UNC Pembroke News

Michela Gritti and Sean Hancock_regional writing award winners
April 30 Mark Locklear

UNCP Students Win First Place in Regional Journalism Competition

Two UNC Pembroke student journalists are earning regional recognition for their storytelling and commitment to the craft, proving that impactful journalism can thrive even in the smallest of newsrooms.

Jaylen Jones
April 27 Mark Locklear

Composing His Future: UNCP’s Jaylen Jones Heads to Top Jazz Graduate School

Sitting on stage during his senior recital, tenor saxophonist Jaylen Jones found himself in a moment that once felt far out of reach —performing original compositions, confident in his sound and certain of his path.

Dr. Bryan Sales examines a plant with a student and local farmer in a field.

UNC Pembroke to grow next generation of agricultural leaders with new degree

Beginning in fall 2026, UNC Pembroke will offer a new Bachelor of Science in Agriculture — a program designed to prepare students to lead the future of farming while strengthening one of the region’s most vital economic engines.

Mia Baca stands beside their coral sculpture in an indoor campus setting at UNC Pembroke. The piece features twisting, branch-like coral forms in soft white, peach and blue tones, visually reflecting the beauty and fragility of ocean life.
April 22 Adrielle Cooper

UNCP Student Uses Art to Raise Awareness About Coral Reefs

Mia Baca’s coral reef artwork draws viewers in with beauty, then asks them to look closer at the realities of pollution and climate change.

UNCP students and faculty pose on the steps of the U.S. Capitol overlooking the Washington Monument during the Spring Break Study Away trip to Washington, D.C.
April 15 Mark Locklear

UNCP Students Bring Classroom Learning to Life in Washington, D.C.

Sitting inside the U.S. Supreme Court courtroom, UNC Pembroke student Dustin Barnes found himself imagining his future.

UNCP Musical Theatre student Christian McArthur sings into a microphone on the GPAC stage alongside Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur during the

UNCP Students Share the Stage with Broadway Stars

Nineteen UNCP students joined original Hairspray stars Marissa Jaret Winokur, Kerry Butler and Laura Bell Bundy when the trio brought their show, "Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now," to the Givens Performing Arts Center.

UNCP student Bryan Ramirez-Jackson Jr. speaks into a microphone from his seat in Upchurch Auditorium during a College Debates and Discourse Alliance event, with fellow attendees visible in the surrounding seats.

UNC Pembroke Expands Civil Discourse Through College Debates & Discourse Alliance

At a time when national conversations often grow louder and more divided, UNC Pembroke is creating space for something different — structured, student-led debates where listening matters as much as speaking.

UNCP Cybersecurity student Phillip Hicks works in the university's cybersecurity lab, representing one of the first graduates of UNCP's standalone Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program.
March 17 Mark Locklear

Phillip Hicks Helps Lead UNCP’s First Cybersecurity Graduates

When Phillip Hicks arrived at UNC Pembroke as a freshman, the university’s cybersecurity program was still in its trial phase. This May, the Red Springs native will help make history as one of the first graduates of UNCP’s standalone Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program.

Dr. Rivera standing in surrounded by his choir class in the background
March 04 Mark Locklear

Dr. José Rivera Honored for Distinguished Service to Choral Music

On a cold, brisk morning in Moore Hall, the quiet was broken only by the soft cadence of keys as Dr. José Rivera leaned over his Yamaha Clavinova, score open, preparing for University Choir rehearsal.

Dr. Jamie Litty
February 26 Mark Locklear

UNC System Honors Dr. Jamie Litty with 2026 Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching

When Cole Yarborough walks into the newsroom at WBTV in Charlotte — one of the nation’s Top 25 television markets — he carries with him lessons first learned in a campus studio at UNC Pembroke.