Dear Friends:


I am excited to share with you the incredible outcomes from our year-long branding and marketing initiative. Included as a major priority in our strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence, this rebranding project will strengthen our brand and create a comprehensive strategy that will unify marketing efforts university-wide, boost our reputation, set us apart from our competitors and more effectively tell the Winthrop story.


We held a brand launch event on March 25 where we debuted our new tagline, “Bring the You,” and displayed examples of new marketing pieces. Our partner agency was on hand to explain the creative process that ultimately captured what makes us, us. Please read more about this new look on pages 2-3.


I also encourage you to read other content in this edition as well, including:


• A look at some of Winthrop’s most unique course offerings. Did you know we offer a class on “The Lord of the Rings” book trilogy?;


• Alumni who are taking the social media world by storm;


• The single largest cash gift - $2.5 million - received in Winthrop history given in honor of retired educator Virginia Bellune Collier ’30;


• Compelling profiles on students Tim Speaks and Itala Flores; and • The latest campus happenings, alumni news and university advancement updates.


Please enjoy this magazine edition. I hope you are as thrilled with all that is happening here as I am. As always, your support is deeply appreciated. If you’re near campus this spring, I encourage you to stop by and see how beautiful Winthrop is this time of year and check out the new branding popping up.


Winthrop Ever Stand,


WINTHROP UNIVERSITY


Edward A. Serna ’02 President


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


JOEL HAMILTON ’06 Chair, Rock Hill


KATHY HUDSON BIGHAM ’73 Rock Hill


JOHN BRAZELL ’93 Columbia


RANDY IMLER ’87, ’00 Tega Cay


RICHARD LEE ’82 Rock Hill


DAVID MCDONALD ’01 LEXINGTON


TIM SEASE ’87 Mt. Pleasant


JANET RICE SMALLEY ’72 Walhalla


SANDRA STROMAN ’73, ’76 Chester


ISAIAH VENNING ’95, ’00 Rock Hill


ADAM GLOVER Faculty Liaison to the Board


MAURA CONWAY Staff Liaison to the Board


EMANYA ROACH Student Liaison to the Board


ASHLYE WILKERSON ’05 Columbia


GARY WILLIAMS ’11 Rock Hill


EDWARD A. SERNA ’02 President


AMANDA JAMES


Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing


ELLEN WILDER-BYRD ’88, ’94 Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing


1 CAMPUS NEWS 18 | ADVANCEMENT NEWS 20 | ALUMNI NEWS 22 | CLASS NOTES 23 | MILESTONES 24 EDITORIAL STAFF


MONICA BENNETT, editor JILL STUCKEY ’02, ’07, director of printing and creative services PETER AIRHEART, senior designer


contributing writers:


NICOLE CHISARI ’09, ’16 JUDY LONGSHAW


About the cover: President Edward Serna ’02 posed with the new Eagle wings on March 25. Read more about the branding on pages 2-3.


NOTES


Winthrop Magazine is published for alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of Winthrop University by University Communications and Marketing.


Winthrop University offers equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational activities.


All cities referenced in editorial content are located in South Carolina unless otherwise indicated.


WHAT’S INSIDE "BRING THE YOU" BRANDING UNVEILED UNIQUE AND QUIRKY CLASSES OFFERED ALUMNI SOCIAL MEDIA STARS TAKE FLIGHT LARGEST ALL-CASH GIFT IN WINTHROP HISTORY TIM SPEAKS MAKES THE MOST OF HIS WINTHROP TIME ITALA FLORES CRAFTS HER OWN ART PATH


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