UNCW Magazine Spring 2023

Did You Know?

Venus flytraps only occur naturally within a 75-mile radius of Wilmington, NC? Geology senior lecturer Roger Shew could tell you that and many more interesting facts. He has spent years traversing the region’s wild areas, watching, learning and teaching others about southeastern North Carolina’s biodiversity. Learn more about him on page 18.

Editor

Jennifer Glatt ’21M

Design

KLP Designs

Photographer

Jeff Janowski

Contributing Writers

Joe Browning

Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M

Sarah Fetters

Susan Finley

Stacie Greene Hidek

Venita Jenkins

Ben Steelman

Krissy Vick

Andrea Monroe Weaver

Contributing Photographers

Jesse Bradley

Jack Hartin

Bradley Pearce

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

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Dear Seahawk Community,

Within the pages of UNCW Magazine, we have an opportunity to celebrate the thinkers, dreamers and doers who make our university soar. We’ve given our flagship publication a fun, updated design to spotlight the great strides our vibrant university community is making across many fields. Let us know what you think! Send input to uncwmagazine@ uncw.edu

Here’s what we haven’t changed in UNCW Magazine: the focus on our Seahawks and their stories. From students and alumni to faculty, staff, donors and friends, it thrills us to showcase impact, engagement and initiative, and the ties that unite the UNCW community.

Nearly 1,700 of you joined forces in April to support Seahawks Give, making the 10th anniversary of our one-day giving challenge a big success. You contributed more than $268,000 to an array of scholarships, programs and services across the university. Alumni led the way, with 39% of the gifts coming from these dedicated Seahawks. Parents, students, faculty, staff and friends also participated. Thank you for your generosity.

Several years ago, when I first came to UNCW as an academic dean, I told one of my daughters that becoming Chancellor one day would be my dream job so that I can help students, staff and faculty as well as this region’s economic and cultural vitality. She reminded me about that on March 31, when the university held an installation ceremony where I formally pledged to serve UNCW to the best of my ability. What a special day for my family and me – I am immensely honored, humbled and grateful to lead such an outstanding university.

After nearly a year in this role, I truly can say that serving as Chancellor is even better than I thought it would be. Every day, I get to connect with Seahawks like you to advance UNCW’s mission, vision and values. As I said during my installation remarks, we understand that the next chapter in this great university’s story is about so much more than the obstacles we face. We are committed to investing the best of our energies and skills into UNCW. Together, we can make a difference for our students, our faculty and staff, our university, our community and North Carolina.

Soar high, soar far and soar together, Seahawks!

Aswani K. Volety Chancellor

Daniel Soques Michael Spencer UNCW Athletics

pride and enthusiasm continue to grow among alumni and donors as demonstrated by your support during Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW.

From innovative programs and cutting-edge facilities to creating more opportunities for students and faculty, each gift has enriched the university and the communities we serve.

This is a pivotal time in our history as we rally toward a $125 million stretch goal to ensure the UNCW experience is affordable and accessible for future Seahawks.

There is strength in numbers, and we thank you for standing together.

As we celebrate our 75th year,

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A Day Like No Other: Aswani K. Volety Formally Installed as Chancellor

Friday, March 31 was an auspicious day for UNCW, as Dr. Aswani K. Volety, a firstgeneration college graduate and native of India, was formally installed as the university’s seventh chancellor. During the ceremony, Chancellor Volety shared a vision for the future that celebrates and builds on the success of the Seahawk community, which has grown from to 238 students in 1947, when UNCW was known as Wilmington College, to more than 2,500 faculty and staff, nearly 18,000 students and 100,000 alumni today.

Dr. Volety’s leadership philosophy is guided by what is best for students, best for faculty, staff and the campus community, what will move the university forward and what is good for the region and North Carolina. As he works with others to develop the university’s next strategic plan, he has continued to emphasize the student experience and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff, research and creative scholarship, financial stability, community engagement, and supporting opportunities for connection and belonging.

Student Government Association Vice President Sadie Williams ’23 rang the original hand bell from the Isaac Bear public school building (and home of Wilmington College) in recognition of UNCW’s 10 official leaders.

ON LEFT:

In addition to family and friends, Chancellor Volety remarked that faculty and staff, like Associate Dean for Student Success & Applied Learning Jess M. Boersma (left) and Teaching and Learning Librarian Delandrus Seales, are the wind beneath students’ wings at UNCW.

ABOVE:

Watch the video:

ON LEFT:

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s marching band closed the installation ceremony with a surprise performance.

The Blue and Gold Marching Machine’s appearance was a gift from A&T Chancellor Harold Martin.

“Join me on this most exciting journey. Let’s soar high, soar far and soar together.”

– Dr. Aswani K. Volety

Chancellor Volety’s wife and daughters (pictured left to right Uma, Dr. Ai Ning Loh, and Mia) are featured prominently on “Answering the Call to Serve: The Aswani Volety Story,” a video made for and shown during the ceremony.

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For the Greater Good

Changing the TIDES, a new initiative that promotes university and community collaboration for the greater good, will expand the university’s strengths in five areas: Talent, Innovation, Development, Engagement and Social impact.

“The program touches all corners of the university. We’ll utilize our resources to improve the quality of life, health, education and employment for the people of our region and their communities.”

– Dr. Jeanine Mingé, associate provost for community engagement and impact

Changing the TIDES aligns with the university’s designation this academic year by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities as an “Innovation & Economic Prosperity University.” UNCW is one of only 80 higher education institutions nationwide designated as such by the APLU. The national designation acknowledges public research universities working with public and private sector partners in their states and regions.

Changing the TIDES programming examples include student and employee beach cleanup efforts, clinical research and university-sponsored free swim lessons for local youth. Learn more from the data dashboard that tracks these and other campus-wide efforts supporting the initiative in the areas of community engagement, sponsored programs, research and innovation and economic development.

– KRISSY VICK

Data dashboard

Support for Struggling Students

UNCW is one of 17 UNC System institutions that will benefit from $7.7 million in new state funding to support mental health initiatives for college students. A previous $5 million grant was awarded to the UNC System in 2021.

“There has been a troubling rise in mental health challenges for young people across our nation, and we’re seeing the impact here in North Carolina,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We need to meet that need with urgency and compassion. These funds go a long way in helping us reach students who are struggling.”

The UNC System will collaborate with the North Carolina Community College System and the state’s independent colleges and universities to offer suicide prevention training to faculty and staff across all three education systems. The UNC System will also use this funding to continue to provide students across all UNC institutions access to an after-hours mental health hotline and develop a new resiliency training program for faculty, staff and students.

“Support from the state, the system office and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Lowell Davis clearly demonstrates recognition of the importance of providing a wide range of support to UNCW students while also decreasing the barriers associated with help-seeking,” said

Dr. Mark Perez-Lopez, director of UNCW Counseling Services. “Their support challenges the stigma associated with seeking mental health care and has a positive societal impact by improving well-being for students, faculty and staff at UNCW and in the Wilmington community.” – KV

In the last year, the UNCW Counseling Center funded several initiatives through this support, including:

After hours crisis response through Protocall, a service that works in conjunction with the UNCW Counseling Center to provide after-hours care for students.

Bystander Intervention Training for faculty, staff and students.

Off-campus micro-grants for students who need long-term, off-campus care or other services not provided by the university.

Case Management Services. The Counseling Center now has a full-time case manager who assists students with hospitalization or other needs associated with finding and following through with off-campus care.

