Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, the dean of the UNC School of Education since 2016, will leave the position this summer to assume the role of Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, effective July 1.

“The past eight years at Carolina and the School of Education have been a highlight of my career,” Abd-El-Khalick said. “We have achieved much as a community of faculty, students, staff and alumni – in partnership with leaders at Carolina and in school districts and with our state officials – to better serve learners and educators in our rural and urban communities across North Carolina and beyond.”

Abd-El-Khalick also served as a Professor of Science and Education at UNC and, since 2022, an Alumni Distinguished Professor at the school. He served several appointments within the state government during his time in Chapel Hill, including serving on the advisory council for the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program from 2020 to 2022 and as a member of Governor Roy Cooper’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education from 2017 to 2021.

Before coming to Chapel Hill, Abd-El-Khalick served on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 16 years and earned his Ph.D. from Oregon State University.

“I am grateful for all the support and kindness that the Carolina community and the state have shown our family over these years,” Abd-El-Khalick said. “We will always have a special place in our hearts and minds for the people and place that is Carolina.”

 

Featured image via UNC

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Jill Hamm Named Dean of UNC School of Education
Jill Hamm, who has been serving as the interim dean of the UNC School of Education since last May, was named the school’s permanent dean Friday by chancellor Lee Roberts and provost Chris Clemens. “During her interim tenure, Jill has been an exceptional leader,” read an email to the UNC community from Roberts and Clemens, […]
UNC Selected to Host 2023 World Anti-Bullying Forum
UNC will host the 2023 World Anti-Bullying Forum, in the first time the event has been hosted outside of Europe. The forum will take place from October 25 through October 27. The forum will be led by Dr. Dorothy Espelage, a faculty member and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education within the UNC School […]
Focus Carolina: Jeffrey Greene
Tune in to Focus Carolina during morning, noon and evening drive times and on the weekends to hear stories from faculty members at UNC and find out what ignites their passion for their work. Focus Carolina is an exclusive program on 97.9 The Hill WCHL, sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Jeffrey […]
Higher Education, Part VIII: Funding
UNC's education dean says higher education needs more state funding. Can we achieve this by improving our understanding of what college is?
UNC Football's Upcoming Home-and-Home Series With South Carolina Cancelled
The UNC football program’s upcoming home-and-home series against South Carolina has been cancelled. The Tar Heels were scheduled to visit Columbia in 2028 and host the Gamecocks in Chapel Hill in 2029. In a brief release, UNC said the expanded conference schedules in both the SEC and ACC, which will see schools play nine league […]
UNC Baseball Pulls Away Late to Beat Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
The Diamond Heels scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break open a close game and beat No. 7 seed Virginia Tech 10-4 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Charlotte Friday afternoon. 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 💪#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/dhshA3dqrk — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) May 22, 2026 UNC entered the eighth […]
UNC Baseball in the 2026 ACC Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Time
The Diamond Heels will compete in the ACC Tournament semifinals Saturday in Charlotte. UNC is the defending tournament champion and the No. 2 overall seed. If you aren’t in Charlotte with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen to the game on the radio with […]
Here's the Complete Bracket for the 2026 ACC Baseball Tournament
The 2026 ACC Baseball Tournament will take place this week at Truist Field in Charlotte. UNC is the defending champion in the tournament and will compete as the No. 2 seed in the field, having earned a double bye into Friday’s quarterfinals. The 2026 season is the second consecutive year the ACC will be using […]
UNC Women's Lacrosse in the 2026 Final Four: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Time
The UNC women’s lacrosse team will play in the NCAA Final Four against No. 3 overall seed Maryland in Chicago Friday afternoon. The Tar Heels are the No. 2 overall seed in the field and are seeking to win consecutive national championships for the first time in program history. If you aren’t traveling with the […]
'My Favorite Game': UNC Women's Lacrosse Looking Forward to Rekindling Maryland Rivalry at Final Four
Friday afternoon's national semifinal game will rekindle the dormant UNC-Maryland women's lacrosse rivalry.
›