Emily Reier ’28

As editor-in-chief of The Seahawk, Emily Reier ’28 balances deadlines, ethics and newsrooms full of clashing personalities all with grace. These leadership qualities were built from her unique childhood that was filled with constant adaption to change and unbridled passion for connection through storytelling. 

“I grew up as a military kid, so ‘hometown’ is a layered question. I remember the cold in Alaska, the quiet in Kentucky, and constantly being the new kid,” said Reier. “Moving a lot made me observant.” 

The instinct to observe and understand people found its outlet in writing. In an eighth-grade journalism class, writing became not only an outlet but also her passion. She began to see how the attentiveness she developed from constantly being the “new kid” could translate into storytelling — using observation and curiosity to create work that could make tangible impacts.  

“I was immediately hooked,” said Reier. “I loved that writing could be practical and purposeful, that it wasn’t just creative expression, but a way to inform, document and amplify.” 

Her passion for journalism has heavily influenced the paths she has taken during her time at UNCW and her impressive academic profile. A first-generation college student, Reier is in the Honors program, majors in communication studies and political science with a journalism minor and a professional writing certificate. Reier is also a recipient of the James Leutze Scholarship which has allowed her freedom to pursue her passions to the fullest.  

“As someone whose parents didn’t follow a traditional college path, that support carries weight. It allows me to say yes to opportunities — leadership roles, service work, extra involvement — without constantly calculating tradeoffs,” said Reier. “I see it as both an honor and a responsibility.” 

One meaningful opportunity is Reier’s role as a project manager with Seahawks that Serve in the Office of Student Community Engagement. In this role, she engages in meaningful service work that allows her to connect with local communities.  

On one particularly impactful trip to Asheville, Reier worked with Asheville Greenworks, an Asheville non-profit organization that works to create a climate-resilient future for the community. Reier aided in rebuilding the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. She was able to do reporting that has helped shape her passion even further toward local, people centered work. 

“It challenged me to slow down, listen and engage with a community more intentionally,” said Reier. “It reinforced for me that those local stories are what make the most impact. I can do what I want to do [reporting] anywhere.” 

That focus on community and storytelling also carries into Reier’s role as a communications intern with University Advancement. In this position, Reier connects with UNCW alumni and helps tell their stories through written profiles and event coverage.  

“Sharing their stories has been incredibly rewarding,” said Reier. “It makes me feel proud to call UNCW home.” 

Beyond her time at UNCW, she aims to continue writing with purpose, intention and a mindful awareness of how her stories affect the communities they reach.  

“Something that I am always going to continue to think about and grapple with is: what is my impact going to be? What’s the purpose behind it? Is it doing any good or am I contributing to all the noise in the news?” Reier said. “I want to use journalism to help bring people into conversation with one another, to highlight the very best of who we are. That feels like meaningful work.”