CHAPEL HILL (October 11, 2024) – As he prepared for his formal installation today, we asked UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts what he’s learned about the university during his time as interim chancellor and, now, permanent chancellor.
He had a ready answer.
“Everyone who works here, everyone who’s fortunate enough to study here, knows what an extraordinary place this is. And the best part of my job is I get to learn how true that is across all kinds of dimensions every single day,” Roberts says in the accompanying video.
“I’m continually learning about something fascinating, groundbreaking, of meaningful service to the people of North Carolina everywhere I look. Plus it’s just a really fun place to work.”
Roberts, a former state budget director under Gov. Pat McCrory and former member of the UNC System Board of Governors, was named interim chancellor in January following the departure of Kevin Guskiewicz. After a six-month search, he was appointed chancellor by the Board of Governors in August.1
Roberts says he’s been visiting buildings on campus to familiarize himself. He walked into Person Hall a few weeks ago and encountered Brent Wissick, a music professor at Carolina for 42 years, practicing on the cello by himself.
“Those kinds of interactions are pretty special, and they make it an energizing place to come to work every day,” he says. “And I think you could be here for a long time and still have that sense of discovery and wonder about what an extraordinary institution this is.”
We then asked Roberts why he wanted the job as Chancellor.
“We don’t have a more important institution in this state than Carolina,” Roberts says. “So if you care about the future of the state, if you care about higher education, if you care about public service, you have to care about what happens here. I care deeply about all those things.”
“I couldn’t feel more grateful to be entrusted with this responsibility,” he says. “So I’d flip it around. I don’t know who wouldn’t want this job. It’s a pretty remarkable opportunity.”
1 https://www.unc.edu/posts/2024/08/10/carolina-welcomes-lee-h-roberts-as-13th-chancellor/.
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