Cindy Lawson - Assistant to the Chancellor for
Marketing and Communications
910.962.2059
With more than 25 years of experience in public relations in both higher education and with a Fortune 500 company, Cindy’s breadth of experience spans marketing, public relations, institutional research, integrated marketing, strategic planning, issues management, crisis communications, media relations, event planning, publications, Web communications, visitors centers, and speakers bureaus. Prior to taking her post at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cindy served as the Vice President for Communications and Strategy Development at the University of North Carolina system. Cindy served as the executive director of university relations at Texas A&M University, and managed communications during the 1999 bonfire tragedy, in which 12 students died and 27 others were injured. Cindy has authored a crisis communications chapter for a book to be published by Josey Bass, and she has authored “Effective Crisis Communications,” a set of instructional materials for the National Response and Recovery Center. She provides consulting services to cities and municipalities regarding their communication preparedness in response to terrorism.
Before joining the Office of the President in 2005, Cindy served as executive director of university relations at Texas A&M University, a land-grant institution that enrolls approximately 44,000 students. In that role, she was responsible for strategic communications to multiple audiences and constituencies, issues management, marketing, events planning, and forging partnerships with community, non-profit, and economic development groups.
Prior to joining A&M, Cindy served from 1996 to 1999 as executive director of communications for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and previously held similar positions at Eastern Michigan University and the Culver Academies in Indiana. She entered the higher education arena following a 14-year career with the Detroit Edison Company, where she served in increasingly responsible positions in public affairs, marketing and economic development
Cindy holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education, with an emphasis in strategic communications, from the University of Michigan. In addition, she is a graduate of Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management and the University of Central Florida's Economic Development certification program.
Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, issues management, market research, integrated marketing, media relations, and crisis communications.
Kelly Baker - Assistant to the Assistant to the Chancellor for Marketing and Communications
910.962.2088
Kelly joined the UNCW staff in 2004 as a student services assistant in the School of Nursing before joining the University Relations office. She has held administrative positions at companies such as CYBEX, a manufacturer of fitness and medical rehabilitation equipment, the Long Island Forum for Technology, a not-for-profit organization offering free and low cost engineering services to start up companies and small businesses, and Aeroflex Laboratories, a manufacturer of motion control products.
Kelly holds an A.A.S. in broadcasting and telecommunications, Suffolk Community College, Selden NY, and certification in office technology, B.O.C.E.S., Oakdale, NY
Marybeth K. Bianchi - Manager, Institutional Publications
910.962.4164
Marybeth has served as editor of the UNCW Magazine for 12 years. She also manages Web site content for the Chancellor’s Office and About UNCW, produces the alumni
e-newsletter “Seahawk Spotlight” and assists in media relations and crisis communications.
Marybeth worked for 15 years as a journalist with daily and weekly newspapers prior to joining UNCW. Her professional accomplishments include a CASE Circle of Excellence Award ( the highest award presented by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) for an alumni event promotion (1999), UNCW Staff Excellence Award for Innovation (2002), and North Carolina Press Association awards for writing and photography. Marybeth holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.
Molly Castagno - Manager, Web Strategy and
Internet Marketing
910.962.2050
Molly has more than 18 years of public relations, marketing and communications experience in higher education and business. Her background includes writing for newspapers, magazines, technical publications and the Web. She has held management positions in corporate communications and special events planning and has worked as a marketing and PR consultant for clients in education, government and
e-commerce.
Prior to joining UNCW, she served as communications coordinator for the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment (ORITE) at Ohio University. Molly has a bachelor's degree in journalism and human environmental sciences from Ohio State University, and has been active in professional organizations including the International Association for Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America.
Thomas Cone - Graphic Designer
910.962.3737
Tom has been in the graphic design business since 1991, and joined UNCW's graphic design team in 2001. He has been recognized at UNCW for outstanding service, dedication and creativity with a Behind the Scenes Award, and a Kudos Award, and was one of ten nominees for a Staff Award for Excellence in 2004.
In his current position with Marketing and Communications, Tom serves as the liaison to the Division of Student Affairs.
Chad Locklear - Graphic Designer
910.962.3737
Chad Locklear joined Marketing and Communications at UNCW in June 2007. Chad holds bachelor degrees in Media Communications and Art Studies from North Carolina State University.
He has experience as a graphic designer and illustrator with several publications, including The Fayetteville Observer, where he won a North Carolina Press Association Award for Graphic Design.
Caroline Cropp - Media Relations Specialist; Editor of @UNCW
910.962.7109
Caroline has served as UNCW media relations specialist since June 2005. She previously held positions at UNCW as Learning Resource Center coordinator for the UNCW School of Nursing, and as a development assistant in the Cameron School of Business.
Caroline holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and English with a concentration in creative/professional writing and a master's degree in liberal studies, all from UNCW. She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Psi Chi, Sigma Tau Delta and the Wilmington Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter. She also serves as a Project Protégé Mentor.
Dana Fischetti - Manager, News and Media Services
910.962.7259
Dana began her professional career as a reporter for the Amherst Bulletin in Amherst, Mass. Later, she worked in communications and public relations for eight years with GE Appliances in Louisville,Ky., where she produced internal publications and did media relations with the trade press. Following GE, Dana served as director of marketing publications at the University of Louisville for five years, where she and her staff were responsible for all of the university's external publications, including the alumni magazine, a research magazine, school and college alumni periodicals and undergraduate and graduate recruitment materials. At UNCW, she worked as director of operations in University Advancement and as marketing and communications consultant for the professional schools, prior to joining Marketing & Communications.
