The University of North Carolina Wilmington received a $25 million gift commitment from Dr. Yousry Sayed and his wife Linda '78, '85m to support healthcare initiatives and recruiting and retaining teachers. Their gifts are the biggest philanthropic commitment in the university's history, setting a new benchmark for generosity and vision at UNCW.
“The University is deeply grateful for this historic gift from the two deeply committed Seahawks,” said UNCW Prime Minister Aswani K. Vorti. “These dear friends believe in the power of higher education to change lives, improve our communities and bring positive change to the world. Their gift commitment has led UNCW to expand its programmes and strengthen facilities. and position it to provide even greater opportunities for future generations.”
Sayeds' transformational commitment allocates $20 million over five years to advance UNCW's programmes in medical education, clinical care, research and health care accessibility, supporting a wide range of health care specialty workforce programs and research initiatives . Additionally, $5 million has been designated as a program to recruit future teachers. A portion of this funding will support scholarships for individuals moving into educational careers.
Further developments in much-needed healthcare programming will play a key role in the future of southeastern North Carolina by supporting advanced clinical and medical education, innovative research and community engagement through the development of the Academic Science Center. It will do. UNCW's initiative will drive advances in treatment, treatment and healthcare, including innovative collaboration between public and private partners. Other initiatives include health education, outreach programs and health access initiatives. By taking this comprehensive approach, UNCW will undertake a wide range of efforts to enhance public health within the region.
Sayeds is a dedicated donor whose generosity advances university education and workforce development opportunities. In 2017, they committed a $5 million gift to UNCW to support pharmaceutical science and chemistry programs. At the time, it was the biggest charity gift in university history. Their contributions have been donated to support undergraduate scholarships, internships, graduate fellowships, postdoctoral scholars, instrumentation and two new, well-known professorships.
“Our gift is an investment in future teachers and healthcare professionals and serve our community,” Dr. Sayed. “We want to strengthen our students' knowledge and skills to help others lead productive and fulfilling lives. Linda and I are the mission and vision of this great university. We believe in it and are pleased to be able to contribute in ways that enable UNCW to continue serving our region and state.”
The importance of workforce development in health care and teacher education cannot be overstated. According to a 2022-23 report from the North Carolina Public Leadership Office, the state faces key challenges in teacher retention and recruitment. For example, the overall teacher obedience rate is around 11%, which is a higher rate among beginners. By 2030, the state had more than 9,000 registered nurses shortages, according to a 2024 report by the North Carolina Health Care Association. Sayeds' historic gifts play a key role in dealing with the growing demand for skilled professionals in these fields, and bringing the local ability to meet future challenges and opportunities in K-12 education and healthcare. It will increase.
With three children and eight grandchildren, Sayeds both have professional experience as educators. Dr. Sayed is president and CEO of Quality Chemical Laboratories, a Wilmington-based company working in the pharmaceutical industry. Before establishing the company in 1998, he had a prominent career at UNCW as a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Academics. As a teacher, he was an outstanding teacher, mentor and researcher who won the Prime Minister's Teaching Excellence Award in 1993.
Linda Seyde, a well-known 2024 graduate of the year, is a certified family law expert in North Carolina. She has been a partner at Wilmington's Block, Crouch, Keator, Boehm & Seed and LLP since 2005. Previously, he worked as an associate attorney for Ward & Smith, Pennsylvania. He served as assistant principal at New Hanover County Schools. She is a member of several organizations, including the UNCW Foundation Committee, the UNCW Society (Visionary level), the Clocktower Society, and the Wilmington Society (Platinum level). She gave her opening speech at UNCW in 2023.
“Yousry and I have benefited from many opportunities created by a combination of higher education and our own hard work,” Sayed said. “We have chosen to reinvest in our community by supporting similar opportunities for generations of UNCW students, faculty and staff. To give back to the institutions that have given us so much is It is our privilege. This contribution encourages future generations of educators and healthcare professionals to pursue their passions and make a meaningful impact on our community.”
