Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The University of North Carolina Wilmington community feels a deep sense of collective loss in the passing of close university friend and supporter Betty Ann Sanders. A community leader and a strong advocate for higher education, literacy and healthcare, particularly nursing education, Sanders gave much of her time, energy and resources to service to UNCW.

“The best overall description for Betty Ann is selfless,” said Mary Gornto, vice chancellor for University Advancement at UNCW. “If she believed in and supported a cause, and she was a champion for many, she would work tirelessly to reach the goal. She was truly community-minded, and UNCW benefitted from her commitment and dedication in many, many ways.”

From 1998-2007, Sanders was a member of UNCW’s Board of Visitors, whose members serve as ambassadors for the university; she served as a member of the board’s Executive Committee from 2004-05. In addition, she was a member of the Nurse Advocate Board, which helps establish and strengthen connections with the community and donors for the School of Nursing, from 1998-2011, and she served on the UNCW Foundation Board from 1993-1999.

She also co-hosted three television programs produced with UNCW-TV, “Let’s Talk,” “Let’s Read” and “Community Link,” which featured prominent guests from UNCW’s faculty as well as the larger community. “Let’s Read” was particularly popular and long-running, from 2000 to 2008.

With her many UNCW associations, Betty Ann Sanders was a familiar sight on the campus, whether arriving for one of her many board meetings or making her way across campus with a guest for one of her TV shows. She often referred to the university as her “home away from home.”

“Betty Ann was passionate about the nursing profession and nursing education,” said Gornto. “She was a huge supporter for the UNCW School of Nursing, and worked closely with then-dean Virginia Adams during planning for what is now our beautiful new state-of-the-art nursing building, McNeill Hall. One of the things she loved the most about working with UNCW was the opportunity to talk with our nursing students and hear about their scholarship and their future plans.”

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu