Robert T. Abbotts ’85, Distinguished Alumnus, is currently enjoying retirement after a career in public service and government relations. He most recently served as a partner and senior advisor in government relations at Hoyt, Kisling, & McDowell, where he provided strategic advice and advocacy for various clients. Previously, Abbotts dedicated 28 years to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, significantly contributing to the state Medicaid program. He earned the Distinguished Political Science Alumni Award in spring 2018.
Abbotts has served on the State Employees' Credit Union Advisory Board for 10 years. His dedication to his alma mater is evident through his numerous leadership roles, including president of the Charlotte alumni chapter, member of the UNCW Board of Visitors, UNCW Alumni Board of Directors, Seahawk Club Board of Directors and the UNCW Parents Council. He is also a proud member of the Clocktower Society.
Earning a bachelor’s in political science in 1985, he credits his success to the mentorship and guidance of UNCW faculty members whose teachings in research and investigative techniques have been instrumental in his career.
Abbotts shares his Seahawk spirit with his daughter, Gloria A. Abbotts ’18, ’20M, and his daughter, Mary M. Abbotts, who plans to graduate in 2025.
Laurel Shackleton Hillen Engel ’14, Distinguished Young Alumna, is the clinical coordinator for KidsCAN!, a support program at UNC REX Cancer Care in Raleigh, NC, dedicated to helping children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. Since November 2021, she has been leading the program, which she first joined as a participant in 2002 when her father had cancer. Before her current role, Engel served as a grief counselor for children and teens at Transitions LifeCare from 2016 to 2021.
Her career in counseling began with her internship at Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center during her senior year at UNCW, where she facilitated grief support groups and provided bereavement counseling. Her dedication and skills led to a part-time position at the center after her internship.
Engel graduated cum laude in 2014 with a bachelor’s in psychology and leadership studies. She furthered her education with a Master of Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016.
In addition to her professional achievements, Engel has been a volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network since 2005, hosting fundraisers and coordinating events to raise awareness and support for pancreatic cancer research. She has also volunteered with various organizations, including the Appalachian Service Project and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
Reflecting on her time at UNCW, Engel credits her success to the mentorship of UNCW staff dedicated to student community engagement. Engel's involvement in various student leadership and community service programs at UNCW, including UNCW’s Student Ambassadors, laid the foundation for her professional career and passion for helping others.
Mary Claire “MC” Curran ’11, Distinguished Citizen, is the founder and creative director of Muse Media Services, a consultancy and communications firm that focuses on problem-solving at the intersection of activism, culture and sustainability practices. Under Curran’s leadership, Muse Media Services has spearheaded several impactful initiatives, including an upcoming contest to redefine Maryland’s state song, Maryland, My Maryland. She also created and provided strategic leadership for the “Periods Don't Stop for Pandemics” grassroots fundraiser, which successfully raised over 60,000 menstrual hygiene donations two years in a row for the Wilmington community.
Curran's recent endeavors include curating promotional materials for Laura Strickling’s Grammy-nominated album, Confessions, and providing project management and consulting for various publications, including BUSTED! Police and Public Safety Ethical Decision-Making and The Oxford Handbook of Religious Perspectives on Reproductive Ethics. Her investigative reporting with Middleclass Artist led to significant industry changes, including the termination of a critic accused of harassing singers.
Before founding Muse Media Services, Curran had a successful career as a professional opera singer, making her Carnegie Hall debut at 25 years old. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the City Artist Corp Grant in 2021 and the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition's Rohatyn Great Promise Award in 2018. A career highlight was singing Musetta’s Waltz in Opera Wilmington's 2019 production of La bohème.
Curran has served on the board of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition where she facilitated special events and fundraising and volunteered with organizations such as Harlem Lacrosse and PupStarz Rescue.
Curran graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s in music in vocal performance and later earned a master's in music in vocal performance from the University of Miami in 2014. She also holds certificates in sustainable business strategies and entrepreneurship essentials from Harvard Business School online. Curran credits her success to the mentorship of faculty, staff, scholarship donors and the Wilmington community who provided invaluable support and guidance.
John Scholz ’84, Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Honoree, is currently the operations manager for Anil Mohin, MD, where he oversees various operational aspects and ensures the smooth functioning of the practice. His career includes significant roles in the entertainment industry, having worked as a contracts manager for Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios. He also has experience as an entertainment journalist, contributing to various media outlets.
Scholz has served as the membership chair and secretary for the Valley Business Alliance, where he was recognized with a leadership award. For over 10 years, he volunteered as a lifeline counselor for The Trevor Project, providing support to LGBTQIA youth. He has served on the UNCW Board of Visitors and is a patron of the Mohin-Scholz LGBTQIA Resource Center. As a student, he was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, which reinforced his commitment to giving back to the community.
His contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Service Appreciation Award from The Trevor Project and multiple doubles champion titles from the Los Angeles Tennis Association.
After earning a bachelor’s in business management from UNCW in 1984, he later pursued graduate studies in journalism and screenwriting at UCLA. He credits his success to the support and encouragement of UNCW faculty and staff members. Their guidance and the inclusive environment at UNCW played a crucial role in shaping his career and personal values.