The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts at UNCW celebrated the dedication of the new Applied Learning Classroom supported by the Tom and Mimi Cunningham Support Fund for Communication Studies.

Hosted as part of Homecoming 2025 festivities, the dedication took place concurrently with the 10th anniversary of Pier601 Creative — an applied learning course offered through the Department of Communication Studies. The grand opening and anniversary events featured behind-the-scenes tours of the Communication Studies program spaces and equipment, including the Applied Learning Classroom, and a special presentation and plaque unveiling in recognition and appreciation for the long-time support of Mimi and the late Tom Cunningham.

Due to the Cunninghams' support, the classroom is equipped with state-of-the-art podcasting equipment, a smart board, pod seating, and huddle spaces that collectively provide a professional and engaging environment for students in Pier601 to host client meetings, brainstorming sessions, and record their podcasts. The classroom also serves as a learning space for students across the Communication Studies curriculum.

“Mimi and Tom have been our most steadfast and significant partners over the years,” said Rick Olsen ’87, chair of the Department of Communication Studies. “This applied learning space will get our students ready for the marketplace. It is yet another incredible outcome of the commitment that Tom and Mimi have had for our department.”

Mimi Cunnhingham joined the Seahawk community in 1982 and served as the director of university relations and director of community relations over the course of her career — impacting and leading the university and surrounding communities through countless programs, campaigns, and crises. She led UNCW’s 50th anniversary observance in 1997-98 and a $3.1 million higher education facilities bond issue with 13 area community colleges in 2000; managed crisis communications for the university through six hurricanes; and taught and mentored more than 150 communications student interns until her retirement in 2008.

The classroom is a longtime vision of Jeanne Persuit, professor of communication studies and cofounder of Pier601 Creative, and marks a significant milestone achievement for CHSSA that has been years in the making.

“In 2008, I was asked to build an integrated marketing and communication (IMC) curriculum and I knew that someday we would include a student-run IMC first as part of our offerings,” said Persuit. “In 2014, we launched the first class of Pier601 Creative. That we now have a space dedicated to applied learning is a dream come true.”