‘Gifted’ graduate grateful for opportunity to maximize her students’ learning

When Elizabeth Watson decided she wanted a master’s degree in education to better serve her gifted students, she didn’t have to look far for inspiration. “My sister attended Western Carolina University and graduated with a degree in special education. To this day, she is the best special education teacher I've ever seen,” said Watson, who graduated in May with a master’s degree in special education with a focus on gifted education. “I chose to attend WCU for the simple fact that I thought, ‘Well, they must be doing something right at this university.’”  

Online Master's Degree Program in Construction Management Builds a Career

A few years ago, Joseph Love, now a construction coordinator for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, looked at Western Carolina University and its master's degree program in construction management as the curriculum he wanted and the career-building block he needed.  

MFA Student Emerges as a Change-Maker in North Carolina

Lydia See is an artist in her own right, but she’s using her new platform as a recognized and emerging “change-maker” in North Carolina to showcase the works of others whose voices are rarely if ever, heard.  

Discover Her Story  

The Power of a Peanut

No? Well, Stephen Adom, a 32-year-old graduate student in the Master of Science in Chemistry program, is pushing the boundaries when it comes to filtering water. He is originally from Ghana and is studying chemistry with a focus on environmental chemistry.  

Pandemic Forces Counseling Students to Find New Ways to See Clients

There is nothing like a pandemic to change the rules of work, making us to pivot on the fly, then hope for the best, while simultaneously providing opportunities to learn when we least expect it. David Wynn, a second-year graduate student in Western Carolina University’s counseling program, was forced to change the way he counsels clients after COVID-19 shuttered nonessential businesses across the country. Wynn was dubious, at first, of a new delivery system that was the antithesis of his beliefs regarding counseling.   

Discover Their Story  

An MBA Brings it All Home for Waynesville Woman

Emily McCurry can make anyone feel right at home ― maybe because she most certainly is. Home for her is Waynesville, where she was born and raised. She is a community leader, with a long list of local service and civic organizations, and a successful businesswoman, with an office on Main Street.   

Read Her Story  

Graduate programs among best in nation, according to US News and World Report

U.S. News and World Report included Western Carolina University in several categories of its recently released 2021 Best Graduate School rankings.  

A Unique, Experiential Master's Program

Western Carolina University has announced a new master’s degree in experiential and outdoor education that will be offered through the College of Education and Allied Professions beginning with the fall semester. The program is designed for professionals and those seeking careers in positions such as environmental educators, camp directors, wilderness therapy instructors, park rangers and outdoor adventure instructors.   

MFA student leaves his mark

The stadium is stunning, a beautiful geometric design built from contrasting woods that highlight the warmth and strength of the handcrafted structure. Sited in a public green space, surrounded by grass and trees, the small-scale model invites passersby to step inside and imagine its power — exactly what its builder had in mind.