Dear Friends:


You’ve heard me say that Winthrop is on the rise, and much of that trajectory-shaping work fills our work days and beyond at the university right now. Enrollment indicators are the strongest they have been post-COVID. Admitted students are up over last year and two years ago, deposited freshmen and transfers are up, and our June Orientation sessions have been so full that we have added extra spots to accommodate our incoming Eagles. That success and excitement are mirrored in recent philanthropic accomplishments with fundraising totals this year already showing a more than 60 percent year-over-year increase over the past two years with an expected total of over $4.5 million on the fiscal year books by the end of June. Watch for details on several exciting new gifts in the coming months.


I couldn’t be more proud of these and other achievements that are building to the full launch this fall of our strategic plan, Winthrop: United in


Excellence. I hope you’ll take a few moments to read some additional great things happening at Winthrop in this magazine edition, such as:


• The 60th anniversary of integration, and how Winthrop acknowledged the milestone; • Tales from alumni who wore the Big Stuff mascot costume during their time at Winthrop; • The WinthropLIFE program and how it prepares students for independent living; • A collaborative partnership with Hope House to help those in need;


• Compelling profiles on Kevin James ’01, the 2023 HBCU President of the Year, and Brittany Lavis ’10, one of the youngest hospital CEOs in the country; and


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


Lastly, I hope you will make plans to join us on June 27 for our Day of Dedications. We’ll toast our new fountain and officially welcome alumni and friends to the Morgan-Holcombe Alumni Center at the Stewart House. It will be an afternoon of celebrating our generous project donors, and I hope to see you there.


Always an Eagle, WHAT'S INSIDE


BREAKING BARRIERS. BUILDING BRIDGES BRINGING BIG STUFF TO LIFE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR INDEPENDENCE STEPPING UP FOR NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEED SAVING DREAMS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA INVESTING IN OTHERS PAYS OFF


EDITORIAL STAFF


MONICA BENNETT, editor PETER AIRHEART, senior designer


contributing writers:


NICOLE CHISARI ’09, ’16 JUDY LONGSHAW


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.


About the cover: Big Stuff, our beloved mascot, embodies the Winthrop spirit at games and special campus events. Read more on pages 4-7 about some of the alumni who have brought the eagle to life..


WINTHROP UNIVERSITY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Edward A. Serna ’02 President


GLENN MCCALL Chair, Rock Hill


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


ADAM GLOVER Faculty Liaison to the Board


LEAH SIMMONDS ’23 Staff Liaison to the Board


ESTHER EKUNDAYO Student Liaison to the Board


SANDRA STROMAN ’73, ’76 Chester


ISAIAH VENNING ’95, ’00 Rock Hill


ASHLYE WILKERSON ’05 Columbia


GARY WILLIAMS ’11 Rock Hill


EDWARD A. SERNA ’02 President


JOSEPH MILLER


Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing


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


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CAMPUS NEWS 16 | ADVANCEMENT NEWS 18 | ALUMNI NEWS 20 | CLASS NOTES 22 | MILESTONES 25


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