The student recreation center at UNCW will be renamed in honor of Pat Leonard, the longest-serving vice chancellor in university history who died in June of 2020, university officials announced Friday.
Leonard became the vice chancellor of student affairs in 1996 and held the position for 24 years. She oversaw the establishment of the recreation center in 2000, and considered it among the projects she was most proud of.
“Pat Leonard dedicated herself to generations of students at UNCW. The recreation center is one of many special buildings, projects and services she championed during her decades here,” Chancellor Jose Sartarelli said in a press release. “Her skill as a leader and mentor, combined with her sense of humor and her selfless care for others, shaped and supported our Seahawk spirit for years, and we are honored to recognize her memory by naming the student recreation center for her.”
The center will officially be named “The Pat Leonard Student Recreation Center.” A ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.
Leonard first joined the university in 1983 as associate dean of students.
“Pat Leonard set high standards for UNCW and inspired the Division of Student Affairs to join her in achieving them,” said current vice chancellor for student affairs Lowell Davis. “We are honored to celebrate her legacy, now and in the future, at the Leonard Recreation Center.”
According to the university, Leonard played part in “overseeing 20 major construction, renovation and green space projects that transformed the UNCW campus, including seven housing projects and nine student support buildings, as well as the recreation center, Fisher Student Center, Fisher University Union, DePaolo Hall, the Burney Center and the Warwick Center.”
The new student housing village, which broke ground in February 2019, was among the last projects Leonard oversaw, according to the university.
“Pat was steadfast in her commitment to students and loyalty to UNCW,” Virginia Hardy, East Carolina University’s vice chancellor of student affairs, said in the press release. “She did not give up easily, which led to so many innovative and successful accomplishments, such as this recreation center, all aimed at enhancing the student experience at UNCW.”
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