UNC Charlotte renames residence hall after a Black alum in a history-making move

In a first for UNC Charlotte, one of its halls has been renamed in honor of an alumnus. Dedicated to Dontá L. Wilson, a Charlotte graduate and the vice chair on the Board of Trustees, Phase XVI, UNC Charlotte’s newest residence hall, has been christened Wilson Hall. It opened its doors in 2024. 

During the reveal ceremony on April 9, Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber said of the honoree, “Dontá has been a wonderful supporter of our university since his time as an exemplary student leader on our campus. Even as he has gone on to remarkable success as a leader in the banking industry, he has remained dedicated to his alma mater to ensure that others have the same opportunities and experience he had.”

“For a board and alumni leader who keeps his focus squarely on the success of our students, it is fitting that generations of Niners to come will begin their experience at UNC Charlotte in Wilson Hall,” Gaber said, according to Niner Times.

Additionally, Gaber revealed The Wilson Believe Fund, a new scholarship opportunity aimed at first-generation college students majoring in business and education at Charlotte.  

He expressed, “Thanks to a generous gift, the University is establishing the Wilson Believe Fund, an endowed scholarship fund that will provide scholarships for first-generation college students majoring in business and education at Charlotte. This fund has the potential to change the trajectory of the lives of generations of Charlotte students, their families and their communities.”

Currently, Wilson Hall is the first residence hall in Charlotte to bear the name of an African American. With six floors and 676 beds, the freshman-only, traditional-style residential hall has become the largest on the Charlotte campus.

Wilson, a member of the operating council of Truist Financial Corporation and chief consumer and small business banking officer, shared his hope that the new scholarship and the building will support and ease the anxiety of first-generation college students and their families as they face the challenges of higher education.

In a statement, he remarked, “Navigating the funding processes and living arrangements can be overwhelming and all-consuming. When students can focus more on enjoying the experience and performing to the best of their abilities, the benefits extend far beyond the students and our 49er community; it also contributes to the success of their families, the city of Charlotte and the global community.”

According to Inside UNC Charlotte, Wilson received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023 for his exceptional service to the university, which is one of the highest honors Charlotte can bestow.

From 2019 to 22, he was a member of the Belk College of Business Board of Advisors, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in management.

Savoy Magazine recognized him as one of the Top Black Executives of 2016, and American Banker Magazine named him Digital Banker of the Year.