Courtenay Mencini ’14

Staying connected to one’s alma mater can be a deeply rewarding experience, and for Courtenay Mencini ’14, joining the UNCW Alumni Association Board of Directors was a chance to make a significant impact.   

“I’ve loved staying connected to UNCW over the years, but when I saw the board position opening, I jumped at the chance to do something more impactful,” Mencini shared. Her goal is to be a resource for students and to find meaningful ways to give back to the university that has given her so much.  

New initiatives are also on the horizon to benefit the alumni community. Connecting Seahawks through their industry is an idea Mencini hopes will bring more alumni together.   

“For instance, how can we bring all alumni who work in healthcare, tech, or other careers together to learn from one another? Creating space around a shared interest goes a long way in establishing meaningful, lasting connections and opportunities for future alumni too,” she said.   

Mencini, a communication studies and international studies major, attended UNCW alongside her younger sister, Lindsey Rickards ’15. This personal connection underscores the importance of family and community within the alumni network.   

Mencini currently serves as a Google spokesperson at its corporate office in Boulder, Colorado. There, she leads public relations and external communications for workplace topics. At Google, she has embraced creativity, navigated ambiguity and built a holistic set of communication skills.   

“When there’s a topic that has to do with the people who work within the company, I work with the press and teams inside Google to figure out how to talk about it,” Mencini described.  

Mencini also has knowledge of tech and government skills that she gathered in her previous professional role as an analyst at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Transitioning from the FBI to Google was described as a significant but necessary career move for Mencini.  

“Leaving the FBI was an incredibly difficult choice because it’s an extraordinary organization,” said Mencini. “I ultimately left to grow as a communicator and to push myself out of my comfort zone professionally.”   

As a UNCW Alumni Association board member, Mencini is most excited about contributing to the university’s growth and improvement. Having lived outside of Wilmington, Mencini looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective and approach to engaging alumni no longer in North Carolina. She attended the alumni quarter board meeting earlier this year at UNCW, and the campus inspired her.  

“Learning – and contributing to – how the university is expanding and improving for students most excites me,” Mencini said. “I was on campus earlier this year for the first time in a while and was blown away by its growth. I’m also excited to work closely with all the other accomplished board members and the university administration.”