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WCU Stories

glass sculpture

The wonder of North Carolina glass comes to WCU this fall

This Fall, the WCU Fine Art Museum opens North Carolina Glass 2025, a landmark exhibition that brings together a broad spectrum of contemporary glasswork by some of the most visionary artists in our state.  

Aerial shot of campus

Tax law changes lead donors to accelerate giving plans to WCU, other nonprofits

Esther Duncan of Naples, Florida, began the process earlier this year of creating an endowed scholarship fund at Western Carolina University in memory of her late son, a graduate of the College of Business.  

The Well Drinkers band standing on railroad tracks

Mountain Heritage Days to spotlight Appalachian language, history and music

Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Days will be a weeklong celebration of Southern Appalachian culture, featuring a compelling lecture on the Appalachian dialect, the annual Rooted in the Mountains symposium and a Friday evening concert. The week of events will lead up to the Saturday heritage demonstrations, music and food everyone has loved for the past 50 years.  

Johnny and Dawn Day

Alumni couple establish endowment for parks, rec program

A husband and wife with degrees from the Parks and Recreation Management Program at Western Carolina University have established an endowed fund to support students who are following in their footsteps at their alma mater and to equip PRM professors with additional resources.  

WCU Foundation Board members

New faces join WCU Foundation Board; departing members recognized

Three new members have joined the Western Carolina University Foundation Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, while four departing board members were recently recognized for their service and contributions.  

Alexis Harp

Young alumni spotlight: Harp passes on guidance as Greek life adviser

Alexis Harp was lost her first few semesters of undergrad. Imposter syndrome was hitting her hard. She was a first-generation college student navigating the world of higher education, and to top it all off, she originally didn’t even want to go to college.   

Casey Cooper, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Josh Dobson and Nora Lynn Finch

Josh Dobson, Nora Lynn Finch sworn in as members of the WCU Board of Trustees

Josh Dobson and Nora Lynn Finch were sworn in as members of Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees during the regular board meeting held on Friday, Sept. 5.   

Chancellor Brown talks about the trophy

Annual faculty-staff giving challenge resumes this fall

An annual effort to encourage faculty and staff members to make financial contributions to Western Carolina University is now underway, including the resumption of a friendly competition among campus divisions and academic colleges.  

Killian Building with Cherokee sculpture

WCU–CIHA partnership grows Cherokee’s next generation of healers

In the midst of ongoing staffing challenges across the healthcare industry, the innovative partnership between Western Carolina University (WCU) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) is doing exactly what a great pipeline should do -- it matches local talent with meaningful careers close to home, expands continuing education opportunities, and opens career-ladder pathways for enrolled members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI).   

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