Dr. Mark Perez-Lopez

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A Changing Landscape

Seven and a half decades has brought a lot of change to a campus that originally housed three buildings and 238 students. UNCW continues to welcome students and visitors from around the world. While the signature Georgian architecture, 50-foot clock tower on Campus Commons, 10-acre Herbert Bluethenthal Memorial Wildflower Preserve and proximity to area beaches will remain touchstones of the campus experience, several construction projects to benefit future generations of Seahawks are underway. – CC & KV

Groundbreaking for the Randall Library Renovation and Expansion project occurred in May 2022. The three-story expansion project includes 80,000 square feet of new building construction, renovations of the existing building and the addition of a connecting bridge, akin to the one that joins Fisher University Union and Fisher Student Center. The renovation and expansion will transform the space into a true 21st century academic library with a dedicated event and programming space, data visualization lab, technology hub and multimedia studio. In February, Chancellor Aswani K. Volety signed a teal girder before it was placed as the final beam as part of the project’s “topping out” milestone. Completion is expected in fall 2024.

UNCW became a residential campus in 1971 with the opening of Galloway Hall. The co-ed residence hall housed 400 students and was the first air-conditioned one in the state. Aging infrastructure landed the currently unoccupied six-story “Dorm 71” on the demolition list. The Council of State approved the demolition at its February meeting.

UNCW leverages its enviable location by offering in-depth curricula and research experiences in coastal and ocean sciences. In 2019, UNCW launched the Bachelor of Science in Coastal Engineering, its first engineering degree and the first of its kind in the U.S. Its first cohort of students graduated in December 2022. A 16,000-square-foot coastal engineering facility was completed in 2022 and includes a wave lab with a 24-meter wave flume.

The two-story King Hall, former home of the Donald R. Watson School of Education, was built in 1969. Yearlong renovations to accommodate a new space for the Honors College and uplifts for film studies faculty offices and the first-floor auditorium are slated to begin in May.

July 2023 marks the start of two new academic colleges at UNCW, emerging from the College of Arts and Sciences: the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts, and the College of Science and Engineering. These new colleges continue UNCW’s journey in advancing Seahawk academics by allowing expansion of student educational experiences, further supporting the great work of faculty and staff and responding to an evolving higher education landscape.

Changes to campus buildings, the overall landscape and plans for growth are part of an ongoing master planning process and the evolution of the university. UNCW’s physical campus includes the main campus on S. College Road and the Center for Marine Science near Myrtle Grove.

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An Elite Opportunity

“I view this job, the university, its athletic program and community as an elite opportunity to be a part of something special,” said recently named Athletics Director Michael Oblinger. “I’m truly committed to this place. I look forward to earning this responsibility daily.”

Oblinger, former Deputy Director of Athletics/External Relations at the University of Connecticut, took over as UNCW’s new AD on April 1, following a national search. He replaced Jimmy Bass, who retired after nearly 13 years in the leadership role.

Oblinger will oversee the university’s NCAA Division I program with a rich history of athletics competition, 19 intercollegiate teams and more than 350 student-athletes who posted a collective, cumulative 3.388 GPA for the fall 2022 semester. He brings nearly 20 years of athletics experience to UNCW.

Before UConn, Oblinger was Director of Major Gifts and Annual Fund at Louisiana State University’s Tiger Athletic Foundation. He previously held positions at Nevada, Memphis and Ohio State.

– VENITA JENKINS

Nicole Woods, an experienced collegiate coach and recruiter, has been named the 12th head coach in UNCW women’s basketball history. Woods takes over the Seahawk program after 10 years on the staff at UNC Charlotte, officially starting on April 19.

“We’re going to compete. We’re going to foster an environment of competition,” Woods said. “We’re going to fight in everything we do, because I believe that if you believe you are a winner, you’re going to win in the classroom, you’re going to win on the court, and you’re going to win in the community.”

“We will be a studentathlete-centric athletic department, and demonstrate that with actions, not just words.”

– Michael Oblinger

Making a Splash

In February, UNCW captured both the men’s and women’s Colonial Athletic Association Swimming & Diving Championship titles for the second time overall and the first since 2006. For the Seahawk men, it was the program’s 15th conference title and its second straight. For the women, it was their fourth and first since that 2006 season.

Bobby Guntoro ’12 was named both Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year, and George Greenleaf was named Men’s Diving Coach of the Year. Wings up!

JOE BROWNING

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Classical Music Takes Center Stage

Acclaimed opera singer Lawrence Brownlee sat quietly in Beckwith Recital Hall, taking mental notes as he watched mezzo-soprano Tori Thomas ’21 perform “Waiting,” an aria from “The Great Gatsby.” Brownlee, known internationally as one of the finest interpreters of bel canto opera, then offered suggestions to Thomas to improve her breath, not to compromise notes and to sell the story behind the music.

Brownlee, a tenor, was the featured artist for this year’s Caterina Jarboro Memorial Recital, which honors Wilmington’s first operatic diva and the first Black female opera singer to perform with an all-white company in 1933. The recital highlights Jarboro’s contributions to opera while providing educational opportunities to students. Her story and impact on the genre motivated Thomas to further pursue a career in opera.

“When I saw Caterina Jarboro’s photo, it brought me to tears because she was someone who looks like me,” Thomas recalled. “To know she was born the same year as the Wilmington massacre and to grow up in that climate yet still thrive and shine is so inspiring.”

Thomas and four other students from UNCW, East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University were selected to participate in Brownlee’s master class held March 20. The singers each received one-on-one instruction from Brownlee.

“Watching a guest artist practice their craft in recital is invaluable; watching that same guest artist share that craft with young singers is life-changing and a powerful learning experience for students,” said Dr. Nancy King, music department chair and one of the organizers of the Caterina Jarboro Memorial Recital. “Mr. Brownlee is deeply dedicated to diversity and inclusion in classical music, and through his work mentoring young singers and

his web series, ‘The Sitdown with LB,’ he has proven to be a powerful ambassador for change in opera.”

Thomas has been following Brownlee’s work for years and was inspired by his activism for Black composers and artists.

“Growing up, it felt like opera was something foreign to us,” she said. “Then to hear black voices fitting in perfectly in this genre was uplifting.”

Brownlee, who tours eight to 10 months a year, said participating in the recital and offering the master class was important to him.

“I think that we have to be a link, a chain of tradition that carries on some of the things of the past,” he said. “People like Ms. Jarboro opened doors for me and endured difficulties so that people of color like myself can be on the stage around the world. Her story inspired me, so when I can be there for young singers to try to encourage them to sing, I tell them what’s possible through hard work.” – VJ

Lawrence Brownlee tutoring UNCW mezzo-soprano Tori Thomas

Lawrence Brownlee and UNCW baritone Terry Artis

From Student to Patient to Future Practitioner

Charlotte native Kalyn Groncki ’24 intended to major in biology at UNCW. A global pandemic changed that.

Months into her freshman year, Groncki suffered a nearfatal case of COVID-19 and spent 23 days (eight of those comatose) at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Specialists suspected a blood clot in her lungs was robbing her blood of oxygen and placed her on life support. Groncki awoke to the sight of her family in hazmat suits.

Thankfully, Groncki recovered. Once out of the hospital, her mom showed her an article in UNCW Magazine about the university’s new respiratory therapy program in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. Groncki taped it to her wall – and plans for a new major were set.

