LeadHER Up
Explore the stories about women at WCU advancing their careers and maximizing their impact.
Stories of Western Women on the Rise
WCU information systems professor wins international association award for excellence
Barbara Jo White, professor of information systems in the College of Business at Western Carolina University, is recipient of the International Association for Computer Information Systems 2026 Ben Bauman Award for Excellence.
Named in memory of a longtime member, officer and director of the association and a retired professor at James Madison University, the prestigious Bauman Award recognizes a faculty member who has compiled an outstanding record of scholarship, teaching and professional service and who has made significant contributions to their university and profession over many years, said G. Daryl Nord, IACIS executive director.
WCU Nursing faculty receive grant to study loneliness in rural elders
Western Carolina University School of Nursing faculty members April Messer and Angie Trombley recently received a $10,000 grant from the Daisy Foundation to conduct a project titled “Nurse-Led Social Connection for Rural Elder Adults.”
Their research will facilitate social connection groups with elder adults, obtaining valuable data on how loneliness affects them.
What if Independence Doesn’t Mean Needing Less Support?
What if independence isn’t about needing less support—but having more dependable ways to get it when you need it?
That question is at the heart of a new research project at Western Carolina University exploring whether individuals can come together to create ways of giving and receiving support within their communities.
Yiqing Yang, associate professor of sociology in WCU’s Department of Anthropology and Sociology, is leading the project through KinLoop, a technology-supported model grounded in a conceptual framework Yang calls structured reciprocity.
WCU health sciences faculty member receives $840K grant for research consortium
Caitlin Torrence, professor in Western Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, recently received an $840,000 grant to fund a Health Policy Research Consortium over the next two years.
The consortium, made up of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Appalachian State University, East Tennessee State University, and the WNC Health Network, will conduct research within the community targeted around four focus areas: mental health, food security, substance abuse and housing.
“It’s not to say that we’re not going to do research in other areas, but those are the areas that our universities came together and said are a really important piece of improving health,” said Torrence.
To address the unique challenges that the region faces when serving the needs of those affected by those target areas, Torrence will leverage her existing relationships with a wide range of groups that will serve on an advisory committee. These groups range from county health departments to local food banks and local nonprofits. Torrence will be working with these groups to pursue, inform, and design the studies that the consortium will be conducting.
Hinnant-Crawford returns to CEAP as Bardo Distinguished Professor
This August, Brandi Hinnant-Crawford will join the College of Education and Allied Professions faculty as the John and Deborah Bardo Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership. Her return is a homecoming that continues a nearly decade-long tenure as a Catamount and more than 12-year career as a researcher and professor.
Hinnant-Crawford specializes in teaching educators how to understand the systems and limitations governing their institutions. Master’s and doctoral students learn to conduct research and operate pragmatically to lead change within their operations and better serve their students.
WCU interior design student lands internship with NASA
Alicia Littlejohn has always been fascinated with space, so when there was an opportunity to intern with NASA, she jumped at the chance.
But the Western Carolina University senior isn’t your typical NASA intern. She’s not studying physics, engineering or any other STEM-related field.
She’s an interior design major.
Littlejohn works with the Facility Utilization and Planning team at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, helping keep track of every space at the center and how to best use those spaces.
Jackson Native, WCU Alumna Named Development Director for Engineering, Tech College
Western Carolina University alumna Janna L. Deitz has been appointed director of development and corporate partnerships for the College of Engineering and Technology, bringing extensive experience in higher education, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. A former tenured professor, she represents a growing cohort of women leaders advancing institutional strategy beyond traditional academic roles.
In this position, Deitz will lead efforts to secure philanthropic and corporate support, highlighting the vital role women play in shaping innovation, partnerships, and long-term growth across higher education institutions.
WCU Raises Curtain on New Director of Development in College of Fine, Performing Arts
Western Carolina University has appointed alumna Karen Eye as director of development for the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, marking a return to campus in a key advancement leadership role. With prior experience in the university’s Division of Advancement, Eye brings a strong background in fundraising and relationship-building to support the arts.
