UNCP Occupational Therapy Program Earns Full Seven-Year Accreditation
Less than two years after welcoming its first cohort of students, UNC Pembroke’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program has earned full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), marking a major milestone for the university’s expanding healthcare education efforts.
UNCP’s Exceptional BRAVES Program Develops Campus Leaders Through Collaboration
Seventeen UNC Pembroke faculty and staff members recently completed the university’s second cohort of the Exceptional BRAVES Leader Program, a yearlong professional development initiative designed to strengthen leadership skills, foster collaboration and prepare employees for greater leadership roles across campus.
Justin Winans Appointed to National NIRSA Honor Award Committee
Justin Winans, director of Campus Recreation at UNC Pembroke, has been appointed to the NIRSA Honor Award Committee for the 2026–2027 term, a national leadership role recognizing his longstanding commitment to student wellness, campus engagement and collegiate recreation.
UNCP’s Donavin Hansberry Champions Mental Health Literacy Through Advocacy and Education
Determined to help others recognize warning signs and start conversations earlier, Hansberry and longtime friend Jayden Haggler founded Shift Toward Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to improving mental health literacy, particularly among young people. The organization, established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, focuses on providing educational resources, creative storytelling and community engagement to address “mental health deserts” — communities with limited access to resources and awareness.
UNCP REACH Fellows Turn Research into Career Pathways and Community Impact
UNC Pembroke REACH Fellows are using archives, oral histories and community storytelling to preserve overlooked histories while opening doors to graduate school, national internships and careers in public humanities.
UNCP announces Chancellor’s, Honors list for Spring 2026
The University of North Carolina Pembroke has released the Chancellor's list and Honors list for Spring 2026.
UNCP A.D. Gallery to Present 2026 Art Department Faculty & Staff Exhibition
The University of North Carolina Pembroke’s A.D. Gallery will open the 2026-27 academic year with its biennial Art Department Faculty & Staff Exhibition, showcasing the creative work of UNCP’s distinguished faculty and staff artists.
UNCP's Justice Locklear Accepted to Prestigious Tribal Law Pathway at Arizona State
Justice Locklear is among the first Lumbee students selected for Arizona State University's Pathway to Law for Tribal Citizens Initiative.
UNCP alumna Michelle McNeil Named 2026 Gaston County Social Worker of the Year
Michelle McNeil serves as a social services director in a long-term care facility, where she has built her career around showing up for residents and families during deeply personal transitions. She helps coordinate care, supports discharge planning, provides emotional support and walks families through difficult decisions, including end-of-life care. For her, social work has never been about checking a box or completing a task. It has been about making sure people feel seen, heard and respected.
UNCP Honors Retirees for Decades of Service, Lasting Impact
When retiring theatre professor Holden Hansen reflects on his 29 years at UNC Pembroke, one thought rises above all others. “UNCP gave me my career,” Hansen said emotionally. “Twenty-nine years is a lifetime. I will never forget it.”