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Eden Newbold '26

headshot of Eden Newbold in a garden
Seahawk Stories News
Photo: Michael Spencer/UNCW

When Eden Newbold ’26 participated in UNCW’s Hackathon in October 2022, she had no idea it would ignite a passion for community service. Teaming up with fellow students, she tackled the pressing local issue of the housing crisis in Wilmington. 

“This was when I first became aware of some of the severe struggles that members of our community were facing, both housing related and otherwise,” said Newbold, a Charlotte native majoring in psychology with a double minor in applied behavioral analysis and French. “It piqued my curiosity, and I simply wanted a concrete answer to the question, ‘What can we do?’” 

Newbold began searching for ways to deepen her understanding of nonprofit work and step into a leadership role. Her search led her to Seahawks that Serve, a UNCW initiative that connects students with meaningful service projects throughout the Wilmington area. Newbold now serves as a project manager.  

One of her most meaningful service projects was a collaborative effort between the Seahawks that Serve and the Campus Life Leadership Development team. She created a two-part “Serve and Learn” for students, which included a self-care workshop and volunteering at Canines for Service. 

“I worked alongside leadership development coordinators to create a presentation on the importance of self-care and how service can support overall wellbeing,” she said. “We put everything we learned into practice at Canines for Service, playing and working with their trainee pups. It was so special to see my passion for psychology work alongside my love for community engagement to create a unique and impactful event for students.” 

Newbold takes a thoughtful approach to student engagement in service. She matches students with service opportunities that align with their interests. During projects, Newbold aims to lead by example and makes sure everyone feels informed and empowered.  

“I make sure they are connected with their fellow students and myself through reflective conversations, shared interests and creating a safe space for them to have fun and socialize while working side by side,” she said.  

Her work with Seahawks that Serve has helped shape Newbold’s career goals and revealed her love for working toward a shared vision with a team. 

“Helping people find their ‘why’ and what they are passionate about is so rewarding and getting to see students make that discovery through service is powerful,” Newbold added.  

Newbold’s fascination with how people interact and learning about what makes people unique led her to pursue a degree in psychology, she said.  

“I was drawn towards studying how genetics and our environment intertwine to affect the development of a brain and give each individual their own identity,” said Newbold, a recipient of the A. Farrell Teague Merit Scholarship.  

After graduation, she is eager to launch her career in human resources while pursuing a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology. But for now, she’s soaking in every moment of her final year at UNCW and looking forward to what the future holds. 

“I am most excited for this final year to be a chance to use all the tools I’ve been given and skills I’ve developed to show up as my authentic self in both academic and leadership settings,” she said. “It’s so relieving to have the experience and expertise under my belt that will allow me to personalize this year more to my own passions and interests. I think it will be a time of exploration with a newfound confidence in my own abilities, something that I haven’t fully experienced yet.”