SPRING/SUMMER • 2020
Remembering
VICE CHANCELLOR
PAT LEONARD May 28, 1955 - June 2, 2020
HATS OFF TO THE GRADS OF 2020
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Summer 2020 Volume 30 Number 1
FROM THE CHANCELLOR REMEMBERING “VCPL” PAT LEONARD
SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
Short stories with big impact
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WAVE OF RELIEF LAND OF PLENTY HOOP DREAMS
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FEATURES WHEN STAYING HOME ISN’T SAFE
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TEACHING IN THE TIME OF COVID FIRST RESPONDERS ASSESSING IMPACTS IN REAL TIME PSYCHOLOGIST, EDUCATOR, CHANGE-MAKER
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CLASS NOTES
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Produced by the Office of University Relations
EDITOR Jennifer Glatt ART DIRECTOR Shirl New DESIGN Kyle Prey PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Janowski CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Browning Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M Venita Jenkins Christina Schechtman Tricia Vance CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bradley Pearce CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Thomas Cone CLASS NOTES Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M Division for University Advancement WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO UNCW Athletics EDITORIAL ADVISORS Missy A. Kennedy ’01 Eddie Stuart ’05M BUSINESS MANAGER Kelly Baker EDITOR EMERITA Marybeth Bianchi
DEAR SEAHAWK COMMUNITY, Our campus and our country, not to mention our entire world, are being reshaped by tumultuous times and compelling concerns. The coronavirus pandemic, combined with the public health, societal, political and economic inequities it emphasized, is requiring all of us to take a comprehensive look at finding solutions to significant challenges. UNCW is involved in these efforts on many levels, from reopening campus to research and community engagement. One of our most important campus initiatives in the year ahead will focus on diversity, inclusion, equity and systemic racism. Our institution must do more to support Black students, recruit and retain Black faculty and staff, and educate our campus community about the devastating effects of centuries of discrimination in the U.S. To help our campus successfully navigate the fall semester and the years ahead, UNCW welcomed James J. Winebrake as our new Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Winebrake, who replaces Dr. Marilyn Sheerer, has already played an important role in guiding our academic enterprise through uncharted waters. He has been working closely with our staff in Academic Affairs and the Planning Team organizing our return to campus. To support the university’s ongoing growth despite the pandemic, we hope to maintain UNCW’s philanthropic momentum. Many alumni and friends, as well as students, faculty, staff and community partners, have generously supported the university in recent years, and we hope to continue inspiring your investment in our future. Creating globally minded citizens is at the core of our mission, and private gifts help us deliver on our commitment. As we continue to make our future brighter than the past, we thank all of our donors who have partnered with us in this pursuit. Finally, I want to conclude with our tribute to legendary Vice Chancellor Pat Leonard, who passed away peacefully on June 2, 2020. With 37 years of service to UNCW, she embodied the university’s deep commitment to students, and her presence on our campus enhanced the UNCW experience for generations of Seahawks. We proudly reflect on “VCPL” and her legacy in our cover story.
With best regards,
Jose V. Sartarelli Chancellor 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. 93,500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $42,921 or $0.459 per copy (G.S. 143-170.1). Printed by Hickory Printing Solutions, an RRD Company.
JAMES J. WINEBRAKE Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs PHOTO CREDIT: ELIZABETH LAMARK
UNCW Names New Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Until recently, when James J. Winebrake wanted to be alone with his thoughts, he sought nature’s peace at a nearby stream, fly rod in hand. Now, he looks forward to a similar kind of tranquility casting his line and lures in the surf. He is happy to trade another staple of life in upstate New York, an ice scraper, for sunglasses year-round. The other thing he never leaves home without is an optimistic outlook, and he promises that will not change. He will tap into that upbeat approach at “a critical and exciting point in UNCW’s trajectory.” The university was reclassified as a doctoral-level university with high research activity in 2018, and Winebrake is eager to help boost support for faculty, staff and student research while maintaining UNCW’s commitment to teaching excellence. “I think about my leadership style as being collaborative, and I tend to thrive in a team environment,” said Winebrake, who goes by “Jamie.” “I try to be the best listener I can be, and I am continually learning from the people I work with. I am happiest in my career when I have seen others – faculty, staff and especially students – succeed.” He is excited about the university’s new coastal engineering bachelor’s degree program, the first of its kind in the country, and he sees extensive opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration,
building upon interdisciplinary research already taking place at UNCW. “One of my passions is figuring out way to integrate different disciplines to solve challenging problems,” said Winebrake. “Problems are not technical alone and may require a mix of disciplines that at first may not seem to be natural partners – liberal arts, sciences, technology, business and professional fields. New collaborations offer an opportunity to create new knowledge and benefit the community at large.” Winebrake comes to UNCW from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts for nine years. He holds a Ph.D. in energy management and policy from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in technology and policy from M.I.T., and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Lafayette College in his native Pennsylvania. His scholarly research about the environmental impacts of transportation has been recognized internationally. “I fell in love with the idea of being an academic when I was an undergraduate,” Winebrake explained. “It stemmed from important relationships with a couple of faculty members at Lafayette College. What drives me is the student experience and being part of an institution that is dedicated to the education of young people.” – Tricia Vance
Strategic Shifts Applied learning is a pillar of the UNCW student experience. To best reflect and support that, the Office of Applied Learning was integrated into the Office of Community Engagement and Applied Learning, effective July 1. Jeanine Mingé, the associate vice chancellor for community engagement, is now the associate vice chancellor for community engagement and applied learning. The reorganization continues the positive work accomplished in undergraduate studies and applied learning and is guided by the university’s commitment to the long-held belief: “Highimpact practices and engaged learning at UNCW is not what we do,” said Minge, “it is who we are.” – Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M
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Remembering “VCPL”
A self-described “ordinary person” who inspired extraordinary student experiences. By Venita Jenkins
During her countless addresses to students through the years, Vice Chancellor Pat Leonard frequently shared this quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” For more than three decades, VC Leonard embodied those words through her work in student affairs at UNCW and in her service to the Wilmington community. She developed programs to foster a sense of community while also lending her talents to help others beyond the campus borders by serving on numerous advisory councils and boards at local and national levels. VC Leonard, fondly known as “VCPL” by thousands of students, passed away peacefully in her Carolina Beach home on June 2.
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“She was determined to change the culture of the campus, to make it more residential, to create traditions and to provide students with a more fully rounded collegiate experience.”
Pat Leonard loved working with students. Here, she is seen interacting with leaders from the UNCWelcome program in 2016.
