Venita Jenkins ’25M

For Venita Jenkins ’25M, stories have always been more than words on a page; they’re bridges connecting people, cultures and history. In December, she adds a defining chapter to her own story as she celebrates earning a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication from UNCW. 

A first-generation college graduate, Jenkins grew up in Charlotte Court House, Virginia, a town steeped in history. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) in 1996 and later completed a certificate in technology and communication from UNC-Chapel Hill before enrolling in UNCW’s IMC program. 

“I decided to pursue my master’s in IMC to deepen my understanding of how strategic messaging and branding intersect to shape audience perceptions and to better position myself for my long-term career goals,” said Jenkins. “The program’s mix of theory, research and applied learning supports my passion for purposeful storytelling.” 

Her professional journey began in the mountains of North Carolina as a reporter for The Alleghany News, where she won her first North Carolina Press Association award. From there, Jenkins built a distinguished journalism career, reporting for the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, The Robesonian and The Fayetteville Observer. Her work earned multiple state press awards and the Fayetteville Observer’s Pat Reese Fellowship, which supported her multimedia project on the Lumbee Tribe and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo’s (the Tiguas) pursuit of federal recognition. The Lumbee Tribe honored her with a resolution and Hawk feathers for her reporting, a moment she calls one of her proudest, and former Congressman Mike McIntyre submitted her series into the Congressional Record. 

In 2009, Jenkins transitioned to higher education communications at the University of Central Arkansas and later joined UNCW in 2014 as a content and communication specialist in the Office of University Relations. Her role blends her newsroom instincts with strategic storytelling, producing news and feature stories that highlight student, faculty and staff achievements, managing web content and mentoring interns.  

Among her most meaningful UNCW assignments: announcing Yousry and Linda Sayed’s historic $25 million gift to UNCW, honoring the legacy of Vice Chancellor Pat Leonard and documenting research on Eagles Island and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. She is also proud of her role as an appointed member of the Chancellor’s Office of Military Affairs Advisory Committee.  

"It’s truly an honor to serve in this role, especially with my family’s deep-rooted connections to the military — Army, Navy and Air Force,” she said. 

Pursuing graduate school while working full-time was no small feat for Jenkins. 

“Earning my master’s degree at this stage in my life represents resilience and determination,” she said. “There were personal challenges, including the loss of loved ones who encouraged my growth. Completing this program honors them. But more importantly, it shows me the value of investing in myself and setting an example for others, especially my nieces and nephews.” 

Beyond campus, Jenkins has several passions including writing freelance pieces highlighting Wilmington’s African American history and working on her first crime novel. It is also common to find her at area beaches, where she finds peace photographing coastal sunrises and sunsets. Some of her photos have been featured in UNCW publications and various places on campus, including an exhibit in the Upperman African American Cultural Center, the gallery in the College of Health and Human Services dean’s suite in Veterans Hall, and a hallway wall installation in James Hall. 

As she crosses the commencement stage, Jenkins carries decades of stories and the promise of many more to come.  

“Storytelling has been a part of my identity since I was an eighth grader, writing poems about puppy love, far-off places and dreams,” she said. “This degree isn’t just an accomplishment; it’s a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.”