June 2017

Message from Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli

Dear Seahawk Community,

The celebrations continued in June as the Class of 2021 arrived on campus for Freshman Orientation and Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune held a graduation ceremony to honor military-affiliated students. In other exciting news, a research team led by biology associate professor Brian Arbogast discovered a new species of flying squirrel. Alumna Katelyn Schumacher ’12M conducted vital genetic analyses during the project.

Best wishes for a happy retirement to Cathy Barlow, who has served UNCW well in many capacities, most recently as interim vice provost, and congratulations to Johnson Akinleye, N.C. Central University’s new chancellor, formerly UNCW associate vice chancellor for academic programs.

UNCW student-athletes have continued to earn honors this summer. Thomas Eldridge was named Colonial Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year in men’s golf, and Lauren Moore earned the same recognition in softball. Earlier this week, Moe Holmes became UNCW’s first recipient of the CAA Men’s Track & Field Athlete-of-the-Year award. Five members of the UNCW baseball team were named to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State first team.

Classes are under way for the second summer session, while our educational summer camps, Seahawk FAM series and July’s Lumina Festival of the Arts provide many opportunities to welcome future Seahawks and the community to campus. Whether your summer involves academics, work, rest and relaxation, or a little of each, enjoy the long days and warm evenings wherever you are.

Go Seahawks!

Jose V. Sartarelli

Former North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin (left) met with Chancellor Sartarelli during a visit to UNCW. Martin, who also served six terms in Congress, earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University and taught the subject at Davidson College. As governor from 1985-93, Martin was instrumental in securing funding to complete Interstate 40 to Wilmington.

Rosa Guerrero (left), with Provost Marilyn Sheerer, was among a group of military-affiliated students participating in the 22nd annual Commanding General’s Graduation Ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Guerrero received a Master of Social Work degree through UNCW's Onslow Extension site.

Chancellor Sartarelli congratulated immigrants who became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony hosted by UNCW and the Wilmington Rotary Club. Thirty-seven people from 20 countries took the oath of citizenship at the ceremony, which was held in collaboration with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

UNC system President Margaret Spellings (left) and Chancellor Sartarelli thanked representatives from the UNC Faculty and Staff assemblies for their service and dedication to students, their campuses and the state during a reception at Kenan House.

Chancellor Sartarelli found a flowering agave plant during a recent five-mile hike along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.