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- Susan Vanecek, Pat Leonard’s wife
A first-generation college student, VC Leonard became involved in student affairs as an undergraduate at Misericordia University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Pennsylvania. It was through her experience as a resident assistant that she made the connection between student engagement and student success. This led her to pursue her master’s degree in college student personnel administration at Michigan State University. She began her career in higher education as a residence life coordinator at UNC Charlotte. She later joined Miami University of Ohio as an area coordinator and instructor before joining UNCW in 1983 as the associate dean of students. At the time, UNCW was considered a “suitcase campus” with 28 buildings and limited co-curricular programs for students. “She was determined to change the culture of the campus, to make it more residential, to create traditions and to provide students with a more fully rounded collegiate experience,” said Susan Vanecek, Vice Chancellor Leonard’s wife. Over the next 37 years, VC Leonard focused on building developmental and educational opportunities to help Seahawks not only grow and excel during their time at UNCW but also after they left. She adopted the motto for the division, “Creating Experiences for Life,” to convey her staff’s commitment to helping students develop strong, positive habits to carry with them long after their days at UNCW. Vice Chancellor Leonard created traditions that became ingrained in the university’s culture, including the much beloved Move-In event, when hundreds of campus and community volunteers help first-year students move into the residence halls, and “Teal Tuesday,” a moniker for a day of the week dedicated to celebrating Seahawk spirit. The vice chancellor also sought personal ways to engage students, like monthly breakfasts with Student Government Association leaders and cornhole games with students on Hoggard Lawn. “Pat was an extraordinary person who considered herself quite ordinary, and there will never be another like her,” said Chancellor Sartarelli. She was as tenacious and dedicated to her efficacy as an administrator as she was to her student Seahawks. VC Leonard played an integral role in planning and managing construction projects that transformed the UNCW campus. She oversaw 20 major projects, including seven housing projects and nine student support buildings, as well as the Student Recreation Center, Fisher Student Center, Fisher University Union, the Burney Center and the Warwick Center.
Pat Leonard stands next to Director of Housing and Residence Life Peter Groenendyk at UNCW’s official groundbreaking ceremony for the Student Housing Village on February 7, 2019
“Many buildings on this campus didn’t just spring up around Pat during her decades here,” read the campus announcement of her passing. “They sprang up because of her vision and her collaboration with others, and because of her fierce and unwavering commitment to giving our students every possible opportunity to learn, grow, create their path and solidify their purpose.” In February 2019, university officials broke ground on the new Student Housing Village, a $147 million project that will house 1,814 students. Two buildings are scheduled for completion in the fall of 2020 and the two remaining buildings in the fall of 2021. The village was among the last projects VC Leonard oversaw. The 65,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center, built in 2000, was among the projects VC Leonard was most proud of, said James R. Leutze, who served as chancellor from 1990-2003. The former recreation facility, Hanover Hall Gym, was a 50-foot by 20-foot room with an exercise bike, some iron weights and a few other pieces of equipment, he explained. A major expansion and renovation of the Student Recreation Center, funded by student fees, was completed in 2013, which more than doubled the size of the facility.
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“Pat leaves a concrete legacy in bricks and mortar, but I think that she has established the principle of the significance of students to the university. For many people, the students are not the first priority,” said Leutze. Construction, new programs, more faculty or more fundraising often get increased attention. “Pat kept it constantly in our minds that the students are our first priority; we are here to serve the students.”
Shane Fernando ’00 agreed. “She believed fully in the ability of what a student can achieve given the right tools and support structure. That’s an amazing legacy that she left. I know she changed my life.” About 90 percent of UNCW alumni graduated during VC Leonard’s tenure at UNCW. A majority met her at orientation or heard her speak at convocation, student leaders’ meetings or events. VC Leonard was present in many areas on campus. She helped create spaces for several cultural centers and helped create living and learning communities in the residence halls. Under her leadership, the CARE office (Collaboration for Assault Response & Education) received national recognition, and UNCW was one of 18 universities recognized among 2017 and 2020’s “Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs,” according to a national study conducted by and commissioned by the American College Personnel Association and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. Her record of service and dedication to UNCW and its students was recognized in 2019 when she received the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Student Governments of NC. Those who worked under VC Leonard describe her as a consummate mentor not only to her staff, but also to students and community members. Cole Tillett ’20, who served as Student Government President during the 2018-19 academic year, nominated Vice Chancellor Leonard to receive the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award. “Working with her, I was amazed that someone had so much empathy and concern for students,” Tillet said. “VCPL was everything you could want in an administrator
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and friend. She led by example and was able to show me how to become a leader, how to learn, listen and to be someone who can make effective change.” “She encouraged people to do their very best wherever they were, whatever group, community or business they were engaged in,” said Brian Victor, former associate vice chancellor for student affairs under VC Leonard and now serves as interim vice chancellor for the division. Vice Chancellor Leonard’s commitment to community extended beyond the UNCW campus. In January 2019, she was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council. She served on the UNC General Administration Campus Safety Initiative Work Group, and worked as a consultant to the United States Department of Education on various student issues. In her role as a national leader in student affairs, she spoke at local and national conferences on topics such as substance abuse, student behavior and violence against women. Her volunteer work in the Wilmington community included serving on the New Hanover Regional Medical Center board for 13 years, where she chaired the board’s Quality Committee and was instrumental in the medical center’s growth of service. She also played a significant role in the founding of Coastal Horizons, a private, nonprofit corporation that offers substance abuse, crisis intervention and criminal justice services to persons in need throughout North Carolina. Wilma W. Daniels, who served on the UNCW Board of Trustees from 2008 until 2019, described VC Leonard as a caring, loving person who motivated people and was always willing to lend a helping hand. “Pat had such a caring spirit about her and it came through in her actions, the way she handled things and how she treated people,” said Daniels. “That’s the legacy that she has left behind: live with purpose and do what you can to make a difference.” This article is an excerpt from a longer, more in-depth piece, which can be read on a special website highlighting Vice Chancellor Leonard’s impact on UNCW, found at uncw.edu/VCPL. Pat’s wish to establish The Vice Chancellor Pat Leonard Legacy of Excellence Fund will provide support for future generations of Seahawk leaders. To learn more about how you can make a gift in her honor, visit giving.uncw.edu/vcpl.
“That’s the legacy that she has left behind: live with purpose and do what you can to make a difference.”
– Wilma W. Daniels UNCW Board of Trustees member 2008-19
The Vice Chancellor Pat Leonard Legacy of Excellence Fund giving.uncw.edu/vcpl
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SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
Hats Off to the 2020 Grads The Class of 2020 always will hold a special place in UNCW history. These resilient Seahawks persevered through hurricanes and a global pandemic to achieve excellence.
The Class of 2020 always will hold a special place in UNCW history. These resilient Seahawks persevered through hurricanes and a global pandemic to achieve excellence. While members of the Class of 2020 were unable to walk across the Trask Coliseum stage in May for the official UNCW commencement ceremonies due to the pandemic, the campus and community celebrated the newest Seahawk alumni in a host of other ways. The Class of 2020 includes national scholarship and fellowship recipients; academic, campus leadership and athletic award winners; and dedicated community volunteers. Although we couldn’t list all of their achievements, we could highlight all of their names in a “flippable” online commencement program (complete with gold and teal confetti) that was added to the university’s homepage to honor the Class of 2020. Graduates were also given personal attention from the university with every graduating senior receiving both a call from a faculty member within their academic department and a personal note. The notes (more than 2,600 of them) were part of UNCW’s firstever “Dear Seahawks” campaign. Each note was handwritten by one of over 150 employee volunteers. In another first, UNCW utilized a “Kudoboard” to provide families, employees and the community a chance to congratulate graduates publicly on a message wall-like platform. The university also promoted the graduates with several fun multimedia projects. A special edition of We Are UNCW, a photo mosaic and congratulations video all featured Class of 2020 graduates. – Christina Schechtman
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Popular MarineQuest Summer Program Turns the Big 4-0 For 40 years, MarineQuest, the official marine science outreach program for UNCW,the Watson College of Education and the Center for Marine Science has been an anchor of education and a boatload of summer fun for children and teens. Providing a sea of knowledge to more than 200,000 youth, it has proven to be “more than just another day at the beach.” After 40 years of hands-on learning, the summer 2020 MarineQuest programs transitioned to a hybrid style, sending STEM kits to campers with activities to do at home and together online. Summer Ventures was also converted to an online platform with several courses focused on COVID-19. – C.C.
