Together, we can help Western rise to all it can become.

Make Your Mark.

An investment in this campaign is an investment in the student experience.

This investment multiplies with each student it reaches, creating a solid foundation for building the future. Through our academic promise, we spark ideas, bolster ingenuity and create enthusiasm for discovery. We are deeply committed to creating champions from student-athletes, leading them to succeed both in the classroom and on the field. And we’re dedicated to helping our students grow not only as scholars, but as well-rounded individuals, engaging them with off-campus opportunities — both abroad and right here in the Cullowhee community. With support from our generous donors and advocates, we can merge all these initiatives to form the unique Western Carolina student experience.

It is now time to achieve the next milestone in propelling our progress. We must continue to draw on the expertise of our faculty and staff to ensure economic vitality of our region, filling critical industry gaps in health care, education, engineering, psychology, criminal justice, and tourism. And we must provide robust and meaningful opportunities for our students by enhancing their total experience during their years with us.

Western Carolina University is well-positioned to address these challenges as we launch this ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign. We stand ready to spark the ideas of our students and prepare them to succeed in an increasingly global economy. We are determined to build a stronger sense of community and instill deepening pride through improvements to our intercollegiate athletics facilities.

To do all of this, we must secure – and sustain – the financial resources needed to achieve our vision of being a national model for public comprehensive universities serving rural regions, and a leader in achieving economic and social mobility through innovative solutions to college affordability and access.

The soul and spirit of Western Carolina University can be felt the moment you cross through Catamount Gap and into Cullowhee. I invite you to join our campaign to “Fill the Western Sky” – with hope, with promise, and with prosperity. Your gift will ripple across generations, empowering students, forging new pathways, and creating solutions that will shape a better, brighter future for our campus, for North Carolina, and for all.

Sincerely,
Kelli R. Brown
Chancellor