She holds a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her professional achievements include IABC and CASE III awards.
Mark Hurt - Director of Marketing and Issues Management
910.962.2091
Mark Hurt recently joined the newly formed UNCW Marketing and Communications department as director of marketing and issues management. In his most recent position at Texas A&M University and throughout his career, Mark’s focus has been on market research, branding and issues management.
His broad marketing background spans more than 20 years and several fields related to higher education including university marketing, fund development and youth ministries. This experience provides a focused perspective in understanding the motivations of prospective students, current students, alumni and donors.
Mark earned his master’s degree in Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University and an undergraduate degree in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin.
In his current role at UNCW, Hurt oversees the areas of market research and strategy development, project management, graphic design and issues management.
Jamie Moncrief - Coordinator of Photographic Services
910.962.3601
Jamie has more than 20 years of daily photojournalism experience, beginning at the UNCW Seahawk, the Daily Tar Heel at UNC and then the Wilmington Star-News.
His professional achievments include more than 40 state, regional, national and international photojournalism awards, including three New York Times Chairman’s Awards.
He completed some undergraduate work at UNCW and holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He has had additional professional training in pre-press production and crisis communications.
Betty Moore - Project Coordinator
910.962.2092
Better known on campus as "Betty Boop", Betty Moore puts the expertise she has gained through 28 years in the printing industry to work helping Marketing and Communications’ clients with all aspects of project management. Previously, she managed Guilford Mills
In-plant Printing Services.
Betty moved to Southport from the Greensboro, NC area four years ago. Since joining UNCW in July 2002, Betty has served on Staff Council (2004-2006) and Diversity Council (2005-2006), and has earned three Kudos awards for exceptional customer service.
Kyle Prey - Graphic Designer
910.962.2093
Kyle is originally from upstate New York, about an hour south of Buffalo. He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a bachelor's degree in graphic design.
Shortly after graduating, he moved to Wilmington and took a position with UNCW Printing Services. He joined the Marketing and Communications team when the unit came together in
July 2006. He serves as MaC liaison to the Athletic Department.
Katherine (Kim) Proukou - Marketing and Communications Specialist for the College of Arts & Sciences, Cultural Arts and Libraries; Editor, Arts & Sciences Magazine
910.962.4109
Kim has worked as Communications Specialist for the College of Arts & Sciences; technical writer and consultant for non-profit grant writing and fundraising for Logos Consulting; grant office manager for the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, UNCW School of Nursing; assistant to the dean for special projects and communications and liaison for development, Villanova University School of Law
Her work was published in national referred journal, The ALAN Review. Vol. 40. No. 3. Summer 2005. “Young Adult Literature: Rite of Passage or Rite of Its Own.” Other articles have appeared in: Living Southern Style; Ideal Destinations; Living Prayer Contemplative Digest. Founding editor of UNCW Arts & Sciences Magazine
Kim holds a bachelor's degree in English with a professional writing certificate, and a master's degree in liberal studies at UNCW. She is an active member of the national honor society Phi Kappa Phi, dedicated to the promotion of academic excellence.
Brenda Riegel - Marketing and Communications Specialist for Business Affairs
910.962.7252
Brenda has honed her creative talents during a 20-year
career in advertising, first as a senior copywriter at the corporate headquarters for Belk department stores in Charlotte, N.C., where she was named Pacesetter, Belk’s highest achievement award for employees, and later as the copy/broadcast manager for ACA Advertising in Wilmington. She served clients such as Battleship North Carolina, Bob King AutoMall, Reeds Jewelers, the N.C. Azalea Festival and the Blockade-Runner Beach Resort. She also previously operated a small commercial and home repair business. Brenda joined the UNCW staff in 2002 as a marketing and communications specialist in Business Affairs. Brenda holds a bachelor's degree from Queens University of Charlotte.
Shirl Sawyer - Graphic Designer
910.962.4120
Shirl attended college at the School of Art at East Carolina University majoring in communication art with a concentration in graphic design. She has 18 years of graphics experience and has worked in North Carolina higher education for almost 10 years. Previously, she worked for eight years in the private sector with a local newspaper and a private advertising design business.
Her experience has included working as an Artist Illustrator, Lead Graphic Designer, Art Director, and Printing Services Supervisor. In her current role as graphic designer with Marketing and Communications, her responsibilities include the design of UNCW Magazine and other departmental projects.
Andrea Weaver - Marketing and Communications Specialist for Advancement
910.962.7631
Andrea has 15 years of experience as a writer, editor and communications project manager. Prior to joining UNCW as marketing and communications manager for Advancement, she served as Web editor and acting director at Meredith College, director of public relations at Peace College and director of public relations at Pfeiffer University. In addition, Andrea was a reporter for the Greensboro News & Record
and the Wilmington Star-News.
Andrea holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her professional accomplishments include a Gold Award in the Web site category from the Raleigh Public Relations Society (2003). She is an active member, and former secretary, of the College News Association of the Carolinas.
