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Alumna's Sight Set on Optometry

Madison Dunning’s mom had crystal-clear vision when she saw her daughter’s potential as an optometrist, even before Madison herself knew what her passion was.

“I always knew I liked science, but I also knew that I really wanted to work with people,” Dunning said.

She attended UNCW to participate in research opportunities for biology and marine biology students, but at her mom’s suggestion, Dunning also looked outside the campus to explore her interests. After being introduced to optometrist Tracey Glendenning through the Catholic Campus Ministry, Dunning saw that she was indeed on the right path. She shadowed Glendenning at the MyEyeDr. office on Racine Drive during the spring 2015 semester and was hired as an optometric technician that summer.

Last fall, Dunning was accepted to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, the same school that the doctors she works with attended.

“Optometry is a challenging yet extremely rewarding career, and I can’t wait to restore, preserve and maintain the gift of sight for my future patients.”

Read more at We Are UNCW.

2017 Cameron School of Business Outstanding Alumni Honorees

Mike Barton '68, Hope Campbell '91 and Chris Dentiste '85 were honored as the 2017 Cameron School of Business Outstanding Alumni during CSB’s annual Business Week. The recipients joined other alumni and faculty for a recognition breakfast on March 29.

Mike Barton studied accounting and went on to found three companies in the fields of healthcare, hospital management and physician practices after earning an M.B.A. from Georgia Southern University. Though he currently resides in Tennessee, he never forgets his time at UNCW.

It was a few years after graduating with a degree in business management before Hope Campbell mustered the courage to tell her dad and uncle she wanted to join the family business. She is now the President of Clearwater Enterprises Inc., one of her family’s businesses that oversees Camp Clearwater, North Carolina’s largest family campground.

While earning his degree in economics, Chris Dentiste worked in what is now known as the Swain Center. Today, Dentiste is vice president and CFO of RSA, a division of Dell EMC that provides industry-leading cybersecurity products to more than 30,000 organizations worldwide. In addition to Hall’s mentorship, Dentiste credits UNCW’s small class sizes as one of the factors in his success.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Former Student Athlete Turned Mentor

Martin Jarmond ’01 oversees day-to-day operations at The Ohio State University Department of Athletics, but his most important job is being a mentor to student-athletes.

“There is nothing better than being able to help someone and for them to say that you played a small role in how they developed or where they ended up,” said Jarmond, deputy athletic director and chief of staff at The Ohio State University.

The support Jarmond received as a UNCW student-athlete sparked a desire to help young people develop and navigate their own journeys.

Jarmond, who was recently named to the Sports Business Daily Journal's Forty Under 40 Class of 2017, was a member of the UNCW men’s basketball team from 1998-2001. He served as team captain and was selected for the CAA All-Academic team in 2000. One of his fondest memories at UNCW was when the team won the CAA tournament in 2000, which punched the Seahawks’ ticket to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

“I’ll never forget all of the people that lined the streets coming into town and all over campus when we pulled into Trask,” he recalled. “It was as if the entire Wilmington community all came out to welcome us home. The pride and joy that our Seahawk basketball team brought to campus and the community is something I’ll never forget.”

Read more at We Are UNCW.

A Couple in Life & Professional Colleagues

Becky and Brad Walker have helped mold many a teacher – in Southeastern North Carolina and beyond. The Watson College of Education faculty members, a couple in life and professional colleagues at work, never tire of guiding their students on the journey toward a challenging and rewarding career.

“I love working at UNCW,” said Brad, an associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education. “It’s been a dream job for me. Everyone works hard to make sure our students have the best experience possible."

Becky Walker ’97M is an instructor often found working with WCE students in the Betty Holden Stike Education Laboratory. The “Ed Lab” supports elementary and middle-grade instruction, special education and graduate courses and enables education majors to hone their teaching skills by working with children.

