In addition to our annual Homecoming celebration in the fall, the WCU Alumni Association
hosts events on campus, in local communities across the state, and online. We invite
you to join us for upcoming events and to contact us if you are interested in hosting an event in your area.
Upcoming Events
Western Wednesday: Reminiscing with the 1983 Catamount Football Team
Western Wednesday is a monthly virtual event hosted by the WCU Office of Alumni Engagement
featuring special members of the WCU community. December's Western Wednesday highlights
the 1983 Catamount football team who will reminisce about that magical season and
their run to the ‘83 NCAA National Championship game. Former longtime WCU Sports Information
Director and Catamount Historian Steve White '67, moderates the reminiscing session
and allows Catamount alumni and fans the opportunity to ask questions at the end of
program. View the recording
Western Wednesday: Alumni Awards Virtual Ceremony
The Office of Alumni Engagement is pleased to present this special event as part of
our Western Wednesday series, a monthly virtual event featuring members of the WCU
community. Learn more about the four WCU Alumni Association Award recipients below
and watch the recorded ceremony.
Mr. Bob Folsom ’66, ’68
Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Jake Robinson ’10
Young Alumni Award
Dr. Carol Burton ’87, ’89
Professional Achievement Award
Dr. Jason E. Bond ’93
Academic Achievement Award
VIEW THE RECORDING
Western Wednesday featuring Chris Cooper
Topic: Election 2020
Western Wednesday is a monthly event featuring a WCU faculty or staff member who will
speak about their area of expertise. October's Western Wednesday features Dr. Chris
Cooper, Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and Department Head of Political
Science and Public Affairs at WCU. Dr. Cooper is a recipient of WCU's highest awards
for research and teaching, the University Scholar and Board of Governors Teaching
Award, respectively. He was also named the 2013 North Carolina Professor of the Year
by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. His areas of scholarship
include elections as well as the politics of North Carolina and the South overall.
He publishes widely on these areas and has been quoted in a variety of media outlets,
including the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and National Public Radio. VIEW THE RECORDING
Western Wednesday featuring Lori Anderson
Topic: The Trials and Tribulations of Simulation in Health Professions Education
Dr. Anderson is the Dean and Professor of the College of Health and Human Sciences
at Western Carolina University. She has over thirty years of acute and critical care
nursing experience in various roles ranging from staff to administration and academia.
Dr. Anderson has utilized simulation since 2000 and has led various initiatives to
establish and expand simulation in health professions education. Her research interests
include investigating the utilization of simulation in academia and in the healthcare
setting, critical thinking and clinical decision-making and learning outcomes. Dr.
Anderson has published in the area of clinical simulation and serves as a simulation
consultant and as an associate editor and members of the editorial board for the multidisciplinary
journal Simulation in Healthcare. With her national reputation and connections in
simulation, she has been a member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ) study section for Healthcare Safety and Quality Improvement Research and a
current grant reviewer for the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and
Material Command, and Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. VIEW THE RECORDING
Western Wednesday featuring Ron Rash
Western Wednesday is a monthly event featuring a WCU faculty or staff member who will speak about their
area of expertise. August's Western Wednesday featured Ron Rash, an accomplished author and English professor at WCU. He will be
discussing his newest book titled "In the Valley," a collection of stories that feature
the return of characters that made his book "Serena" popular. VIEW THE RECORDING
Western Wednesday featuring Pam Buchanan
Fall 2020 Campus Health
Western Wednesday is a monthly event featuring a WCU faculty or staff member who will speak about their
area of expertise. July's Western Wednesday is with Pamela ("Pam") Buchanan, WCU Director of Health Services. View the Recording
