The North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) today announces the establishment of a new School of Sports, Entertainment, and Venue Enterprise (SEVE School). This pivotal moment in NC Wesleyan’s history launches a first-of-its-kind academic pathway designed to prepare students for careers across sports & entertainment management, live event production, venue operations, and related industries.
This new school within NCWU is anchored by a $10 million lead gift courtesy of the Lonnie & Carol Poole Family Foundation. Lonnie Poole is the founder of Waste Industries and served as chairman, president, and CEO from its founding in 1970 to his retirement in 2008. Carol Poole serves as president of the Raleigh-based Foundation, which seeks to invest in transformative educational, civic, and community initiatives that expand opportunity, foster excellence, and generate lasting positive impact across North Carolina and beyond.
Led by the generosity of the Pooles, NCWU plans to launch a major initiative to raise $30 million to fund the full establishment, staffing, equipping, programming, and operations of the SEVE School.
NCWU President Dr. Evan Duff said, “The Pooles’ transformational gift comes to NC Wesleyan at exactly the right moment. The sports, entertainment, and venue industry is growing quickly across North Carolina and the rest of the country, producing hundreds of billions of dollars a year in revenue with steady demand for trained professionals. With the SEVE School, NCWU is uniquely positioned to meet that demand through our academic offerings and location, as our Rocky Mount campus is within driving distance of the region’s top sports franchises and event venues.”
What’s Next?
The Pooles’ lead gift catalyses the SEVE School’s five-year growth pathway, from launch in 2026 to a fully accredited, self-sustaining program on NCWU’s Rocky Mount campus serving 100’s of students by 2031.
At the recent signing ceremony, Lonnie Poole stated, “At any event, there are literally hundreds of people working behind the scenes to prepare, plan and deliver the experience for the public. But who trains them? Why not teach these skills at the university level? Why not give sports, entertainment and venue operations the same level of importance as those on the field, ice or stage? That is exactly what the School of Sports, Entertainment and Venue Enterprise at NC Wesleyan intends to do.”
Poole continued, “We believe the SEVE School represents exactly that kind of opportunity. Carol and I have confidence in the vision and leadership of Dr. Duff and the leadership cabinet at NCWU, and we are honored to be part of what they are building. We believe the impact of the SEVE School will reach far beyond the University in developing people, creating opportunity, and strengthening communities across North Carolina and beyond. We cannot wait to see what grows from this investment.”
The SEVE School
The SEVE School will house flagship offerings for undergraduate students including a B.S. in Sports & Entertainment Business, with soon to be developed certificates in Venue & Event Management and Esports Management. As those programs grow, additional bachelor programs will be developed along with other specialized tracks and graduate degrees. Through hands-on classes taught by professors with industry experience, SEVE School students will receive an education tailored to their intended career path, with bountiful opportunities for professional development, related internship experiences, and networking with professionals in the field.
