Current:Home > NewsUNC-Chapel Hill names former state budget director as interim chancellor -BeyondProfit Compass
UNC-Chapel Hill names former state budget director as interim chancellor
SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-09 23:29:02
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill named a former state budget director who served under former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory as its interim chancellor Friday.
Lee Roberts will temporarily take over for Kevin Guskiewicz, who was announced last week as the next president of Michigan State University. Roberts, a finance executive, is a graduate of rival Duke University and will start in January, according to a UNC-Chapel Hill news release.
Amid complaints from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper that “hard right” legislative appointees to the university’s Board of Governors are damaging the institution’s reputation, Roberts said he plans to do the “nonpartisan job” in a “nonpartisan way.”
“To be effective in this role, you need to be able to work with Republicans and Democrats and independents and everybody else. That’s what I’ve done in my past roles,” he said in the news release.
UNC recently drew national attention when a high-profile tenure fight culminated in Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah Jones’ departure from her acclaimed post as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The New York Times Magazine correspondent — whose “1619 Project” earned awards for centering slavery in American history — said her tenure application was stalled by powerful donors and conservatives concerned about her work.
Roberts pledged to “do no harm” and oversee a smooth transition for whoever becomes the permanent successor. He called UNC-Chapel Hill the most important institution in the state and touted a $2 billion initiative to mostly repair higher education infrastructure as the most important accomplishment from his time in government.
Roberts is the founder of a Raleigh-based investment firm and recently taught budgeting at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
—-
Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
veryGood! (9954)
Related
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Hawaii ag agency won’t get all the money slated for pest management after all
- On an unusually busy news day, did the assassination attempt’s aftermath change the media tone?
- Police announce Copa America arrest totals after fans stampede, breach security
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Biden orders Secret Service protection for RFK Jr. following Trump assassination attempt
- Young Thug trial judge removed over allegations of 'improper' meeting
- The president of Florida’s only public historically Black university resigns after donation debacle
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- James Webb telescope photos show the Penguin and Egg galaxies in greater detail
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, Kobe Bryant's father, dies at 69
- Albert the alligator’s owner sues New York state agency in effort to be reunited with seized pet
- The president of Florida’s only public historically Black university resigns after donation debacle
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Where is British Open? What to know about Royal Troon Golf Club
- Shannen Doherty remembered by 90210 and Charmed co-stars
- Texas set to execute Ruben Gutierrez in retired teacher's death on Tuesday. What to know.
Recommendation
The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
Ingrid Andress' national anthem before MLB Home Run Derby leaves impression
Retail sales unchanged in June from May, underscoring shoppers’ resilience
Natalie Portman got an ego boost from Rihanna post-Benjamin Millepied divorce
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Detroit-area county to pay $7 million to family of man killed while jailed for drunken driving
JD Vance is a relative political unknown. He’s been asked to help Donald Trump avenge his loss
'Clock is ticking': Texas Gov. Abbott gives utility company deadline to fix power outages