More than Words For 27 years, the UNCW English Language Center has helped hundreds of students from across the world improve their English skills, better preparing them linguistically and culturally to study, live and work in the United States. The ELC, part of the Office of International Programs, was granted a ten-year accreditation by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. This is the highest degree of accreditation awarded by the nation’s leading accrediting body for intensive English programs. UNCW is one of 348 sites globally and seven in the state of North Carolina to be accredited by the CEA. UNCW’s center was awarded the initial CEA accreditation in 2016. – C.C.
Learn more about MarineQuest’s role in connecting children to the coast at uncw.edu/MQ40.
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SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
The Mystery of Christie Creative writing faculty member and alumna Nina de Gramont ’06 MFA sold her newest novel The Mystery Writer in a seven-figure deal to St. Martin’s Press (film rights being represented by Rich Green at Gotham Group). The book explores the disappearance of best-selling novelist Agatha Christie, who went missing for 11 days in 1926. “My agent went out with the novel on a Monday evening and by the following Wednesday, we had accepted the offer,” said de Gramont. “My feelings were a combination of joy and disbelief, with a little bit of imposter syndrome.” Other published works by de Gramont include Gossip of the Starlings; Of Cats and Men; Every Little Thing in the World and The Last September. – C.C.
Rising to the Challenge UNCW leaders and the Doctoral Transition Task Force are developing policies and infrastructure to support the university’s expanding research mission while maintaining the university’s long-standing commitment to teaching excellence. In 2018, UNCW joined the ranks of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2)” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning. The transition also includes building on the four existing doctoral programs in marine biology, educational leadership, psychology and nursing practice as well as developing new doctoral degrees, including Ph.D. programs in applied coastal and ocean sciences as well as pharmaceutical sciences, the latter of which was recently supported by a generous philanthropic contribution from Linda ’78, ’85M and Yousry Sayed. “We can support doctoral education and increased research activity while remaining fully engaged with excellent undergraduate education,” said Stuart Borrett, associate provost for research and innovation. “As a university, we have an opportunity to hold onto our values and build on our strengths as we make the transition to the UNCW of tomorrow.” – T.V.
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Lifelines, One Letter at a Time Students enrolled in three sections of “Introduction to Gerontology” completed their service learning requirements in an innovative way this spring, swapping out their traditional in-person meetings with letter writing as a way to connect with older adults in the local community. “Due to COVID-19 concerns, students could no longer safely interact in person with older adults this semester, but it was still important for them to gain the experience,” said Ph.D. lecturer Elizabeth Fugate-Whitlock ’00, ’03M. “To do this safely, and in an effort to reduce social isolation for older adults, the ‘pen pal’ program was born.” More than 100 students participated in the program by contacting at least one older adult weekly from mid-March through late April. According to Fugate-Whitlock, service learning is one of the most impactful experiences a student can have, but this semester, the value to the older participants was more meaningful than ever. “As the social distancing regulations became stricter for older adults residing in facilities, maintaining social connections was even more important for their health and overall well-being,” she said. “Researchers have found that being socially isolated can be as damaging to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So, staying connected is a big deal!” Many students have already expressed an interest in meeting their “pen pals” in person once it is safe to do so, and plan on maintaining regular correspondence until then. – C.S.
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SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
On the Docket UNCW sociology and criminology professors Kristen DeVall and Christina Lanier received $1.6M in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to transition the National Drug Court Resource Center to North Carolina. The NDCRC is the country’s primary resource hub for problem-solving courts, which focus on a specific type of offense, like drugs. An interdisciplinary team, led by a judge, implements a treatment program that addresses offenders’ underlying issues in the hopes of reducing recidivism. “NDCRC’s work influences the development, expansion and enhancement of problem- solving court programs across the country,” said DeVall. “Overseeing the NDCRC will allow us the opportunity to expand our focus to include examining trends at national, regional, state and local levels.” Housing the NDCRC at UNCW will increase the university’s visibility within the field of problem-solving courts, and graduate students from two disciplines will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to produce research-driven information and resources. Several other faculty members played a part in obtaining this grant for UNCW including Ron Vetter, computer science; Sally MacKain, psychology; and Jeanne Persuit, communication studies. – C.S.
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VIPs
(Virtual International Programs)
With universities across the world reducing operations and limiting the number of students, faculty, and staff on campus, many programs have temporarily switched to an online/virtual format. UNCW students are now able to gain international experience without leaving their homes through a Remote Global Internship initiative. Modeled after a program at NC State, it allows participants to work with a company, nonprofit or government organization from countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific. Areas of study range from advertising to analytics and participating faculty provide weekly virtual supervision. The virtual scenario eliminates the challenges of visa, housing and transportation issues. In addition to earning academic credits, participants develop their global and digital professional competencies through learning to navigate in an international context. Associate Vice Chancellor of International Programs Michael Wilhelm sees it as a good way to pair strong researchers with globally resonant programs. “If it works out well, we can consider expanding it in the future with possibly hundreds of students coming to engage in research at a small consortium of research universities in the area,” he said. – C.C.
The Student Emergency Fund raised approximately
$123,174 and has been awarded to
267students to date.
A Wave of Relief The COVID-19 pandemic caused hardship
around the globe. One of the many ways UNCW responded was establishing the donor-supported Student Emergency Fund. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, employees and friends, approximately $123,174 has been awarded to 267 students to date. Kaela Bedics ’17, ’18, a current graduate student who holds bachelor degrees in criminology and psychology, as well biology and marine biology, had just completed her first semester as a graduate student when the COVID-19 outbreak began. The company she worked for saw a rapid decline in business as the travel economy quickly disintegrated. She found herself laid off and without health insurance. “A layoff is a shocking experience,” said Bedics. “I found myself trying to figure out how I would support my household while paying for a dozen or so medications each month, one of which is nearly $6,000 without insurance.” It was then that she saw an email from Chancellor Sartarelli that included information about the emergency fund encouraging students to apply if they were in need. The grant has provided both mental and physical relief to Bedics. “As someone who lives with a chronic autoimmune disease, there’s a particular kind of stress that comes from a pandemic,” she said. The philanthropic grant she received enabled her to continue her classes and she will reenter the workforce more prepared and more confident. “I can’t begin to express the depth of my gratitude to each and every donor. I look forward to the day when I have the ability to provide such a meaningful opportunity to someone else in the Seahawk family.” – Caroline Cropp ’99, ’06M
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SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
The
Land of Plenty Food, Farming and Food Insecurity
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Mari Carl Fisher ’10 grew up in a small, tight-knit, rural town in southern Virginia. As a Seahawk, applied learning opportunities opened her eyes to food insecurity and poverty, igniting her passion to be a part of the solution. “During my time at UNCW, I had my first experience serving folks in the community who were experiencing homelessness. I decided that I wanted to pursue a career related to food, farming and food insecurity,” Fisher said. She focused her Honors thesis on organic farming and spent a summer working to transition a portion of her family’s land in Virginia to organic farming methods. After interning at the Florida nonprofit The Fruitful Field, she became their farm manager. “It was there that I was able to put what I learned through my Honors thesis into practice. I was able to see the fresh produce I was growing make an impact on my neighbors experiencing food insecurity and other health disparities,” she said. Fisher made her way back to North Carolina where, in 2019, she established and currently manages Rise Up Community Farm, a nonprofit that offers chemical free produce at a “pay-what-you-can” rate. As volunteers (many of whom are UNCW alumni and current students) exchange the expected food puns “Turnip for what?,” and “I don’t carrot all,” as they mulch, seed and rake, Fisher’s vision of building community through gardening and farming is realized. UNCW alumni Mari Carl Fisher ’10 and her husband Daniel Fisher ’14,’16 moved back to Wilmington, NC to create Rise Up Community Farm, a nonprofit that offers chemical-free produce at a “pay-what-you-can” rate.
“Rise Up was founded out of seeing a need for everyone in our community to have equal access to fresh produce and opportunities to create meaningful futures.” – C.C.
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SEAHAWK SNIPPETS
Hoop Dreams UNCW taps Takayo Siddle as the new Head Coach for the Seahawks Takayo Siddle, a key lieutenant for former head coach Kevin Keatts, returns to the Port City as the new head coach of the men’s basketball program. He was named to the position on March 13, 2020. Siddle, 33, is making his fifth coaching stop and first as a head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach at Hargrave Military Academy, Gardner-Webb, UNCW and NC State. Siddle becomes the 13th head coach in UNCW history. “We’re thrilled to welcome Takayo back to UNCW and the Wilmington community,” said Jimmy Bass, UNCW’s ninth-year athletic director. “He’s been successful everywhere he’s been and we’re confident he will get our program back to the level our student-athletes, alumni, fans and community are accustomed to. He already has two CAA championship rings, so there’s plenty of room for more.” Siddle played for and coached with Keatts and served as interim head coach for the Seahawks in March 2017 before joining his longtime mentor on the NC State bench in Raleigh. Siddle is a tireless recruiter and was tabbed the No. 4 recruiter in the country earlier this year. During his three-year stay at UNCW from 2014-17, Siddle helped the Seahawks return to prominence in the CAA, winning three regular season championships and two CAA Tournament crowns (2016, 2017). A native of Eden, NC, Siddle earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Gardner-Webb in 2009. “I’m honored to be named as the head coach of this proud program,” said Siddle, who will be formally welcomed during an introductory press conference at a later date. “This is – and has always been – a dream job for me. I can’t begin to tell everyone how excited I am.” – Joe Browning
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David Weber
Kees van het Hof
Adapting – A World Away A faculty exchange program takes an unexpected turn. It was a beautiful spring in the Netherlands, and long walks on sunny afternoons helped David Weber get through a challenging semester. The UNCW communication studies associate professor began the semester looking forward to teaching at a university in the city of Arnhem as part of a faculty exchange that sent his Dutch counterpart, Kees van het Hof, to Wilmington. Partway into the semester, everything changed as the COVID-19 outbreak worsened. Like many of his colleagues around the world, Weber had to adapt quickly to fully online instruction. Face-to-face contact is an important component of his instruction, as well as his preferred method of communication. He taught five courses in the International School of Business at H.A.N. University of Applied Sciences, and all typically benefit from small group discussions and being in the same room. “My specialty area is called organizational communication, the study of how people express themselves to one another when working together to pursue shared goals,” he explained. Weber had about four days to make the abrupt shift to online instruction in his five courses, and he wasn’t familiar with the tools, especially as a visiting professor at the university, but he made it work to support students. The exchange is an outgrowth of years of formal and informal collaboration between the two professors and their respective
departments. This semester, Weber went to live in van het Hof’s house in Oosterbeek, near Arnhem, and van het Hof took up residence in Weber’s home in Wilmington. Van het Hof’s plans included a tour of the United States with his then-girlfriend, Arien Zuijdwijk, after UNCW’s semester ended, including a stop in Las Vegas to get married. He was also enjoying getting to know his UNCW colleagues and working with communication studies students. “Coronavirus said no,” van het Hof said. “No to inspired face-to-face discussions. No to walks across the beautiful campus. No to an extended trip through the U.S.A. at the end of the semester. No to barbecues with colleagues who, despite the coronavirus, became friends. No to commencement ceremonies, which I looked forward to so much.” Even so, he enjoyed his time in Wilmington while teaching virtually from Weber’s home. And some plans came together after all. Since they couldn’t complete their tour, he and Arien got married in Innis Park, next to City Hall across from the courthouse. While neither man got the experience they were expecting, both found ways to find peace and normalcy during a most unusual time. “It has been a great experience,” said van het Hof. “I have had the best time of my life here.” – T.V.
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Contending with the Coronavirus The month of March came in like a lion but did not, as the old proverb says, go out like a lamb. In fact, the rumblings of disruption to life as usual began in February, and by early spring, the campus was reeling from the effects of a developing global pandemic. While teleworking, wearing face masks and abiding by social distancing protocols have become the norm, the UNCW community has been rising to meet the challenges that COVID-19 presents from the very beginning. Read on to see how Seahawks have been leading through these unprecedented times in the areas of teaching, research, community engagement and more.
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When Staying Home Isn’t Safe Students use research to combat domestic violence. By Venita Jenkins
Government orders to stay at home to curb the spread of COVID-19 were meant to help protect the public. But for some, like victims of abuse, the orders placed individuals in a dangerous situation. With that in mind, a group of student researchers, led by psychology professor Caroline Clements, compiled local and national resources on mental health and intimate partner violence on a website and printed flyers to share. The team also launched a survey to assess mental health, intimate partner violence rates and alcohol use during the pandemic. The researchers reached out to community partners, the Wilmington Police Department, and local shelters and grocery stores for assistance distributing the flyers. WHQR, a local public radio station, aided in getting the word out.
