Louise Coggins 16 Years of Service
Louise Coggins joined the College of Health and Human Services Advisory Council in its earliest days, when Founding Dean Charlie Hardy invited her to help build what was then an Advancement Council. She was asked to help identify community leaders who could champion the newly formed college, and she ultimately became its chair, a role she held for 16 years until recently passing the leadership to Dr. Umar Bowers, MD.
When the Advancement Council was founded in 2010, its purpose was to raise funds and advocate for the School of Nursing, School of Social Work, and the School of Health and Human Applied Sciences, as well as to assemble a diverse group of nurses, social workers, physicians, business and nonprofit leaders as members. “We need to gather people who would be interested, who would be advocates,” she noted. As a licensed clinical social worker for 52 years combined with her experience as chair for the Chapel Hill School of Social Work board for over 20 years, Coggins was an ideal choice to spearhead this initiative.
Throughout her tenure, Coggins championed many important initiatives, including the planning, funding, and opening of Veterans Hall in 2020, a project supported by more than $64 million in state funding. Additionally, she helped bring legislators, donors and community leaders to campus and helped raise additional funds for building features including the cadaver lab.
Coggins sees the council’s role is in advocating for CHHS — bringing in donors and helping the college become a major force in health and human services for southeastern North Carolina. This includes training professionals who will stay in the region to work in facilities such as Novant, UNC Chapel Hill’s new Wilmington hospital, and the forthcoming medical school. “We have always been devoted to helping save and improve lives. That's really our personal mission,” she noted.
For Coggins, the personal reward of her work can be summed up in one word. “Joy. Joy is number one,” she said. As she passes the torch to another generation, Coggins is steadfast in her commitment to the college. “I will continue to advocate for CHHS for as long as I can talk,” she says. For future council members, her message is one of encouragement. “If you have an opportunity to join the advisory council for CHHS, you should do this and see it as one of the great adventures of your life.”
When the Advancement Council was founded in 2010, its purpose was to raise funds and advocate for the School of Nursing, School of Social Work, and the School of Health and Human Applied Sciences, as well as to assemble a diverse group of nurses, social workers, physicians, business and nonprofit leaders as members. “We need to gather people who would be interested, who would be advocates,” she noted. As a licensed clinical social worker for 52 years combined with her experience as chair for the Chapel Hill School of Social Work board for over 20 years, Coggins was an ideal choice to spearhead this initiative.
Throughout her tenure, Coggins championed many important initiatives, including the planning, funding, and opening of Veterans Hall in 2020, a project supported by more than $64 million in state funding. Additionally, she helped bring legislators, donors and community leaders to campus and helped raise additional funds for building features including the cadaver lab.
Coggins sees the council’s role is in advocating for CHHS — bringing in donors and helping the college become a major force in health and human services for southeastern North Carolina. This includes training professionals who will stay in the region to work in facilities such as Novant, UNC Chapel Hill’s new Wilmington hospital, and the forthcoming medical school. “We have always been devoted to helping save and improve lives. That's really our personal mission,” she noted.
For Coggins, the personal reward of her work can be summed up in one word. “Joy. Joy is number one,” she said. As she passes the torch to another generation, Coggins is steadfast in her commitment to the college. “I will continue to advocate for CHHS for as long as I can talk,” she says. For future council members, her message is one of encouragement. “If you have an opportunity to join the advisory council for CHHS, you should do this and see it as one of the great adventures of your life.”
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