Facilities manager Brent Wishart has guided Gillings through twenty years of crises and emergencies. His office holds the School’s vast public health legacy.
Brent Wishart, facilities manager, has been taking care of the Gillings School’s building logistics for more than twenty years, guiding the school through both crises and everyday emergencies that come with managing a campus, including on‑campus shootings, tornado warnings, ice storms, interior floods, leaking roof and more. His office is a microcosm of the School’s vast public health legacy.
Dr. Rosenau’s microscope and eyeglasses
Dr. Rosenau’s microscope and eyeglasses have remained with his portrait for the past 73 years and serve as tangible symbols of his life’s work. The microscope reflects his scientific rigor and commitment to advancing public health knowledge, while his glasses offer a more personal reminder of the human perspective behind that scholarship.
The “King of Parking” certificate
The “King of Parking” certificate was a lighthearted creation by the Dean’s Office staff many years ago, and it still makes me smile. The yellow construction hard hat dates to the 2002–2005 construction of the Michael Hooker Research Center. For me, it represents both the physical evolution of our spaces and the collective effort required to bring bold ideas to life.
I felt strongly that someone should reclaim that visible connection to our history, so when I moved into this office, I made sure Dr. Rosenau came with me.
The 1928 lamp model of the Old Well
The 1928 lamp model of the Old Well is another piece that reflects my appreciation for UNC’s history. I’ve always enjoyed finding vintage Carolina artifacts, and this lamp is one of my favorites.
Utilizing a round table
Utilizing a round table invites colleagues to gather as partners, which helps bring people together around shared space and strategy decisions.
The 1953 portrait of Dean Milton Rosenau
I keep the 1953 portrait of Dean Milton Rosenau in my office as a daily reminder of the legacy that shaped our school. The portrait originally hung in a display case outside my first office in Rosenau Hall. When that case was removed during the 2007 building renovation, he drifted from office to office before ultimately being placed in storage. I felt strongly that someone should reclaim that visible connection to our history, so when I moved into this office, I made sure Dr. Rosenau came with me.
