Cheryl and John Oliver have long been captivated by North Carolina's Outer Banks. They vacationed there, were married in Manteo and have been connected to North Carolina's coast professionally and personally for many years.
Through a bequest and IRA beneficiary designations, the Olivers are investing in the coast's future by supporting the Coastal Studies Institute. Their $2.5 million planned gift will provide housing for students studying at CSI and provide resources for other needs which may arise at the institute.
The Coastal Studies Institute is located on the ECU Outer Banks Campus on Roanoke Island. The campus site is adjacent to the Croatan Sound, part of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system, the second-largest estuary in the United States. The LEED Gold-certified coastal campus spans 213 acres of marshes, scrub wetlands, forested wetlands and estuarine ecosystems.
"We hope it will encourage others to do something similar and provide support to CSI," John Oliver said. "You don't have to be an ECU alum to support CSI."
"They need the financial support at all levels to continue the robust programs they have and seize the opportunity provided by the local maritime heritage niche," Cheryl Oliver added. "Eventually onsite housing will make it all much easier."
As staff with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, MD, they had professional connections to the coast. Cheryl is the former director of the NOAA Heritage Programs. John retired in 2011 as the National Marine Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator with NOAA.
"We have a natural love for the Outer Banks and the relationship with the institute evolved that way," Cheryl Oliver said. "It was a natural fit between coastal studies and NOAA. When we decided to create this endowment, it was because their mission and goals are closely aligned with NOAA."
Both Olivers were raised in Maryland and consider themselves original Washingtonians. They've lived the bulk of their adult lives in Silver Spring. John was with NOAA for almost 39 years, and Cheryl 37. When it was time to leave Maryland following retirement, they chose another coastal area of North Carolina, moving to Leland. They still plan to spend time on the Outer Banks in the off season.
"The Olivers have spent a lifetime studying and working toward conserving our coastal ecosystems. Their personal dedication to the ocean and surrounding coastal resources is inspiring and is representative of many within our own team at the Coastal Studies Institute," said Reide Corbett, Executive Director, Coastal Studies Institute and Dean, Integrated Coastal Programs. "The Coastal Studies Institute has a reach beyond just Pirate Nation. This generous gift demonstrates that directly."
Corbett said the Olivers' investment in CSI will expand opportunities for students to participate in programs that are truly embedded in a coastal community.
"Cheryl and John have been a part of CSI from the very beginning and are demonstrating their confidence through this investment in the significance of the interdisciplinary coastal science being conducted by the faculty and staff at CSI," Corbett said. "We are grateful for this transformative gift and humbled by their generosity."
During her time with NOAA, Cheryl worked in the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management serving as a liaison for numerous state coastal zone management and research reserve programs. She served as headquarters staff for the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and was responsible for expedition logistics.
Through Cheryl's maritime heritage work and the relationships they built working in North Carolina, the Olivers became active stakeholders in coastal studies along the Outer Banks. Cheryl served on the exhibit team for the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village. In 2004, she was appointed to the original Board of Trustees for the Coastal Studies Institute. "When they first called, I was flattered and thought they had the wrong person," Cheryl Oliver said.
Dr. Nancy White was the founding director of the Coastal Studies Institute. She credits Cheryl Oliver and the original board of trustees as part of her success in building the idea of CSI into the institution that stands today.
"We had people who were willing to put in the work and make an investment in the idea of coastal studies when it was only an idea on paper," White said. "Cheryl and John - and other board members - vouched for CSI. They believed in what we were doing. The board helped put the program on the map."
White said Cheryl brought excitement to the project. Cheryl and John were active and on board to support coastal studies from day one. The Olivers made contacts and got people connected to the project. White said the Olivers' gift is indicative of the way they have been from the beginning.
"The two of them showed up for everything from day one," White said. "She was out in front cheerleading. Cheryl was so excited to have an academic program in maritime history located on the NC coast. She was not going to let anyone become faint of heart."
The Olivers' enthusiasm for the Coast Studies Institute is as strong as ever. They keep up with the projects and activities, attend events and promote the programs with fervor.
"CSI is really the boots on the ground of applied science," Cheryl Oliver said. "They are helping make wise decisions for the coast, looking at sea level rise and the impact of global warming. The education outreach is phenomenal."
The Olivers see critical importance in projects studying wave energy at Jeanette's Pier, research on water quality, fisheries and maritime heritage.
"They do a lot of important projects. We know they have a beautiful LEED facility and access to the waterways, but we know that they don't have housing onsite," Cheryl Oliver said. "We want to make it easier for students to live in the area and be close to their work and pursue their studies without as much worry about the expense of living there."
The Olivers said they really hope that their gift will encourage others to support the Coastal Studies Institute. "It would be really nice if our little bit of help will say, 'hey here's this really great opportunity to fund or support the CSI and what they do because it affects the coast and the entire state.'" Corbett described the Olivers' gift is a gamechanger as the relatively young organization continues to grow academic programs at the coast through its partnerships across ECU and UNC System institutions.
Corbett described the Olivers' gift as a gamechanger as the relatively young organization continues to grow academic programs at the coast through its partnerships across ECU and UNC System institutions.
"The experience we offer is life-changing for many students, we have seen that firsthand," Corbett said. "This gift provides a means to create change for individuals through these new academic experiences in a living-learning environment."
