENITA J ENKINS PHOTO G RAPH Y BY : B R A DL E Y P IE R C E
Hip-hop has been used as a vehicle to channel the voices of the people since its founding 50 years ago. An initiative launched by the UNCW Office of the Arts tapped into the genre to help D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy students find their voices. Through the Hip-Hop Collective, seventh and eighth grade students created basic song structures and lyrics and recorded original songs that allowed them to process their emotions. Students also expressed themselves through spoken word poetry and graffiti art. A $75,000 National Endowment of the Arts Our Town grant funded the resiliency-focused hip-hop curriculum.
28 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
“ Choosing hip-hop as the focus of this project created a platform for us to discuss resiliency on a broader scale.” – Cara Marsicano “We wanted the students to see themselves reflected in the course content, in the teaching artists and the hip-hop culture. Watching things click and students accessing the
courage and vulnerability to create and share their original work was inspiring,” said Cara Marsicano, artist services and engagement coordinator for the Office of the Arts. The collective is a collaboration between the Office of the Arts, the College of Health and Human Services’ Schools of Nursing and Social Work, the Department of Music, the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force and local teaching artists. Brandon “Bigg B” Hickman, Coast 97.3-WMNX program director, provided students with an overview of the history and evolution of hip-hop. He also assisted them with creating their beats. Hickman was excited to see hip-hop used as a resource in the classroom. “Whether it was art (graffiti), music, poetry or the way we dress, hip-hop has always been an expression of what youth are seeing in their neighborhoods and what they go through on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “For us to let them express themselves via hip-hop opened many students’ minds and was therapy for them. It was a safe space for them to let it all out.” Organizers used the Community Resiliency Model to teach students concepts and resiliency skills. The project’s research team is reviewing data to evaluate the program and the potential to implement the curriculum in other public schools, said Marsicano. The team consists of Josalin
D.C. Virgo student India Williams
D.C Virgo student Brendon Walters and music teacher Dave Dimuro (retired)
Hunter, social work assistant professor; Anka Roberto, nursing associate professor; and Jonathan Kladder, music assistant professor. Projects like the Hip-Hop Collective allow for more diverse types of music learning to occur in the classroom and connect community partners with students to inspire, lead and encourage them to be music makers in the future, said Kladder.
“ I believe these experiences support our Wilmington community, build bridges between institutions, and cultivate a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the importance of working together across departments or offices on university campuses.” – Jonathan Kladder 29
Tucked away in Dobo Hall, an expansive science building that sits along Chancellor’s Walk, a chemistry lab and a biology lab are home to a team of UNCW students who are developing a new treatment to help patients battling prostate cancer. “It is shocking to me to think about how important the work we are doing is,” said Madeleine Goldthorpe, who is an Honors College student pursuing a biology major and chemistry minor. “As a child, I never thought I’d be involved in this caliber of a project.” Goldthorpe is among more than a dozen UNCW undergraduate and Ph.D. students, primarily female, researching with College of Science and Engineering faculty members Sridhar Varadarajan, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Art Frampton, Department of Biology and Marine Biology.
Helping Prostate Cancer Patients UNCW researchers on the brink of a new treatment discovery BY: KRISSY VICK PHOTO G RAPH Y BY : J E F F J A N OW S K I
The research team’s collective goal is to develop a molecule that can successfully seek and destroy cancerous prostate cells while leaving healthy cells untouched, a process called selective toxicity.
“Our goal is to come up with a more targeted therapy different from the current sledgehammer approach to cancer treatment that causes side effects and kills healthy cells.” – Art Frampton Unlike other pharmaceutical treatments currently available that harm both healthy and cancerous cells, like chemotherapy, the team's work could lead to reduced side effects for cancer patients, as well as mitigate risks for secondary cancers. This isn’t the first time Frampton and Varadarajan have collaborated. In 2021, they published findings about a similar research breakthrough that targeted breast cancer cells. They are also applying the science to brain cancer cells and seeing promising results.
FROM LEFT: Students Monika Nguyen and Nicky Mendoza with Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Sridhar Varadarajan
30 | UNC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
Their prostate cancer research is so compelling that the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute, the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and the largest funder of cancer research in the world, is funding the project with a $447,000 grant for the next three years.
On a typical day, visitors can find students Malavika Volety, Jocelyn Torres, Monika Nguyen, Nicky Mendoza and others in Varadarajan’s lab working with molecules, testing compounds and monitoring reactions. “It has been a dream of mine since high school to contribute to cancer research,” said Volety.
“I have seen my grandfather suffer from cancer and pass away, and so the potential for this molecule to work would be the greatest thing for me and one of the milestones of my life.” – Malavika Volety Torres, a non-traditional student working on her second undergraduate degree, developed a similar passion for discovery after her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. “Both of my parents have had many struggles and sacrifices for me to be here,” she said. “I not only want to make myself proud, but my parents proud, too. I would love to see the end result of our research and have all our pieces come together before I graduate.” Meanwhile, in Frampton's biology lab, Goldthorpe can be found most days growing and testing prostate cancer cells and teaching her peers about the process. She spends about 15 hours per week collaborating on the research and mentoring. “I never imagined I’d be doing this important work as an undergraduate. I thought you only did research like this your senior year or in grad school,” she said. For patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death in men behind lung cancer, there is an urgency for finding successful treatments and cures. “All of us know someone who has had cancer or gone through chemotherapy and how debilitating it can be,” said Varadarajan. “There is always a human who is waiting for successful therapy, so time is of the essence. I always think about it when we do this research.” Having access to world-class facilities and equipment along with the proximity of the labs helps to mitigate risks and expedite the research. “We have everything we need for our research here in Dobo Hall, Veterans Hall and the Center for Marine Science,” said Varadarajan. While a firm timeline is hard to predict, Varadarajan believes it is conceivable that a treatment drug could be FDA approved and available to patients within 7-10 years. In the meantime, he said they will continue to empower their students to learn and discover along the way.
FROM TOP: UNCW students Madeleine Goldthorpe and Jocelyn Torres are recipients of the Sherman-Skiba Fund for Undergraduate Research and Community Engagement Endowment. The fund provides support for undergraduate research, giving students the real-world experiences they need to be career-ready when they graduate. Torres is also a recipient of the Ernest S. Prevost Chemistry Scholarship Endowment.
“For me, the most rewarding aspects of this research are that these compounds will one day benefit patients, and their cancer will go into remission; and the more immediate effect is that we are training future scientists, medical doctors and problem solvers.” – Sridhar Varadarajan 31
Class notes Alumni success by the numbers:
21
announced a job update
15
won an award
5
recognized publicly
9
got engaged/married
5
appointed to a position
1
featured in the film industry
5
had a baby
2
published a book
2
started a business
3
retired
1
featured in a publication
1
graduated
10
established a scholarship These notes cover the February– August 2023 timeframe
32 | U NC W M AGAZINE fall 2023
1970s LOUIE B ATUYIOS ’71 , B ILL B ATUYIOS ’ 77, B ILL SAFFO ’83, TONY SAFFO ’88, SOPHIA B R EWER ’9 3, NICK S AFFO AND N ICK PALIOUVAS held a food drive to
CR AIG WADE ’87 , a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, was named system vice president of hospital revenue operations for UNC Health. He established the Craig A. Wade Memorial Scholarship in Finances in honor of his late grandparents. The scholarship will be used to assist students pursuing a degree offered by the Department of Economics and Finance in the UNCW Cameron School of Business.
LINDA SAYED ’78, ’85M , the UNCW Foundation Board of Directors 2023-24 chair,
DR . PHILIP M. B R OWN JR . ’88 , UNCW
benefit the UNCW Hawks Harvest campus food pantry with the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America Chapter Therma of Wilmington, NC.
