A new luncheon series being launched this fall by Western Carolina University is designed to give alumni and friends in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas an opportunity to hear about the latest developments at the university – straight from the people who are directly involved.

The Greater Asheville Luncheon Series will be held at the new Asheville Hilton Biltmore Park on the third Wednesday of every month beginning in September. The venue was specifically selected to allow alumni from both the Asheville and Hendersonville areas to attend, said Marty Ramsey, director of alumni affairs.

“We have more than 6,000 WCU alumni in the greater Asheville area, easily our highest concentration of alumni,” Ramsey said. “It is important that we connect and reconnect with our alumni and friends there, and share with them information about the many exciting things that are happening at Western Carolina.”

Each event in the series will highlight a college, program or initiative. Deans, faculty, staff and students will be the primary presenters at each luncheon, which will begin at 11:45 a.m. with a gathering and reception, followed at noon with a buffet lunch. Programs will begin at 12:15 p.m. and adjourn at 12:45 p.m. Lunch cost is $10.50.

The opening program on Sept. 16 will showcase the university’s Graduate School and Research programs and the College of Arts and Sciences by highlighting a pair of environmentally themed initiatives – the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, presented by director Rob Young, and the Highlands Biological Station, presented by director Jim Costa.

The second program, slated for Oct. 21, will feature the university’s Honors College in a program titled “The Honors Path: Developing Intellectual Talent for U.S. Success in a ‘Flat World.’” It will be led by Brian Railsback, dean of the Honors College.

The schedule for the remainder of the year has presentations by the College of Health and Human Sciences on Nov. 18; College of Arts and Sciences, Jan. 20; College of Business, Feb. 17; Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology, March 17; department of athletics, April 21; Mountain Heritage Center, May 19; and College of Education and Allied Professions, June 16. No series events are planned for December, June or August.

The series is sponsored by Dixon-Hughes, PLLC; the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines; and the Asheville Hilton Biltmore Park. For more information, visit www.wcu-alumni.com or contact Marty Ramsey at telephone (828) 227-7335, toll-free at (877) 440-9990 or via e-mail at mramsey@wcu.edu.

Maintained by the Office of Public Relations
Last Modified: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009