Student Success & Engagement

The Gender Studies & Research Center hosts organized support and leadership training for students through UPLfT: Unleashing Powerful Leaders for Tomorrow.

UPLfT provides student participants with intensive leadership training, an affinity support group and unparalleled engagement with experienced leaders at UNCW and in the Wilmington area. Additionally, UPLfT is partnering with WILMA to provide student participants with mentors from the elite group of WILMA Leadership Institute Alumni.

This program is geared toward UNCW students who identify as women, non-binary and transgender; students who are at any academic level, whether undergraduate or graduate; and students from any discipline across UNCW.

Apply for the 2026 UPLfT cohort by Nov. 7, 2025.

Apply now

Commitment and Scheduling

UPLfT participants will meet one Friday a month during the spring semester, as well as in December for a kickoff celebration. Each monthly meeting will involve affinity group sessions, a panel discussion from UNCW and Wilmington area leaders, and a leadership training workshop. Discussion and workshop topics will include networking and partnerships, successful negotiating, self-care, breaking gender binaries and work-life balance, among others. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Participants are required to attend each monthly meeting, including the December kickoff, be in good academic standing at UNCW, and meet at least one time (virtually or in person) with their WILMA Leadership Alumni mentor.

The GSRC also helps to facilitate a number other of student groups to foster a sense of community, offer support and promote excellence:

• GSRC Student Ambassador Program
• Iota Iota Iota (Triota) National Honor Society
• Transcend Collective Honor Society
• REACH (Radical Equity and Collective Healing)
• Mentoring Program

Check back soon for more details about these programs or contact Dana Stachowiak, program director, for more information.