J AMES MCGEE JR . ’9 4, JANET GEMMELL ’ 9 6 , K AR A GANSMANN ’9 8, JILL K AES S ’ 9 9 , R EB ECCA K NUDSON ’00, JAMES RUTHER FOR D ’01 and DEVLIN HOR TON ’ 20M were named to the 2023 Legal Elite
List by Business North Carolina. Linda and Jill are UNCW Society and Clocktower Society members. Rebecca was the UNCW Alumni Association’s 2009 Young Alumna of the Year.
Society and Clocktower Society member, his wife Christy M. Brown and their children, established The HEAL (Health Equity for Aspiring Leaders) Scholarship to assist UNCW in diversifying the professional healthcare workforce and to support nontraditional students.
1980s D EB B IE MEHAFFEY ’81 retired after more than 40 years in the software development/ technology field. She spent nearly 30 years at Bank of America as a compliance/risk/ software engineer. D R . MAR CIA J. AVEDON ’83 , a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, and MR . CHAR LES G. FAR R AR R ’83 established The Dr. Marcia J. Avedon ’83 and Mr. Charles G. Farrarr ’83 Scholarships in Psychology and Business to commemorate their time at UNCW. Avedon was a 2023 Distinguished Alumna of the Year. STEPHANIE CHUR N ’84 retired after 38 years in elementary education in the Ohio public school system. KER MIT NIX ON ’85 was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the University of Mount Olive. He was a key part of the 1982 Eastern Tarheel Conference tournament championship team. F R EDER ICK WILLIAM LEWIS III ’86 ,
UNCW Society member, established The Frederick William Lewis III Scholarship in Special Education to assist students pursuing a degree offered by the UNCW Watson College of Education.
DAVID WIGHTMAN ’86 was appointed to
the 2023-24 Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals certification board committee, a division of the Construction Financial Management Association.
J OHN S PR INK II ’87 was promoted to
executive vice president of commercial banking at HomeTrust Bank.
JOS EPH ANDR EWS ’89 , Supervisory
Contract Specialist, Officer in Charge of Construction Florence was recognized as OICC Florence Supervisor of the Year in February 2023.
1990s TR ENT MONGERO ’9 1 is head baseball coach at Wilmington Christian Academy. His son TAB ER M O N GE R O ’22 is the assistant coach. PATR ICIA CONL O N ’9 2, ’9 4 M established The Conlon Scholarship in English to assist students pursuing a degree offered by the UNCW Department of English. K EN LEMON ’9 2 was elected president of the National Association of Black Journalists. DAVID JONES ’9 3 , a UNCW Society member, retired as a Colonel after 30 years of service with the U.S. Army. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of his duties at his retirement. PAUL THOMPSO N ’9 3 is engaged. K AR L DEONANA N ’9 4 is the chief financial officer at ProPharma, a portfolio company of Odyssey Investment Partners.
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J A M E S A. R I T C H I E ’ 94 , a UNCW Society
member, established The James A. “Tony” Ritchie Scholarship for UNCW Track and Field. The scholarship will be used to assist studentathletes in the track and field program. D R . B R AND O N S C HWAB ’ 94 was appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield. J EN NI F E R B AU G H A N M E RTU S ’ 95 , a
UNCW Society member, established The Baughan Family Scholarship in honor of her parents. The scholarship aims to assist former foster youth to continue their education and achieve their dreams. JE RRY O ATE S ’ 95 , ’ 03 M was
named deputy state superintendent of North Carolina Public Schools.
H EAT H E R ’ 96 AND BRI AN COG H I LL ’ 95 , ’9 6 , UNCW Society and Clocktower Society
members, established The Swain-Coghill Family Scholarship in Special Education to assist students pursuing a degree offered by the UNCW Watson College of Education. D R . J O H N G R AVI T TE ’ 96 received the 2023 Citizenship Award from the North Carolina Dental Society.