Working together has been a blessing, the Walkers say, and they’ve been spotted holding hands as they walk through the Education Building. One of their favorite spots is in North Carolina Teachers Legacy Hall, the large atrium that includes a glimpse of education history as well as recognitions of top teachers and principals in the region. To them, it is a constant reminder of the colleagues they have worked with over the years and that education is a collaborative effort.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Twenty-seven Years and Counting

Decorative solar dancing animals are the first thing people notice when they walk into the office of Beth Roberts '80, '05M in the Division for University Advancement. She uses them as ice-breakers for conversations she has when people drop by her office.

“I keep them in the window, they do their little dance and they get dusted a couple of times a year,” she said. “Besides, I’m not good with plants.”

The solar animals will remain a fixture in her office for a while, she said. Roberts ’80, ’05M has no plans to retire after 26 years at UNCW.

“It has been a lot of fun and I have learned a lot,” Roberts said. “I don’t know of any other place where I would have had such a well-rounded life. There are so many opportunities to participate in the community and be a lifelong learner.”

Roberts has worked with various departments and divisions across campus. She began her career in the biology department as an administrative secretary in 1991. Over time, her career shifted to focus on numbers.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Congratulations 2017 Alumni Award Winners

Darion Jeralds ’10, ’14M; Chad Porter ’98; and Chip Mahan have demonstrated personal commitment to community engagement while achieving outstanding professional success. In recognition of their accomplishments, the UNCW Alumni Association presented them with awards on Feb. 3, 2017. Jeralds was named Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year; Porter, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year; and Mahan, Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

For Darion Jeralds, the senior sourcing manager for Global Nuclear Fuel, his UNCW experience prepared him for a smooth transition into the corporate world. His career path started with a class in business operations. After the final project, his professor invited Jeralds to interview for an internship with GE. The internship led to an entry-level opportunity. Jerald’s time on the men’s basketball team helped him develop the character, work ethic and determination to thrive during early career roles, he said.

Chad Porter, a motivational speaker and trainer who works with small businesses and Fortune 500 companies across the nation, also donates countless hours as a mentor to students of all ages. Porter earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from UNCW and a graduate degree in physical therapy from East Carolina University. His professional experience includes roles in real estate, at the Coastal Rehabilitation Hospital and as the founder of Porter Financial Group. Today, Porter is a member of the Zig Ziglar International Team, an elite group of highly skilled and knowledgeable corporate trainers.

For more than a decade, Chip Mahan has supported UNCW through service and giving. He has served as a member of the UNCW Board of Visitors, the Foundation Endowment Board and the Cameron School of Business Advisory Board. Mahan, founder, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Live Oak Bank, is also a founding member of nCino and serves on its board of directors. Prior to his work with Live Oak Bank, he served as CEO and chairman of the board for S1 Corporation and founder of Security First Network Bank, the world’s first internet bank.

Read more about these award recipients at We Are UNCW.

Pursuit of Professional Passions

Matthew Kane '16 did more than “talk the talk” as a young entrepreneur; he “walked the walk” by running his own business – a fitness center – before he graduated from UNCW’s Entrepreneurship and Business Development program in May 2016. His drive left an indelible mark at UNCW, where he was honored as the 2016 Outstanding Graduate in Entrepreneurship and Business Development.

This success came after a lauded career in the military. From 2008 to 2012, Kane served as a Scout Sniper Team Leader in the United States Marine Corps with tours in Afghanistan, Haiti, Oman, Kuwait and Djibouti. He garnered a number of recognitions, including a Combat Action Ribbon, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Kane currently works as a requirements analyst for Deloitte Consulting LLP in Arlington, VA. The job allows him to combine two of his passions – problem solving and public-facing service – while also learning more about how businesses and agencies operate.

“My favorite part of my job is the ability to support multiple federal agencies as they work toward accomplishing their missions,” he said. “I also enjoy the fast pace and small-team aspects of consulting.”

UNCW will always be special to him because both he and his wife, Austin Kane ’09, are alumni. He is still in touch with Professor Stephen Harper, whom he credits for helping him see what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur and motivating him to work as hard as possible to capture the opportunities in front of him.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Making a Career of Counseling

His family had some reservations about him studying psychology. “They saw it as a fringe career path – one that was reserved ‘for others,’” James Zanker '01 said.

