As the Dean of the Cameron School of Business, I am thrilled to share some of the remarkable achievements and initiatives that have been taking place at our school. Our mission is to prepare students for successful professional careers and  cultivates an environment of impactful scholarship and community engagement, and I am proud to say that we are making significant strides in these areas.

Scholarships and Funding
This academic year, Cameron’s Scholarship Committee has awarded 63 undergraduate and graduate scholarships, totaling an impressive $373,498. Additionally, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has selected UNCW to nominate one student for the prestigious PCAOB Scholarship, worth $15,000. These scholarships are a testament to our commitment to supporting our students' educational journeys.

Cybersecurity Initiatives
We are excited to announce that UNCW has been awarded a $100,000 maritime sector leadership grant by the Carolina Cyber Network. These funds are being used to establish a maritime cybersecurity testbed and enhance classroom experiences focused on maritime cybersecurity. Furthermore, congratulations to Cybersecurity director, Dr. Ulku Clark, we have secured $625,000 from the FY24 federal budget to add a cybersecurity graduate certificate with a maritime specialization.

STEM Designations
Our M.S. Accountancy and M.S. Supply Chain Management programs have been approved for STEM designations by the UNC System Office. This means that all our graduate programs are now STEM-certified, making them attractive to both students and employers. The STEM designation allows international students to gain practical experience for 24 months before joining the workforce.

Applied Learning and Community Involvement
Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, headed by Dr. Vicki Hansen, assisted 100 taxpayers during the 2024 tax filing season. Additionally, our students continue to gain real-world experience through various initiatives, such as the Executive MBA Consulting Residency with the Cameron Art Museum, our premier regional art museum, and the publication of the Blue Economy Index on Bloomberg.

Faculty Achievements and Expertise
Our faculty members have also achieved significant milestones. Dr. Pete Schuhmann has been named a member of the Pool of Experts of the United Nations Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment. Dr. Lorraine Lee has been elected President of the Accounting Information Systems section of the American Accounting Association, and Dr. Lisa Scribner has been awarded an Honorary Professorship at the Hochschule Bremen in Germany.

Looking Forward
We have several exciting events lined up for this semester, including the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ocean Innovation Conference, the Carolina Cyber Network fall convention, and the 6th Annual Cybersecurity Conference. These events provide valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with the Cameron School of Business. We are proud of our accomplishments and look forward to achieving even greater success together.