WE REMEMBER
David Bruce Allen
October 15, 1947-June 20, 2023 Former head coach and UNCW swimming program founder Dave Allen passed away at age 75. A native of Rochester, N.Y., he worked with former UNCW athletics director William J. “Bill” Brooks to establish the swimming program in 1977-78. He served as head coach from 1977-2014, coaching 15 All-Americans, 155 conference champions and 19 Eastern College Athletic Conference winners. Overall, he coached at the collegiate level for 44 years. In 2022, the university renamed its aquatics facility the David B. Allen Natatorium. He guided the men to an impressive streak of 13 consecutive CAA men’s titles from 2002-14 and coached the women to three championships, including backto-back crowns in 1998 and 1999, along with the 1997 and 1988 ECAC titles, racking up 15 CAA Coach of the Year honors.
K AT I E S C H L I P P ’ 96 , ’ 04M was promoted
In addition to mentoring thousands of student-athletes, he impacted the lives of countless youth in the community through the school’s summer swim program.
BRO O K S H O NE Y C U TT ’ 97 joined
He was inducted into many athletic and sports halls of fame, including the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020.
to president of laboratory operations at Alcami Corporation.
Middleburg Communities as principal and vice president of capital markets in their Raleigh office. S HANE L U Q U I R E ’ 9 7 was hired as vice
president of hospice sales at Elara Caring, a national home health care provider. N ATAL I E WAG G E T T ' 97, TH URSTO N P O P E ’ 0 7 , ’ 1 8 M , PRE STON S TA C K H O U S E ’ 0 8 , C H RI S M O NTE RO ’ 12 , ’16 M , DAVI S B RYS ON ’ 15 and M ATTH E W K EE T E R ’ 1 5 have been named 2023 Coastal
Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Chris is a Clocktower Society member and the 2022 UNCW Alumni Association’s Distinguished Diversity Award recipient.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ellen Reynolds Allen; three children who attended UNCW and were coached by their father: Matthew Gordon Allen (Angela); Stephanie Allen Hoffman (Darrin); and Brian David Allen (Crissie); and six grandchildren.
CONNIE R ONNER ’9 9
received the Beth Quinn Excellence Award during the Cape Fear Commercial Real Estate Women’s Awards of Excellence ceremony.
2000s JENNIFER DUR HA M ’0 0 received the
Alamance Community College 2023 Adjunct Instructor of the Year Award. GAB E WHISNAN T ’0 0 is executive editor of the Greenville News in Greenville, SC.
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Class notes SUSAN CR ISPEL L ’0 3 , a Clocktower Society member, released the novel The Broken Hearts Club. WE REMEMBER
James Clinton Ballantine June 22, 1941-June 13, 2023
Longtime benefactor, Seahawk Club member and former president James “Jim” Ballantine passed away on June 13. He grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the youngest of five children. He married Margaret Victoria Wilker on Aug. 17, 1963; they both graduated from the University of North Dakota and moved to Wilmington in 1973. Jim worked for Miller Building Corporation, serving as executive vice president before retiring in 1993. Post-retirement, he managed Sunbelt Business Brokers and established The Accounting Dept with his daughter Amy. A Rotarian, he was a board member in the early years of the Watson College of Education. An avid Seahawk fan, he and Margaret attended many (if not almost every) athletic events at UNCW and traveled to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. He was honored to be inducted into the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020. After becoming a grandfather in 1999, he affectionately became known as “Papa” to friends and family alike. In addition to his wife Margaret, he is survived by his son Patrick and daughterin-law Lisa; daughter Amy Ballantine Ellis and son-in-law Chris; grandchildren Wilker Ballantine Yeargan and husband Fisher, Augie Ballantine, Lily, Jack and Maddie Ellis; and additional family. Maddie is a junior at UNCW, studying elementary education. Augie has verbally committed to play tennis at UNCW beginning in fall 2024.
ST E P HA N IE L A N IE R ’0 3 , ’0 7 M was
named chair of this year’s Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. She is a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member and past UNCW Alumni Association Board of Directors Chair.
