In his first published interview with UNC, Lee Roberts cited the Hippocratic Oath – “first, do no harm” – as a key mentality when taking over the chancellorship from Kevin Guskiewicz, who left Chapel Hill for the presidency at Michigan State.
When asked Thursday about what he believes “doing no harm” to Carolina means, Roberts responded with: “Try not to screw anything up.”
“There’s a team of really dedicated, talented professionals here… not just on the academic side, but across the organization,” the interim chancellor said to the gathered media. “They know how to do their jobs, I’m not here to tell them how to do their jobs – particularly when it comes to the faculty. I’m not here to tell the faculty how to teach their classes and do their jobs. That’s what I have in mind when I talk about doing no harm: a lot of things are working really well, so let’s not mess that up.”
The UNC Board of Trustees meetings on Wednesday and Thursday served as opportunities to continue getting Roberts up to speed in the role. He spent the prior few days meeting with campus leaders after receiving more informal introductions to the chancellor position since being named in December. The former state budget director and founder of an investment firm in Raleigh said those early interactions have been helpful to further understand UNC’s reach. Roberts described experiencing a “palpable” love people hold for the institution, an appreciation for the importance of the university’s research to the world, and affirmation of how UNC-Chapel Hill is central to the future of North Carolina.
Roberts’ interim appointment to the role comes after serving on the UNC System Board of Governors, with his collegiate experience coming at Duke for undergraduate and then Georgetown for his law degree. Over the last four years, he’s taught a public budgeting course at Duke, which he said exposed him to another side of higher education – and one that may continue at Carolina.
“While I would never claim to be an academic myself,” Roberts said. “I think that experience – in addition to my service on the Board of Governors, then the budget office and otherwise – gave me a really strong appreciation for what academics do.
“I did really enjoy [teaching,]” he later added. “It won’t be this semester, but I’m very interested in that.”
UNC Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts speaks with the media following a Board of Trustees meeting on January 18, 2024.
Much of the discussion around Roberts’ appointment is whether he will ultimately be the long-term choice to run North Carolina’s flagship university – like his predecessor was in 2019 following Carol Folt’s departure. Four days into the role, Roberts said he believes it’s “premature” to make any declarations about seeking the permanent title.
But he did outline many of the short and long-term issues he hopes to continue addressing on campus. Roberts said almost every leader he’d spoken with has brought up continuing to improve student mental health and wellness, especially in the wake of August’s fatal shooting of a professor on campus. He voiced support for UNC’s existing efforts and resources, but said more funding and more focus on making community members aware of those options would be key.
Roberts also pointed to the university’s current five-year strategic plan that’s winding down – and the need to begin crafting its next iteration. He indicated that will be created through widespread feedback from stakeholders, but said there are several components he believes ought to be considered.
“We need to make sure that we have a really robust strategy around A.I., for example,” said the UNC interim chancellor. “We’re a leading global research university – we need to lead in the most important development in computer science that any of us can remember.
“The campus master plan,” he continued, “the physical plan for the campus itself, is probably a little out of date. That will be folded into the strategic plan’s work.”
Another goal is continuing to build upon Carolina’s success in applications and admissions to “better reflect” the state’s population. Roberts cited the tuition support plan announced by Guskiewicz last July as an example of those efforts, as well as continued outreach through high schools and social media.
“We need to make sure that everybody in this state – and, of course, more broadly – recognizes that this is an institution for them,” he said. “Where they can belong, where they are welcome, and where they can be successful.”
The Board of Trustees helped further set expectations for Roberts’ tenure during their meetings – as they discussed topics ranging from campus safety and infrastructure to faculty salary ranges and getting the School of Civic Life and Leadership online. Chair of the board John Preyer pointed to UNC moving up in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Academic Rankings as a reflection of Carolina’s recent success – but added that he wants to keep building upon those high marks to “dominate” peer institutions on the list.
“Lee knows what he’s getting into and what a special opportunity he has to lead America’s oldest public university during this time of dynamic transition on campus,” Preyer said while introducing Roberts on Thursday. “It’s no secret that Lee spent some time at the other end of 15-501 [at Duke], and that’s okay. There’s no doubt that we are all aligned in our collective desire to make Carolina the number one public university in the world.”
For Roberts, that may mean a few months in the position before a permanent chancellor candidate is selected by UNC System President Peter Hans. He said Thursday he has an “excellent relationship” with Hans and plans to have a “full and regular dialogue” with him as Roberts leads the Chapel Hill campus and continues adjusting the interim position.
What Roberts said is driving him, though, are the longer-term effects the university can have on the community, North Carolina, and beyond. And he told the Board of Trustees he’s “ready to roll up my sleeves and work to address at least some of [the] problems” the future holds.
“When I was approached about taking this role,” said Roberts, “what immediately intrigued me about it was the fact that there is no more important institution for the future of this state than the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I care a lot about higher education – I think I’ve shown that in what I’ve done previously. I care a lot about public service, and I care a lot about this state.”
Roberts continues his first week on campus with Friday’s UNC faculty council meeting, and will also attend the UNC System Board of Governors meetings set for next week.
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