Connecting Leaders

A Lifelong Commitment to Community and Influence

In 2021–2022, Morehead-Cain Alumni connected with one another and with current scholars through various community-building programs and events. They also came together to learn about new Foundation and University initiatives.

(Mini) Alumni Forum

The alumni community joined together for a packed week of virtual programming during the "mini" version of the Alumni Forum, which took place in November 2021. (The ninth triennial Morehead-Cain Alumni Forum was originally scheduled for fall 2021, but the pandemic necessitated its postponement to October 2022.)

The (Mini) Forum offered a virtual event each day for a week leading up to, and including, the 2021 Morehead-Cain Day of Giving. The daily activities were reminiscent of those offered at the traditional Alumni Forum—including a SEVEN Talk; conversations with thought leaders; a food and wine pairing session, and more.

The Road Back to Chapel Hill

In Spring 2022, alumni participated in a series of online campus-inspired events to get them excited about the much-anticipated ninth triennial Morehead-Cain Alumni Forum (held in October 2022).

The “Road Back to Chapel Hill” featured discussions with Morehead-Cain Scholars on how they’re working to improve Carolina’s campus, UNC professors on new curriculum initiatives, and Morehead-Cain Alumni on the University’s governance structure.

Facts and Stats

3,301

Morehead-Cain Alumni around the world

400 alumni serving on the selection committee

Selection Process >

Article: Seven Things I’ve learned from my Morehead-Cain Mentor, with Sophie Cho ’23

“I look forward to continuing my relationship with Jaya [Mishra ’22] through her senior year and hopefully beyond. Listening to her talk about wanting to make the world a better place for women gives me hope for my son and for future generations. The opportunity to be a part of the Morehead-Cain Mentoring program has been an honor.”

Lakshmi Murty Goudar, Mentor
Class of 1999

Scholars Connecting with Alumni Through Stories

The Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team is an extracurricular program and internship run by our communications team. Scholars of all class years collaborate to produce multimedia content on the topics and issues they’re passionate about, as well as support Morehead-Cain’s institutional communications. In 2021–2022, the Scholar Media Team featured ten alumni across various industries and disciplines to share their insight and stories of triumph, failure, and growth.

October 7

So You Want to Be . . . a UX designer, with Caroline Jennings ’17 and Krupa Patel ’22

November 2

Election Day spotlight: Psychiatrist and North Carolina Representative Kristin Dutrow Baker ’85 on how college students can protect their mental health during the pandemic

January 4

One year after the Capitol riot: Aaron Hiller ’03 of the House Judiciary Committee on the story behind the Trump impeachment trials

January 17

The Catalyze podcast: MLK Day Special: Wendell McCain ’92, son of Greensboro Four civil rights activist Franklin McCain, with scholar host Benny Klein ’24

March 30

Lily Roberts ’12, managing director of the Center for American Progress, on which economic policies could reduce poverty, inequality post-COVID-19

April 19

Morehead-Cain Self-Starter Series: What we learned from Scott Diekema ’19 about building UNC Campus Y’s first coffee shop, social enterprise

April 25

Three things I learned from Brad Ives ’86 of Credo ESG Solutions about building social enterprises, by Tucker Stillman ’25

May 2023

How a tech company co-founded by Dave Werry ’06 is using AI to help companies provide ‘a daily health partner’ for employees

June 14

The Catalyze podcast: Jamie DeMent Holcomb ’01 on how saying ‘yes’ led her to success as a museum CEO, venture capitalist, writer, chef, and farmer, with scholar host Benny Klein ’24

June 28

The Catalyze podcast: Podcast producer Nick Andersen ’12 on navigating his career in media and what it’s like to work for PBS MASTERPIECE