N.C. State names Kevin Howell as its new chancellor
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Courtesy of UNC System
The UNC System Board of Governors tapped Kevin Howell as the 15th chancellor of his alma mater, N.C. State.
Why it matters: Howell, who will become N.C. State's first Black chancellor was formerly its first Black student body president in 1987, has been an operator and leader in higher education and state politics since his graduation from the school in 1988.
Driving the news: Howell will replace outgoing Chancellor Randy Woodson, who will retire in June after serving at the university's helm for 15 years.
Catch up quick: After Woodson announced last summer his plans to step down, a five-month national search ensued, attracting 75 candidates. The university's Board of Trustees whittled the pool to four finalists, N.C. State said in a release Tuesday.
- UNC System President Peter Hans recommended Howell for the job, and the system's Board of Governors elected Howell as N.C. State's chancellor Tuesday.
What they're saying: "Kevin is the personification of what makes NC State an extraordinary institution," Hans said Tuesday, per the News & Observer "the kind of place where a talented young man from Cleveland County can find a home, break ground as the first ever Black student body president, and then choose to devote his life to the upkeep and uplift of public education."
Zoom in: Born and raised in Cleveland County, Howell studied political science at N.C. State. After graduation, he served as the university's state and local government liaison. Howell also graduated from UNC's School of Law and kicked off his career as a legal clerk at the N.C. Court of Appeals.
- Howell has straddled the political and higher education spheres in North Carolina for decades. He served as the legislative liaison for former Democratic Govs. Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, per the News & Observer, and has held numerous leadership positions at N.C. State and UNC over the years.
- Howell served as assistant to the chancellor for external affairs at N.C. State (2006-2016), senior vice president for external affairs at the UNC System Office (2016-2018) and vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development at N.C. State (2018-2023).
- Howell is now the chief external affairs officer at UNC Health.
What's next: Howell starts May 5 with a salary of $600,000.