“2020 taught the world resilience in the face of adversity,” Groncki said. A change of course was not a difficult pivot. “I was taking my university cores and fulfilling prerequisites for my biology major, which aligned well with the ones required for respiratory therapy, making the transition fairly seamless.”

Currently a junior at UNCW, she is minoring in educational studies. After graduating, she plans to work at NHNHRMC as a registered respiratory therapist alongside the therapists who aided in her recovery.

UNCW’s bachelor of respiratory therapy program was approved by the UNC Board of Governors in 2019 with two pathways for degree completion: the bachelor of science (entry into practice) in respiratory therapy (BSRT) and the RRT-BSRT for registered respiratory therapists to earn a bachelor’s degree. The program accepted its inaugural class in fall 2021 and the first entry into practice cohort will graduate in May 2023. – CC

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The Economic Impact of Efficiency

Researchers in the Cameron School of Business received a $150,000 grant from the NC Department of Transportation to examine the economic impact of “superstreets” throughout the state. These reduced conflict intersections (RCIs) restrict turn options and lessen the number of points where vehicles’ paths cross.

“NCDOT did not have good data or research on the median design’s effects on nearby businesses. Our grant was to investigate the economic effects,” said Dr. Adam Jones, Department of Economics and Finance chair and professor. CNBC ranked North Carolina as the top state for business in 2022, but just 17th for infrastructure.

To analyze the business impact, researchers used satellite data to go back in time and compare the pre/ post levels of activity at each of several sites where RCIs were installed. Results indicated that people were more willing to shop at stores located at intersections that were improved to run more efficiently.

“The data is clear: the design reduces traffic accidents, significantly reduces injury accidents and improves traffic flow. The RCI design is a key contributor to economic growth,” Jones added. MBA graduate students assisted the faculty with the research, which will enable NCDOT continue to retrofit improvements. (Now, if only there were a simple solution for the College Road and Oleander Drive intersection!) – VJ

Fed Challenge Team Triumph

Gaining valuable real-world experience solving the nation’s economic challenges, a team of UNCW students placed second in the 19th annual College Fed Challenge, a national competition that encourages undergraduate students to learn about the U.S. economy, monetary policymaking and the role of the Federal Reserve System.

The UNCW Cameron School of Business team finished between Ivy League schools Princeton University (first place) and Dartmouth College (third place) after competing against 84 schools from across the country. Team members include Katie Davidson, Luke Felton, Juliette Girardin, Silvio Kellerman, Sinéad O’Duffy and Adam Ragan.

“We were on top of the world just to win our region for the first time, which stretches from West Virginia to South Carolina and includes schools like American, University of Virginia and Wake Forest University,” said UNCW Fed Challenge team coach Dr. Danny Soques ’10, associate professor of economics and finance and original Fed Challenge team alumnus. “Then to become a national finalist–it was all the more special to get both tiers of recognition. We will continue to work hard to take home the trophy next year!” – KV

Front row (L to R): Juliette Girardin, Katie Davidson, Sinead O’Duffy

Middle: Luke Felton, Silvio Kellermann, Adam Ragan

Back: Dr. Daniel Soques, Dr. Adam Jones

Putting the “Fun” in Fundamental

Fun and games could soon be part of more school lessons in Brazil, thanks to a joint international project involving Watson College of Education faculty and graduate students.

Led by Dr. Daisyane Barreto, associate professor in the Department of Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education and coordinator of WCE’s Master of Science in Instructional Technology program, and Dr. José Aires de Castro Filho, professor at the Federal University of Ceará, the work focuses on integrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) and English as a Foreign Language in the Brazilian Public School System.

Digital teacher-training modules being designed and developed by WCE graduate students Ariane Hamm and William Mitchell, in partnership with Dr. Barreto and Dr. Eleni Pappamihiel (professor in the Department of Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education), will provide guidance to help teachers plan lessons and effectively implement an integrated curriculum in Brazilian schools for students in grades 6-12.

“Technology provides a means to create different contexts, explore concepts and use multiple and dynamic representations,” said Dr. Filho, who specializes in educational informatics, cognitive psychology and mathematics education. “Gamification is a proven way to engage broad audiences.”

Digital Education Resources involve software, video, animation, images, video games or simulations that have an educational purpose. In his work, Dr. Filho combines DERs with gamification, which involves the use of game mechanics such as goals, rules, challenges and awards.

A grant from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Brazil, supplemented by a mini-grant from the Watson College Dean’s Office, funded the faculty-student collaboration.

– STACIE GREENE HIDEK AND SUSAN FINLEY

Left to right: Dr. José Aires de Castro Filho; Dr. Michael Wilhelm, UNCW Associate Vice Chancellor for International Programs; Dr. Daisyane Barreto; Dr. Juscileide Castro, UFC assistant professor in mathematics education

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Natural Wonders

When it comes to promoting awareness of coastal North Carolina’s natural treasures, Roger Shew ’76 leaves no stone unturned. Literally.

A senior geology and environmental science lecturer in the Departments of Earth and Ocean Sciences and Environmental Sciences, Shew installed boulder-size rock specimens from the mountains to the sea, including granite, petrified wood, limestone and a fossil pit beside DeLoach Hall to create a GeoGarden, and provided philanthropic support for its creation, as well. The standout specimens in the collection – including coquina, limestone, granite and pegmatite – represent the state’s three main geological regions: Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Shew, a Brunswick County native, has spent years traversing the region’s wild areas, watching, learning and teaching others about southeastern North Carolina’s biodiversity. Now, thanks to a new documentary produced by UNCW’s Media Production team, audiences near and far can join this legendary naturalist on an exploration of “Shew’s Natural Treasures.”

The film, which premiered April 30 at Lumina Theater, follows Shew through unique natural areas, including Carolina Bays, old-growth cypress forests, longleaf pine wet savannas, salt marshes and barrier islands.

“The goals of the film are to provide knowledge of and appreciation for these natural treasures,” Shew said. “I hope anyone who sees the film will work to ensure that future generations will have these treasures to enjoy, too.”

View the documentary trailer here

“We are fortunate to have such diversity in our area that provides recreational, economic and even mental benefits.”

– Roger

Shew

Founded in 2009, Lookout Books – UNCW’s literary imprint – issues just one or two titles a year, but those titles are choice. Lookout’s latest book, Bigger Than Bravery: Black Resilience and Reclamation in a Time of Pandemic, tackles a tough topic: How the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Black community.

In a word, starkly: African-Americans died of COVID-19 and related causes at a rate 2.7 times that of their white counterparts.

The pandemic, moreover, hit along with a wave of controversial killings of Black people.

On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was killed by white vigilantes while jogging in a mostly white suburb near Brunswick, GA. On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her Louisville, KY home during a late-night police raid. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer.

Those headlines, writes Valerie Boyd, who compiled contributions from 31 African-American essayists and poets for Bigger Than Bravery, compounded the pandemic’s cloud of paranoia and anxiety.

Some of the contributors are famous, such as Alice Walker (The Color Purple), who contributed two poems. Many are not well-known but deserve to be.

Common themes emerge.

Everyone had a survival tactic: For many, like Destiny O. Birdsong, it was food. She spent much time in the kitchen refining her skills. Pre-pandemic, Jason Reynolds ate most of his meals in restaurants. As he details in “Char,” he used his quarantine to re-discover his father’s passion for grilling meat.

For others, music provided a balm. In “The Quarantine Album: Liner Notes,” Deesha Philyaw builds a playlist of songs that carried her through. In “Joyride,” Karen Good Marable sings songs with her preschool-aged daughter as she drives through the deserted streets of Atlanta.

