Chapelboro.com is re-publishing some of the top stories that impacted our community in 2019. These were stories that affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our local area.

When Carol Folt stepped down as UNC’s chancellor, Kevin Guskiewicz was named as the university’s interim chancellor.

Guskiewicz — who had previously served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences — was officially named the university’s permanent chancellor after a vote by the UNC System Board of Governors in December.

Read our story on Guskiewicz’s appointment here:

After a months-long search, the UNC System named Kevin Guskiewicz the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Friday.

Guskiewicz, who had served as UNC’s interim chancellor since February, was unanimously approved by the UNC System Board of Governors after being recommended by the system’s Interim President Bill Roper. He previously served as the dean of the university’s College of Arts and Sciences for three years, with an extensive background as a neuroscientist and a nationally recognized expert on sport-related concussions.

When recommending Guskiewicz after a closed session of the meeting, Roper listed the interim chancellor’s track record of success in research, strategic thinking and efforts to connect with the campus community as reasons he believed Guskiewicz should have the permanent position.

“He’s demonstrated highly-effective leadership as interim chancellor,” Roper said. “He’s built strong relationships with the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, faculty, staff, students and the entire UNC-Chapel Hill community. Simply put, I believe he’s the right individual to lead Carolina forward into the future.”

Richard Stevens, the chair of the UNC Board of Trustees and of the chancellor search committee, issued a statement Friday morning after the announcement to express his excitement about the Governors’ approval.

“The Board of Trustees and I have been honored to work with Kevin in his interim role and truly believe he is the visionary leader that Carolina needs today,” said Stevens. “He is deeply committed to our University and its mission, prioritizing student success, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing the critical needs of North Carolina and the world.”

Continue reading here.

Related Stories
‹
Public Forum on State University Governance Coming to Durham Tech
On Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper announced the sites for a series of public forums dedicated to the governance of public universities. The series includes six forums between February and April, with the last coming on the campus of Durham Tech on April 11. The goal of the forums is to “seek ideas and suggestions on […]
In a Tumultuous Period, Guskiewicz To Be Installed as UNC Chancellor
Kevin Guskiewicz will officially be installed on Sunday as the 12th chancellor of UNC, a formal ceremony to establish him in the position amid a tumultuous chapter for the university that’s continued since the resignation of his predecessor. Guskiewicz will be sworn into the chancellorship as part of a two-day celebration of University Day, which […]
Guskiewicz Launches New Commission to Address UNC's History with Race
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced the official launch of a new commission to address and contextualize the university’s history regarding slavery and race relations. In a release Wednesday night, Guskiewicz revealed the members of the Commission on History, Race and A Way Forward. Made to build upon the findings and feedback generated from former chancellor […]
Top Stories of 2019: Carol Folt Steps Down as UNC Chancellor
Chapelboro.com is re-publishing some of the top stories that impacted our community in 2019. These were stories that affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our local area. In January, UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor Carol Folt announced that she would step down from her position with the university. Folt also authorized the removal of the base […]
Guskiewicz Promises Change, Transparency At Introductory Press Conference
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz stood on a stage with a Carolina blue backdrop and university leadership all around him for his introductory press conference. With university Board of Trustee members, UNC System members and students around him, he made promises to lead the university forward into a new era as education and research continue to […]
UNC Interim Chancellor Guskiewicz Sends Letter to UNC System, Voices Concerns over Silent Sam Settlement
After a more than a week of protests by the campus community against the UNC System’s decision to settle a lawsuit with a pro-Confederate group, UNC Interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz sent a letter to the system’s leadership outlining concerns over the decision. Guskiewicz, who shared the letter in a message to the campus community on […]
Former UNC Board Chairman to Step Off Board Entirely
The former chair of the governing panel for the University of North Carolina system says he’s leaving his spot on the board. News outlets report Harry Smith announced on Monday that he was leaving the UNC Board of Governors in February 2020. Smith said he doesn’t have time to be on the board after starting […]
UNC Governing Board Elects New Chair, Vice Chair
The governing body of the University of North Carolina system has two new top officers. UNC officials said in a news release that the Board of Governors elected Randy Ramsey to serve as chairman and Wendy Murphy as vice chairman. They were elected Tuesday at a specially called phone meeting of the board. Ramsey is […]
UNC Board Chair Resigning from Leadership Role
Harry Smith is resigning as chair of the UNC System Board of Governors. Kari Travis of the Carolina Journal was first to report Smith stepping down. WRAL and the News & Observer then quoted Smith saying that the amount of work and the politics involved had been wearing him down. The UNC System confirmed that Smith […]
UNC Announces Search Committee to Look for New Chancellor
When classes begin at UNC on August 20, a full year will have passed since protestors pulled down the Confederate statue on the campus known as Silent Sam. That event ultimately led to former chancellor Carol Folt’s resignation after she decided to remove the statue’s remaining base from campus after the UNC System Board of […]
›