CLINT TAYLOR ’0 4 is director of the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. COUR TNEY NIX ’0 5 was named South Brunswick Middle School’s Teacher of the Year. NIK K ITA JOHNSO N ’0 6 , a UNCW Society member, was featured in Celebrity Prank Wars, hosted by Kevin Hart and Nick Cannon. S. LESLIE MCINTO SH ’0 6 was selected as one of the ABA Young Lawyers Division's 2023 Top 40 Young Lawyers “On the Rise” recipients. JENNA FAB IAN ’0 7 earned the 2023 Alan
Haskins Principal of the Year Award from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. She is principal at Nikiski North Star Elementary School in Alaska.
B R ENTON HAMMO N D ’0 7 , a UNCW Society member, and his wife, Courtney, established The Hammond Family Scholarship in honor of Brenton's great experience at UNCW. The scholarship will be used to assist students pursuing a degree offered by the Department of Sociology and Criminology. R ORY LAVER TY ’0 7 M , a senior lecturer at UNCW, released his first book, Aluminum Alley: The American Pilots Who Flew Over the Himalayas and Helped Win World War II. DR EW PATE ’07 , ’1 5M and her husband welcomed their first child, Parker David Pate, in March 2023.
2000s J EN NI F E R H AR G R OVE -G LASS ’ 01 was
hired as an adjunct German professor at Old Dominion University.
KEL L Y S L AD E ’ 0 1 , a math teacher at Innovation Early College High School in Greenville, NC, was honored as one of Pitt County Schools’ high school teachers of the year.
34 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
ELIZAB ETH WAT KIN S ’0 8 , senior manager in government relations for The Walt Disney Co., earned a spot on the Orlando Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list. B ETH GUER TIN ’0 8, ’1 0 , ’1 4 M opened Creative Tastings, an offshoot of Wilmington Wine, on Castle Street. She will serve as chef in charge at the satellite kitchen and event space.
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WE REMEMBER
Robert Henry Cutting Jr. May 13, 1948-August 23, 2023
Environmental attorney, educator and activist Robert (“Bob”) H. Cutting Jr., Juris Doctorate, passed away on August 23. A native of California, he earned his JD from the University of California Davis School of Law, served in the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office and worked for the California Air Quality Board. His work at UNCW began in 1991 and continued until his retirement in 2015. He first served as a lecturer in the
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Cameron School of Business, later becoming an associate professor and founding member of the Department of Environmental Sciences (EVS). He is remembered by colleagues as the architect of the EVS Internship Program, nationally recognized as a model for applied learning and a significant factor in the growth of the EVS program. A longtime board member of the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, he authored numerous publications on environmental law, climate justice and public policy. His writings on pollution and conservation were instrumental in building a case for the Clean Air Act. He is survived by his wife, Sally MacKain, a psychology professor at UNCW; sons, David and Henry; and additional family.
WE REMEMBER
Dr. Jorge Luis Figueroa October 16, 1956-May 2, 2023 UNCW lecturer emeritus of public health and spirited supporter Dr. Jorge L. Figueroa passed away after a long battle with cancer. Born in Havana, Cuba, Jorge came to the United States as a refugee when he was five and grew up in Orlando, Florida. He joined the UNCW faculty in 2007 after a career of working as a psychologist, running a nonprofit, holding public office, firefighting and serving on a Mounted Police Unit. A mainstay at home basketball games, each bicep was adorned with a Seahawk tattoo and at times he sported a teal beard. He
was known for captivating lectures and teaching with vigor. He ensured his legacy at the university and in education extended beyond his life by creating the Jorge L. Figueroa Endowed Scholarship in Public Health, one of his proudest accomplishments. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Rolando. He is survived by his former wife Becky Malecki, children Jennifer Rickard-Figueroa, Rolando Figueroa and Lucille Figueroa and grandchild Miles, and additional family.