Many derived strength from their elders, even as quarantines kept them from elderly parents’ hospital bedsides. Boyd’s own prologue is a tribute to her father, who ran a Texaco station in metro Atlanta. When the gas crisis cost him his franchise in the 1970s, he regrouped and built a successful tire and wrecker business. Roger Boyd died alone in 2020, of pneumonia; only a dozen close relatives attended his graveside service.

BIGGER THAN BRAVERY IS, AS ITS SUBTITLE STATES, A TRIBUTE TO BLACK RESILIENCE.

AS MAYA ANGELOU WR OTE, “AND STILL THEY RISE.”

– BEN STEELMAN

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in 1963 –

a year of magnitude for many reasons nationally and internationally, but closer to home, it is also a year of great influence. During this 2022-23 academic year, the university recognizes this significant milestone: the 60th anniversary of Black student life at UNCW.

In the fall of the 1962-63 academic year, Marshall Collins and Ernest Fullwood were the first Black students to enroll in Wilmington College, following a handshake

agreement between civil rights activist Dr. Hubert Eaton and Wilmington College President John Hoggard to integrate the college.

In recognition of six decades of desegregation, Wayne Dunlap ’80, who served as the first Black student body president and Black Student Union president, and Tishera Owens ’24, the current Black Student Union president, share their thoughts about their hopes for the future.

Prior to 1962, African Americans were not allowed to attend the College Road campus of Wilmington College, which became UNCW in 1969. Until then, Black students attended classes at the Williston Campus. Notably, the quality of life for Black students has changed dramatically in the 60 years since Ernest Fullwood and Marshall Collins desegregated the university. Many factors have contributed to those changes. Most significantly, I think, has been the Upperman African American Cultural Center. The Upperman Center opened in 1995, approximately 16 years after I graduated. It has become the nucleus for Black student activities, an incubator for new student clubs and organizations, and the strongest link between the university and the Black community in Wilmington. Because of the Upperman Center, today’s students see Afrocentric activities such as cultural excursions, exhibits, films, lecture series and social events as routine to college life. Black students have a physical space on campus to call their own – a place where they are mentored and supported, and where their academic and personal development is fostered.

Looking back, I am reminded that Wantu Wazuri (“Beautiful People”), founded in 1970, was a forerunner of the BSU and the first Black student organization at UNCW. The present status of Black student life is their legacy. And while present and future Black Seahawks will chart the course for the next 60 years, I am hopeful their vision includes a greater percentage of African American students, a more diverse faculty, higher graduation rates and more students moving on to top-tier graduate programs and career opportunities. Most of all, I imagine future scholars graduating with greater confidence and a sense of self than when they arrived.

I currently serve as the president of the Black Student Union. I have held many roles on the Executive Board of BSU during my time here as a student over the past three years.

I want to express my thoughts as a traditional Black student at a predominantly white institution and not just as the Black Student Union’s president.

As UNCW celebrates 60 years of Black life, it is a significant milestone for my community. I describe this milestone as a time of reflection and appreciation. The Upperman African American Cultural Center’s theme this school year is “A is for Activism,” and I have been able to reflect on what it took for my community to reach 60 years of Black student life. Triumphs in UNCW Black history include the first Black graduate on campus (Ernest Fulwood ’66), the first Black woman graduate Lela Thompson ’67, the first Black Student Union president Wayne Dunlap ’80 and the creation of the Upperman African American Cultural Center (1995). Struggles that students before us faced include racism, microaggression and not feeling welcomed by white counterparts on campus. As a Black student, hearing about the things Black students had to endure at the same campus I am on is tragic but inspiring. Their courage and perseverance make me appreciate being on this campus because they have paved the way for me and other students who look like me to be here at UNCW.

My hope for the next 60 years of Black student life is that students continue to pave the way for other Black students on campus. I hope the Black community continues to be unified and supportive towards one another. I believe that Black students have a unique bond, which I hope grows in the future.

Wayne Dunlap ’80

Tishera Owens ’24

Threads of Identity

Creative writing professor Nina de Gramont ’06M pens a mystery of mystery author Agatha Christie

BY KRISSY VICK

When Nina de Gramont ’06M isn’t teaching creative writing or advising graduate students, the Department of Creative Writing professor is acclimating to life as a best-selling author. Her latest novel, The Christie Affair, debuted on the New York Times Best Sellers list at No. 5, became a No. 1 best-selling paperback in the UK and will soon be a Miramax TV limited series. The book is a fictional account of the real-life disappearance of mystery writer Agatha Christie.

The Wall Street Journal said The Christie Affair “sizzles from its first sentence.” What made you want to write about Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance?

I read an article about her sudden disappearance and how she was found 11 days later at a spa hotel, registered under the name of her husband’s mistress. This detail got me thinking, “What if there had been some other explanation?” When I think of a mistress and a wife as being rivals, there is also this aspect of intimacy that is unwanted and uninvited, but still there. That is sad and powerful and filled me with sympathy for Christie to be in this state as she grappled with these threads of identity. In her autobiography, she is open and frank about the end of her marriage, but she doesn’t reference the disappearance.

How did you go about getting to know Agatha Christie as you wrote the book?

I read a lot of her novels and tried to get to know her to make an homage to her. I approached it with an awareness that she wouldn’t want the book to be written at all. I tried to describe her in ways she would describe herself through anecdotes found in her autobiographies.

The Christie Affair has earned numerous national and international accolades. As its popularity has grown, was there a pivotal moment for you?

Certainly, the moment that caused the most excitement was finding out Reese Witherspoon had chosen it for her book club. Also, finding out the book was on the New York Times Best Sellers list. I was teaching a 3:30 p.m. class that day and found out during my break. I asked my colleague and friend to sit with my class while I called my editor. After I hung up, I got to go back and share the good news with my class. They were very sweet and supportive and clapped for me. It was lovely.

The Christie Affair “sizzles from its first sentence.”

What is the writing process like for you from conception to completion, particularly with this novel?

It varies from book to book. With this book, I really wanted to do a first draft without any research at all because I was worried that research would infiltrate my imagination. I wanted it to be a story no one else could tell.

Once I had that draft, I did intensive research about Christie’s life and those 11 days. Researching a specific time period can offer up a gift of opportunity to learn interesting details. I learned so much about the Spanish Flu, the Irish War for Independence and WWI.

You have published 10 books to date. How would you describe your writing habits? Do you write every day?

When I am at my best, yes. It’s a complicated question, because there are certain periods when I don’t or can’t write every day, but those are typically the days when I don’t get anything done. I always tell my students, “You don’t have to write every day, but you have to visit it every day; at least open the document and look at it. If you do want to be a writer and have a finished novel, you must commit to writing at least five days a week.” That sounds harsh, but it is honest, because the books don’t write themselves. I would be more productive if I stringently followed my own advice. The periods when I do follow it result in a book.

What part of your teaching craft would you say most informs your own work and practice as a writer?

We have a class called Forms in our department for graduate students. We deconstruct novels by mapping out things like structure and technique—there are notes all over the whiteboard. This is really helpful to me, especially when we look at contemporary writers, because it helps me think about the novel in an architectural way and makes me more inventive. Some of the students get really into it, which is a great example of how the student teaches the teacher.

The paperback edition of The Christie Affair was recently released in the U.S., which has prompted another round of speaking engagements for you. What does this mean for your readers?

