Three soaring Seahawk employees are finalists in WILMA’s 2025 Women to Watch Awards. The awards spotlight regional women who are leaders in their fields and the community.
Amanda Boomershine, Cynthia Demetriou and Heather McWhorter are three of 35 finalists selected from more than 200 nominations in seven categories: Arts, Education, Health, Business, Public Sector, Nonprofit/Volunteer and Rising Star.
Boomershine is nominated in the Education category. She is a Spanish professor in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Outside of the classroom, Boomershine leads the UNCW Latino Alliance, where she works with community partners to build a stronger network of people and organizations that serve the Hispanic and Latino community.
“It’s an honor to be a finalist for this prestigious award. I am passionate about teaching, and this recognition reflects the wonderful engagement work that our students do in the community and the collaboration we value with our community partners,” said Boomershine.
Also nominated in the Education category, Demetriou serves as the associate provost for student engagement, enrollment and retention. She leads collaborative efforts that support students from college recruitment to degree completion and teaches and conducts research. Demetriou is also a yoga teacher, a small business owner and founder of Port City Arts NC and serves the Epilepsy Foundation where she is on call for parents navigating a new diagnosis.
“I’m deeply honored to be nominated alongside such an extraordinary group of women whose leadership continues to shape our community,” said Demetriou. “Their unwavering commitment to education inspires me and strengthens my own dedication to this work.”
Serving as the director for the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, McWhorter is nominated in the Business category. She leads efforts to support start-ups, grow the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster innovation across sectors. McWhorter works to build an innovative regional economy by connecting pioneers with tools for success, like education and mentors.
“I am honored and humbled to be named a Women to Watch finalist. I’m grateful to WILMA Magazine for recognizing leaders who spark change and empower our community and to the judges who gave their time and thoughtful care to this process,” said McWhorter. “I’m also deeply thankful to UNCW for supporting innovation and entrepreneurship so we can support the next generation of changemakers. It’s a privilege to stand alongside such remarkable women leaders, each bringing their own superpowers to strengthen and uplift our region.”
In addition to current employees, 11 UNCW alumni are also finalists.
- J’Vanete Becton Skiba ’03
- Marissa Blackburn ’13
- Laura Brogdon-Primavera ’15
- Samoane Ikard ’19, ’21M
- Lorraine Perry ’95, ’05M
Winners will be announced on Sept. 5.