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Class notes 2010s WE REMEMBER
Donna Lee Girardot March 2, 1944–April 11, 2023
Noted community business leader and UNCW supporter Donna Girardot passed away on April 11. In December 2020, she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper for her many contributions to the state and the region, which included four terms as chair of the New Hanover County Planning Board; four consecutive years as chair of the Wilmington International Airport Authority (NC’s first woman Airport Authority chair); a board member for the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and the UNCW Master in Public Administration Advisory Board, among others. She was repeatedly recognized by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal as one of the region’s “100 Most Influential People.” She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, former UNCW Assistant Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs David Charles Girardot Jr. She is survived by children, David and Stephanie (Tom Haaker) and grandsons Luke and Ryan Haaker.
K ATHER INE WES T ’1 0 and Justin West welcomed their third child, Lily Claire, in August 2022. MAR IA WHITE ’1 1 , ’1 4M was awarded a two-year fellowship from the American Cancer Society to support her lymphoma research. She is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. B R OOK E S K IPPER ’1 2 was appointed vice chair of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Owners Council. I NGR ID MANLEY ’1 3 recently married and
is moving to New York.
HANNAH MOR GAN ’1 3, ’1 6 M and her husband MATTHEW MOR GAN ’21 welcomed their first child, Miles, in May 2023. Hannah is a Clocktower Society member.
LOUR DES FELME T ’1 5, ’20 M received the WWAY Viewers’ Choice Award 2023 for Best Pet Boarding/Grooming/Daycare for her business, The Barkington. PATR ICK HOOD ’1 5 and A L E X A N D R A B OR OG ’1 8 were married in October 2022.
Alexandra started the Duke University MBA program this fall.
MAR IKO POLK ’15M , ’23 P H. D . joined the North Carolina Sea Grant as an extension specialist focusing on coastal processes. Headquartered at North Carolina State University, Sea Grant has offices in Manteo, Morehead City and Wilmington. S UZANNE SNYDE R ’1 5 is a public health analyst for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy within the Health Resources and Services Administration under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BA R N E S SU T TO N ’1 5, ’1 7 M was
promoted to economic and community development director for Leland, NC. He previously served as their community development planner. JAIME R USSELL ’1 6 E D . D . , a Clocktower
Society member, was honored by North Carolina Campus Engagement as the 2023 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year.
J ULIANA S TILWELL ’1 3 married in October
2022.
COLLEEN B OVE ’1 4 is an assistant professor at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. KEITH LAR S EN ’1 4 received multiple journalism awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors, including Best Young Journalist, Best Collection of Work in Commercial Real Estate Reporting and Best International Story.
HALEY MACDON A L D ’1 7 was awarded the 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for her research in STEM-related fields. MAGGIE PAGE ’17 and her husband welcomed their first child, a boy, on May 6, 2023. HUGH STEPHEN S ’1 7 and ST E P HA N IE MCQUADE ’1 9 were married in the Outer
Banks in September 2023.
NIKOLAI LIPS COMB ’1 4, ’1 6 M joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as a research staff member in the Operational Evaluation Division of IDA’s Systems and Analyses Center. MICHELLE EITNER ’1 5M is planning director for the City of Beaufort. COUR TNEY THWA IT E S ’1 7 and JE D ID IA H CAYTON ’1 9 are married.
We want to hear from you! Send us your latest news at alumni.uncw.edu/news 36 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
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WE REMEMBER
Wayne R. Jackson July 3, 1926-May 29, 2023
Popular radio and television broadcaster and close friend of UNCW and its athletic program Wayne Jackson died at 96. He was part of the WECT crew that produced UNCW’s first televised men’s basketball game on Feb. 18, 1961. He also called the first televised game in Trask Coliseum history on Nov. 26, 1977. He provided color commentary on the school’s men’s basketball radio broadcasts beginning in 1989 and spent 14 seasons covering the Seahawks, traveling thousands of miles with the team.
