Susan Bird Reese makes $100,000 gift to UNC Pembroke
UNC Pembroke alumna Susan Bird Reese ’79 has made a $100,000 gift to her alma mater in loving memory of her late husband, Arthur “Randy” Ray Reese ’77.
The gift will strengthen two areas close to her heart: the Museum of the Southeast American Indian and student scholarship support. The gift includes $50,000 for the Southeast American Indian Program Fund at the museum and $50,000 for the Kenneth & Glenda R. Bird Memorial Endowed Scholarship, created in memory of her parents.
“UNC Pembroke is a special place,” Reese said. “It’s where Randy and I met, and it’s part of my hometown. Giving back feels like the right way to honor him and the university that shaped our lives.”
Susan and Randy first crossed paths as UNCP students. She was a chemistry major from the Pembroke area, and he was an accounting major from Hamlet. They married soon after graduating and built meaningful lives and successful careers in South Carolina. Before retiring in 2017, Susan worked in environmental compliance and regulatory licensing at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, while Randy excelled in accounting. They were married for 46 years.
An enrolled citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe through her father and of Lumbee heritage through her mother, Reese says supporting the Southeast American Indian Program Fund continues her family’s tradition of celebrating Native arts and culture.
“The museum showcases the creativity and stories of our communities. My mother actually had some of her regalia and basketry displayed there years ago,” Reese said. “Old Main has always been the heart of campus to me, and the museum’s presence there makes it even more special. I’ve always admired the work happening there, and I’m proud to help ensure that it continues.”
Half of Reese’s gift strengthens the Kenneth & Glenda R. Bird Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which she and her sibling established to honor her parents’ commitment to education. Both returned to complete their education later in life, modeling resilience and showing their children that learning has no age limit.
“Susan’s extraordinary generosity honors her family’s legacy in a way that truly reflects the spirit of UNC Pembroke,” said Anita Stallings, vice chancellor for Advancement. “Her gift preserves the rich artistic and cultural heritage showcased in the Museum of the Southeast American Indian while also investing in students whose lives are transformed through scholarship support. We are deeply grateful for her commitment to ensuring that both our history and our future remain strong.”
Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings echoed that sentiment, noting the deep personal connection behind the gift. “This generous gift reflects Susan’s deep commitment to UNC Pembroke and its mission,” Cummings said. “Having grown up as classmates from primary school through high school, I have seen how her dedication to education and giving back has shaped every stage of her life. This gift honors her family’s legacy while strengthening the university’s ability to expand opportunities for students, ensuring that future generations are supported, inspired and empowered through their UNC Pembroke experience.”
Today, Reese continues her connection to the university as a member of the UNCP Foundation Board of Directors. She previously served on the UNCP Alumni Board from 2019 to 2023 — a service she says Randy championed from day one.
“Randy supported me in everything I did,” she said. “This gift reflects our shared values of education, giving back and leaving things better than we found them.”
If the Reeses’ generosity inspires you, and you would like to learn more about how a planned gift can create a lasting impact at UNC Pembroke, visit uncp.edu/advancement or call 910.521.6184.