John Sanders, the former director of the UNC School of Government and a key player in the creation of the University of North Carolina System, died on Wednesday, September 22. He was 94 years old.
The UNC School of Government shared a release announcing the passing of Sanders, who worked as its director from 1962 to 1973 and again from 1979 to 1992 after serving on its faculty. His efforts to grow the school, which was called the Institute of Government at the time, and to improve the university range from his days as undergraduate student body president in the 1950s to his work establishing the UNC System. The main building of the School of Government, the Knapp-Sanders Building, is partially named in his honor.
Sanders’ many accomplishments include laying groundwork to desegregate UNC’s campuses. Once elected student body president, he publicly advocated for rescinding a policy that required segregation at public meetings on campus. Later, following his first stint as the director of the Institute of Government, Sanders served as the UNC System’s vice president for planning. He used the role to help end segregation and establish the system’s first affirmative action plan, according to the School of Government.
The Knapp-Sanders building houses the UNC School of Government, where John Sanders worked as a faculty member and a director for 40 years. (Photo via the UNC School of Government.)
The doctor of law also was known as a key figure in crafting the modern Constitution of North Carolina. Sanders served on staff for the North Carolina Constitutional Commission and lent his expertise to revision efforts of the document. In its release, the UNC School of Government said Sanders’ impact is still clear in the constitution today.
“John Sanders embodied our University’s public service mission,” wrote UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz upon Sanders’ death. “When I talk about Carolina being the most public of the publics – I often think of John Sanders. As a two-time director of the UNC School of Government, he was instrumental in expanding its work with thousands of public officials. He devoted his career to the state of North Carolina and I know his legacy will continue to inspire all those who work in service to North Carolina and its community members.”
Mike Smith, the current Dean of the School of Government, also reflected on Sanders’ impact on the school.
“I am grateful for his influence and guidance, and especially for his friendship after I followed him as director of the Institute of Government,” wrote Smith in Friday’s release. “The School that we love was shaped by him, and it has allowed all of our faculty and staff to have a remarkable impact on North Carolina. John made me understand that focusing your life’s work on improving one state—North Carolina—was worthy of your best efforts. He communicated that our mission was important and meaningful, and he was right.”
To learn more about Sanders, visit the UNC School of Government’s website.
Photo via the UNC School of Government.
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