UNC Asheville Alumni Association

09/09/2026

Your experience is worth sharing!

Join us for the next Alumni Mentor Week, a week long virtual program that connects current UNC Asheville students with alumni. This ~4 hour time commitment allows for meaningful conversations about careers, life after college, and what comes next. We thoughtfully match students and alumni to create connections that are worthwhile for everyone involved.

Click here to learn more and sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCGCpI0rbU9t2Wy9lbidzHJTLDozKXiM3UqpyYNhneMEnokQ/viewform

09/08/2026

This past Friday, over 350 UNC Asheville students, alumni, faculty and staff came together at McCormick Field for an evening of Tourists baseball, good company, and fireworks to close out the night.

You may notice a lot of 💯 in these photos! With UNC Asheville’s 100th birthday coming up in 2027, we used the occasion to break out some of our first Centennial swag: UNC Asheville 100 hats!

We especially love that these centennial hats were brought to life by , owned and operated by young alumna Lea Gilbert '20.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Campus Life and Human Resources for partnering with Alumni Engagement to make the evening possible.

Keep an eye out for more centennial inspired events ahead 👀

Go Bulldogs! 💙

Photos by

09/08/2026

🍻 From biology at UNC Asheville to brewing in Asheville 🍻
Meet Megan Rayfield ’11, Quality Manager at Highland Brewing Company and a proud UNC Asheville alumna who will celebrate 10 years with the Highland this October.

Megan graduated from UNC Asheville with a degree in Biology and a concentration in Cell & Molecular Biology before heading to Duke University, where she earned her master’s in Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment.

Recently, our University Advancement team got to see Megan in her element when she gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of Highland Brewing during our strategic planning day.

When we asked Megan what part of her UNC Asheville experience had the biggest impact, she said it was hard to pinpoint just one thing because she got so much value from the whole experience. She especially remembers the small class sizes and the individual attention she received from faculty mentors like Dr. Ward and Dr. Horton.

“The time that they spent with individual students was so meaningful, and really prepared me to go to grad school, come into the workforce, and be confident"

We love seeing the many places a UNC Asheville education can take our Bulldogs, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the science of brewing from Megan made this alumni connection especially fun. 💙 Highland Brewing

09/04/2026

Happy everyone!

Today we are celebrating Albert Chow '25 (for Joint UNCA-UNC MPH), '22 (for BS, Biology) has recently been accepted into the nationwide 2026 cohort of Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) Ambassadors. Congratulations, Albert!

09/04/2026

The Reynolds Ball is BACK! 💃🐾

Legend has it that in 1934, A.C. Reynolds banned dancing on campus… so naturally, UNC Asheville students danced anyway.

Join us during Founders Weekend as we revive this Bulldog tradition and kick off UNC Asheville’s 99th birthday celebration. Enjoy complimentary food, b**r and w**e, UNC Asheville swag, and a beautiful evening with fellow alumni and current students.

Join us Saturday, September 12th @ 7:27 p.m. on Reynolds Green (The Mini Quad)

RSVP Required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckXqA8MizEQIZN96flAjr62-hl7iAJC70yeYKfDFAIdvRJ5g/viewform

09/03/2026

Alumni Spotlight: Jason Leveille '24!

Jason recently joined WTAP as the Weekend Meteorologist and reporter coming from central North Carolina. He graduated in 2024 with a degree in Atmospheric Science, concentrating in Broadcast Meteorology. Congratulations, Jason! And we can't wait to watch 📺️

Jason Leveille joined WTAP in August 2024 as the Weekend Meteorologist before moving to the Evening Meteorologist in July 2025.

08/28/2026

For this we are highlighting alum Tristan Leisten '25, who is currently 8 months into his term of service with the Peace Corps in rural Nepal. He is working as an English Education Volunteer and teaching English to grades 4-7.

08/25/2026

Things are moving at Ramsey Library! 🚧📚

University Librarian Brandy Bourne ’98 gives us a look at the work underway to create a more accessible, functional, and welcoming entrance to the library.

The project is part of several campus improvements happening across UNC Asheville, all designed to better serve our community now and for years to come.

And yes, Ramsey Library is still open while construction continues!

08/21/2026

For this we're excited to spotlight Brenna Killian '20, first generation college graduate, law school grad, and lawyer:

"After graduating from UNC Asheville, I attended Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law to pursue my goal of becoming an attorney. As a first-generation college student, first-generation law student, and now a first-generation attorney, reaching this milestone has been especially meaningful. I passed the Tennessee Bar Exam and was admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee this past October.

Today, I practice family law in Knoxville, Tennessee, where I represent clients in matters involving divorce, child custody, adoption, termination of parental rights, juvenile law, and other family law issues. I am grateful for the opportunity to advocate for individuals and families during some of the most important and challenging moments of their lives.

UNC Asheville played an important role in my journey by providing a strong educational foundation and encouraging me to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach. Looking back, I'm grateful for the experiences, mentors, and community that helped shape the path that led me to a career in law. I'm excited to continue serving my community and to see where this journey leads next."

05/29/2026

Happy , everyone! Today we are celebrating alumna Jody McNiel '99, who was recently named Operations & Outreach Specialist for Transylvania County. Read more here: https://www.wncbusiness.com/2026/05/05/571137/jody-mcniel-named-operations-outreach-specialist-for-transylania-county-tda

Congratulations, Jody!