Carolina Alumni Review - January/February 2008

CAROLINA WOMEN

IN FOCUS

Pam Heavn er Chapel Hill, N.C.

Pam Heavner studied fine arts at UNC, and has remained involved ever since. She and her husband Jim led the campaign that raised more than $5 million toward the renovation of Memorial Hall, and have also supported the Ackland Art Museum and PlayMakers Repertory Co.

“The arts have always been high on our list,” Pam said. “But my longtime connection with the University is women’s health.” She has served on the board of visitors for the N.C. Children’s Hospital, and was among those who provided input during the design of the N.C. Women’s Hospital. Two years ago, she joined the board of the Center for Women’s Health Research. “It’s a wonderful resource,” Pam said. “They are a small office, but they do a lot of work.”

They certainly do. The center conducts research and clinical trials targeting under-funded and neglected areas of women’s health; and provides grant writing, study design and implementation services to researchers. Its approval rating for federal grants exceeds 40 percent (the national average is less than 15 percent). “That’s a pretty amazing statistic,” Pam said.

Reasons to support women’s health research are all around her, Pam said: her mother, her sister, her three stepdaughters, five granddaughters. “The center’s work may not touch me directly today,” Pam said. “But it touches someone I know, or someone I’m related to. During my life, it will touch me many times, I’m sure.”

Pam also appreciates being involved in the Women’s Leadership Council. Harnessing the energy of all its members, and using information from the University’s faculty creates a powerful force, she said.

“The group was well named. Coming together like we do to receive the information enables us to forge ahead and spread the word,” she said. “Being on the council makes us leaders.”

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 University and students’ educational experiences. In addition to members’ 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.