Message from Chancellor Aswani K. Volety
Dear UNCW Community,
This month provided some perfect opportunities to both look back at UNCW’s accomplishments and glance ahead to our future as students, faculty, staff, alumni, fans and friends. One of the highlights was Homecoming 2023, my first as chancellor, as more than 1,500 alumni and their families returned for celebrations like no other.
It was wonderful to see our alumni, current students and others in the Seahawk community come together for a full slate of events. The crowd warmed up with the TEALGate party on Hoggard Lawn before cheering on the men’s basketball team in their win against Northeastern in Trask Coliseum. The weekend concluded with the Homecoming Brunch hosted by AAGA and celebrating the 60th anniversary of Black student life at UNCW.
I also attended the ribbon-cutting openings of two campus facilities that will provide students new spaces to gather and find their place at UNCW. The new Fraternity and Sorority Life Village and Multipurpose Room gives the traditions of Greek life on campus a new focal point. The Asian Heritage Cultural Center offers an inclusive and welcoming space to strengthen cross-cultural relationships across campus and in the community. By providing academic support, broad programming and student resources, both add invaluably to UNCW’s campus life.
We also welcomed a new leader to campus this month, as Michael Oblinger was announced as the university’s seventh athletic director. A former student-athlete himself, he brings nearly 20 years of experience to the athletics program. He has a tough act to follow, coming after Jimmy Bass—AD since 2010—who has overseen UNCW teams that have won more than 30 CAA championships. We’re on our way to another strong CAA season, adding championships for both men’s and women’s swimming and diving and key wins at the first CAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Our athletic wins are only the start of UNCW’s accolades. In just one example, our Department of Theatre received the North Carolina Theatre Conference College/University Award in recognition of its outstanding academic programs, excellent productions, mentoring of students and community engagement.
To encourage continued excellence, we are deeply involved in the process of creating the next 10-year strategic plan for the university. The campus and greater Wilmington community are taking an active role in determining where UNCW sees itself in another decade and what we hope to accomplish. With such inspiring events throughout the university community, I’m excited to see how we will all be a part of where they lead us in the future.
Yours in Seahawk spirit,