I hope it means that a lot of book clubs can read it and explore some of the underlying themes. The book reminds us that many aspects of the not-so-distant past still carry over to our culture today, particularly the treatment of women. When I was researching mother and baby homes, girls weren’t supposed to know each other’s names. But there is such a natural connection and relationship between women that makes friendships inevitable. I hope the book clubs will talk about that.

Accolades

AMAZON.COM BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

CHAPTERS INDIGO BEST OF THE YEAR

GOODREADS MOST ANTICIPATED LIST 2022

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER –#1 IN UK PAPERBACKS

MIRAMAX TV TELEVISION SERIES IN PRODUCTION

KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK, FEBRUARY 2022

WASHINGTON POST BEST THRILLERS AND MYSTERIES OF 2022

WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOKS OF 2022

“You must commit to writing at least five days a week, because books don’t write themselves.”

– Nina de Gramont

Hook, Line and Sinker

Undergraduate turned entrepreneur turns a class project into a product

BY CAROLINE CROPP ’99, ’06M

“It’s astonishing to watch something that grew inside your head become something that people enjoy using.”

– Landon Hill

Landon Hill ’21 didn’t view one of his last assignments as a UNCW student as homework, but as an opportunity. Former Cameron School of Business faculty member Xaver Neumeyer challenged students in his entrepreneurship analytics class to conceptualize a data-oriented business leveraging Wilmington as a coastal location.

A native of Greenville, NC, Hill worked for a local dive shop during his time at UNCW and spent a lot of time in Ocean Isle Beach.

“Most days I was fishing or doing some sort of activity related to the ocean. I would crew dive boats taking people to scuba dive, and had hopes for a career in fishing,” he said.

Combining his passion for marine life with his business education, the idea for a mobile app connecting local fishers to fresh seafood buyers was spawned that day in Neumeyer’s class.

Hill knows that commercial fishers are hard to find. “When it comes to fresh seafood, you must have buyers and sellers; just one won’t work. A lot of what’s out there is frozen and sits on a truck for who knows how long,” he said.

After graduation, Hill acquired his real estate license and was working in the field, but the idea of the app lured him back.

Hill had the idea and the passion and was in the right location but didn’t know how to code or develop the app, so he enlisted the help of Blue Tone Media, a Wilmington website and internet marketing company. In April 2022, Local Catch was launched.

Almost a full year later, Hill describes the time as one of dramatic growth. “We’ve had more than 50 app updates and have more than 500 users.” Currently Hill is a team of one but he hopes to hire a staff and interns – and sees UNCW as a source for both. He plans on traveling across the country to grow the app and its services. He spoke at the Cameron School of Business’ annual Business Week in March to share the lessons he’s learned going from undergraduate to entrepreneur.

Admitting that “the first step is terrifying, absolutely terrifying,” Hill wants to encourage students with business ideas to “not let them disappear because that first step is too daunting to take. It’s astonishing to watch something that grew inside your head become something that people enjoy using.”

“It was just too good to put down. If I didn’t pursue it, I would have always wondered ‘what if.’”

Shelter from the Storm

Supporting foster youth through their college journey

BY KRISSY VICK

Katie* was in four different foster care placements before she aged out of the system on her 18th birthday, a scenario not uncommon for children growing up as wards of the state in the U.S. foster care system.

“It was hard to form relationships and get close to people because I was always moving,” she said. “Now that I’m in college, it’s hard because I’m alone and don’t really have anybody else, but working on my school and myself is worth every experience.”

Madison entered the foster care system when she was 13 after her family was evicted from their home. Her mother died a year later. Defying national research that shows children in foster care are at high risk of dropping out of school and are unlikely to attend or graduate from college, she mustered the courage, with the support of extended family, to enroll in college after high school.

“Confidence has been one of my biggest barriers,” she recalled. “I found myself doubting if I was going to be capable enough to take on the next few years of challenges, but I knew that getting my college degree was going to get me further in life than doubt.”

For students like Katie and Madison, a new university-wide initiative at UNCW will provide hope and support for enrolled students who have aged out of the foster care system or have experienced homelessness. The program, a top priority for Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Lowell Davis, will provide wraparound services to support these students’ unique needs.

His passion for this program was influenced by vivid memories of his mother, a Dallas, Texas high school teacher who became a licensed foster parent. She was known for generously providing food, shelter and clothing to students in need in her community.

“As a kid, I didn’t understand the impact of her actions, but as an adult, I realized she had a servant’s heart,” Dr. Davis said. “My mother shaped me into the person I am today. My goal now is to pour into other people.”

Before becoming vice chancellor in 2021, Dr. Davis worked with a similar program at the University of Alabama and used those experiences to start a new program at Western Carolina University. Now, he is starting a signature Seahawk program within the Division of Student Affairs and Transition Programs.

Dr. Davis estimates that about 150 UNCW students may self-identify as homeless, emancipated from their parents, wards of the state, or aged out of the foster care system at age 18.

While their needs vary, some of their common struggles include lack of emotional support, financial burdens, and no housing options when campus residence halls and dining facilities close for university holidays and summer break. They also need necessities like food, transportation and medicine. Many are working fulltime jobs while supporting themselves as a full-time student.

To help meet these needs, Vice Chancellor Davis intends to expand the UNCW initiative through public and private partnerships, including local nonprofits and alumni.

For example, Gilbert Scholarship, Inc., founded by Darlena Moore, awarded two $1,500 Gilbert Scholarships to UNCW students this academic year. Moore developed the scholarship program in honor of her own foster care parents, Dick and Mary Gilbert, who were instrumental in helping her attend college and finish her degree.

“I see a piece of myself in each student I meet,” said Moore. “When you are in foster care, you spend a lot of your life trying to look forward and not look back. There is a real healing process in helping other people.”

UNCW Initiatives

Creation of Seahawk program within the Division of Student Affairs and Transition Programs

Public and private partnerships to help meet the needs of 150 self-identified UNCW students

Most students will meet with mentors and academic advisors regularly for check-ins, academic help and emotional support.

The network of support will include advocacy, social gatherings, and a pipeline of community connections and cross-campus collaboration.

“I want these students to know that they can come to UNCW and be successful.”

– Dr. Lowell Davis, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

“I think a program like this is phenomenal. I met so many people when I was in foster care who didn’t see themselves post-high school, and I met a few who had such high goals it was amazing. We’re the people that were robbed of a ‘normal’ life. We deserve to be seen and heard and recognized for what we’ve been through and where we are now.”

Madison meets one-on-one with the Assistant Director of First Generation and Foster Youth Programs Latisha Corpening.

– Madison

To date, Moore’s organization has awarded nearly 40 scholarships to students attending North Carolina colleges and universities. She says her goal is to continue raising funds and providing scholarships as long as there is a need.

“These students are so amazing because they just keep pushing,” said Moore. “Many have suffered emotional and physical abuse, abandonment, neglect, mental health issues around trauma experiences, and they don’t have any foundation to fall back on. They are extremely grateful for what they receive, and they truly desire a college education.”

Current UNCW parents Jennifer ‘95 and David Mertus recently established the Baughan Family Scholarship Endowment in honor of Jennifer’s parents, Edmond and Mary Baughan, who instilled in her the value of an education and the importance of helping others.

Much like Gilbert Scholarship, Inc., the Baughan Family Scholarship Endowment is grounded in the conviction that when young adults age out of the child welfare system, continuing their education at the college level may seem unattainable. This scholarship aims to assist former foster youth in continuing their education and achieving their dreams.

Vice Chancellor Davis has also created a new fulltime position on his staff to oversee UNCW’s support services. Latisha Corpening, assistant director of firstgeneration and foster care programs, has extensive experience working with foster care youth as a licensed therapist. She has served the university since 2020 as a student success advisor in the College of Health and Human Services.

“My top priorities are spreading the word about the program and working to uncover who these students are,” said Corpening. “These students sometimes end up in silos; I want to build a community so they can also support each other.”

Support will look different for every student, but most will meet with mentors and academic advisors regularly for check-ins, academic help and emotional support. As the program develops, Corpening said the network of support will include advocacy, social gatherings, and a pipeline of community connections and cross-campus collaboration.

“Our message to these students is, ‘We’re going to help you get your wings, and we’re going to help you take flight.’”

– Latisha Corpening

Celtic Captivation

Virtuosic musician Haley Richardson takes international studies to the next level.

BY VENITA JENKINS PHOTOS BY JACK HARTIN © ABHANN PRODUCTIONS

Haley Richardson is a master multitasker.

The fiddle player’s travel to more than 50 cities in six months hasn’t prevented her from earning a degree while pursuing her dream as a cast member of Riverdance, the internationally acclaimed show featuring Irish dance and music.

Online classes allow Richardson to earn her education and perform in the production’s 25th anniversary show.

“It’s a privilege to live in an era when it’s not necessary to choose between increased education and the continuation of a professional path that allows me to do the two things I love most—travel and play music.”

A notable journey

Age 3

2015

Of course, juggling touring and coursework is a challenge. The touring company travels every one to three days. Sometimes, issues with reliable access to wi-fi while on the tour bus or schedule constraints due to show preparations means time is at a premium.

“I do what I need to do to maintain good grades whenever I find the time, which might be on a bus traveling from venue to venue, in my dressing room between sound check and a show, or in my hotel room during the day while still trying to make time to explore the cities we visit,” said Richardson, a 20-year-old native of Pittsgrove, NJ.

2017

2019

2023

To

2020

genuinely, I never tire of playing it. Show after show, I find new intricacies in the melodies and arrangements of the music that keep the show fresh and exciting.”

Music has always been a part of Richardson’s life. Growing up, her mother played classical and world music in their home. Richardson and her brothers were homeschooled, and music lessons were part of their curriculum.

Her interest in the coexistence of cultures led her to major in international studies.

topics that examine the intricacies of human existence, especially those in fields I may never have delved into had it not been offered as a university course.”

“I have loved learning about politics and economics and having the chance for independent study, viewed through the lens of my primary interest in music as it applies to cultural impact and identity.”

Richardson first joined Riverdance in 2019 during its annual run of shows at The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. She recently appeared in the cinema release of Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show at the 3Arena in Dublin, and was invited by Riverdance composer Bill Whelan to record on the anniversary album.

“It’s an honor to be a part of such a legendary show. Over the past 25 years, Riverdance has featured some iconic artists performing a show created by visionaries,” she said. “The music is nothing short of genius, and I can say,

After beginning violin lessons through the Suzuki method at three, we happened upon an Irish music concert hosted by our local library when I was nearly five years old,” she recalled. “I was captivated and instantly fell in love with Irish music, begging my mom for Irish fiddle lessons following the concert.”

Richardson began competing at six, and her teacher encouraged her to attend the International Irish Fiddle Competition to meet other musicians who shared a similar passion for traditional music. She has won multiple championships at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All Ireland Championships), the MidAtlantic Championships, and the Junior and Senior Fiddler of Dooney awards (2015 and 2018).

When Richardson considers the future, she envisions a career that allows her to continue to tour and share her music on a larger scale.

“I plan to pick up more teaching work, ideally music teaching, as well as research and study of Irish culture,” she said. “I’m passionate about the spread of Irish music and want to see it continue to thrive.”

“My instrument feels like an extension of me. Having the opportunity to use it as a form of expression is one of the most incredibly rewarding experiences.”

“The international studies program allows me to explore the wide range of

Richardson joins the Riverdance 25th Anniversary tour.

Richardson picks up a violin for the first time and instantly falls in love with Irish music.

Age 6 Richardson begins competing at her teacher’s encouragement and travels abroad for the first time to attend the International Irish Fiddle Competition. There, she wins her first major competition.

Winner of the coveted Junior Fiddler of Dooney award. She also releases a self-produced CD, of which all proceeds benefited the Mercy Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

Richardson wins her ninth MidAtlantic Regional fiddle competition.

Richardson enrolls at UNCW and is accepted into the international studies program. Covid halts the tour while Haley is performing at Radio City Music Hall.

date, Richardson has traveled to more than 50 cities with the Riverdance production.

2018 Richardson wins the Senior Fiddler of Dooney award

Four Distinguished Seahawks Receive UNCW's Highest Honor

UNCW’s Distinguished Awards are presented to selected alumni each year in recognition of extraordinary achievement, outstanding character, and exemplary service to the university and community.

“This year's distinguished honorees demonstrate tenacity and selflessness for the greater good in their professional and personal lives,” said Lindsay LeRoy, executive director of the UNCW Alumni Association. “They have overcome barriers and brought others along in the wake of their success. Their Seahawk pride is like no other.”

"When I received the call that I was the recipient of the Diversity Award, I thought, ‘Do I deserve this? Have I done enough, and could I have done more?’ I've tried to make a difference, and something like this helps validate the things the police agency and the city does to include everyone and make sure everybody's voices are heard."

“The Distinguished Alumna of the Year award from UNC Wilmington is one of the greatest honors of my life. I will treasure the memories from Homecoming 2023, our 75th anniversary of the university and the 40th for my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. Best of all was the opportunity to reconnect with my long-time friends and fellow alumni.”

“There are so many amazing people who do such great work in our community, so to even be thought of as distinguished citizen is truly an honor.”

Lauren

From left: Marcia J. Avedon, Lauren Daley Bryant, Riley A. Stephenson, Alejandra Sotelo

Alejandra Sotelo ’00, Recipient of the Distinguished Diversity Award

Marcia J. Avedon, Ph.D. ’83 Distinguished Alumna of the Year

Daley Bryant ’07, ’10M Distinguished Citizen of the Year

“Receiving a distinguished alumni award is a great honor and one of my proudest accomplishments. This community has given me so much, including a phenomenal education and career that I love. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication I have poured into what I do.”

Riley A. Stephenson ’15 Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year

From left: UNCW Alumni Association Executive Director Lindsay LeRoy, Riley Stephenson, Chancellor Volety

Class notes

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

PRYOR GIBSON ’ 79 joined NC Governor Roy Cooper’s Office as a senior legislative advisor.

MAURICE SMITH ’ 79 retired from Local Government Federal Credit Union after leading the organization since 1999.

SUSAN CRISPELL ’ 03 released The Holloway Girls. Her next book, The Broken Hearts Club, will be released in June 2023.

DAVID HOWARD ’87 was named director of Brunswick County’s health services department.

KEVIN FAULKER ’ 88 , a Clocktower Society member, had his novel The Sixth Traveler published.

NORA MARTIN ’ 89 retired after teaching sixth grade language arts and social studies for more than 32 years for Stokes and Yadkin counties.

TYSON EMERY ’ 03 AND LINDSAY BARBOUR ’17 , two of the Wilmingtonbased Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage’s top producing agents and leaders of the Aspyre Realty Group, will lead Coldwell Banker’s expansion in Charlotte, NC.

