Dear Friends:


I am excited to share with you that after many months of hard work and valuable input from various constituencies, we are ready to launch our new strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence. This new plan will help guide us for the next several years as we set our sights on accomplishing an array of enhancements on campus and beyond. While we have been crafting the plan, we also have been busy making immediate progress on initiatives aligned with it:


• Academic Efficiencies – Data-driven inquiries to achieve cost savings across the colleges;


• New Degree Programs – Market-driven analysis to identify programs of promise and to impact workforce needs;


• Competency-Based Education – Investment in a new modality for online delivery for certificates, credentials and degrees;


• Campus Master Plan – Flexible blueprint for facilities and infrastructure needs for the next decade;


• Campus Beautification Initiative – Plan to ensure Winthrop’s historic campus remains among the most attractive in the region;


• Economic Impact Study – Data on Winthrop as an economic engine in the city, region and state, helping drive growth and vitality;


• Tuition Transparency – Alignment of tuition with peer institutions and clarify direct and out-of-pocket expenses; and


• Employee Satisfaction – Measure contentment level, commitment and motivation of employees to inform future enhancement.


I encourage you to read more about the strategic plan on pages 2-3 of this magazine, as well as the many other interesting and insightful articles showcasing here our students, faculty, and alumni and more. As always, thank you for your support and continued loyalty as we work together to ensure a bright future for this place that we love.


Always an Eagle, CAMPUS NEWS 16 | ADVANCEMENT NEWS 18 | ALUMNI NEWS 20 | CLASS NOTES 22 | MILESTONES 24 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: A recent aerial image by Sara McAllister ’09 showcases the university’s close proximity to Rock Hill’s revitalized Knowledge Park corridor.


WINTHROP UNIVERSITY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


GLENN MCCALL Chair, Rock Hill


KATHY HUDSON BIGHAM ’73 Vice Chair, Rock Hill


Edward A. Serna ’02 President


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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INTH OP MAGAZINE


WHAT'S INSIDE WINTHROP: UNITED IN EXCELLENCE PUBLIC ART PROMPTS CREATIVITY & INNOVATION ARCHIVES PRESERVES THE PAST ORIGINS OF THE ALMA MATER FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME SHARING STORIES OF THE VOICELESS


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