UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences has a new dean: Kevin Guskiewicz.

UNC made that announcement on Wednesday following a national search headed up by Executive Vice Provost Ron Strauss. Guskiewicz will take over on January 1 from outgoing Dean Karen Gil, who’s returning to the department of psychology and neuroscience after six years in the position.

Kevin Guskiewicz is a neuroscientist at UNC and an internationally recognized expert on sport-related concussions; among many other honors, he won a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2011. He currently serves as senior associate dean of Arts and Sciences, overseeing the division of natural sciences and mathematics.

In a statement, Dr. Guskiewicz said:

I am excited to lead the College of Arts and Sciences at the University I have grown to love over the past 20 years. During this time I have gained an appreciation for the different challenges and needs of faculty, students and staff from distinct areas, but with a common mission – to be the very best global public research university that also serves the people of North Carolina. I look forward to introducing initiatives to bridge the gap between research and teaching so that our students can benefit from the world-renowned research of our faculty.

UNC Provost Jim Dean also issued a statement on Kevin Guskiewicz’s appointment as Arts and Sciences dean:

Kevin combines a deep interest in academic research with a real appreciation for the importance of using his findings to impact important problems. In his senior associate dean role, he has ably guided the natural sciences during a time of great change, including a pedagogical revolution in the teaching of science. Led by Kevin and others, Carolina has become one of the leading institutions in the country for new teaching and learning models.

Related Stories
‹
New UNC Humanities Scholarship Formed by $10 Million Gift
Stephen Israel, a UNC graduate in the Class of 1966, gifted $10 million to create a new undergraduate humanities scholarship.
UNC Names James W.C. White Next Dean for College of Arts and Sciences
After an extended search, and the official retirement of its current leader, the UNC College of Arts and Sciences has its newest dean. The university announced James W.C. White, a climate researcher, will lead the largest unit of Chapel Hill’s campus. White served as the acting dean at the University of Colorado’s College of Arts […]
UNC Makes Interim Dean for College of Arts & Sciences Permanent
UNC announced it has selected the next permanent dean for the university’s College of Arts & Sciences. Terry Rhodes, who has been serving in the interim role since Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz left the position, will effectively become the permanent dean on Sunday, March 1. Rhodes, who previously served as the senior associate dean for fine […]
UNC Receives $1.5 Million Grant for Humanities Initiative
UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences has received a $1.5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund its new Humanities initiative. The four-year initiative, called “Humanities for the Public Good,” began on July 1, led by Senior Associate Dean Terry Rhodes. The initiative has been broken down into three overarching themes: Integrating […]
Local Family Gives $18 Million to UNC Entrepreneurship Program
UNC currently offers a minor in entrepreneurship, and has since 2004. However, it’s application-based and selective. But soon, that minor will be opened up to more students. The Shuford family from Hickory, North Carolina are giving UNC $18 million to contribute to the program, and will almost double it in size and resources. “It is […]
Two UNC Deans To Step Down in 2015
Two high-profile UNC deans will be stepping down at the end of this school year.
Former UNC Player Ed Davis Among Several Indicted in NBA Gambling Scandal
Ed Davis, who played for the UNC men’s basketball team from 2008 through 2010 and helped the Tar Heels win the 2009 national title, is among six former NBA players who are being charged with conspiracy, bribery and money laundering as the result of a federal investigation. An indictment published Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Illinois in Nashville Hoops Showdown in January
UNC is adding another high-level non-conference matchup to its 2026-27 schedule. The Tar Heels will face Illinois in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The matchup has been confirmed by both programs and by Bridgestone Arena, which will host the game. Tar Heels 🆚 Fighting Illini in Nashville pic.twitter.com/UuhExCctMB — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
UNC Women’s Soccer Recruit Maddie DiMaria Named National Player of the Year
Maddie DiMaria, who will join the UNC women’s soccer program as a true freshman this coming fall, has been named the 2025-26 Gatorade National Player of the Year in Girls’ Soccer. This is the second time DiMaria has won the honor; she also took it home for the 2023-24 season. Playing at Cor Jesu Academy […]
›