CAROLINA WOMEN
IN FOCUS
Mary Fais on Blair
Wilmington, N.C.
Serving on the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council is just one way
that Mary Faison Blair ’ 82 stays connected to Carolina.
“I like the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council,” she said. “This is
our own thing, and I think it’s important. We’re able to tackle things of
importance to us.”
A Charlotte native, Blair married husband Bill ’ 81 after earning her
degree in elementary education. The Blairs live in Wilmington with
their four children. Well, only one is still at home. The oldest graduated
from the University of Virginia and is working in New York City, and
two are enrolled at Carolina.
Even before their children arrived in Chapel Hill, the Blairs were getting
“letters home,” of sorts, from recipients of the William J. and Mary F.
Blair Scholarship Fund. It provides need-based scholarships to students
in the College of Arts and Sciences, with preference to students from New
Hanover County.
“We get letters every year, and it’s so exciting to hear what they want
to do, and what they want to pursue,” she said. “In some cases, we’ve
known some of them and watched them grow up here, and now we hear
what their goals are and how they’re reaching them. The scholarships are
our way of giving back to Carolina and supporting our home county.”
Having daughter Elizabeth (class of ’09) and William (class of ’ 11) in Chapel
Hill has strengthened the family’s already-strong ties to campus. “They’re
making friends that turn out to be sons and daughters of our Carolina
friends,” Blair said. “It’s exciting to see how Carolina has changed. The
education improves every year, yet it still stays the same, and so does
the value of friendships and connections that you make.”
Women give to Carolina in many
ways — not just financially but
also by volunteering their energy,
time and ideas. They serve on
every University board, including
the Board of Trustees, the Board
of Visitors and the Carolina First
Campaign Steering Committee,
and they champion Carolina in
their regions. They mentor students
and provide summer internships.
Another way women serve Carolina
is through the Carolina Women’s
Leadership Council — a network
of women from all over the country
committed to supporting the Univer-
sity and students’ educational
experiences. In addition to mem-
bers’ individual gifts, the council
is collectively funding a faculty
mentoring award program, which
recognizes outstanding faculty
who go the extra mile to mentor
students and other faculty.
Women are leaving their footprints
all over the University — touching
the lives of students, faculty and
staff members. As Carolina works
to become the nation’s leading
public university, women’s support
is especially critical.
Where will you leave your footprint?
For more information, contact
Lanier Brown May at 919-843-5883
or lanier_may@unc.edu.
