Heather Fennessey McWhorter

I am passionate about empowering people and communities to thrive through entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. As Director of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), I work collaboratively with community and university partners, alongside a team of staff, faculty, students, and volunteers, to grow southeastern North Carolina into a vibrant hub of innovation. Together, we nurture emerging startups and innovations, accelerate the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and connect innovators with resources that spark regional and global impact.

I believe entrepreneurship can unlock human potential. It provides youth, students, faculty, and community with opportunities to turn ideas into action, to lead and live with purpose, and to create solutions that make a difference. I also believe thriving entrepreneurial communities create more than businesses - they create opportunity, resilience, and lasting impact. Under my leadership, CIE is doing just that: unlocking potential and creating an innovative community.

In addition to my role at UNCW, I serve in leadership positions that extend my impact across North Carolina. For example, I am a Board Director with NC IDEA, an independent private foundation that empowers North Carolinians to achieve their entrepreneurial potential through grants, programs, and partnerships. Locally, I serve as Vice Chair of the Leland Economic Development Committee, where I collaborate to shape policies that foster smart growth of a rapidly growing community. Leadership roles like these allow me to bridge university, community, and statewide perspectives, ensuring that innovation and entrepreneurship efforts are aligned and future-focused.

Education

M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Penn State University

Professional Service

NC IDEA Foundation Board of Directors (May 2025 - Present)
Vice Chair, Economic Development Committee, Town of Leland (Jan 2023 - Present)
Ecosystem Rising Stars Judge, GrepBeat (Dec 2024 - Present)
NC IDEA Foundation Core SEED Grant Reviewer (Sep 2022 - Present)
Judge: NC TECH Statewide (2023, 2025)
Community organizer, 1 Million Cups Wilmington (Feb 2020-Present)
Southeastern NC Biotechnology Advisory Committee Member, NC Biotech Center (Aug 2023 - Present)
Esports Advisory Council, UNCW (Oct 2023 - Present)
Research and Innovation Council Member, UNCW (January 2025 - Present)
Advisory Board Member, UNCW SBTDC (July 2024 - Present)
Judge: MADE Awards and Coastal Entrepreneur Awards (Jan 2018 - Present)
Chair and Founding Vice Chair: Wilmington Business Coalition (2020-2024)

Community Engagement

Mentor, WILMA Leadership Institute (Oct 2023 - Present)
Turnaround Task Force Leader and Facilitator (2023-2024)
All Ages, All Stages NC Governor's Task Force (2023-2024)
Co-chair, Volunteers, Work on Wilmington (2023)
Volunteer, Coastal Therapeutic Riding Program (2018 - Present)

Honors & Awards

Wilmington Biz100
Issued by Greater Wilmington Business Journal · 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Named in the WilmingtonBiz 100, an annual program to recognize the top 100 Power Players, Influencers, Innovators, Connectors, and Rising Stars impacting Southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape.

Woman to Watch, Finalist
Issued by WILMA · 2025
These Awards spotlight regional women who are the movers-and-shakers, the disruptors, the inspirations for successes to come.

Excellence in Communication
Issued by InBIA, International Business Innovation Association · 2025
International award by InBIA for UNCW CIE's commitment to clearly, creatively, and consistently share the stories of our entrepreneurs, programs, and impact.

Award of Excellence, Place
Issued by University Economic Development Association (UEDA) · 2024
This prestigious national award celebrates the CIE Blue Economy initiatives, representing outstanding economic development initiatives, research, or accomplishments making transformative contributions to their communities and regions.

James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club Inductee
Issued by UNCW · 2021
The James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club is a university honor and recognition for faculty and staff who have received $1 million or more in external research funding.

SBTDC Executive Director's Award of Excellence
Issued by NC SBTDC · 2020
Recognizing leadership in establishing a new program.

U.S. Delegate, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Medellin, Colombia
Issued by Kauffman Foundation · 2016
Every year, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress gathers entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and other startup champions from more than 170 countries to identify new ways of helping founders start and scale new ventures around the world. Invited to be a delegate at the week-long GEC, making connections, gaining insights, and learning about new research.