MARSHA QUINTANILLA ’ 04 was named the WITN Teacher of the Week. She is in her 13th year teaching Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 at North Duplin JuniorSenior High School in Mount Olive, NC.

RUSS FRAZIER ’ 05 was named athletic director of Leesville Road High School in Raleigh. He previously served as the boys basketball coach since 2012.

COREY MITCHELL ’ 93 , a Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education winner, launched the Theater Gap Initiative in 2021. The nonprofit college-prep program is for high school graduates with aspirations of pursuing a degree in fine arts.

CECILIA HOLDEN ’ 95 , president and CEO of myFutureNC, was the keynote speaker for UNC Pembroke’s winter undergraduate ceremony. She is a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member.

NEAL RICHARDSON ’ 96 was appointed executive director of admissions at The University of Baltimore.

KIRK ANGEL ’ 97 , New Hanover High School boys basketball coach, captured his 300th career win on Jan. 3.

LAUREN ’06, ’10M, ’18ED.D. and MICHAEL ’18M FRANKLIN welcomed their first child, Wallis Ann Franklin, in December. Lauren is a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, and Michael is a Clocktower Society member.

EVAN FOLDS ’ 01 was reelected to the New Hanover County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.

CHAD WILLIAMS ’ 02 joined The Capstone Group, a Wilmington-based real estate agency.

AMBER GROGAN HACKER ’ 06 was promoted to chief operating officer at Interfaith America, a national nonprofit that equips and connects leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity.

MARC MURPHY ’ 07M is president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina in Lake Waccamaw.

LAURA PRESS ’ 08 joined impact.com, a global partnership management platform, as head of affiliate and partnerships education. She helps create engaging content for the Partnerships Experience Academy, an education center designed to inspire and empower productive partnerships.

AUBREY GRANT ’ 09 published Women, Power, and Rape Culture: The Politics and Policy of Underrepresentation in Sept. 2022.

LACEE JACOBS ’ 09 was named principal of Mount Pleasant High School (NC).

2010s

CHRISTINA HALEY ’ 10 is president of Wilmington Downtown, iNC.

JAMES MARSHALL ’10 was appointed by NC Governor Roy Cooper to serve as District Court Judge in District 29B, serving Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.

MICHAEL ONUFER ’ 10 was appointed by NC Governor Roy Cooper to serve as District Court Judge in District 11, serving Johnston, Harnett and Lee counties.

TIFFANY ALBRIGHT ’ 11 , a writer, producer, director and founder of Lunar Kitchen Films, founded and directed the Triad’s Queer Fear Film Festival. The event was held in Oct. 2022 and showcased 19 films.

KERRI ALLEN ’ 11, ’ 13M continues to protect the shores by running the Southeast Regional Office of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, the coast’s largest environmental advocacy organization.

MARQUITA MCCULLEY ’ 11 , director of the Bam, Books and Brotherhood Foundation, helped Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo take a group of high school students from Greensboro to Miami through his foundation.

Philip Gerard

April 7, 1955-November 7, 2022

Philip Gerard, professor of creative writing, passed away on Nov. 7, 2022.

Gerard arrived at UNCW in 1989 and turned a fledgling professional and creative writing curriculum into a well-organized popular concentration within the English major. He was instrumental in the establishment of creative writing as an independent department in 1999 and served as department chair. He was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence in Teaching and the Board of Trustees Teaching Award. In 2019, he was bestowed the North Carolina Award for Literature, the highest civilian honor conferred by the state.

Prior to joining UNCW, he served on the faculty at Arizona State University, Lake Forest College Goucher College, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Duke Writers Workshop, Wildacres Writers Workshop and Chautauqua Writers’ Center, among others.

A prolific author, he published 16 books, including North Carolina in the 1940s: The Decade of Transformation; The Patron Saint of Dreams; Down the Wild Cape Fear and Cape Fear Rising. Two of his books are seminal textbooks used in universities across the nation. He penned nearly 150 stories for Our State as their “resident historian-storyteller.”

A musician and songwriter, Gerard played guitar, banjo, pedal steel guitar, hammered dulcimer, bodhran, piano and harmonica. He was an active supporter of the Cameron Art Museum, Cape Fear River Watch and WHQR Public Radio. He served on the North Carolina Arts Council and was instrumental in the establishment of the Wilmington Arts Council.

Gerard is survived by his wife Jill; their children, Ashley and Patrick Leahman; brothers Stephen (Laura) Sczubelek and Paul Sczubelek; sisters Suzanne Herel, Kathryn Herel and Sharon (Mike) Dutton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations to fund a scholarship for students in the UNCW Creative Writing program may be made in his memory: http://giving.uncw.edu/gerard

Class notes

2010s

MANDY QUEEN ’11 , Clocktower Society member, and husband, Brent, welcomed a daughter, Etta Bessie Queen, in December.

ELIZABETH UNGER ’11 directed the wildlife-crime documentary Tigre Gente, which was acquired by the National Geographic Channel. The film premiered April 22 as part of the channel’s Earth Day lineup.

SHEENA VAUGHT ’ 11 , owner of Tower 5 Media, premiered her latest film, The Reason, in Dec. 2022.

KEVIN BRINKLEY ’ 12, ’ 18M is a product owner with Bank of America in Charlotte, NC.

REBA LEWIS ’ 12, ’ 21M is principal of Down East Middle and Smyrna Elementary in Smyrna, NC.

KATELYN SMITH ’ 12 joined Sweyer Property Management, one of Wilmington’s largest residential property management companies, as its new marketing manager.

KAYCE SMITH’S ’ 12, ’ 21E d. D. thesis was the foundation of the student voice policy, approved in Oct. 2022 by the New Hanover County Board of Education. The policy gives students a stronger voice at future board meetings.

SARAH ’13 AND KEI TH ’13, ’17M FRASER welcomed their third child, Cole Steven Fraser, in February. Sarah and Keith are Clocktower Society members.

JACOB KEOHANE ’14 stars in Condor’s Nest, a World War II thriller, which debuted in theaters and streaming platforms in January.

JOSHUA RO SENBERG ’14 , investment advisor representative and partner at Nabell Winslow Investments and Wealth Management in Wilmington, NC, received the NextGen Financial Services Award from The American College of Financial Services.

JESSICA BARN ETT ’15, ’18M , Rocky Point Elementary School teacher, was among approximately 40 elementary educators across the nation granted a Milken Educator Award during the 202223 school year. With the award came $25,000. She is Pender County Schools’ first recipient of the award, often hailed as the “Oscar of teaching.”

CONNER CRAWFORD ’16 joined Cape Fear Development, the development arm of Wilmington-based commercial real estate firm Cape Fear Commercial, as its first development manager.

MICHAEL HUTCHER SON ’16 , an associate attorney in Raleigh for Ragsdale Liggett PLLC, was named to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” list. Inclusion is based on peer review, with fewer than four percent of the state’s lawyers making the annual edition.

LAURA KAUFFM AN ’16 joined FirstHealth Cardiology’s electrophysiology team in Pinehurst, NC.

LESLIE PUR VIS ’16 joined FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Carthage, NC.

LINDSA Y BARBOUR ’17 AND TYSON EMERY ’03 , two of the Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage’s top producing agents and leaders of the Aspyre Realty Group, will lead Coldwell Banker’s expansion in Charlotte, NC.