In her new position, she will lead efforts to cultivate philanthropic support and partnerships, underscoring the growing influence of women leaders in advancing creative disciplines and institutional priorities through strategic fundraising and community engagement.
Book by WCU Professor Examines Ethical Issues in the Business of Sport
A new book by WCU professor Kadence Otto explores the ethical challenges shaping today’s sports industry. It examines issues such as performance-enhancing technology, sports gambling, and the complex decisions faced by athletes, coaches, and administrators.
Through real-world examples and ethical frameworks, Otto encourages current and future sport leaders to approach decision-making with integrity, responsibility, and accountability, helping them navigate difficult situations while prioritizing fairness and ethical leadership.
Weiler, Grist Receive $70k Grant to Assist NC School for the Deaf
WCU professors Jess Weiler and Cathy Grist have received a $70,000 grant from NC Collaboratory to support the North Carolina School for the Deaf. Their project will conduct an organizational assessment and provide guidance for the school’s transition to a new governance structure led by a Board of Trustees.
The initiative aims to strengthen educational practices and long-term outcomes for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, creating policies and strategies that better support their learning, growth, and success across North Carolina.
Young Alumni: Eliana Cruz Broadens her Horizons, Lands Job with Charlotte FC
Eliana Cruz, a 2024 Western Carolina University graduate, shows the power of thinking expansively and acting with confidence. While at WCU, Cruz explored multiple academic paths and took on leadership roles, including serving as president of the Latino Appreciation Student Organization, where she developed skills beyond the classroom.
By embracing exploration and being open to unexpected opportunities, Cruz ultimately landed a role as an account executive with Charlotte FC after a competitive interview process. Her journey underscores that strategic vision doesn’t always mean a linear plan—it means being willing to pivot, stretch, and pursue bold opportunities when they arise.
Library, Marketing Project Shows Value of Effective Interviewing Skills for Students
Sara Steiner, a librarian at Western Carolina University, demonstrates how strategic vision can expand the impact of teaching and learning beyond traditional roles. By partnering with a marketing faculty member, Steiner helped integrate interviewing and oral history techniques into coursework, bringing research, communication, and storytelling skills directly into the classroom.
Through this collaboration, Steiner emphasized the importance of preparation, active listening, and thoughtful reflection — skills that build students’ confidence, empathy, and cultural awareness. The project shows how instructional partnerships can shape curriculum in ways that better prepare students for professional and civic life.
Students from WCU, Auburn collaborate in design charette
During the fall 2025 semester, 30 interior design juniors from Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design (SOAD) embarked on an experience that extended well beyond the classroom, offering hands-on, real-world design and research opportunities through a collaborative design charette with Auburn University.
The project began in January 2025, when Johnnifer Patrice Brown, assistant professor of interior design at WCU, encountered a National Park Service marker for the historic Tankersley Rosenwald School in Hope Hull, Alabama. The site is part of a major historic preservation initiative led by faculty and students at Auburn University that has received more than $800,000 in grant funding for Phase I and II exterior and interior architectural design.
WCU names renovated women’s basketball locker room in honor of program matriarch
Three former members of the Western Carolina University women’s basketball team stepped up to the line to tip off the process of raising enough philanthropic support to name the current Catamount squad’s locker room after the founder of the program.
That opening shot has resulted in a resounding “swish,” as that locker room now bears the name of the individual who launched the program during an era when women’s intercollegiate athletics was primarily an afterthought.
The facility was officially christened the Betty Westmoreland Suhre Basketball Locker Room during a ceremony Friday, Dec. 12, in the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.
WCU to expand student support services for STEM students
Kristin Daiber, Director of WCU’s Office of Student Retention, has received a $1.4 million TRIO grant to expand support for low-income, first-generation, and disabled students pursuing STEM degrees. With STEM enrollment expected to double in the next five years, the grant will fund new staff dedicated to helping students manage rigorous coursework, navigate university systems, and access campus resources.
The program will offer one-on-one advising, financial aid and scholarship workshops, and guidance on both academic and personal challenges. Daiber’s team will also expose students to a wider range of STEM career paths, helping them connect their degrees to meaningful opportunities. She hopes the initiative becomes a permanent part of WCU’s student success efforts.
