New Director of Communications weathers Hurricane Helene upon arrival

Originally scheduled to have her first official day as the first Director of Communications at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) Morganton on Sept. 30, Emily Cunard arrived just as Hurricane Helene reared her head, pushing her first day back to Oct. 7.

The Riverside, Calif., native calls her relocation to western North Carolina “serendipitous.” After visiting Raleigh in 2019 for a concert and following her parents’ recent retirement there, she felt drawn to make the move from California.

“I’ve been slowly trying to make my way out here,” Cunard said.

Cunard, her husband, and daughter arrived the morning of Sept. 26, just as Hurricane Helene’s heavy rain set in, one day before power outages, falling trees, and floods swept through Morganton. Cunard named the storm as one of the only challenges she’s faced since relocating.

“It was kind of odd. We made it through the night and thought ‘OK, that’s a lot of rain’ … and when you wake up the next morning with no power, you realize, maybe it’s not just a normal storm,” Cunard said. The newcomer was unaware of the impact the storm would have.

“We were just so out of the loop because we hadn’t made any connections,” Cunard said. “I still have rain-stained boxes tucked away in a room somewhere.”

Cunard credits Jonelle Sigmon, public information officer for the City of Morganton, for being helpful and keeping everyone informed on the city’s recovery.

Director of Communications, Morganton

Cunard said she first learned of the position at NCSSM-Morganton after her dad sent her the job post on Indeed. After the birth of her first child, Cunard said she was eager to get back into the workforce.

“When I got the first call, I was in a Trader Joe’s parking lot with my little girl in the back, keeping her quiet with freeze-dried snacks while I was on the phone,” Cunard started. “And I called my husband like, ‘Do I actually have a shot at this?’ And he was like, go for it.”

Cunard said her husband was supportive as he had just completed his education as a civil engineer.

“It was a great opportunity for our family to be able to pick up and leave,” Cunard said. “It’s that small-town feel, but you still have a lot of different cultures and opportunities to engage with others.”

Cunard is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in public administration with a leadership concentration. She was previously the communications manager for the Chamber of Commerce in Riverside.

“I wanted to work in a public organization because there are so many opportunities for outreach and making an impact in your community,” Cunard said. “I love the idea of being able to affect change on a small scale that will hopefully one day have a larger impact, and this school is a great opportunity for that. We’re really cultivating future leaders in science, technology, and even humanities.”

Since the start of her new role, Cunard has gotten acclimated with leaders, faculty, and staff who rely on communications to get messages out to the public. Cunard said part of her role is to oversee the institution’s social media.

“My main focus right now is really being consistent with our social media, making sure we’re getting those students’ faces out there, the students’ stories, and really connecting a youthful audience through Instagram and utilizing our social media,” Cunard said.

In addition to social media, Cunard said she will oversee the news section on the NCSSM website and seek out ideas for what the school will cover for the news.

“Not only do I concentrate on Morganton’s effort in that realm,” Cunard said referring to social media, “I also oversee institution-wide what goes out to all of North Carolina seen by external partners across the state.”

Cunard lights up as she describes the energy at NCSSM-Morganton.

“I love the energy. It’s just a palpable energy and excitement these kids have. I love talking to them. They’re so smart and intelligent. They’re always happy, all the time,” Cunard said.

Cunard is the first to occupy the Director of Communications role at NCSSM-Morganton. Kevin Baxter, vice chancellor and chief campus officer for NCSSM-Morganton, has welcomed Cunard to the team.

“We’re excited to welcome Emily Cunard to NCSSM as our new Director of Communications on the Morganton campus. Emily brings a strong background in creative storytelling and community engagement, which aligns perfectly with our mission. We have invested considerable energy and talent in this work during our early years, and I am looking forward to Emily’s contributions in sharing the stories of our community on campus and beyond,” Baxter said.

Although Cunard arrived on the brink of the catastrophic storm, she reflected on her gratitude for being a new resident of Morganton and a member of the NCSSM team.

“I was sitting on our porch once when we finally made it back to our apartment with my husband. I said, ‘Even though we just weathered a catastrophic storm, I feel more relaxed and more at home than I have in California for a long time,’” Cunard said sincerely. “I’m excited for my daughter to be raised in this community. Hopefully, we have a future Dragon.”