Carolina's Chief Executive Officer

Posted on May 1, 1987

“Only he who keeps his eye fired on the far horizon will find his right road. “

— Dag Hammarskjold, Markings

Perhaps it is because his father attended the University and passed on to his son this devotion to his alma mater.

Or, perhaps it is because he, his wife and all three of their daughters attended the University, making love of Carolina as natural as breathing.

Or, perhaps it is because as a student, Medical School Dean, and University Vice Chancellor he saw opportunities to help a great University become greater.

For whatever reason, Dr. Christopher Fordham’s seven years of leadership as our Chancellor have reflected an uncommon devotion to the history, traditions and values of the University, a vision for the future and a commitment to build upon the strong foundation provided by his distinguished predecessors in preparing our campus for a third century of leadership and service to North Carolina, the South and the nation.

Under Fordham’s leadership, the University’s programs of educational reform have reached out from the campus to public schools across North Carolina. The undergraduate curriculum has been revised and strengthened. The Lyndhurst Fellowship Program which supports bright students who will be the best school teachers of the future was developed and is a national model for teacher training. The Principals Executive Program is providing needed professional training to school administrators.

Fordham’s visible leadership and commitment to protect the integrity of intercollegiate athletics bears witness around the country that our University is dedicated to excellence in academics and athletics — that one is not incompatible with the other.

Fordham is also taking the lead as the University prepares for the Bicentennial and a Bicentennial capital campaign, During the last seven years the University has enjoyed consecutive years of unparalleled growth in private giving, This success is a result of the increasing generosity of our alumni and a more aggressive central development effort by the University, It is a tribute to the leadership of Carolina’s chief executive officer.

The past seven years have brought record construction projects to the campus, including the Walter Davis Library, the Lineberger Cancer Center, the Sitterson Computer Sciences Building, the Dean Smith Center, Carmichael Dormitory, Hanes Art Center, the Anderson Critical Care Facility and the Kenan Center.

Investments in people and programs are as important as funding buildings, Here Chancellor Fordham has been particularly effective, naming Gary Evans as Vice Chancellor for Development, John Swofford Athletic Director, Dr. Sam Williamson as Provost and Dr. Farris Womack as Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance to cite only a few of his many outstanding appointments.

Perhaps never before in the history of the University has it been so important for our campus to be led by someone who has a devotion to the Carolina tradition, a breadth of understanding about the society and world in which our University finds itself, a vision for the future and a commitment to see that every effort is made not only to preserve the excellence that has come to be associated with our University but to advance our institution from the top 20 academically into the top 10.

Finally, much of the General Alumni Association’s revitalization and expanding mandate is a direct result of the Chancellor’s support and encouragement. As the Association expands its programs and membership, time and again Chancellor Fordham has made clear that our 165,000 alumni have a critical role to play in protecting and advancing the University’s excellence.

Yours at Carolina,

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70