Pat Leonard, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, died on June 2 at her home in Carolina Beach. She was 65 years old.
Leonard first came to the university in 1983 as associate dean of students. She was promoted to vice chancellor for student affairs in 1996. Overall, she served the students at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for 37 years.
In a letter to the campus community, Jose V. Sartarelli, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, said that Leonard “built one of the most prestigious divisions of student affairs in the country and was well-known among her peer professionals in student affairs, both in North Carolina and throughout higher education, as a collegial, thoughtful partner in so many meaningful endeavors. UNCW wouldn’t exist the way it does today without all of the work and passion Pat put forth since her arrival.”
In 2019, Leonard received the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award, given to her by the Association of Student Governments of North Carolina.