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“To collect data, we needed to reach people who may or may not have access to the internet,” Clements said. “We also knew that we had to be targeted. Because of the stay-at-home order, most people were only going to grocery stores and pharmacies.” The research team used “snowball” sampling to collect data, a technique where existing study subjects recruit future subjects from among their own acquaintances. Researchers posted the survey on social media and encouraged others to share the survey among their contacts. Individuals were able to respond anonymously. Survey responses extended beyond the U.S., with participants from Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan, Peru and Pakistan, where Clements has strong
Psychology professor Carrie Clements meets with her graduate assistants Bree Hollowell (blue mask) and Mckenzie Bullins (teal mask) at Clements’ house weekly to discuss ongoing research projects like their data collecting for intimate partner violence rates and alcohol use during the pandemic.
research connections. They helped translate the information and submitted the survey link for publication in an English newspaper, she added. “The data is essential because there is no way to get resources without data, and there is no way for us to know where to target resources without data,” said Clements. “Partner violence occurs across every economic status and across every education level.” Dawn Albrecht ’20, a psychology major and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said ideally the survey will give researchers an idea of what conditions are associated with a potential spike in intimate partner violence. Albrecht, who once worked at a domestic violence shelter, hopes people become more aware of the warning signs. “This pandemic is going to cause a lot more chaos before it’s done, and I firmly believe the economic impacts associated with this will be our biggest struggle,” she continued. “If we can identify even a couple key associations with intimate partner violence, hopefully, during our rebuilding stage, we can better help those experiencing intimate partner violence.” Not only did the project provide the community with valuable information, it also gave students an opportunity to participate in applied research with direct consequences, said Clements. “This has given students a huge sense of the real-life impact of research,” she said. “I think it has been tremendously energizing for them to feel like there is something they can do right now that matters while a lot of people are feeling helpless. They will continue to have the chance to make a real difference now and in the future.”
Intimate Partner Violence – sexual violence, stalking, physical violence, psychological aggression, and control of reproductive/sexual health – is experienced by both women and men.
1 in 4 women experience
sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime
30% of women experience
physical violence by a partner in their lifetime
IPV accounts for of violent crime
13%
22% of women and 14%
of men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner
Sources: NISVS; Smith et al., 2018 and Bureau of Justice, 2019
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Teaching in the Time of COVID Distance education champions served as the first line of support for faculty new to online instruction. By Venita Jenkins
When the impacts of COVID-19 required universities across the nation to shift to remote teaching, several Seahawks stepped up in a big way. On March 23, 2020, UNCW classes shifted from in-person instruction to online/alternate instruction to help stem the potential spread of COVID-19. About 2,000 face-to-face undergraduate courses and 11,500 undergraduate students moved to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring semester. Teaching and learning took place on multiple platforms, including Zoom. Thirty-two individuals known for being leaders in online teaching were recruited by the Office of Distance Education and eLearning to serve as Distance Education Champions, helping to ensure the colleges had the support they needed during the transition to remote teaching.
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The “DE Champions” program was part of a four-layer support model during the transition, said Amy Ostrom, director of the Office of Distance Education and eLearning, which manages and funds the program in collaboration with the Center for Teaching Excellence. “We were concerned about the number of people who were going to have to transition in such a hurry,” said Ostrom. “We were building a community, and wanted to make sure people had access to the support that they needed in the moments that they needed it.” Diana Ashe, English professor and CTE director, first pitched the idea of DE Champions as a means to address academic continuity. Not only do the champions advise faculty, they also provide insights on how to best engage students online.
Connecting During Coronavirus When public schools were ordered to close and transition to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Professional Development System Office in the Watson College of Education worked quickly to conduct a regional needs assessment and design professional learning opportunities and resources for educators.
Teachers explored various learning platforms and online tools. They also participated in discussions about online pedagogy, inequities in online learning, and remote learning issues like family engagement and student-centered learning.
“The success of these events is a testament to the power of our partnership and the strength The college hosted three virtual conferences and resilience of teachers in our PDS,” said and a series called “Coffee Connections” to Somer Lewis, professional development system provide teachers an opportunity to engage director in the Watson College of Education. with faculty and Professional Development System Master Teachers, pose questions and share remote learning strategies. More than 350 teachers, instructional coaches and school leaders participated in the conferences.
“It was a really big shift for the students and they weren’t expecting it. It was a tough transition,” Ashe said of the seismic adjustment to online instruction. “The DE Champions played a big part because they knew what worked for our majors and how to reach out to students within each of those specific majors.” The program offers a unique approach to supporting faculty members due to the flexibility in the trainings and the one-on-one support provided, said Meredith Jones, an assistant professor of Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy for Early Childhood program and DE Champion team member. This was her third year of teaching online in the program and at UNCW. “Several of the faculty members I worked directly with had limited or no experience teaching online,” said Jones. “I don’t think individualized support could’ve been given to the degree we were able to do as DE Champions if it was done through larger group settings.” Faculty knew that DE Champions were available for one-on-one support via phone call, Zoom or email.
The champions met weekly through the end of the semester to discuss online teaching strategies, including crafting a learner-centered online syllabus and sharing information about how to build virtual community. They also discussed issues that arose during their conversations with faculty. Team members provided answers to the questions and the information was disseminated to faculty. “This was much more of a holistic group than originally intended,” said Ostrom. “We were able to expand conversations and the knowledge base not just to those who were new to online learning, but for people who have been doing it for a while and are taking their courses to the next level. It’s great to see this evolution of teaching.”
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First Responders Student Health Center staff found themselves at the forefront of the pandemic’s impact on UNCW. By Venita Jenkins
UNCW Student Health Center staff constantly prepares for the possibility of a regional or national pandemic, but the impact of COVID-19 was something they never imagined. “I never dreamed that a pandemic would bring the world to a stop,” said Katrin Wesner-Harts ’16 Ed.D., director of the Abrons Student Health Center. “I knew that travel and activities would be disrupted, but I don’t think I pictured it in such a global way.” As the new coronavirus spread overseas, UNCW health officials took steps to minimize the impact on campus. In early January, the student health center staff began monitoring coronavirus through information from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They led conversations with university officials about the campus response and provided information to students and faculty studying or conducting research in countries that reported a high number of cases. Health center staff helped students and faculty evaluate their travel plans and understand quarantine protocols. “We were helping people do a risk assessment,” said Wesner-Harts. “I see our role very much as providing a
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advice or guidance and helping people find the answers they need to make decisions.” About 180 students, a majority of study abroad participants, and a few faculty and staff members self-quarantined. Student health staff members were assigned a caseload of 30 individuals to monitor each day during the quarantine. UNCW Medical Director Dr. Walter Laughlin assisted in developing protocols for the Student Health Center’s response to students presenting with symptoms or concerns about COVID-19. He was also responsible for staying updated on the medical literature and guidance from the CDC, the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the county health department and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The unknown factors and the ease in which the coronavirus transmitted from person-to-person prompted university leaders to shift to online and alternative teaching in March to help stem the potential spread of COVID-19. The Student Health Center followed suit, transitioning to telephone or video methods of providing health care services for students. It was difficult for the campus to change course in the middle of the semester, said Wesner-Harts.
Know your Three Ws Abrons Student Health Center Director Katrin Wesner-Harts, center, stands with her staff on campus.
The 3 W’s can make a big difference in controlling COVID-19.
“The biggest challenge right now is the reopening plan, not only at UNCW, but everywhere. It’s much more complicated than just saying ‘we’re going to reopen,’” she said. “Every decision comes with many different layers. That makes it even harder.”
Wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth.
