Marching band director receives national music education award (2009)
Bob Buckner, director of WCU's Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, is one of the first two recipients of the Award for Excellence in Marching Music Education presented by MENC: The National Association for Music Education and Drum Corps International.
Distinguished professor earns Lifetime Achievement Award (2009)
Robert J. Conley, the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University, is the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.
Ron Rash wins SIBA award for best fiction with "Serena" (2009)
Ron Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture at Western Carolina University, is winner of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance book award in the category of fiction for his novel “Serena.”
WCU studio engineer wins national Emmy (2009)
John E. Wells, studio engineer with Western Carolina University’s School of Music, was part of a team that won an Emmy award for coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
WCU's Catherine Carter wins 2009 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition (2009)
Catherine Carter, an assistant professor of English at Western Carolina University, has won the 2009 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network.
Engineering professor wins regional teaching award (2009)
Aaron Ball, professor of engineering and technology, was honored with the 2009 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Southeastern section of the American Society for Engineering Education.
Sean O'Connell named one of UNC system's top teachers (2009)
Sean O’Connell, associate professor of microbiology at WCU, has been named one of the best teachers in the University of North Carolina system for the creative ways he transforms students into not only scientists but also citizens aware of the world’s delicate environmental balance.
Rock photo exhibit curated by WCU's Jon Jicha wins top honors at Ohio art awards event (2009)
An exhibition of gelatin silver photographs chronicling the early days of rock ‘n’ roll music that debuted at Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum was recently named best cultural exhibition by Northern Ohio Live during its 2009 Awards of Achievement celebration in Cleveland.
A poem by professor Catherine Carter will enjoy a new life as a musical creation on the London stage this summer.
History professor awarded Fulbright Fellowship (2009)
Vicki Szabo, associate professor of history at WCU, was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to continue creating a database to identify whale species from artifacts and examine historical whale-hunting patterns.
Professor to be honored as N.C. Athletic Training Educator of the Year (2009)
Jill Manners, associate professor and clinical education coordinator for WCU’s athletic training program, has been named the 2009 North Carolina Athletic Training Educator of the Year by the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association.
English professor's poem chosen for 'The Best American Poetry of 2009' (2009)
A poem by Catherine Carter, director of Western Carolina University’s English education program, was recently selected to be published in “The Best American Poetry 2009.”
N.C. Legislature appoints professor to offshore energy study committee (2009)
Rob Young, director of WCU’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, has been appointed to serve on the N.C. General Assembly’s Offshore Energy Exploration Study Committee.
Professor wins science education outstanding service award (2008)
Patricia Bricker, assistant professor of elementary and middle grades education, received the 2008 Jo Duckett Wallace Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service in Science Education at the Elementary Level, an award given by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association.
Professor honored for contributions to school counseling profession (2008)
Mary Deck, professor of counseling, received the 2008 Ruth McSwain Distinguished Professional Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to the School Counseling Profession, the highest award given by the North Carolina School Counselor Association.
Professor honored for service to wilderness medicine organization (2008)
Keith Wells, an assistant professor of health sciences in the emergency medical care program, recently won the 2008 Founders Award from the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine.
WCU author Ron Rash garnering high praise for new novel 'Serena' (2008)
Ron Rash’s novel “Serena” not only was named to the Publishers Weekly “Best Books of the Year” list but also came in at No. 7 on the online retailer Amazon’s list of the 100 best books of 2008 – accolades that have been accompanied by a flurry of glowing reviews in newspapers and magazines across the nation.
Dean elected president of N.C. Conference of Graduate Schools (2008)
Scott Higgins, dean of the Graduate School and Research, is the new president of the North Carolina Conference of Graduate Schools.
Starnes appointed to N.C. Historical Commission (2008)
Richard Starnes, head of the history department, was appointed to the North Carolina Historical Commission.
Rash wins Wolfe Award for short story collection 'Chemistry' (2008)
Ron Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture, has been named recipient of the 2008 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award for his compilation of short stories, “Chemistry and Other Stories.”
Sequoyah Professor Robert Conley to receive Indian author award (2008)
Robert J. Conley, the newly appointed Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies, has been selected to receive the 2009 American Indian Festival of Words Author Award.
Professor elected to state historical society (2008)
Elizabeth Gillespie McRae, associate professor of history and director of social sciences education, has been elected to membership in the Historical Society of North Carolina. The society is limited to 75 members, who are elected based on publications, professional reputation and contributions to the state and the historical profession.
Professor named to N.C. historian association board (2008)
David Dorondo, associate professor of history, has been elected as an at-large member to the board of the North Carolina Association of Historians.
