Campus Theme
Campus Theme 2024-26: WNC Mountain Life
Since 2010, WCU has selected an interdisciplinary theme for campus conversations, curricular and co-curricular connections, and enrichment. The primary focus is to educate and to offer a holistic look at something through multiple lenses. The Campus Theme for the 2025-2026 academic year will remain WNC Mountain Life.
Vision Statement:
At 甜瓜视频app, our mission is to foster a holistic understanding and appreciation of the WNC Mountain Life. We are committed to nurturing wellbeing for our community through intentional connections with nature and embracing the rich cultural heritage of the region. By celebrating the uniqueness of the Appalachian environment and the Cherokee traditions that are our history and present, we aim to cultivate a deep respect for our surroundings and promote sustainable living. Our goal is to engage the campus community in meaningful experiences that reflect the interconnectedness of life, environment, and culture.
Campus Theme Information
2024-26 Members
Dave Kinner 鈥� Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (Chair)
Josh Rakower - Professor, Access, Research, and Instruction Services, Hunter Library
Carol Barnao - Visual Arts Specialist, Assessment and Marketing
Jenna Kubiak - Assistant Director of Civic and Community Engagement, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
Kimberly Elliott - Assistant Professor, College of Education and Allied Professions
Felicia Frank - Administrative Support Specialist, Campus Activities
Tracy Mensah - Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Amber Albert - Director, Mountain Heritage Center
Kenny Chapman - Director, IT Client Support Services
Ben Steere - Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Liz Harper - Associate Professor/Special Digital Collections Librarian, Hunter Library
Deidre Hopkins - Title IX Coordinator and Equity Officer, Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity
Shannon Swimmer - Director, Cherokee Center
Amanda Lytle - Staff Senate Representative
Alei Coleman - Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost
Student Representatives:
Lela Philemon
Michaela Staudinger
Zene Gardea
Emma Meister
Ben Howard
Madison Blankenship
Paige Merritt
Brandon Teague
Gavynn Grant
Landon Orr
Elyse Mulero
Cody Skildum
Jannah Hightower
Alioth Clewell
Campus Theme Funding Application
Requests for support will be accepted on a rolling basis with the committee meeting
multiple times throughout the semester to vote on submitted requests. Requests can
be submitted through the end of January 2026 while funding is available.
Eligibility for Marketing & Funding Supported Events
Any WCU constituent, including faculty, staff, students, departments, offices, programs, and student organizations is eligible to submit requests for marketing and financial support for events.
Evaluation Criteria
Goals: The extent to which the proposed activity and its associated goals are consistent with the overall mission of the Campus Theme, Community and Belongingness.
Novelty: The extent to which the activity or event will provide students with an experience not obtainable through current classes or campus programs.
Student Engagement: The extent, and manner in which, the event or activity will actively engage students in the campus theme.
Student Learning: The extent to which students will learn more about Community and Belongingness through this event or activity, and whether some method is included to assess this learning.
Budget: The size of the event budget and the extent to which the budget appears to be sufficient to support a successful event, and the presence of alternative funding sources to close any budget gap.
Impact vs. Cost: The number of students that will be directly involved with, or impacted by, this event or activity as compared to the cost or expense of the event.
Likelihood of Success: The apparent ease, or difficulty, of achieving the event or activity鈥檚 stated goals.
Join us for events throughout the academic year that explore the Campus Theme.
The committee is planning, reviewing, and approving events on a rolling basis and will add events here as neccessary. The majority of events will be listed in , WCU's main hub for organizations on campus and event listings!
In an effort to promote WNC Mountain Life, the Campus Theme Committee will compile and share resources here. If you have any resources related to WNC Mountain Life that you believe should be displayed here, please contact Alei Coleman at colemana@wcu.edu.
The mission of the One Book program is to engage first-year students, as well as the campus community, in a common intellectual experience that promotes critical thinking and interdisciplinary conversation. This year's book is As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
Requests for support will be accepted on a rolling basis with the committee meeting multiple times throughout the semester to vote on submitted requests. Requests can be submitted through the end of 2026 while funding is available.
Eligibility for Marketing & Funding Supported Events
Any WCU constituent, including faculty, staff, students, departments, offices, programs, and student organizations is eligible to submit requests for financial support for events.
Evaluation Criteria
Goals: The extent to which the proposed activity and its associated goals are consistent with the overall mission of the USA 250th Anniversary.
Novelty: The extent to which the activity or event will provide students with an experience not obtainable through current classes or campus programs.
Student Engagement: The extent, and manner in which, the event or activity will actively engage students in the campus theme.
Student Learning: The extent to which students will learn more about the USA 250th through this event or activity, and whether some method is included to assess this learning.
Budget: The size of the event budget and the extent to which the budget appears to be sufficient to support a successful event, and the presence of alternative funding sources to close any budget gap.
Impact vs. Cost: The number of students that will be directly involved with, or impacted by, this event or activity as compared to the cost or expense of the event.
Likelihood of Success: The apparent ease, or difficulty, of achieving the event or activity鈥檚 stated goals.
If you have an idea, but you are not requesting funding please use this link:
USA 250th Anniversary Committee Members
Peter Koch, Mountain Heritage Center, Chair
Nora Doyle, History, Faculty
Jenna Kubiak, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
Brian Darden, Business, Faculty
Krista Schmidt, Library, Faculty
Bob Perkins, School of Teaching and Learning, Faculty
Julia Duvall, Communications and Marketing
Coleman Leopard, Campus Activities
Emily Wager, Political Science, Faculty
Tasha Youstin, Criminal Justice/Criminology, Faculty
The project coincides with the 250th year of our country. There are also European composers, such as Antonin Dvorak,
who came to America to study American folk music and spirituals and incorporated American music in his string
quartets and symphonies.