A Message from the Chancellor

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

My heart is heavy as I reflect on the news received earlier this week of our colleague Dr. Michael Wilhelm’s passing. Over the past few days, I’ve been in shock, disbelief and honestly, denial. Michael most recently served as chief of staff in my office and for nearly a decade prior as UNCW’s associate provost for global partnerships and international education in the Division of Academic Affairs. To say his impact at UNCW and with our global partners has been vast would be a significant understatement.

Michael was one of the most humble colleagues I have ever worked with. He led with humility and purpose, always placing the success and wellbeing of others at the center of his work. Whether he was guiding global education initiatives or supporting students, faculty and staff, Michael did so with a genuine belief in the power of education and collaboration. 

Michael truly was a global citizen. I’ve had the privilege of traveling with him to many international partner campuses to put in place collaborative programs and faculty, staff and student exchanges. I’ve marveled at how seamlessly he transitioned between cultures and languages. Be it Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Hindi, to name a few, or his favorite language — French, his language skills and connecting with people from various parts of the world were beyond impressive.

His leadership expanded UNCW’s international partnerships, strengthened our global engagement and opened doors for Seahawks to experience the world in ways that have shaped their lives and careers. 

Many on our campus and in the regional community came into contact with Michael during his leadership with international education and programming or more recently in his work with university administration. In his role as chief of staff, Michael led the Strategic Planning Operations Team with exceptional skill, helped develop the soon-to-be-launched Chancellor’s Leadership Academy, and guided the day‑to‑day coordination and progress tracking of the university’s Strategic Plan. He represented UNCW on the UNC System’s Chief of Staff Council and played a pivotal role in helping me build partnerships with institutions around the world. Michael also oversaw key collaborations between the Office of the Chancellor and its reporting units, including Athletics, Human Resources, General Counsel and Internal Audit. Michael’s commitment to the university’s mission was not only reflected in his service but also in his generous support as a loyal donor.  

Michael earned a Doctor of Education from UNCW, a Master of Arts in Foreign Languages, and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Studies and Foreign Languages, all summa cum laude from West Virginia University. He was a recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Taiwan and a member of the Fulbright Specialist roster. His professional achievements included securing numerous grants to support international education initiatives, earning national recognition with his colleagues for the university through the NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Award for Internationalization, and serving on numerous boards. He was the founding board chair of Anglo Educational Services, a board member of the American International Recruitment Council and a UNCW representative for the UNC System Council on International Programs.  

In addition to being a terrific colleague over the past decade, he was a very close friend and confidant. I will miss walking with him on the weekends, drinking coffee (or chai in his case) and debating macroeconomics and geopolitics.

Grief can be heavy — and it should not be addressed alone. Please remember that support is always available through our Seahawk community (the Employee Assistance Program for employees and the University Counseling Center for students). 

On behalf of the UNCW community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Michael’s wife, Candace, family and friends. We share their grief, and we honor the extraordinary life he lived. Michael’s decade of service to UNCW has left an enduring mark on our institution and the countless students and colleagues who had the good fortune to work alongside him.

Sincerely, 

Chancellor Aswani Volety