This is Raleigh Mann.

If the university’s chancellor search committee is looking for a proven administrator, teacher, researcher, innovator, and motivator, I have an excellent candidate in mind, someone who excels at all of those things, was born and raised in North Carolina and who knows the University of North Carolina intimately.

When James Moeser was being recruited as UNC’s chancellor, he commented on the “very intelligent, perceptive woman” who asked penetrating questions on the search committee. Bernadette Gray-Little gave him a strong impression of the quality of the faculty at the University.

Gray-Little, who was born in Washington, North Carolina, worked her way through the ranks at Carolina from assistant director of the Family Practice Center to the faculty, rising from assistant to full professor of psychology, director of the graduate program in clinical psychology, department chair, became the University’s senior associate dean of undergraduate education, executive associate provost, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, executive vice chancellor and provost.

She paid her dues, embraced challenges and excelled at every step along the way.

Then in August of 2009, the University of Kansas made her its chancellor, where she oversees four campuses and four separate research and educational centers.

Doctor Gray-Little was one of four university leaders invited to represent the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities at a White House summit on math and science education.

She’s doing great work at Kansas, but it’s time to bring her back home. We have a perfect opportunity to make her our next chancellor.

This is Raleigh Mann.