The goal of her staff is to help reduce the risk when students return to campus, she said. Mitigation steps include asking the campus community to wear masks, to social distance and to host meetings or events virtually rather than in person. “We want to create a culture that supports personal responsibility for community health and safety. This is going to take all of us,” Wesner-Harts said. “This will affect our learning, teaching and working environments, and we all have to play a part.” An important part of the Student Health Center’s role is to help students take charge of their health, whether it’s a lack of sleep or addressing issues involving mental health. “We want to make sure whatever happens in the fall, we can provide services to all of our students so that they can be successful,” she added. “Whatever the fall looks like, we are trying to be flexible and nimble. We’re all hopeful things will return a little bit closer to normal.” According to Wesner-Harts, the hardest challenge for the health center staff has been the evolving nature of the pandemic. Directions from the country’s leading health officials on how to mitigate COVID-19 have evolved in real time due to unknown factors about the virus. “Those of us in healthcare, we’ve planned for this, we’ve trained for this,” said Wesner-Harts. “We knew this was coming one day. It doesn’t make it any easier. Lots of things we’ve done over the past few years, even how we responded to Hurricane Florence, have helped us with how we responded to COVID-19.”
Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
Wash your hands often
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
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Assessing Impacts in Real Time UNCW researchers are exploring how the pandemic is affecting public health, communities, businesses and beyond. By Tricia Vance
While the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges in higher education, it has also created a wealth of opportunities. More than three dozen UNCW researchers have begun projects related to the disease since the outbreak began threatening the United States in early spring. These projects often involve interdisciplinary and even multi-institutional teams, and many include graduate students or post doctoral associates. “UNCW faculty and staff in all four colleges are using their expertise to learn more about how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected our communities, schools, health care workers, businesses and our individual behaviors,” said Stuart Borrett, associate provost for research and innovation.
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One of the most watched aspects of the pandemic is where the coronavirus is spreading and the people it affects. UNCW data scientist and associate professor of mathematics and statistics Rachel Carroll is leading a team that has adapted publicly available COVID-19 data to visualize the outbreak in North Carolina and the state’s southeastern region. The project also involves Mark Lammers (mathematics and statistics/data science), Dylan McNamara (physics and physical oceanography), postdoctoral researcher Zachary Williams and several M.S. Data Science students. Carroll began looking into data related to the COVID-19 crisis in early March 2020.
Stuart Borrett, associate provost for research and innovation
“UNCW faculty and staff in all four colleges are using their expertise to learn more about how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected our communities, schools, health care workers, businesses and our individual behaviors.”
- Stuart Borrett
“Understanding how the disease spreads has become vital in efforts to suppress it,” Carroll said. “Widely accessible data has furnished a unique opportunity to explore data visualizations and statistical methods in real time to make this analysis accessible to the general public.” The pandemic has also been hard on small businesses, and environmental sciences assistant professor Huili Hao is collaborating on a study of COVID-19’s impact on small businesses, as well as how the businesses and their communities react to and cope with the challenges they face. The project is funded by a $53,196 National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research grant. Hao’s share of the grant is $19,143. Her research partner is primary investigator Qingfang Wang, a public policy professor at the University of California Riverside, and their goal is to enhance knowledge about how to empower local businesses, increase diverse employment opportunities and enhance the adaptive capacity of private companies to contribute to broader community resilience.
Through these and other research efforts, UNCW faculty, staff and students are taking on meaningful roles in the global effort to understand the pandemic’s impact, mitigate issues when possible, and better prepare us all for the future.
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Psychologist, Educator, Change-Maker Professor Antonio Puente addresses the pandemic from a different perspective By Tricia Vance
In March, as he prepared to push his classes and research meetings online, UNCW Professor of Psychology Antonio Puente was simultaneously working with other advocates at the national level to persuade Medicare and other insurers to cover telephone-based mental and behavioral health care. In his role as a psychologist and an ambassador of the White House PREVENTS task force addressing the emerging national and behavioral health epidemic as a result of COVID-19, Puente is particularly concerned that suicides and opioid addiction will worsen as the pandemic continues.
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After the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent shutdown of many businesses and services, “the only way we could reach many of our clients was through telephone,” said Puente, who is also a practicing psychologist and founder of the mental health section at the nonprofit, multidisciplinary Cape Fear Health Clinic. He worked with a small group from the American Psychological Association to create a telehealth system. Medicare approved the coverage, and other insurers followed. “Medicare rose up quickly, and unbelievably,” he said. “Something like this takes us, on average, five years to accomplish.”
Puente, who was the 2017 president of the American Psychological Association, has long been active in the group’s advocacy efforts, such as encouraging insurers to include psychology services in health care coverage. Even as he remained active nationally, Puente put his role as an educator front and center. He wanted his students to continue their education as close to normally as possible, even meeting at the regularly scheduled days and times each week. Realizing many students could not “attend” in real time, he also recorded and emailed lectures to all his students, saying that his job was to help them finish the semester as strong as they started it. Puente understands that his students and most other Americans have experienced different degrees of difficulty adjusting to the loneliness, economic uncertainty and personal upheaval the pandemic has caused. “Instead of having answers, we have questions,” Puente said. “We are used to disasters in this part of the world. With a hurricane, we know when it comes, we know when it leaves, and the damage is very visible to us. We don’t know when this pandemic arrived, we don’t know when it is going to leave us, and we don’t know what the outcome will be. “Live for today, be mindful of life, and appreciate all the things we take for granted, like family and significant others, or even simple things like walks. And maybe we will realize that it’s our duty to give back, and that we could replace despair with gratitude. “Maybe we can’t change the world, but maybe we can begin by changing ourselves and those close to us. If we do that, we will have emerged from the pandemic much stronger people.“
Stress and worry are natural reactions in times of crisis or uncertainty. Here are a few tips to help maintain a positive outlook and good mental health: 1. Develop a reasonable routine; structure your life. Make each day productive and meaningful by making it as predictable and manageable as circumstances allow. 2. Practice stress reduction techniques which might include walks, stretching, yoga, meditation, and prayer. Even if you don’t feel stressed out, make these practices part of your daily routine. 3. Exercise as much as your circumstances allow and, again, make it routine. 4. Realize that we are all trying hard, but nobody is achieving the same level of productivity as pre-COVID-19. Do your best and focus on effort rather than outcome. 5. Emphasize the positive rather than the negative. Just like hurricanes, we can only watch so much before panic sets in. Do your part to prepare, then focus on what is going well. 6. Replace uncertainty with hope; replace what you have been used to doing with what needs to get done.
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Third Coast Percussion Photo BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA
Allow us to offer you the Best Seat in the House! The Office of the Arts is excited to share the Best Seat in the House program, a collaborative new effort to lift spirits during this difficult time. The “Best Seat” webpage serves as a hub for the sharing of live and prerecorded performances featuring local, regional and national artists – all available for streaming from the comfort of your home. All content shared is free, but when possible, links contain opportunities to directly support artists. Enjoy episodes of the “Behind the Curtain” podcast, clips and full-length dance and music performances, comedy sketches, kid-friendly art appreciation lessons and more!