ZACH LAYMON ’17 was promoted to sales manager by Rulmeca Corporation, the North American subsidiary of Rulmeca Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of conveyor rollers, motorized pulleys and other components.

MARISSA RODRIG UEZ ’17 was promoted to development financial analyst for Cape Fear Development, the development arm of Wilmington-based commercial real estate firm Cape Fear Commercial.

ZACH DRENNAN ’ 18 was named vice president of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and received the Young Professional of the Year award.

ASHLEY G ARCIA ’18 earned a J.D. from Elon Law and will work at Patrick, Harper and Dixon, LLP in Hickory, NC.

Lela Mae Pierce Thompson ’67

August 27, 1935-December 30, 2022

Lela Thompson ’67, the first African American woman to graduate from Wilmington College following integration, passed away on Dec. 30, 2022. A wife and mother of four at the time she enrolled in the university, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and taught in New Hanover County for 30 years.

A significant contributor to the local theater, she was a founding member of The Willis Richardson Players, acting in the troupe and serving as president for nearly two decades. In 2012, she was the inaugural recipient of the Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater Award by StarNews Media. The award was renamed in her honor.

Her husband Melvin passed away in 2015. She is survived by children, Blanche Beverly T. Moore, James M. Thompson, Melvin Thompson III, Cynthia Wiggs and Brian E. Thompson; brother, Robert Harrison Sr.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Several of her grandchildren are UNCW graduates.

William “Bill” Addison Hurst ’59

September 27, 1935-January 5, 2023

William “Bill” Addison Hurst, a longtime friend and former student of UNCW, passed away on January 5, 2023.

He was the son of UNCW (then Wilmington College) faculty member Adrian Hurst. Hurst Drive, which provides an entrance to the campus from College Road, was renamed in Adrian’s honor in 1989.

The Hursts helped the UNCW Department of Biology and Marine Biology establish a nearly 30-acre estuarine research sanctuary south of Hewlett’s Creek to support student and faculty efforts to protect and understand tidal creek systems. The family has allowed use of their property as a field site for research for many years.

A lifelong resident of Masonboro Sound, Bill told the story of growing up a third-generation fisherman in the documentary “Tidal Alert.” In addition to fishing and gardening, he was a master craftsman and enjoyed the lost art of net making.

He was preceded in death by his parents, twin sister Betsy Hurst Lake and sister Margaret Hurst Clyburn. He is survived by wife Lillian Williamson Hurst; stepson James Hall and wife Nancy and their two daughters, Andrea Armistead and Melinda Hall; a sister, Patsy Hurst West and husband Eddie; and many nieces and nephews.

Class notes

2010s

ANDREW TESKA ’18 was nominated for the 2022 Athlete of the Year Award by The World Games. Teska is a Youth Working Group Representative for the USA and hopes to share his passion for aikido with the world. Andrew was joined at The World Games by his fiancé and fellow USA Aikido team member Colby Jones ’13, ’18M.

BRAD K NIGHTON ’19 , former UNCW men’s soccer player, received the New England Revolution Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work throughout the community in 2022.

ATTICUS L I ’19 is a lead analyst for Silicon Valley Bank, an American commercial bank and subsidiary of SVB Financial Group.

HANNAH GAS KINS PABÓN ’19 , an oil painter, advanced from “Emerging Artist” to “Artfolios Artist.” Artfolios connects the Triad to a curated collection of Winston-Salem area artists through an online gallery, consultations, art installations and events.

2020s

VALERIE KEYS ’20 has been promoted twice since joining SKDK, the nation’s leading Democratic political consulting firm, in 2020. She is also a finalist for PR Week’s 2023 Outstanding Young Professional Award.

MAXTON SOCKWELL ’ 20 opened First American Family Care in Wilmington, NC.

LANDON H ILL ’21 launched Local Catch, a mobile app connecting local fishers to fresh seafood buyers. Learn more about Local Catch on page 24.

DANI HUTCHI NS ’21 joined Sweyer Property Management in Wilmington as a property manager and licensed NC real estate broker.

GRACE PILCHE R ’21, ’22M , a former Seahawk women’s soccer standout, was among the first Peace Corps volunteers back overseas since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020.

NICOLE PRIDDY ’ 21 accepted the position of assistant health director for Forsyth County Public Health in WinstonSalem, NC.

EMMA PET ERSON ’22M has been promoted to director of marketing for brokerage within the Wilmington-based commercial real estate firm Cape Fear Commercial.

SEAN QUIGLEY ’ 22 will open his recreation therapy practice within Warrior Family Ministries in Wilmington, NC.

AMANDA WHITE ’ 22 accepted a fulltime position as a nursing instructor at Cape Fear Community College.

CORRECTIONS

JASMIN STOVER ’ 13 accepted the position of Afloat Recreation Specialist with the U.S. Navy.

(Fall 2022 issue said Jamin Stover ’13)

In Memoriam

William A. Hurst ’59 *see page 37

Merle E. Norris ’62

William M. Bryan Jr. ’66

Gwendolyn C. Tidwell ’67 *see page 39

Lela P. Thompson ’67 *see page 37

Thompson R. Foy Sr. ’68

Thomas R. Hughes Sr. ’72

Joan C. Robinson ’74

Lotty J. Herring ’76

Michael R. Hall ’79

Andrew M. Marshall ’79

Janie C. Kinlaw ’81

J. Martin Jasperse ’84

Emily D. Motley ’84

David J. Arnold Jr. ’85

Howell S. Graham ’85

Nancy E. Slovik ’85

B. Lee Morgan III ’86

Tracy W. Arrington ’87

Jean G. Joyner ’89

Allen D. Cook ’91

Tara E. Thompson ’92, ’05M

Edward M. Roberts ’93

Nancy J. Whitman ’93

Sally A. Simmerson ’95

Maureen P. Hudson ’96

Ronnie H. Odom Jr. ’96, ’07M

M. Craig Alewine ’97

ATLAS LAWRENCE CHEEK IV ’06 founded Lady Bird Mixer Co., a nonalcoholic sparkling mixer company based in Austin, TX.

(Fall 2022 issue said Atlas Cheek III ‘06)

Pamela F. Benbow ’01M

James B. Edwards ’02

Katrina Seferyn ’09

Leah E. Stilwell ’14, ’17C

Samuel T. Nelson ’15

Susan T. Block

C. Franklin Furr Sr.

James W. Jackson

FRIENDS

Harry A. Comeskey

Philip Gerard *see page 35

Gerald R. Parnell

Margaret L. Rorison

Scott J. Saccomano

WE REMEMBER

Gwendolyn Culbreth Tidwell ’67

June 27, 1945-October 16, 2022

Gwendolyn Tidwell passed away on October 16, 2022. A native of Wilmington, she was a graduate of New Hanover High School and a cum laude graduate of UNCW. An English major, she was editor of UNCW’s yearbook, “The Fledgling.” Upon graduation, she served as yearbook advisor and became the university’s first full-time public information officer.

She was instrumental in the formative years of the UNCW Alumni Association, serving on the Board of Directors from 1973-82 as chair (75-76), co-chair (74-75) and secretary (73-74 and 77-82).

She was predeceased by her parents, Pauline Roper Culbreth Christian and Lewis Edward Culbreth. She leaves behind her husband, Jimmy Rayford Tidwell, two sons, Bruce (Mary) and Christopher (Cindy), two grandchildren, Lauren and James; a brother, Stephen E. Culbreth (Bonnie) and sister, Sydney Culbreth Langford (Mark). Remembrances