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A familiar face courtside at Trask (often sporting a yellow headband given to him by former UNCW forward John Spann), his involvement with UNCW went beyond broadcasting. He was a founding board member of the UNCW Student Aid Association, now known as the Seahawk Club and assisted in the formation of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s Adult Scholars Leadership Program. He donated a collection of materials involving the history of Wilmington College to the UNCW Archives and Special Collections. A charter member of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, he received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the UNCW Alumni Association, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and many other awards. He was preceded in death by his wife Bessie Leona (Lee) Jackson and sister Jeanette Morgan. He is survived by a daughter, Margaret “Jackie” Jackson; sons, Michael (Glenda) and Stephen (Tambra); several grandsons, great-grandchildren and a niece.
CO L L E E N B R OWN ’ 18 , a Ph.D. student at
UNCW, is the 2023-24 North Carolina Space Grant and Sea Grant joint research fellow. She is studying water quality in the Lower Cape Fear River Watershed. H O L L Y F E R R E I R A ’ 18 C , ’ 18 M and S AM ANT H A H E R M ANN ’ 2 0 received
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Regional Director’s Honor Award for their involvement with the Florida Outreach and Diversity Recruitment Team. Holly is a Clocktower Society member.
J ESS I E G O O D WI N ’ 18 M was promoted to
executive director of The Children's Museum of Wilmington. She joined the museum in 2019 as education, membership and volunteer coordinator and was promoted to director of operations in 2021. MAS O N T R I VE T T E ’ 18 opened Emerald Ridge Farm and Event Center, a wedding venue in Asheville, NC.
WE REMEMBER
Deborah Brown Rudisill
February 1, 1951-March 26, 2023
Wilmington native, former UNCW employee and friend Debbie Rudisill passed away at her home on March 26. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Bill, former owner of the Wilmington Hammerheads. Both long-time UNCW supporters and Seahawk Club members, they hosted fundraisers at their home and endowed The William and Deborah Rudisill Scholarship in Athletics. Debbie is also survived by her children, Carson Rudisill Hobbs (Ryan) and William ‘Garrison’ Rudisill Jr. (Sami), several grandchildren, three sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
K A L I J O NE S ’ 1 9 married in September 2023.
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Class notes 2020s S US AN O . D E L ANEY ’ 2 0M , a UNCW
Society member, established The Susan O. DeLaney Fellowship in Accounting. The scholarship will assist students pursuing a Master of Science in Accountancy. GI U L I A S AR I G U ’ 2 0 recently married and
is expecting her first child, a girl.
G R ACE MEILE ’22 produced Rise Up:
In Memoriam
TAYLOR HOLDEN ’23 received the 2023 Joe Feagin Distinguished Undergraduate Student Paper Award, presented by the American Sociological Association's Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
ALUMNI
Empowering and Nourishing a Community, a documentary selected to screen in the Raleigh Film and Art Festival and Beaufort Film Festival.
S H AY WE B B ’ 2 0 , ’ 23 M received the 2023
New Hanover County Equity Award in the health category. She is a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member who is attending Campbell University to pursue a Doctor of Health Science degree.
James L. Hall ’66 Thomas P. Brown Jr. ’67 Samuel F. Rivenbark Sr. ’67 William D. Chapman ’70, ’80M Hugh C. Newkirk Jr. ’70 Susan D. Blackburn ’71
J EN NI F E R G L AT T ’ 21M is the content
director for Questex Hospitality and editorin-chief of Hotel Management magazine. She leads the digital, print and event content strategy for the leading global resource for hoteliers and the hospitality industry.
Carolyn S. McCall ’72 Geraldine M. Onoff ’72 Larry C. Scronce ’72 Charles J. Berg ’74
K A I T L Y N H O H M E I ER ’ 2 1 is one of 33 students to receive the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program award for her research in STEM-related fields.