Ailey II’s Kyle H. Martin PHOTO BY NIR ARIELI
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classnotes
Gary Chadwick ’69, 2000 Alumnus of the Year, UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, was appointed the 2020 board chairman of the Brigade Boys and Girls Club. An affiliate of the nationally renowned Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Brigade serves more than 2,200 youth in the counties of New Hanover, Pender and Onslow. Sheila Elaine Boles ’77 had her jersey retired, making it the second jersey in UNCW women’s basketball history to be retired. David Congdon ’78, UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, was presented an Honorary Doctor of Business degree from UNCW in recognition of exceptional contributions to his profession and to the university. He received the degree alongside the first cohort of students to graduate from a school named in his honor. Charles V. Allo ’80, a former UNCW faculty member, established the Charles V. Allo Psychology Scholarship Endowment through an estate gift. Joe Irrera ’83, a 30-year U.S. Marines Corps veteran, filed to run for a 2020 New Hanover County Commissioner seat. Chip Hackler ’84, a faculty member in the UNCW Film Studies Department, was named a member of Governor’s Advisory Council on Firm, Television and Digital Streaming.
Cecilia Holden ’85, UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, was selected as the first president and CEO of myFutureNC. The nonprofit works across sectors and in communities to provide postsecondary education opportunities to the state’s citizens. Jeff Hannan ’86 joined Edgewater Bank as its AVP business banking officer. Established in 1910, Edgewater Bank serves Southwest Michigan. Kristi Nixon ’86 received the Alumni Hall of Fame Award from the University of Mount Olive where she graduated from before obtaining a bachelor’s from UNCW and a master’s from UNC Pembroke. Leta F. Huntsinger ’87 established the Huntsinger Scholarship in STEM in honor of her commitment to advancing the presence of females within STEM majors. Jennifer Mangrum ’87 is in the running for 2020 North Carolina superintendent. Craig A. Wade ’87 established the Craig A. Wade Memorial Scholarship in Finance in honor of his late grandmother, Tinnie Garris, who was his biggest inspiration and supporter during his college years. Dave B. Allen ’88, UNCW swimming and diving head coach 1999-2014, along with his wife Judy C. Dew, established the Brad Allen and Judy Dew Scholarship in Chemistry Endowment.
Philip Michael Brown Jr. ’88, a UNCW Society member, was a finalist in the 2019 Health Care Heroes, an annual honor presented by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal.
Jenny Edwards ’96 was promoted to director of the Redwood City Education Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1983 to benefit schools in the Redwood City (CA) school district.
Army Maj. Gen. Clement S. Coward ’88, commanding general of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, received a two-star rank from the U.S. Army Forces.
Kristin Miguez ’97 joined the BerkeleyCharleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, a nonprofit organization in North Charleston, SC, as a senior planner.
Kevin Fischer ’88 was honored for his 30 years as a coach, teacher and mentor with the renaming of Stokes County School (NC) athletic fields to the Kevin W. Fischer Athletic Fields Complex.
Chris Preston ’97M was named director of New Hanover County’s Community Justice Services Department.
Tracy Rich ’88, senior director of business development at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was named Salesperson of the Year. Victoria Faye Oxendine ’94, ’00M was a finalist in the 2019 Health Care Heroes, an annual honor presented by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Chase Brockstedt ’96 was chosen by Delaware Today magazine as one of its Top Lawyers 2019. John Crawford ’96 was promoted to Chief of the Law Enforcement Division of the local ABC system by the Cumberland County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Jill Townsend-Rigg ’97 was named director of clinic operations on Maui by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Amy Blessing ’98, ’10M, a kindergarten teacher at Malpass Corner Elementary School in Pender County (NC), was presented the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award by the UNCW Watson College of Education Alumni Chapter for leading with a passion for educating young learners and mentoring other teachers. Christy McDonald ’99 was featured on Grammy-winning Robin Schulz Warner Brothers/Atlantic album “Uncovered,” which debuted in the fourth spot on the iTunes World Chart.
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classnotes Dana L. Quick ’99 married Christopher Justice ’99. Jason Wheeler ’99, ’03M, former chairman of the alumni board of directors, 2004 Young Alumnus of the Year, a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, made Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors 2019 list. Heath Franklin ’00, ’10M co-produced “Swing Low,” a horror film that screened twice at the Cucalorus Festival, an independent film festival in Wilmington, NC. Natasha Lee Vincent ’00 was selected by the City of Wilmington as its newest emergency management coordinator. Photo courtesy of Bob King’s family
In Memoriam: Robert “Bob” Sherrill King ’66 (1942-2020) A Wilmington native, business leader and philanthropist, died on March 4, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martha Small King; his daughter Angie King Trask and her husband Richard H. Trask; his daughter Tricia Sherrill King ’96; and five grandchildren, Robert Sherrill King Trask, George Graham Trask, Martha Catherine Trask, Hayden Hawke and Miller Hawke. He is also survived by his brother, Benjamin R. King Jr. After attending New Hanover High School, Wilmington College and North Carolina State University, King opened Bob King Pontiac in 1972 and acquired Mercedes-Benz in 1973 and GMC in 1982. Bob King Buick GMC Mercedes-Benz celebrated its 48th year in 2020 and is the largest family owned dealership in Wilmington, NC, with more than 200 employees. King was a leader in local business and education and served the Wilmington Community and UNCW. He served as former chairman and Honorary Lifetime Member of the UNCW Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 1997, King was named Alumnus of the Year by the UNCW Alumni Association. He received the Chancellor’s Award and served on the UNCW Foundation Board as well as a member of the UNCW Board of Trustees. King also supported UNCW with scholarships and internships for students. He was on the GM Dealer Advisory Board, the Dealer Council, and Wilmington Board of BB&T Bank. He was a long-time, active member of the Wilmington Rotary, Honorary Board Member of the Community Boys and Girls Club of NC and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.
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Christopher Register ’01 published Conversations with US - American Southwest, a book about his 16,000 mile journey and experiences. Shaun Olsen ’02, 2011 Young Alumnus of the Year, was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Melissa Singler ’02, ’04M is president of Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC. Albert Steed ’02 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Scooter Hayes ’03 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Stephanie Lanier ’03, ’07M, current chairwoman of the alumni board of directors and a UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, has been named to the WilmingtonBiz 100, an initiative of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal to recognize the top power players, influencers, innovators, connectors and rising stars in southeastern North Carolina.
Daniel Richardson ’03, ’10M, ’16 Ed.D. was presented the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award by the UNCW Watson College of Education Alumni Chapter. Richardson, an instructor at The Center of Applied Sciences and Technology in Brunswick County and adjunct instructor of middle grades science in the WCE, was honored for his dedication and ability to continue to inspire students over the course of his 16-year career as a public-school teacher. Alison English ’04, current treasurer of the alumni board of directors and a Clocktower Society member, has been named to the WilmingtonBiz 100, an initiative of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal to recognize the top power players, influencers, innovators, connectors and rising stars in southeastern North Carolina. William “Bill” Fields ’04 established the Fields Family Scholarship in Education to support non-traditional college students pursing a degree offered by the UNCW Watson College of Education. Stuart Wall ’04, ’05M, an E.L. White Society, UNCW Society and Clocktower Society member, and his wife Vickie announce the birth of their daughter, Waverly Wall, on December 5, 2019. Tracy Langston ’05 was one of eleven Vidant Health nurses named to the Great 100 Class of 2019. The Great 100 Nurses nonprofit organization offers the annual honor as a way for peers to recognize and promote nursing excellence throughout the state of North Carolina. Lisa Manning ’05M joined GEL Engineering LLC as a senior engineer with the permitting and compliance group. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, with five offices throughout the Southeast, GEL Engineering provides environmental, engineering, surveying and emissions testing. Gary Stevenson II ’05 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Kathryn McKenzie ’06, ’07M was named chief financial officer at NeoGenomics Laboratories in Fort Myers, FL.