Student Spotlight: Senior Alexis Shafir Writes Grant for Local School’s Printing Press
Senior art-education major Alexis Shafir at Western Carolina University demonstrated leadership and initiative by writing a successful grant to bring a printing press to Blue Ridge School in Cashiers, NC. Identifying a gap in the school’s art program, she developed a proposal that highlighted the educational value of printmaking and secured funding for lasting student access. Faculty mentor Erin Tapley guided her through the process, showing the power of mentorship in professional growth. Alexis’s work illustrates how taking initiative, collaborating with mentors, and applying skills in real-world settings can create meaningful, sustainable impact.
Faculty Member Receives $9,000 to Conduct Autism Training Workshops Across NC
Malinda Pennington, an assistant professor at Western Carolina University, discovered her passion for supporting students with autism during a college internship that placed her in an autism classroom. That experience shaped her career in special education, where she now trains teachers to better meet the needs of autistic students.
Recently, Pennington received $9,000 in grants from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to fund autism training workshops across several counties. She has trained more than 250 educators and is developing materials for 160 more. Her workshops help teachers understand how autistic students learn visually, manage behaviors, and create “survival kits” with tools to support all types of learners.
Professors Receive Grant for Research on Indigenous Kichwa Influencers in the Amazon
Western Carolina University professors Dr. Georgia Ennis and Dr. Vincent Russell received a $9,912 grant from the Waterhouse Family Institute to continue their collaboration with Kichwa communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Partnering with the Association of Kichwa Midwives of the Upper Napo (AMUPAKIN), they use social media and digital storytelling to preserve language and culture. Building on previous workshops blending traditional practices with media training, the project empowers Kichwa women and youth to document and sustain their heritage for future generations.
Pre-Award Manager Samantha Ellithorpe Receives “Future of the Field” Award
Samantha Ellithorpe, Pre-Award Manager at Western Carolina University, has been named a recipient of the “Future of the Field” award by the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI), recognizing emerging leaders in research administration.
At WCU, Ellithorpe supports faculty from orientation through proposal submission, managing up to 20 projects at a time and helping submit over 300 proposals in just three years. She’s known for her service-driven approach, process improvements, and tools like budget templates and ResearchCat, an internal funding resource site.
An active presenter at major conferences including NCURA, NCRAA, and SRAI, she will be honored at SRAI’s annual meeting in San Antonio this fall.
Geraldine Riouff Featured as a SoTL Scholar
Geraldine Riouff, faculty in Environmental Health Sciences at WCU, is enhancing her teaching through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Academy. With a background in Public Health, she joined SoTL to develop data-informed, equitable teaching practices. Her current project aligns course content with National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career competencies to better prepare students for the workforce. A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Riouff models inclusive, student-centered teaching that bridges classroom learning with real-world impact.
April Tallant named director of Coulter Faculty Commons
After a national search, April Tallant has been selected as the new director of the Coulter Faculty Commons effective July 1.
“As a WCU graduate and former faculty member, I am deeply honored to serve as director of the Coulter Faculty Commons,” Tallant said. “WCU has shaped who I am, both personally and professionally, and I carry with me a profound respect for its history and the people who make it exceptional.”
Tallant has a strong record of teaching, administration, collaboration and leadership. After becoming a two-time WCU alum, Tallant served as an instructor at WCU while earning her PhD in community health education from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She then moved into a tenure-track position, ultimately earning the rank of tenured associate professor in the WCU School of Health Sciences.
Sara Snyder Hopkins – WCU’s ECHT project receives $450K grant from NEH
Unearthing history is nothing new to Cherokee Language Program director and associate professor Sara Snyder Hopkins. Thanks to a federal grant, she and a group of colleagues will continue to do so.
The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Hopkins and Western Carolina University a three-year, $450,000 grant, helping fund the Eastern Cherokee Histories in Translation project.
Three hundred thousand dollars of the grant is awarded outright with $150,000 in matching funds. The grant is the largest of four given to North Carolina universities by the NEH.