Music professor named one of UNC system's top teachers (2008)
Will Peebles, professor of music, has been named one of the best teachers in the University of North Carolina system, earning praise for helping students discover how to teach themselves.
WCU-based employee to lead statewide disaster recovery program (2008)
The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center has tapped Western Carolina University-based disaster recovery counselor Adrianne Gordon to manage the state’s two disaster recovery loan programs.
New Mexico film festival selects professor to be judge, presenter (2008)
Jack Sholder, professor and director of the motion picture and television production program, will be a judge and presenter at Eastern New Mexico University’s High Plains Film Festival.
Professor wins prize at scholars conference (2008)
Robert F. Mulligan, associate professor of economics, received the Ludwig von Mises Institute’s O.P. Alford III Prize in Libertarian Scholarship.
International beach preservation trust names Rob Young to advisory board (2008)
Rob Young, director of WCU's Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, was appointed to the advisory board of the Santa Aguila Charitable Trust, an international organization devoted to the protection and preservation of beaches around the world.
Professor named PEN/Faulkner finalist for short story collection "Chemistry" (2008)
Ron Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture, has been named one of four finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the largest peer-juried prize for fiction in the United States, for his compilation of short stories, “Chemistry and Other Stories.”
Communication and media relations staff earn regional awards (2008)
Four communication and media relations efforts at WCU won awards at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's District III conference in Atlanta.
Professor selected to judge international film festival (2008)
The Fantasporto Oporto International Film Festival will feature Jack Sholder, director of the program in motion picture and television production, as a member of the jury for the film competition.
Short story collection by WCU's Ron Rash named "notable" book (2008)
“Chemistry and Other Stories,” a compilation of 15 short stories by Ron Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture at WCU, has been named one of 15 “notable books” of 2007 by The Story Prize committee.
Director of athletic bands wins education award (2008)
Bob Buckner, director of athletic bands at WCU, won the 2007 Music Education Advocate Award from the North Carolina Music Educators Association.
University police chief earns doctorate (2008)
Thomas C. Johnson, chief of WCU’s police department, joined a small group of police executives who hold doctoral degrees when he was awarded a doctorate in instructional systems and work force development from Mississippi State University.
Student center director wins regional award (2008)
James Contratto, assistant director for programs at A.K. Hinds University Center, has won a regional New Professional Award for 2007 from the Association of College Unions International.
Professor named Fulbright peer reviewer (2007)
Anna Fariello, curator of the craft revival digital collection and visiting associate professor at WCU, recently was named museology specialist peer reviewer for the United States Fulbright Commission.
English professor’s book wins state poetry award (2007)
The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association awarded the 2007 Roanoke-Chowan Prize for Poetry to Catherine Carter, director of WCU’s English education program, for “The Memory of Gills,” her first published book of poetry.
Professor selected to Olympic Park Institute board, N.C. coastal panel (2007)
Rob Young, professor of geosciences and director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, was invited to serve on the board of directors of the Olympic Park Institute in Washington and the Science Panel on Coastal Hazards, which advises the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission.
Theatre professor and student to present at national conference (2007)
The Southeast Section of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology selected a WCU faculty member and student to represent the region at the national conference in Houston.
Accounting professor wins state educator award (2007)
Sue Swanger, director of WCU’s master’s degree program in accountancy, recently won the Outstanding Educator Award from the N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Faculty member, student receive national awards for radio work (2007)
A faculty member and one of his students received national awards for radio production work at the Broadcast Education Association Convention Festival of Media Arts.
Math professor named one of UNC system’s top teachers (2007)
Julia Ann Barnes, associate professor of mathematics and computer science at WCU, has been named one of the best teachers in the University of North Carolina system, earning praise for using creative ways to help her students understand difficult mathematical concepts.
Professor elected president of N.C. Political Science Association (2007)
Claudia Bryant, assistant professor of political science at WCU, was recently elected president of the North Carolina Political Science Association.
Bob Buckner to direct first-ever, high-school All-American Marching Band (2007)
Bob Buckner, director of athletic bands, helped launch the first-ever, high-school All-American Marching Band and served as show coordinator and director of the ensemble.
Ron Rash novel named a top 10 read for young adults (2007)
The Young Adult Library Services Association honored “The World Made Straight,” a novel by Ron Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture at WCU, with one of the 2007 Alex Awards.
Trumpet professor to perform at St. Bart's Music Festival (2007)
P. Bradley Ulrich, professor of trumpet, has been invited to perform at the internationally famous St. Bart’s Music Festival.
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Last Modified: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009