He worked and paid for all of his schooling without having to take out any student loans. In addition to earning a bachelor’s in psychology from UNCW, he received a Master of Arts Service Agency Counseling Degree from UNC Pembroke and is now the proud owner of Zanker Counseling Services, located in downtown Wilmington, NC.


“I had known for my entire cognizant life that I was talented at subjects related to human services and psychology,” he said. “I chose UNCW because of its fine reputation, the fact that is was part of the reputable UNC system and because of UNCW’s excellent psychology department.”

While at UNCW, he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and Psi Chi Psychology National Honor Society. He also served as a Student Ambassador and was a member of the UNCW Crew Team.

A licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor and licensed clinical addiction specialist, Zanker loves what he is able to give others through mental health counseling, life coaching or music arts therapy through a related business, Zanker Music Arts Therapy.

“They are all a continual thrill for me and I am working on improving and increasing the level of services that I can provide within each format,” he says.


Read more at We Are UNCW.

UNCW Provided the Perfect Path

As a Pender County native, Stephania Bloodworth ’00 didn’t have to travel far for her college education – there was a place within commuting distance that fit her needs exactly.

“As I look back to my senior year in high school, really not knowing where I wanted to go to college, I think I had a fear of leaving home,” Bloodworth said. Nevertheless, she was determined to pursue a degree in accountancy, a field she was first introduced to in high school.


“The first and only college I applied to was UNCW, and it was the best choice that I have made,” she said. She attended classes in the Cameron School of Business as a commuter but also immersed herself in campus activities: the gospel choir, the Association for Campus Entertainment and more. “UNCW was small enough to feel like one big family, but also big enough to feel like you could meet people from various places.”

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Building UNCW's Culture of Philanthropy

Keith Fraser ’13, assistant director of annual giving, has the privilege of helping build a culture of philanthropy among the UNCW community.

“As a proud alumnus, I understand the importance of investing in UNCW,” he said. “Our investment in one another sends an important message to the Wilmington community, alumni and the state that we are accomplishing great things here.”

Prior to his current role, he served as a first-year admissions coordinator. While traveling and meeting prospective students and parents, he learned firsthand the importance of educational access and affordability for all students, regardless of their background or financial situation, which provides a rich context for his role in the Division for University Advancement.

“UNCW had a record-breaking year in fundraising. Nearly $15 million in gifts and commitments were made during 2015-16. Of those gifts made, 50 percent were less than $50. This is an incredible reminder that no gift is too small to make a big impact for our current and future students.”

Read more at We Are UNCW.

An Adaptable Anchor in UNCW's Growth

In a way, some stately old trees found on the UNCW campus are a metaphor for Wesley Padgett’s outlook on life.

“Having grown up here, I have had the opportunity to watch the university change in so many ways, but one of the constants that has always provided me peace were the majestic live oaks that adorn this campus,” said Padgett ’04, a Wilmington native and networking specialist in the Information Technology Services department.


“Through time, trends, fashions and movements, those oaks have always reminded me to remain anchored but also be adaptive. They are truly a treasure to this campus and a constant reminder to me to try to be the best that I can be without being the focal point of attention.”

As an ITS employee whose job is to keep the university’s voice and cable infrastructures working, Padgett considers himself part of the “backdrop” of UNCW. On the other hand, his work allows him to connect with many people daily in all departments and functions.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Increasing International Perspective with the Peace Corps

Serving as an education volunteer with the Peace Corps was a life-changing experience for Chris Cardona ’14. Not only did he immerse himself in a new culture, Chris also helped students in China build their confidence in speaking the English language.

Chris traveled to China after graduating from UNCW to teach English as a second language at a vocational high school in Wulong, China. For two years, he aided students in mastering English language competency and conversational skills while also serving as a mentor.

UNCW’s campus provided an atmosphere for meaningful conversations and to build genuine connections with professors, he added. “It’s also big enough that I could meet new interesting people every day. The growing international student population and the opportunity to study abroad made my experience enriching.”

Chris hopes to take what he learned from his Peace Corps experience to help youth in the North Carolina. 

Read more about Chris' story at We Are UNCW.

