Monday, August 27, 2001

WILMINGTON – North Carolina’s First Lady Mary Easley will be the keynote speaker at the annual dinner meeting of the Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., when new trustees and officers will be installed. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside.

On tap to become president of the board of trustees is Dr. James Dragna, director of the Student Development Services at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. promotes choices for healthier lives and safer communities by providing professional assistance to those in need of prevention, crisis intervention, criminal justice alternatives, community outreach, and substance abuse services.

Dr. Dragna, a licensed professional counselor, commented that this is a great honor for him to be named as president as well as a tremendous personal and professional opportunity. “This is one of many examples of how the university and the community at large integrate services, and it helps the university as we develop outreach services on and off campus,” he said.

For instance, the Rape Crisis Center, a program of Coastal Horizons, is an integral part of UNCW’s response team to incidents of sexual assault on the campus. The Rape Crisis Center has trained UNCW counselors and university police to work with victims. Another example is that interns in psychology are regularly placed in Coastal Horizons and some have gone on to work there professionally.

“They can then offer insights into how we can work together to help human beings become more effective wherever their lives take them,” Dr. Dragna said. “Coastal Horizons is a unique organization, and they do outstanding work.”

He also commented on a joint project currently underway with Duke University looking at an alternative to methadone treatment for substance abusers. “This cutting edge intervention lends itself to the involvement of UNCW faculty to do compatible research as well.”

During his presidency, Dr. Dragna has three primary focus areas. The first is to help Coastal Horizons transition into its new 23,000-square-foot facility on the corner of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road scheduled to open in September. This will enable the various programs offered by Coastal Horizons to move into one facility and consolidate services.

He also wants to continue the excellent reputation this program has developed in its service to Southeastern North Carolina.

Third, Dr. Dragna wants to lead Coastal Horizons as it develops a service to train professionals working in this field here and across the United States. “This is a model program in community outreach and prevention services, as evidenced by having Mrs. Easley come here Tuesday night. I believe other professionals in this field have a lot to learn from what we’re doing here,” he said.

In his new role as president of Coastal Horizon’s board of trustees, Dr. Dragna continues a close and long association between UNCW and the agency. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Pat Leonard served on Coastal’s board from 1988-1998, including two terms as president from 1993-1995. Dr. Nora Noel, associate professor of psychology at UNCW, served as president from 1999-2000.

Dr. Dragna came to UNC Wilmington in 1996 from North Dakota State University to direct the university’s counseling program and oversee student development services. He also teaches in the Psychology Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Notre Dame University, and master’s and doctorate in counseling from the University of Colorado. He was in private practice in Colorado for 10 years before going to North Dakota State as director of the counseling center.

Dr. Dragna can be reached at 910/962-3746. Photo suitable for downloading is available at http://www.uncwil.edu/news/oldsite/