CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina’s Academic Support Program for Student Athletes has a new leader, the University announced Monday.

Michelle Brown will take over as director of the program on May 6, a position that’s been held in an interim role by Harold Woodard. Brown will oversee more than ten staff members, including reading and writing specialists, learning specialists, and counselors.

The position was formerly held by Robert Mercer for almost a decade until investigation into the University prompted a restructuring in the department. Woodard told the News and Observer that Mercer had not done anything wrong, but that a national search for a new leader was necessary. Mercer took a position outside academic support for athletes in August.

Brown currently holds the same position at Florida Atlantic University. At UNC, she will be in charge of 800 student athletes with an annual budget of $1.3 million. She will report directly to the provost, the University’s chief academic officer, unlike in the past when Academic Support was a part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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