Changing Course & Paying it Forward

Cecil Reynolds ’75 had two desires as a youth – to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and to play professional baseball. In the summer of 1969, he had to choose between his two passions: He earned a presidential appointment to the Naval Academy and was drafted by the Mets.

Two weeks before Reynolds was to report for duty at Annapolis, he withdrew from the Naval Academy and signed with the Mets. After four years toiling in the minor leagues and making several all-star teams, Reynolds suffered a career-ending injury the year of his first major league contract, which set him on a new career path – research and child development.

It was a psychology course at UNCW that sparked his interest in the field, he recalled.

Today, Reynolds is a leader in the fields of school and educational psychology. He is a distinguished research scholar, and professor emeritus of educational psychology and neuroscience at Texas A&M University. He’s also the editor-in-chief of Archives of Scientific Psychology and associate editor of Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He is the author of more than 300 scholarly publications and author or editor of 55 books.

Reynolds was named the 1984 UNCW Distinguished Alumnus of the Year and a 1998 UNCW Razor Walker Award recipient for his contributions to the field. In an effort to help future researchers pursue their passion, Reynolds endowed a scholarship honoring psychology professor Robert Brown, whom he described as an excellent teacher, mentor and lifelong friend.

“We want to support opportunities for post-secondary and graduate education where and when we can. One of our hopes is that by modelling such support by giving back and not just talking about it, others will be inspired to give back as well. Giving back creates a rising tide, and it is true, a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Transfer, Temp to Full Time

In just six years, Lauren Auton ’12 has gone from a UNCW transfer student to a full-time staff member and graduate student at the university.

“I started out in the Office of the Dean of Students as a work-study student, became a temp after graduation and then a full-time staff member,” she says. She currently serves as the assistant for student conduct and community standards in that office.

Auton graduated with a degree in sociology and criminology and is currently working on a master’s in conflict management and resolution. She credits her education from UNCW for preparing her to work well with diverse populations – a big part of her role now.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Artist Turned Administrator

Donna Moore ’81 already possessed artistic talent when she enrolled at UNCW, but she credits her time at the university with opening her eyes to art’s broad influence on humanity and society. Today, as director of the Museum School at the Cameron Art Museum, she helps others develop their own special relationship with art.

“I started my studies with a personal connection to art, but I graduated from UNCW with a strong awareness and commitment to the life-changing power the arts can bring to everyone, everywhere,” she said.

As a work-study student at UNCW, Moore was given the job of assisting legendary Wilmington artist Claude Howell in the art department. He was a demanding mentor, but she learned much from him.

Read more at We Are UNCW.

Wilmington College Reflections

Almost 50 years later, Shirley Zeznock recounts the story of the impact Wilmington had on her and husband Eugene ‘67. 

“In 1965, my husband Eugene and I moved our young family to Wilmington, North Carolina and settled on Harbor Island. Eugene planned to finish a bachelor degree in Accounting that he had starting working on years before at what was then known as Wilmington College, now UNC Wilmington. The original college buildings sat across from New Hanover High School on Market Street. At the time, Wilmington College only offered associate degrees and a large percentage of the student body was comprised of enlisted service men returning from the Korean War.

Our return to Wilmington was very exciting. We had previously lived in Wilmington in 1956 to 1957 and at that time I was a new Registered Nurse working the night shift at James Walker Hospital on Rankin Street.

During our second two years living back in Wilmington, 1965 to 1966, I had the best job ever at Babies Hospital. This children’s hospital originally opened in 1920 and was located on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway just before the first bridge to Wrightsville Beach. I had returned to Wilmington as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and was the sole anesthetist in the hospital. I previously had worked in a large and busy operating room so this new job felt almost like a vacation.

I lived five minutes from Babies Hospital. The daily schedule usually was finished by late morning and even though I was on standby six days a week for emergencies, I had lots of time to… take a few college courses. All the new-found free time gave me the opportunity to work with the Wilmington College Marine Biology department which was right next door to Babies Hospital. They were doing a wide range of studies that I found very interesting and they even had an adopted seal named Lucille on site.

