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WCU Stories

Noyce Scholars at WCU

NSF grant totaling more than $1.4 million helps jumpstart WCU Smoky Mountain Noyce Scholars Program

The past three years have been busy for Sloan Despeaux, professor in Western Carolina University’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and her colleagues.  

Hungarian Fulbright trip

WCU faculty, staff visit Hungary through Fulbright Commission

Earlier this summer, Ingrid Bego, director of International Studies at Western Carolina University, and Wes Milner, executive director of WCU Global, were invited by the Fulbright Commission to attend a week-long visit in Hungary to strengthen the partnership between universities in Appalachia and Hungarian higher education institutions.   

Lisa Briggs (right) works with a HRD K-9 and handler at a WCU training.

WCU human remains detection expert Lisa Briggs debunks false HRD K-9 information surrounding Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

Lisa Briggs, director of Western Carolina University’s Human Remains Detection K-9 training program and Emergency Disaster Management program, and Edwin Grant, an HRD K-9 program instructor and long-time law enforcement officer, have been deployed with their HRD K-9s since the start of the recovery process for missing persons in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene's devastation.   

Tammy Barron in Colombian classroom

WCU professor shares co-instruction expertise with teachers in Colombia

Western Carolina University has been engaged with Central and South American schools since 1978. Faculty travel and hold classes in various regions of Colombia, focusing on leadership in international schools. Tammy Barron, an associate professor in Western Carolina University’s College of Education and Allied Professions, has continued that long-time relationship by taking her expertise in co-teaching and instruction abroad.   

ecuador trip 2

From the Smokies to the Andes, WCU students visit Ecuador as part of tropical ecology and biogeography course

The ecological and biogeographical difference between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Andes Mountains are numerous, but there are few things they do have in common.  

shanghai

Plans underway for College of Business travel course to China in summer 2025

The fall semester may have just begun, but that hasn’t stopped two faculty members in the College of Business from turning some of their attention toward next summer when they will team-teach a travel course in China.  

erasmus grant 1

Students, faculty visit Technical University of Sofia through Erasmus+ grant

WCU faculty and students recently had the opportunity to visit Technical University of Sofia in Bulgaria through an Erasmus+ grant.  

nursing grant

School of Nursing receives UNC System grant

WCU submitted a detailed proposal outlining the needs and plans for its nursing program, which resulted in the award of $2,474,700 to expand and enhance its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.  

Waynesville mural 1

Connecting the past with the present, WCU students help with mural installation in Waynesville

Bringing together WCU students, community members and a New York City artist, turned into a work of art that celebrates the past, present and future.  

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