Schedule of Concurrent Sessions

September 12, 2026 – Cullowhee Campus

Students are required to attend one (1) Community Connections Session, one (1) Campus Connections Session, and one (1) session of choice (in no particular order). Log your attendance and participation in the sessions using your CURE Passport.

Plan Your Experience

 

CURE is designed for students to engage, connect, and act. 

  • Be intentional in selecting your schedule of concurrent sessions – attend sessions that strike your interests, passions, and goals; have back-up options!
  • Collaborate and lean in – network with community partners and presenters; form groups/teams to serve; stop and reflect with yourself and others!
  • Commit to action and service – at the end of CURE have a plan for your service experience; schedule your service experience (as required for USI 101).

CURE Conference Schedule Overview

Time  Activity  Location 
8:30-9:00 

Presenter Check-in

Student Check-in (CURE Passport provided at check-in)

University Center Room 227

University Center Theater Third floor
9:00-9:30 Opening Plenary and Keynote Address  UC Grand Room Third floor 
Transition to University Center rooms and Killian Building for Concurrent Sessions 
9:40-10:20 Concurrent Session 1  Killian & University Center
10:30-11:10 Concurrent Session 2  Killian & University Center
11:20-12:00 Concurrent Session 3  Killian & University Center
12:10-12:30  Closing Plenary & Passport Pledge  University Center Grand Room Third floor 

Schedule of Community Connections Sessions

 

 Focus Area Community Connection Representatives
 Location Presentation Times

Poverty & Food Security

Dawn Netherly, Executive Director, Circles of Jackson County
website

Paige Christie, Executive Director, Community Table
website

 Killian 118

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Housing

Patricia Caddell, Homelssness Prevention Coordinator, Pisgah Legal Services
website

 Killian 116

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Healthcare Access

 Marissa Arreola, CCESL Public Health Coordinator, American Red Cross & Blood Connection
website		 Killian 108

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Youth Services

 Danielle Hernandez, Regional Program Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC
website		 Killian 107

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Environmental Stewardship

 Leigh Anne Young, President, Friends of the Jackson County Greenway
website		 Killian 106

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Animal Advocacy

 Caleb Lynch, Executive Director, CatMan2
website		 Killian 105

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Education

 Wendy Tidwell, EC Teacher, Smokey Mountain Elementary School Book Buddies Program
website		 Killian 102

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Civic Engagement

 Amanda Allen, Director, Jackson County Board of Elections
website		 Killian 104

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Community Involvement Fair

Note: You must register for this session BEFORE Tues, Sept 8th. Each session is capped at 75 students.

Register for Concurrent Session 1 HERE

Register for Concurrent Session 2 HERE

Register for Concurrent Session 3 HERE

 UC 309

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

 

Schedule of Campus Connections Sessions

Campus Connections
Presentation Options		 Location  Presentation Times 

Service & Careers

April McNiff, Assistant Director of Student Development, Center for Career & Professional Development

 University Center 232B

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Find Your Spark

Joy Mischley, Director, Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

 University Center 212

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

DegreePlus

Theresa Cruz Paul, Director, Center for Career & Professional Development

 University Center 232A

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

BHC Student Board of Directors Mini Grants

TBA, Community Service Director, BHC Student Board of Directors

 Killian 220

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:30 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:40 am – 11:30 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:40 am – 12:30 pm

WCU Student Organizations

Amanda Dorsey, Assistant Director of Student Organizations and Leadership, Campus Activities, Western Carolina University

 University Center 214

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Campus Leadership for Public Purpose

Julia Ottie & Megan Baker, WCU Honors Students Involved in Civic Engagement

 University Center 226

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Preserving Culture & History

Peter Koch, Interim Director, Mountain Heritage Center

 University Center 215

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

WCU Sustainable Campus Initiative

Lauren Bishop, Chief Sustainability Officer, Western Carolina University 

 Killian 305

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Partners in Peace

Layla Delgado & Grayson Burgess, Honors Students, Western Carolina University

 Killian 304

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Wellness Ambassadors

Claire Allison, Assistant Director of Health & Wellness Education, Western Carolina University

 University Center 232

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm

Connecting Service Learning with Honors Contracts

Colin Townsend, Honors Advisor, Brinson Honors College
Western Carolina University

 University Center 232

Concurrent Session 1

9:40 am – 10:20 am  

Concurrent Session 2

10:30 am – 11:10 am 

Concurrent Session 3

11:20 am – 12:00 pm