March 31, 2025
Dear UNCW Community:
Many events in March have brought UNCW to a larger stage. From academic programs and research endeavors to UNCW Athletics, arts and more, the university stood out for excellence and innovation.
UNCW faculty were invited to share the Maritime Cyber Resilience Roadmap with an executive steering committee for the National Security Council. The involvement in this high-level discussion of Dr. Ulku Clark, director of the UNCW Center for Cyber Defense Education, and Jeff Greer of the Congdon School underscores UNCW’s commitment to national security and cybersecurity innovation.
Our student-athletes continue to soar through the spring season. On the baseball field, first-year pitcher Cam Bagwell received multiple national honors after pitching the CAA’s only perfect game and UNCW’s first since 1968. Our men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams took their third consecutive CAA championship titles together, and we saw UNCW’s highest finish ever at the NCAA championships when Cameron Snowden placed 19th in the preliminaries of the 100 Butterfly.
The men’s basketball team won the CAA championship for a record seventh time, earning a spot in the NCAA tournament to cap a season with the second-most wins in program history. The community came together to cheer them on, gathering on campus to see them off and to enjoy watch parties during the big games. We’re excited to keep Coach Takayo Siddle with the Seahawks through 2030.
An ITS implementation team scored an honor for exemplary use of technology by Modo Labs for UNCW Mobile, an app launched in 2024. In March, I had the opportunity to represent UNCW, North Carolina’s coastal university, at the largest aquaculture conference in the world. At the triennial gathering of the National Shellfisheries Association, Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society and World Aquaculture Society, my participation was a reminder that the work done at UNCW is both globally important and regionally relevant.
Looking ahead, during this spring’s graduate commencement ceremony, Linda Sayed ’78, ’85M will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. While she deserves the highest accolade the university can bestow on an individual for many reasons, the nomination highlights her philanthropic efforts, particularly in healthcare and workforce development.
Also coming this spring, the arts community will celebrate dance with the Wilmington Dance Festival at Kenan Auditorium, City Ballet’s Jubilee and World Ballet Company’s The Great Gatsby as well as enjoying music, theater and other performances.
Join me in making a gift and exploring all the ways to get involved in supporting UNCW during Seahawks Give. UNCW's annual 24-hour giving challenge begins April 8 at noon. Please consider joining the tide of Seahawk support by giving to the campus areas that matter to you and help us reach our goal of 2025 donors.
Yours in Seahawk spirit,
Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor
