As I near the completion of my first year as president, I have reflected on what a great year it has been.


Most recently, this spring, we were awed by our students' end-of-semester research, held our most successful Giving Day to date, hosted a historic inauguration, launched our strategic planning initiative, celebrated the 30th anniversary of the African American Studies program, saw our esports team win the inaugural Big South Championship, and held alumni events where I was able to meet many of you.


You can read about several of these good news items in this edition of the Winthrop Magazine. I also encourage you to read about:


• The fascinating research displayed at the Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors. I attended this event and was blown away at the level of research our students and faculty members are conducting;


• A field study by biology faculty and students who are tracking Eastern Box Turtles in nearby Chesterfield County thanks to a Carolina Wildlands Foundation grant;


• Our esports program's latest championship and new state-of-the-art home;


• Compelling profiles on alumni Fabian Broich '16, who is providing esports consulting to the Olympics this summer, and the Honorable DeAndrea Gist Benjamin '94, who was sworn in to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; as well as


• The latest campus happenings, alumni news and university advancement updates.


There are so many positive things that have happened this year, and I look forward to building upon this momentum and excitement next academic year.


As always, thank you for your continued loyalty as we work together to ensure a bright future for this place that we love.


Always an Eagle,


WR


INTH OP MAGAZINE


WHAT'S INSIDE A NEW DAY: INAUGURATION OF EDWARD A. SERNA THE SOURCE OF RESEARCH HELPING THE EASTERN BOX TURTLE SURVIVE ESPORTS PROGRAM LEVELS UP FABIAN BROICH TAPPED FOR ESPORTS OLYMPICS DEANDREA BENJAMIN’S ASCENT IN JUDICIARY


NOTES


02 08 12 16 18 20


CAMPUS NEWS 22 | ADVANCEMENT NEWS 24 | ALUMNI NEWS 26 | CLASS NOTES 28 | MILESTONES 32 EDITORIAL STAFF


MONICA BENNETT, editor PETER AIRHEART, senior designer


contributing writers:


NICOLE CHISARI ’09, ’16 JUDY LONGSHAW


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.


About the cover: President Edward Serna ’02 and his youngest daughter, Caroline, walked hand in hand before the start of his historic April 14 inauguration. Read more about the inauguration on pages 2-7. Photo courtesy of Suzanne (Sue) Farmer, a human nutrition major/photography minor.


WINTHROP UNIVERSITY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


GLENN MCCALL Chair, Rock Hill


Edward A. Serna ’02 President


KATHY HUDSON BIGHAM ’73 Vice Chair, Rock Hill


JOHN BRAZELL ’93 Columbia


ED DRIGGERS ’92 Greer


JOEL HAMILTON ’06 Rock Hill


RANDY IMLER ’87, ’00 Tega Cay


RICHARD LEE ’82 Rock Hill


DAVID MCDONALD ’01 GREENVILLE


TIM SEASE ’87 Mt. Pleasant


ROBBY SISCO ’80 Florence


JANET RICE SMALLEY ’72 Walhalla


ALICE MCLAINE Faculty Liaison to the Board


DEBBIE GARRICK ’87, ’89 Staff Liaison to the Board


MIGUEL CALDWELL ’23 Student Liaison to the Board


EDWARD A. SERNA ’02 President


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


SANDRA STROMAN ’73, ’76 Chester


ISAIAH VENNING ’95, ’00 Rock Hill


ASHLYE WILKERSON ’05 Columbia


GARY WILLIAMS ’11 Rock Hill


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