Barbara B. Bonti ’74 Doris W. Field ’74 Robert H. Field ’74
K AT H E R I NE R E E D ’2 1 PH .D . is the primary
A LL I S O N B R OWNI NG ’ 2 2 was named economic development coordinator for the Town of Newport, NH. W I L L I AM H U S S ’ 2 2 graduated from the Naval Officers Training Command Newport in Rhode Island. He received the Thomas Eadie Award for being the top student in academics, physical and military training. J ESS I C A M AR C H E L L ’ 2 2 was named
Southport Elementary School’s Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Elsie J. Peterson ’53 Jerry F. Taylor ’58
North Carolina Coastal Research Fellowship. A doctoral student at UNCW, Zuluaga’s research will examine how birds regulate their temperature through behavior and biological processes during summer.
ELI Z AB E T H S CO T T ’ 2 1 married J ACK HAR R I S ’ 2 2 in October 2023.
James E. Kirby ’53 J. William Burns ’58
J U A N Z U L U AG A ’ 2 0 received the 2023
author of “Reversible Intracellular Acidification and Depletion of NTPs Provide a Potential Physiological Origin for Centuries of Dormancy in an Antarctic Freshwater Copepod” published in the August 2023 edition of Nature, Scientific Reports. She is a program coordinator for the Winnebago Waterways Program, headquartered in Wisconsin.
Donald M. Farrow ’53
Dawn P. Norton ’74 GAB LE K NIGHT ’23 , a UNCW Society
member, was married in June 2023. He is a project manager on the construction team at Live Oak Bank, a financial institution in Wilmington. J AR ED OVIATT ’23 is one of the recipients
Alexander M. Wessell ’74 James C. Fox Jr. ’75 Barbara J. Riley ’76 Donna S. Murray ’77
of the North Carolina Sea Grant Resilience Team Competition. His group received funding to study reef ecosystems in light of climate change.
Connie B. Scott ’77
SHATLYN TR EADWAY ’23M gave birth
Robert A. Hardesty ’79
to her first child, Oliver, three weeks after completing the UNCW Accelerated Online MBA Program.
Carolyn M. Hagins ’78 Linda G. Rodriguez ’78 Delaney Jones ’79 Jimmie R. Tatum ’79 Isaac Dees III ’80 Sondra T. Robertson ’80 Kendall L. Hardee Jr. ’81 Shirley D. Rhyne ’82M Lee A. Watson ’83 Theodore R. Cherry ’86
38 | UNCW M AGAZINE fall 2023
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FEB. 1–AUG. 31, 2023
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WE REMEMBER
Linda Pearce Thomas Dennis O'Donnell ’86
June 4, 1946-September 24, 2023
Jeanne S. Rose ’87, ’01M James D. Cheesman ’88 Donna K. Cribbs ’88 Betty C. Worrell ’88 Sue B. Wood ’89M Jimmy D. Godwin ’90 Joseph E. Spitzer ’90 Eric G. Wondergem ’94 Sean R. Becklund ’96 Gregory S. Rhodes ’97 Susan J. White ’97 Julie M. Query ’98 Katherine H. Fitzpatrick ’01 James E. Rochelle ’03 Tiffany L. Cummings ’06 Richard J. Searcy ’07 Michael J. Mathews ’14, ’16M
Linda Pearce Thomas, the first African American woman to serve as chair of the UNCW Board of Trustees, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. She was a trustee from 2005 through 2013 and was elected as chair in 2012. Pearce Thomas was a long-time supporter of diversity scholarships and programs as well as Seahawk athletics. She was instrumental in establishing the UNCW Board of Trustees Merit Scholarship to attract high-ability students to the university and an active supporter of the Williston Alumni Scholarship. Pearce Thomas founded Elderhaus, an adult day care facility in Wilmington, and served as the executive director for 32 years. Her contributions and service to the community are extensive. In 2016, the City of Wilmington’s Commission on African American History recognized Pearce Thomas as a “Living Legend” for her outstanding leadership, professional contributions and accomplishments in improving the community for all.
Melissa L. Chappell ’17 Nicolas A. Field ’18 L. Paige Garrett ’19 Allison A. Baker Christopher S. Baker Brian R. Cox Hannah A. Nazzaro
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