INSTAGRAM.COM/UNCW.ALUMNI
Melissa Rock ’06, ’08M gave birth to a baby boy. Bill Carty ’07M, author of Huge Cloudy (Octopus Books) and the chapbook Refugium, launched his first book tour. Jenna Curry ’07, a Clocktower Society member, was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Densay Sengsoulavong ’07 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Stacy Ankrum ’08M was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Michael Cahill ’10, ’16M was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Lindsay Collins ’09 was featured in The Globe, the official publication of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, for her work with students at Heroes Elementary School.
Veronica Weibel ’11 opened Leland’s first Chick-fil-A in December, adding more than 100 jobs to the area.
John Zachary ’09 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Thomas Mason McNiff ’11 and Ann Katherine Riede were married on Oct. 26, 2019 in Asheville, NC. Andrew Heath ’12 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Lauren Henderson ’12M, CFO of CastleBranch and 2018 Cameron School of Business Outstanding Alumni recipient, was named as one of Wilmington’s Top 100 Influencers. Jessica Mathis ’14 accepted a position as a recreation therapist at Ruth Byck Adult Day Health Center in Savannah, GA. Anna Phillips ’14 joined the WECT news team in Wilmington, NC. Michael Silverman ’14 was voted the new city manager of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Carson Bowen ’15 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
UNCW donors take comfort knowing that a gift to the university is
an investment in a better tomorrow.
Planning for your future and those you care about may be easier than you realize.
For step-by-step financial planning tools and resources, visit our new website:
uncwlegacygift.org
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Calling all Seahawks!
classnotes Andre Brown ’15M was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Zane Bennett ’18M was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community.
Damon Lilly ’15 established the Aptive Environmental Scholarship in Communication Studies Endowment in recognition of the impact that scholarships made on his life while attending UNCW.
Davontae Cacok ’19 was selected to the Lou Henson All-Decade Men’s Basketball Team.
Laura Brogdon-Primavera ’15M was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Liz Carbone ’17 was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from StarNews Media and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes talented young professionals serving others to make a difference in the Wilmington community. Mary Ellen Naylor ’17 Ed.D. is dean of health sciences at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC.
Phillip Goodrum ’19 was drafted to the Atlanta United FC soccer team in the third-round draft. Jennie Jackson ’19M was selected for WILMA’s 2020 Leadership Institute. Leita Pearl McCormick ’19 graduated from UNCW at 80 years old to finish what she started more than 50 years ago. She was an exemplary student who earned one of the highest awards in the department of communication studies. Shrita Parker ’19 moved to Cork, Ireland, to play basketball for University College Cork. Danny Reynolds ’19 was drafted by the Seattle Sounders soccer team. Joseph Watts ’19M joined FirstHealth Cardiology in Pinehurst, NC, as a nurse practitioner.
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In Memoriam Alumni James D. Sprunt ’56
Jane S. Alberti ’87
Charles F. Hunnicutt ’58
Darren C. Little ’89
Robert O. Powell ’59
Sean A. Evans ’90
Madeline B. Budihas ’63, ’65
Scott W. Walker ’91
Freddie W. Best ’66
Danny W. Holden ’92
Robert S. King ’66
M. Glenn Nelson ’92
Edward J. Douglass III ’67
Gregory B. McFall ’92M
Jerry C. Woodell ’67
Tony G. Faucette ’94
Peter N. Maxwell ’68
Julie A. Justice ’94
Claude D. Graves ’70
Benjamin T. Morton ’94
Charles R. Youngblood ’70
Martha L. Groves ’97
Donald L. Diamond ’71
Charles D. Burroughs ’98
Kivie M. Simmons Jr. ’72
James F. Greenleaf ’99
Joann L. Fogler ’73
Enid A. Ward ’00
Thomas M. Altobellis ’75
James J. Malloy ’01
E. Lynn Blizzard ’75
Gina R. Barnes ’03
Raymond P. Sturza II ’76
J. Aaron Moore ’04, ’08M
L. Worth Bolton ’77
Carol W. Midgett ’04M
Stanley B. Gelbhaar ’77
Tracy J. Williams ’07
Lynn C. Goodwin ’80
Andrew N. Gray ’08M
Francis A. Toth ’82
Stephen A. Davis ’09
Doris K. Wilson ’82
Zachary L. Martin ’09
Nancy C. Glenn ’83
Harrison G. Zellers ’10
Robert L. Woodard Jr. ’84, ’95M
F. Patrick Ausband ’11M
Christopher M. Lane ’86
Jonathan V. Mariano ’13
James H. Robinson Jr. ’86
Friends Bennie “Ben” Dale Barker
The Class Notes are compiled by the Division for University Advancement.
Share your news at uncw.edu/alumniupdate
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Margaret “Meg” Lee Pennington
Robert Alonzo Bashford
Howard Allen Penton Jr.
Benjamin “Mayo” Boddie Sr.
Hugh Williams Primrose, III
Jessie Leigh Boney
Donald “Don” Joel Rhine
Sarah Petty Dagenhart
Marlene Rosenkoetter
Walter “Walt” Dale DeVries
Alfred Schnog
Thomas “Tom” Morgan Hiles
Eugene Beery Woodbury
uncw.edu/alumniupdate YOUNG ALUMNA of THE YEAR Julie Andrews ’13
~ ALUMNUS of THE YEAR Mark Scalf ’80
~ CITIZEN of THE YEAR Ashlee Balena ’95
Julie Andrews ’13, Mark Scalf ’80, and Ashlee Balena ’95
2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners Julie Andrews ’13, Ashlee Balena ’95 and Mark Scalf ’80 share more than a passion for UNCW. They have joined a group of distinguished alumni recognized for their service to the community and their professional success.
When she returned to the states, she completed a master’s degree in Spanish at UNC Greensboro and a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill. Today, she is a senior lecturer in UNCW’s Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Andrews was named Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year; Balena, Distinguished Citizen of the Year, and Scalf, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The UNCW Alumni Association honored the group during a reception in February as part of Homecoming festivities.
“I’d say I’ve come full circle, and there is no other place I would rather be,” said Balena.
“I love my alma mater and have enjoyed finding so many opportunities since graduation to stay connected and give back,” said Andrews, marketing manager for Logan Homes, who also serves on the Alumni Association Board and Cape Fear Steering Committee. “They have been incredibly supportive and made it easy to get connected and find a place to lead.” Ashlee Balena earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish at UNCW. Following graduation, she taught ninth grade English at the Colegio Americano in Quito, Ecuador.
Mark Scalf credits several professors and coaches for his success. He retired as the UNCW Baseball head coach following the 2019 season, one that saw the Seahawks win their sixth CAA tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals for the 10th time. “My time as a student-athlete developed time management skills and provided plenty of opportunity to gain insight on dealing with adversity. Each of these skills comes into play almost daily in personal and professional life. I am thankful for the personal interest my professors and coaches provided during undergrad and early in my career.” – Venita Jenkins
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