The University of North Carolina announced its selection of the 16th provost in school history on Thursday night.

Chris Clemens, an astrophysicist who has worked at the university since 1998, was selected and approved by the UNC Board of Trustees to be the university’s next executive vice chancellor and provost following a months-long search.

“I am honored to be able to serve my community at a pivotal time for the university,” Clemens said in a release from UNC. “The challenges and disruptions we have suffered are substantial, but I believe they also offer opportunities to reflect on our core mission to students, to promote the public good, and to put our research and scholarship to work in innovative ways that serve the people of North Carolina. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, campus leadership, the UNC system, and our public stakeholders in pursuit of our common goals.”

Clemens has held several leadership positions over the last two decades he’s worked at UNC. Currently the senior associate dean for research and innovation in the College of Arts & Sciences, he also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Natural Sciences at UNC. Clemens is formerly the chair of the physics and astronomy department, as well as a recent director of Carolina’s Institute for Convergent Science. He is also presently the Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science and an advisory committee member for UNC’s Program for Public Discourse.

Clemens earned a B.S. in astrophysics from the University of Oklahoma before completing his Ph.D in astronomy at the University of Texas. He was hired to the UNC faculty after finishing a NASA Hubble Postdoctoral Fellowship at Iowa State University, among other projects.

UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz shared his thoughts about Clemens’ selection as second-in-command at the university in a message to the community.

I’ve known Chris for nearly 15 years and have worked closely with him on a range of ambitious projects to enhance the academic excellence of Carolina,” Guskiewicz wrote on Thursday. “I know he’ll do an outstanding job as our next chief academic officer. Chris’ deep understanding of the links between rigorous interdisciplinary research, excellent teaching and the value of free inquiry makes him the right person to take on this role at this crucial time in Carolina’s history.”

Clemens will succeed Bob Blouin, who has held the provost position since 2017. Blouin announced in May he would be stepping down at the end of 2021, aiming to continue his work as the Vaughn and Nancy Bryson Distinguished Professor in UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Guskiewicz’s comments included thanking Blouin for the “extraordinary” work he has done as provost over the last four years.

“He will continue in this role through January, helping to ensure a safe and successful start to the new semester given some of the uncertainty around COVID-19,” wrote the chancellor. “[Bob’s] steady hand and disciplined operational approach helped see Carolina through one of the most difficult chapters in the modern history of American higher education. We are all grateful for his devoted leadership and service as provost.”

The approval of Clemens’ promotion on Thursday by the UNC Board of Trustees was kept under wraps. The board announced a meeting on Thursday, which was largely conducted in closed session to discuss personnel matters. Upon returning to open session and conducting a vote, the board did not disclose what it was voting on. For Action Item #1, UNC Student Body President Lamar Richards voted “no,” while all of the other trustees voted “yes.” Action Item #2 and Action Item #3 passed unanimously with Richards abstaining from voting.

“We’re excited about the University’s momentum moving into the new year and about the energy Dr. Clemens will bring to the provost’s office,” Chair of the Board of Trustees Dave Boliek said in a release on Thursday.

In addition to the announcement of Clemens’ selection, Guskiewicz also revealed that Amy Locklear Hertel and Christi Hurt will assume new roles among the university’s administration. Hertel, who is currently the chancellor’s chief of staff, will now be in “a redefined executive vice provost role.” Hurt, who is the senior prevention strategy officer for UNC, will now assume the position of Chief of Staff to the chancellor.

 

Photo via UNC-Chapel Hill.


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