Bill working at his desk in 2009. Photo by University Communications and Marketing.
Western Carolina University chief communications officer, Bill Studenc, will retire in January after almost 32 years of employment at the university.
One can often see him walking around campus with a notepad in his hand and a smile on his face.
As chief communications officer, Studenc wrote and managed press releases, collaborated with reporters on stories and oversaw all media relations. This means that Studenc had a role to play in the development of every WCU magazine issue, story in the local paper related to WCU and public statement concerning decisions the school has made. In other words, he is the liaison for WCU and the off-campus community.
“Some days I don’t feel like I’m old enough to have worked here that long. I like to tell people that I got here really young, and I’m like the Doogie Howser of public relations, but then I realize that ‘Doogie Howser’ is a dated pop culture reference and most college students won’t get it,” said Studenc in an email.
The beginning of Studenc’s journey as a journalist stemmed from his hatred towards math, his love for words and his love for wearing jeans as opposed to a suit. Knowing he did not want to become an English teacher, Studenc pursued journalism instead and has dedicated his life to the profession ever since. Studenc saw journalism as a “noble profession” that allowed the public to learn the truth, an ideal that inspired him to become a journalist. Before working at WCU, he took this passion and put it to good use when he worked for Black Mountain News, The Daily Tar Heel, Asheville Citizen-Times, The Mountaineer, Out ‘n About, The News-Record and Haywood County News. Studenc was a reporter, columnist, editor, editorial ghost-writer and entertainment editor.
Studenc said his fondest memory from the 32 years at WCU so far involves former WCU Chancellor, Dr. David O. Belcher. In 2011, he traveled to Chapel Hill when the board of governors voted to appoint Belcher as the new chancellor. Before the meeting, Belcher, his wife and Studenc met with the former UNC System President, Tom Ross, to get pictures taken. Once Ross left his office for the meeting, Studenc watched as Dr. Belcher sat at Ross’ desk, put his feet up on the desk, put his hands behind his head, and said “I just had to know how it feels.”
Julie Mathis, University Communications and Marketing (UCM) executive assistant, along with Marlon Morgan, public communication specialist, have worked closely with Studenc over the past few years and recognize the importance of Studenc’s role in the WCU community. Studenc wears many different hats in his current position, which might result in a shift in everyday operations for the UCM department.
“Working without Bill will be challenging at first because I think we will get more of a sense of all of those small things that he did that we didn’t realize he took care of,” said Morgan in an email.
Not only does Studenc play a vital role in the communication between WCU and the outside world, but he is also known for bringing joy and laughter to the workplace. Mathis views Studenc not only as an inspiration but as a comedian whose humor is “unmatched.”
“The work that he has done for this university is immeasurable and Bill himself is irreplaceable. He will truly be missed, not just by me, but by all who have had the pleasure of working with him,” said Mathis.
Bill and Paws laughing it up in 2011. Photo by University Communications and Marketing.
Despite his love for the job, being director of the public relations department was not always an easy task for Studenc. He said his biggest hardship was having to be available 24/7 in case there was an emergency involving a crisis on campus. Often times, this interfered with his social life. It did not matter where he was; if he was needed, he would get out his laptop and sit by the phone waiting to hear from reporters.
“I guess in a way that helped prepare me for working remotely in the era of COVID-19,” he said. No matter how hard the task, Studenc always found a way through it. Similar to most of the UCM department, Studenc has been working remotely more often than not due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After many written stories, public statements, interviews and pop-culture references, Studenc is looking forward to catching up on sleep and possibly even developing a consistent workout routine. The one thing he wishes he had done differently was to obtain his master’s degree in public relations sooner. He knows having an advanced degree might have created unforeseen opportunities for him. Despite this singular regret, working at WCU has allowed Studenc to pursue his occupational goals, have time to be with his family and promote a business that he truly believes in. What he will miss most is working with the people of WCU and telling everyone stories about what the university used to be like in comparison to what it is now.
“When I started considering moving into a communication or PR job, I could not see myself working for a cigarette manufacturer or pharmaceutical company, even though those jobs would pay pretty well. I didn’t see myself trying to promote a product I did not believe in. But working at a university, I get to promote higher education and the concept of bettering the lives of individuals, families and communities. Who couldn’t get behind something like that,” said Studenc in an email.
