UNC Asheville Launches Landmark $100 million Centennial Campaign

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the University of North Carolina Asheville officially launched the public phase of its Centennial Campaign, aiming to raise $100 million in philanthropic support by the University’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

The campaign began in November 2018, when the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees approved a resolution proposed by Chancellor Emerita Nancy J. Cable to begin the University’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign.

At a campaign launch event this past April, long-time volunteers and supporters, Janice and Joe Brumit, announced that the institution has raised more than $72 million toward the $100 million goal thanks to gifts from over 10,000 alumni and friends. The Brumits highlighted the many impactful projects already made possible through philanthropic support, including:

• Renovation of Owen Hall
• Construction of the Bailey Welcome Center
• Establishment of the McClinton Family Global Scholars Program
• Renovation of the Karl Straus Track
• Launch of the Access Asheville scholarship program
• Creation of more than 200 new scholarships, including the Gateway Scholars Program
• And numerous grants supporting academic programs and faculty research

Looking ahead, upcoming projects to be supported through the campaign include:

• Renovation and expansion of Lipinsky Hall to enhance music technology and performance space
• Construction of a new outdoor tennis complex and baseball hitting facility
• New student success initiatives, including scholarships and expanded internship opportunities

At the campaign launch event, Chancellor van Noort also announced three transformational gifts the University received in the first quarter of 2025:

• A seven-figure gift from a UNC Asheville alumnus established the Woodward Scholars Program for students pursuing STEM majors.
• A $1 million challenge gift—also from an alumnus—will help renovate the performance hall in Lipinsky Hall.
• A landmark $5 million gift from a local family — the largest gift in UNC Asheville’s history—will expand the Gateway Scholars Program endowment and provide wraparound support for first-generation students. A portion of this gift includes a challenge component, encouraging others to endow scholarships by providing immediate-use funds to support these students right away.

UNC Asheville is deeply grateful to the donors who have made these leadership gifts to provide a foundation and momentum for this important campaign. As the campaign enters its public phase, the University welcomes gifts of any size from alumni, friends, and the broader community to further strengthen philanthropic support for UNC Asheville’s next 100 years.

1. Integration of technology across the curriculum
2. Expansion of career and leadership opportunities
3. Development of new academic programs and curricular innovation
4. Investment in Bulldog Athletics

“These four pillars,” she said, “will also guide the university’s strategic plan for long-term growth and sustainability.”

Chancellor van Noort added, “We will pursue a bold new model calibrated to the rapidly changing demands of today and tomorrow. As an academic community, we will help students develop deep traditional skills in critical analysis, communication, historical understanding, and teamwork—then apply those skills to real-world challenges in environmental resilience, civic engagement, health care, artificial intelligence, natural sciences, outer space, digital humanities, gaming, virtual reality, data science, music technology, finance, studio arts, and so much more.

At its best, a liberal arts and sciences education equips students to act, to adapt, and to learn – for life.”

For more information on the Centennial Campaign, view the website (campaign.unca.edu) or contact Kirk Swenson, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, at 828.232.5134 and kswenson@unca.edu.