WCE Honors Cindy Wiseman

On January 27, faculty, staff, students and colleagues across campus gathered at the Watson College of Education to honor Cindy Wiseman who has retired following a 33-year career at UNCW.

Cindy began her career as a kindergarten teacher. She joined UNCW in 1992, and most recently served as the Director of WCE’s Office of Professional Experiences (PET). As director, she worked closely with the PET team, Watson faculty, and site coordinators in WCE’s partnership schools to coordinate thousands of field experiences and hundreds of internships for Watson students each year.

Cindy’s strong leadership skills, dedication, engaging sense of humor and unwavering commitment to student success – along with a remarkable ability to deftly manage daily challenges most would find daunting – earned her the trust, love, admiration and respect of students, faculty and staff, the greater community and the UNC system network of field directors over the course of her career.

In announcing Cindy’s retirement, Dr. Candace Thompson said, “Cindy has served fearlessly as bedrock and magician—integral to our programs as outstanding support, brilliant guide, and font of wisdom to so many of us and for so many years.”

Watson College Dean Tracy Linderholm, Thompson, PET Team members Stephanie Glowa, Logan McKnight and Nicole Geczi and several other colleagues paid tribute to Cindy at the celebration event. Three former Watson College associate deans – Ann Potts, Donyell Roseboro and Bill Sterrett – also provided video messages thanking Cindy for her extraordinary work and service. Common themes in the stories shared were that Cindy has seen it all, knows everyone in the state, and somehow always managed to bring an amazing mix of Southern charm, toughness, creativity and humor to a challenging role. Above all, colleagues spoke of Cindy’s dedication to students and her generous nature, citing countless times she reached out to students, friends and colleagues with acts of personal kindness.

Please join all of us at the Watson College of Education in wishing Cindy well as she begins this new chapter in her life!