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WCU Stories

Sarah Parsons works on bee pollinator garden

Sarah Parsons continues campus pollinators work with UNC MRI grant

While insects have gotten a bad rap as “creepy crawlies” to be squished or stepped on, humanity is highly dependent on them. Many insects are integral to pollination, which is crucial to the survival of plant ecosystems and crops that keep people fed.   

Andrew Bobilya

Andrew J. Bobilya receives 2024 Dr. Betty van der Smissen Distinguished Researcher Award

Andrew J. Bobilya, director of Western Carolina University’s experiential and outdoor education master’s program, is the recipient of the 2024 Dr. Betty van der Smissen Distinguished Researcher Award.   

Leaves from the moon tree

Out of this world: ‘Moon Tree’ arrives on WCU campus

Amy Fagan, an associate professor in Western Carolina University’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources, knows she’s a bit of a space addict.  

Cherokee basket weaving

WCU alumna records 100,000th person into craftsman database

Isabel Driver knows how important the work she does is. As an intern with the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University, Driver etched 224 craftspeople into the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts’ craftsman database.  

Daniel J. Watts

Tony and Emmy-nominated multidisciplinary artist to perform at WCU as part of Fall Speaker Series

A Tony-nominated actor and spoken word artist will be making his way to Western Carolina University.  

Noyce Scholars at WCU

NSF grant totaling more than $1.4 million helps jumpstart WCU Smoky Mountain Noyce Scholars Program

The past three years have been busy for Sloan Despeaux, professor in Western Carolina University’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and her colleagues.  

Hungarian Fulbright trip

WCU faculty, staff visit Hungary through Fulbright Commission

Earlier this summer, Ingrid Bego, director of International Studies at Western Carolina University, and Wes Milner, executive director of WCU Global, were invited by the Fulbright Commission to attend a week-long visit in Hungary to strengthen the partnership between universities in Appalachia and Hungarian higher education institutions.   

Photo of Munene Mwaniki

Munene Mwaniki named WCU interim Global Black Studies director

Mwaniki, an associate professor of anthropology and sociology for the College of Arts and Sciences, was named the interim Global Black Studies director at WCU.  

Lisa Briggs (right) works with a HRD K-9 and handler at a WCU training.

WCU human remains detection expert Lisa Briggs debunks false HRD K-9 information surrounding Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

Lisa Briggs, director of Western Carolina University’s Human Remains Detection K-9 training program and Emergency Disaster Management program, and Edwin Grant, an HRD K-9 program instructor and long-time law enforcement officer, have been deployed with their HRD K-9s since the start of the recovery process for missing persons in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene's devastation.   

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