We left after the Wilmington College graduation ceremony in 1967 for improved job opportunities near Philadelphia but throughout the years our connection to the area remained strong… and after our retirement in 1995, we permanently moved back to Wilmington. We still remember and cherish all the opportunities made possible for us here."

An Advocate for Equitable Education

As a young man growing up in rural North Carolina, Sherick Hughes ’97 experienced inequities and opportunities at the intersection of race, class, gender, education and desegregated schools. He later witnessed those same inequities and opportunities while working with urban and rural public elementary school youth in North Carolina and Ohio.

His experiences sparked a desire to advocate and seek solutions that would provide equitable educational opportunities to all.

Over the years, Hughes’ work has aided in the advancement of education. His research was applied to a N.C. Supreme Court case involving schools; to rural extension education efforts in Pennsylvania; urban education policy efforts in Indiana; and, most recently, his research on the myth and math of affirmative action was requested by national- and local-level legal advisors. “It has the potential to be used in pending cases regarding race-conscious college admissions,” he said.

Read more about Sherick at We Are UNCW.

Meet the New Chapter Leadership

Joey Morganthall – Charlotte Area President

Grad Year: 2007

School & Major: Cameron School of Business, Business Administration & College of Arts and Sciences, Communications Studies

Current Employment: Broker, MPV Properties

Activities as a student: Vice President – Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, 4 Years- Club Soccer Team

What motivated you to get involved with the Alumni Association?

I wanted to give back to UNCW because of the quality experience I had at UNCW.  I want to ensure that my education at UNCW is a long term investment, and that Alumni continue to give back and help raise the standards of the University. 

Juliana Nesbit – Watson College of Education President

Grad Year: 2006

School & Major: Watson College of Education, Social Studies Certification,  B. A. in History, 

Current Employment: Social Studies Teacher at Topsail High School

Activities as a student: NC Teaching Fellow

What motivated you to get involved with the Alumni Association? I enjoy being able to give back to the university and the Watson College. I like the networking opportunities, building connections between the university and community, and having an inside look at how certain things at the university are run.

Will Owens – Triangle Area President

Grad Year: 1998

School & Major: College of Arts & Sciences, Sociology and Criminology  

Current Employment: Attorney/Partner, Owens & Miller, PLLC

What motivated you to get involved with the Alumni Association?

I gained a lot from my experience at UNCW, and want to give back to the extent I am capable from 120 miles west of Wilmington.  Through the Alumni Association, I've been able to both reconnect with former classmates, and also meet other alumni from other classes and even other generations.  We've formed good friendships and even a few business relationships.  By volunteering with the alumni association, I'm hopeful of helping other Seahawks foster the same positive experience. 

Jamie Kury Thompson – Communications Studies President

Grad Year: 2003

School & Major: College of Arts & Sciences, Communication Studies and French

Current Employment: Development Director, Coastal Horizons Center

Activities as a student: Alpha Phi, French Club, Study Abroad in Marseille and Paris

What motivated you to get involved with the Alumni Association?

I have had the pleasure of working with interns from the Communications Studies department over the last 8 years. It has been an incredible experience and it made me realize that I really enjoy staying involved with UNCW. It is so wonderful to see how much the department has grown since I was an undergrad and I want to find ways to be of service to a university that did so much for me as a student and now as a professional.   

Lifelong Marine Biology Dreams Realized

Madeline Marens ’12 knew at the age of 5 that she wanted to be a marine biologist – a dream she never outgrew. She majored in marine biology and achieved her goal, landing a job as an aquarist at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

“I really enjoy the aquarium setting and feel like I can be engaged in shark conservation initiatives there,” she said. “The aquarium serves as an instrumental public agency to inspire and commit to the conservation of the environment. I enjoy the hands-on aspect of it.”

Marens credits several UNCW professors – Fred Scharf, Tom Lankford, Ann Pabst and Marcel Van Tuinen – for her passion for conservation.

“The education I received as an undergrad and now as a graduate student has helped me achieve the career I dreamed of as a child,” she said.

Find out more about Madeline at We Are UNCW.