WILMINGTON — New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise and City of Wilmington Councilmember Luke Waddell have been appointed to serve four-year terms on the UNCW Board of Trustees.
Starting their terms in July, Waddell and Scalise were appointed by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors on May 15.
Woody White, a UNC Board of Governors member and former UNCW BOT and NHC commissioner, praised the two new appointees in a press release: “With the additions of Commissioner Scalise and Councilman Waddell to the UNCW Board of Trustees, the strong ties of this great university with the city and county in which it is rooted, add dimension and scale to a shared vision for the future, and on behalf of the UNC System Board, I am thrilled over their appointment.”
The two Republican politicians were appointed alongside trustees Frances “Perry” Chappell and Jeffrey D. Clark, who will be returning to the board.
“City Councilman Waddell and Commissioner Scalise will bring distinctive community connections to their board roles at UNCW,” said UNCW Chancellor Aswani Volety in a press release. “Their dedication to public service and investment in the Cape Fear Region will help the university align our goals with local and regional development, enhancing our mission to transform lives through education and community engagement.”
Scalise has served in various roles and initiatives in the community. Appointed to the New Hanover Board of Commissioners in April 2023, he was elected in 2024 to serve a four-year term until December 2028.
His experience includes serving as deputy commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission from 2016 to 2020 and participating in the American Council of Young Political Leaders and the North Carolina Leadership Forum. Scalise also volunteers pro bono with the Community Legal Project, as well as Habitat for Humanity. Scalise is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of North Carolina School of Law.
“In my role as commissioner, I see every day the impact this university has on our community. It drives economic growth, educates future leaders, and strengthens our workforce,” Scalise said in a press release. “I look forward to supporting UNCW’s continued success and working to deepen the partnership between the university and our county in the years ahead.”
Waddell was elected to the Wilmington City Council in November 2021 and also has a career in real estate as the CEO, founder and principal broker of Cadence Realty. He serves on community boards, such the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Citadel.
“This appointment creates a valuable conduit between the City of Wilmington and the university; helping to ensure that as UNCW grows, it continues to do so with the support of the community it calls home,” Waddell said in a press release. “I look forward to supporting the students, faculty, and staff, and to working alongside my fellow trustees to advance the mission of this incredible institution.”
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