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WCU Search WCU Stories Navigation Campus Life Academics Arts and Culture Competition Blazing Trails Events Student Experience Innovation Research and Discovery Awards and Recognition Campus Development Community Service Regional Impact Alumni Faculty and Staff Multimedia WCU Magazine Photos Videos Podcasts For the Media News Experts Guidelines and Resources Media Contact Explore WCU WCU Home Admissions & Aid Academics Student Life Athletics Alumni About WCU Home Admissions & Aid Academics Student Life Athletics Alumni About Search WCU Stories WCU Campus Life Academics Arts and Culture Competition Blazing Trails Events Student Experience Innovation Research and Discovery Awards and Recognition Campus Development Community Service Regional Impact Alumni Faculty and Staff Multimedia WCU Magazine Photos Videos Podcasts For the Media News Experts Guidelines and Resources Media Contact Engineering WNC Read the Full Story Setting A New Course Hair-Raising Findings Fill The Western Sky A Photographer’s View A Videographer’s View Athletics Look Good, Feel Good Athletics facilities improvements tip off this fall with renovations for both Catamount basketball teams. A Season to Remember Women’s golf wins four titles, earns trip to the postseason in 2022-23. Reliving the Dream Forty years ago, the Catamounts made a miraculous run to the national championship game. Power of Giving Rowing in the Same Direction WCU is helping improve children’s reading and writing skills through new professorship Seeking Synergies Expansion of WCU’s engineering programs receives support from the General Assembly and industry partners The Power of Giving One Day for Western, GivingTuesday provide opportunities for philanthropic support Alumni Spotlight A Cullowhee Romance Walking into the first day of their introductory English class in the spring of 1994 taught by the late Nell Holtzclaw, Ilona and Andrew Gordon ’04 had no idea this freshman course at Western Carolina University would be the start of their life as husband-and-wife bestselling authors. Climbing Capitol Hill In the middle of bustling Washington and just a few hundred feet to the right of the Capitol Building, is the office of the chief diversity and equity officer for the U.S. Department of Labor and Western Carolina University alumna, Alaysia Black Hackett ’01, MPA ’02. A Rising Star Outer Banks” was released on Netflix in early 2020, in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show follows a group of teenagers in the Outer Banks — an island of haves, have-nots and clique-based rivalry and romance — as they hunt for a legendary treasure linked to a father’s mysterious disappearance. Just for Kicks After pausing for two years of stoppage time” during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, it’s been play on” for participants in Western Carolina University’s Old-Timers Soccer Reunion.” Coffee and Culture In the heart of downtown Cherokee is a culturally-based coffee shop called Qualla Java. Qualla Java is named after the Qualla Boundary, the land trust of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. WCU News Notes from Chancellor Brown This fall I celebrate my third anniversary at WCU and I’m looking forward to the first normal campus year in Cullowhee since 2019. Outlaws and Educators Higher education plays a starring role in Mario Van Peebles melting pot western ‘Outlaws Posse’ Jeff Lawson appointed dean of Graduate School and Research The WCU Board of Trustees appointed Jeff Lawson as dean of the Graduate School and Research as part of its regular meeting June 9. Lawson will start in his new position July 1. Yue Hillon named Elingburg Distinguished Professor Yue Hillon, professor of management in the College of Business, has been appointed to the university’s position of Wesley R. Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation, effective July 1. Student wins College of Business Pitch Competition, advances to SoCon event Freshman Avery Pittman wowed judges with an idea for 3D virtual dorm room tours for incoming freshmen. Yanjun Yan named recipient of 2023 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching Yanjun Yan, associate professor the College of Engineering and Technology, has been named the recipient of the 2023 University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. Evelyn Rucker named director of Intercultural Affairs Evelyn Rucker has been named the new Intercultural Affairs director at WCU. Amber C. Albert named director of the Mountain Heritage Center On March 1, WCU named Amber Clawson Albert as the director of the Mountain Heritage Center following the retirement of Pam Meister in December 2022. Stacey Miller named director of alumni engagement Stacey R. Miller, former associate athletics director for student success, has been named the university’s next director of alumni engagement. Walker named associate vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises Robert Walker has been named the associate vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises, replacing Keith Corzine who retired Jan. 1 after more than 34 years at the university. 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