Alumni Events

Date: Wednesday, September 29th

Join for a presentation about the Benefits and Opportunities for Graduate Education at Western Carolina University.

Special guests include Jacob Lowman, Graduate Student Vice President, Dr. Ashley Thrasher, Master of Athletic Training Program, Dr. Kevan Frazier, Executive Director of Programs at Biltmore Park, Dr. Brian Kloeppel, Dean of the Graduate School and Research.

Date: Wednesday, August 25th from 6:00 to 7:00pm

August's Western Wednesday features Dr. Jack Eaddy, director of athletic bands and Pride of the Mountains at WCU! Dr. Eaddy joined WCU in May - so this fall will be his first season in his new role. Dr. Eaddy previously served as the assistant director of bands at McNeese State University and the University of South Carolina.

Join us for a special Western Wednesday event with Dr. Eaddy as he reflects on the legacy of Pride of the Mountains and his plans for an exciting fall!

Date: Tuesday, August 17th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

The Alzheimer’s Association and the WCU Alumni Association are hosting a virtual education forum about Alzheimer's and dementia in rural North Carolina. Attendees will learn about Alzheimer’s disease, health disparities, and engage in discussions about challenges in access to education, resources, and care for families in rural NC. Attendees will also learn about resources available through the Alzheimer’s Association, and have an opportunity to share their own experiences.

The Office of Alumni Engagement and the Department of Athletics are excited to present a preview of this Fall Catamounts Sports season! With a new head coach in football and a new director of athletic bands and Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, it's shaping up to be an exciting fall in Cullowhee! View the recording

Special guests include:

Alex Gary – Athletics Director
Kerwin Bell – Football Coach
Karen Glover – Volleyball Coach
Chad Miller – Women’s Soccer Coach
Jesse Norman – Cross Country Coach
WCU’s Sports Information Director, Daniel
Hooker, will moderate the event.

June's Western Wednesday featured Professor and Program Coordinator for Interior Design at WCU, Erin E. Adams! In 2018, Professor Adams sold her traditional 1200 square foot home to live in a 265 square foot tiny home that she custom-designed. Discover what Professor Adams experienced about the reality of day-to-day living in a space that could fit inside most people’s living rooms!
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This Western Wednesday includes a presentation about the impact of COVID-19 on North Carolina's economy and its projected road to recovery. Special guests include Dr. AJ Grube, newly appointed dean of the College of Business, and Dr. Edward Lopez, professor and director for the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise. Dr. Grube has served as a faculty member at WCU for more than 20 years and has held numerous leadership positions in the College of Business and throughout the University. Dr. Lopez has been a faculty member at WCU for nearly a decade and has served in leadership in both the College of Business and the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of program. The Office of Alumni Engagement is pleased to present this event as part of our Western Wednesday series, a monthly virtual event featuring special members of the WCU community.
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March’s Western Wednesday highlights the 1996 Catamount men’s basketball team to reminisce about that magical Southern Conference Championship season and punching their ticket to the 1996 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Former longtime WCU Sports Information Director and Catamount Historian, Steve White '67, moderates the reminiscing session and offers Catamount alumni and fans the opportunity to ask questions at the end of program. The Office of Alumni Engagement, in partnership with the Division of Athletics, is pleased to present this special event as part of our Western Wednesday series, a monthly virtual event featuring special members of the WCU community.
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Revisit this special panel edition of Western Wednesday! Western Carolina University leadership and key faculty discuss WCU's new COVID-19 vaccine clinic and its plans to serve the Western North Carolina region. Guests in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions to the panel, followed by closing remarks from Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.
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Western Wednesday is a monthly virtual event hosted by the WCU Office of Alumni Engagement featuring special members of the WCU community. February's Western Wednesday features Danita Johnson, who recently joined Major League Soccer club, D.C. United, as President of Business Operations. Johnson is the first Black president of a Major League Soccer club, and is one of the highest-ranking female executives in the sports industry. She was previously the president of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and its chief operating officer. Johnson is a 2005 graduate of the WCU Sports Management program, the 2019 recipient of the WCU Alumni Professional Achievement award, and a native of Fayetteville, N.C.
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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

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

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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.

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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.
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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. 
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Topic: 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