UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder has received the inaugural Dr. Claire Van Ummerson Presidential Leadership Award, the university announced April 23.

She will be honored on May 16 at the Women’s Leadership Symposium in Indianapolis by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators.

Named for the former Cleveland State University president and University System of New Hampshire chancellor, the award honors a university or college president, chancellor, vice president or provost who has demonstrated leadership and promotion of women’s opportunities in athletics administration or coaching.

Ponder has served as UNCA’s sixth chancellor since October 2005. She is a native of Asheville and a lifelong educator. Her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in English are from UNC Chapel Hill.